Chapter 55: Chapter Fifty-Five

*Enzo*

“How is she doing?” Nonno asked as soon as he reaches me in the hospital hallway.

He looked frazzled, winded, and just as worried as I felt at the moment. The entire ride here she didn’t wake up. No amount of me trying to get her to open her eyes was doing anything. I was worried about the gash on the back of her head. Along with the lack of food and water that wasn’t given to her in the last few days.

I start to shake my head as I say, “Nothing yet. They’re working on her now.”

He clenches his fists and grits his teeth, looking pissed now. “God damn it. Right under my nose. I should have known something was wrong when those two seemed to act like they didn’t care. Benny I didn’t even notice since that boy never cares about anything other than himself.”

“How could you know Nonno? None of us really knew that girl, and I hate myself for even bringing her into our lives in the first place.”

The guilt and regret was hitting me pretty strong in that moment. If I had never slept with her none of this would have happened. But no matter how much I wanted to erase the past or wish it had never happened, I couldn’t.

Because it did.

And this was the outcome.

“You can’t blame yourself, Tesoro.” Nonno started out calmly.

“Yeah, you didn’t know that she was some psychotic, gold digging, psychopath who landed her sights on you and was willing to kill for it.” Domenico spouts out coming from down the hall after our grandfather.

I scowl at him. “What the hell are you doing here? Nonno-” I start to panic a little when I see my little cousin out in the open.

My grandfather raises his hands to stop my rant. “I know, he shouldn’t be here. But I couldn’t stop him. He wanted to make sure Gabby was okay and that you weren’t going to do something stupid.”

“He was worried that I was going to do something stupid?” I scoff in disbelief.

“Hey, you can’t blame me. You love the girl. So, yeah I can see you doing something stupid when someone nearly almost killed her.” Dom shrugs his shoulders as he places his hands in his pant pockets.

That statement got my attention. “How did you know-” I start but he cuts me off.

“I may be a little dumb, Enzo, but I’m not blind. The two of you couldn’t hide your feelings for each other worth a damn. If you plan to act like nothing is going on between you two after all this is done, then I hate to break it to you both, but you guys can’t act to save your lives. No one will believe that.”

“So you knew from the beginning?” I ask feeling exposed.

“Oh yeah. Probably from the first night. She was glowing and happy considering her situation and you wouldn’t stop grinning looking all dazed out.”

“I was not all dazed out-” I start to defend myself when Charlie snorts behind me.

Swinging my head over to him he avoids my eyes looking everywhere else but at me.

“You know this poses an issue than the one that I accidentally brought about. I just kidnapped the wrong girl. You on the other hand went and “defiled” her on purpose.” Domenico added the air quotes using a word I didn’t like when discussing Gabby.

“I didn’t defile her. Don’t say it like that. It was a mutual decision that we both wanted.” I nearly growled hating that he was preceding it in that way.

“Alright, that’s enough from the both of you. You shouldn’t be talking about Gabby like this at all while she’s in there fighting for her life.” Nonno snapped.

He was suddenly breathing a little harder than before, which got my attention instantly. Reaching for him, my entire body flooding with worry for him, I ask,

“Nonno are you okay?”

He waves me off as he walks over to the nearest chair. “I just need to sit down for a bit. All this excitement isn’t good for my health.” He mumbles as we guide him to the chair.

He snaps us away and growls, “I’m just tired, not a freaking invalid.”

Dom’s brows sink into a worried expression. “Do you need anything? Water? Food? A prayer?”

I slap him against the shoulder to shut him up. He flinches from the hit and gives me a death glare. “Ow! Why did you do that for?”

“Sometimes, Dom…” I fisted my hand to emphasize my meaning, but he just steps away from me while rubbing his arm.

“Boys, enough. I just need some rest. Its all this worrying about my girl that has me winded that’s all.”

“Ai, leave your poor grandpa alone. Here, drink this. It’ll help with your heart and keep you warm.” Maria came rushing over with a paper cup that had steaming liquid inside.

I watch her sit down next to him like a mother hen making sure he did what he was told. I couldn’t help but feel grateful for everything she does and was glad she stayed with him over the years when I wasn’t around. Years wasted and lost between us.

But I plan to be here for him from now on. I never should have distanced myself from his life. I should have been here. Should have been with Gabby when she was facing all those hardships with her mother. If I had been here than maybe none of this mess would have happened.

“You’re doing it again.” Charlie whispers next to me.

Looking over to him, I realize I zoned out. Domenico had taken the other seat next to Nonno and the two of them were arguing about his health. He may have been joking around earlier but I could see the true worry behind his eyes for our grandfather. Nonno may give him a lot of smack with the decisions he makes, and it may cause Dom to feel like he was a burden to him. But you can genuinely see the love and adoration in my grandfather’s eyes when he looks at his youngest grandson.

And I know that Dom doesn’t take it to heart. In his own way he knows that the shit Nonno gives him shows him how much he actually cares about him. No one besides me and Nonno ever gives him shit for the dumb crap that he does in his life. Which is why he still drives us both up the wall.

“Don’t go dying on me old man.” Domenico starts out.

“I’m not dying, you stupid fart!” Nonno grouches as he smacks him behind the head.

This wasn’t the first time they had said this to each other. It’s one of Dom’s biggest fears as well as mine. The older Nonno gets, the more we each worry for him.

But now that he was sitting down, I could see him relaxing and breathing easier. While we’re here we should get him checked out just to be safe. I can’t have him having a heart attack on us with no warning. With that in mind, I look over to Charlie and it was like he read my mind.

He nods. “Say no more, I’m on it. But just so you know he isn’t going to be happy about it.” He mumbles as he walks away to find the receptionist desk.

I couldn’t express it enough how much I rely and am so grateful I had him in my life. I wasn’t sure I could fully function without him. I’ll have to give him a raise after all this is done and over with. A big one at that.

Walking up to the three of them, I place my hands in my pockets and brace myself for this next conversation we were about to have. Because Charlie was right, he was going to be pissed when I suggest it.

“Nonno, I think it’s best you get checked out while we’re here.” Domenico beats me to it.

“I said I’m fine.” He grumbles, scowling at the ground.

“You may think you are, but I’m not convinced. Please, grandpa.” He begs and for the first time I see the absolute fear in his eyes as he calls our grandfather, grandpa.

Dom only does that when he becomes completely serious and as strange as it was it was more an endearment than calling him Nonno.

I was expecting a fight and an argument. But Nonno looks at him and his shoulders sag in instant defeat.

“Alright, Tesoro.” He gently states, patting him on the thigh as he takes a slow exhale. “Alright.”

Relief floods through me that he had given in so easily. I wasn’t looking forward to bickering with him on his health.

Just then a young doctor comes straight at us, removing the mask he was wearing. “Are you folks the guardian of Gabriela Russo?” He asks.

“Yes.” We all say together, my heart pounding in my chest like crazy.

“Perfect. She’s awake.”