He didn’t walk to his car. Instead, he stalked away from the building, going north. I kept up, barely thinking, and he turned to me when we reached the corner.
“He knew,” Gavin said. “He fucking knew about it all.”
“The knife fight comment.” I felt my blood drain from my extremities.
“I don’t understand what kind of game he’s playing.”
“Do you think he’ll help?”
“I don’t know.” Gavin’s eyes were hard and he shook his head. “I’m afraid Cosimo isn’t going to listen to reason, and I’m going to have to do something drastic.”
I reached out automatically and grabbed his arm. “You’re not doing something stupid.”
He looked at me and shook his head. “Don’t worry.”
“Gavin—”
“I’m fine. I’m not going to get myself killed.” He stepped close and kissed my cheek. “Come on, let’s go for a walk. I have some energy I want to burn off before I head into the hospital.”
I nodded and followed him, then caught up and slipped my hand through his arm. I felt his muscular bicep and thought maybe, just maybe, he could do something more than talk, more than words—maybe he could do something drastic, like he said.
I didn’t want it to go that far. I hoped Dante would take the money and make everything disappear, but I had a feeling we wouldn’t be so lucky.
No matter what happened, I needed Gavin to make it through.
Otherwise, I didn’t know how I could live with myself.19GavinThe town car dropped us off outside of Sofitel, a fancy boutique hotel right in the heart of the city. I got out and walked around to the other side and opened the door for Erica.
She stepped out in a long, navy blue dress, the top swooping down low, the skirt straight and clinging to her body. She looked incredible with her hair done, her lips pink and fresh, her eyes bright and gorgeous—though she didn’t smile when I offered her my arm.
Things had been strained between us for the past two days, ever since the meeting with Dante. She didn’t want to talk about it and I hadn’t had time to push her too hard. Things at the hospital were busy, and I found myself staying there late and heading over early, and leaving her alone for long hours.
The life of a doctor’s wife.
We swept into the hotel and I spotted several doctors clustered over near the lobby bar. “Don’t let these guys ruffle you,” I said, leaning toward her.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve never brought a date to one of these before.”
“You think your doctor friends are going to give you a hard time?”
I hesitated and shrugged. “Pretty much.”
“They’re assholes then.”
I laughed and turned to her, taking her hands in mine. She looked up at me and I could see the anger and the tension in her expression. I wanted to touch her cheek or maybe even pull her against me and kiss her, but I was afraid of how she’d react.
We were in public now, and I couldn’t have her freaking out. Every few months, the hospital threw fundraiser balls for the wealthiest men and women in the city, along with some of the more important power brokers. Mercy General expected all its up-and-coming doctors to show up, shake hands, smile, and push for as many big donations as possible. It was my least favorite part of the job, and I resented the way the Mercy administrators used its doctors like we were some kind of celebrities getting paid to push dick pills. I was a doctor, my job was to help people, to heal sick people when possible, and I didn’t like shaking hands and smiling and trying to talk up how much we needed another machine for the Radiology Department.
But maybe it wouldn’t be so bad with Erica on my arm. She looked damn good, and it did feel nice to have her as company, even if she hadn’t been exactly all over me lately. Maybe that was my fault, maybe I shouldn’t have brought her with me to that meeting. I thought she’d want to be there and know what was going on, but maybe it would be better if I left her in the dark until I fixed things.
“They’re immature assholes,” I said, “but they’re still my peers. So try to get along, okay?”
“I’ll do my best, darling.” She gave me a big, fake smile.
“That’s my pretty little wife. Now, I’m going to kiss you.”
“Oh, are you? Is that part of the plan?”
“The plan is to get you nice and drunk then take you up to the room I rented for tonight.”
She let out a snort. “You perv.”
“You love it. Now, come here.” I pulled her close and gave her a short and tasteful kiss, lingering just a second or two longer than necessary before pulling back. “There. Not so bad.”