Page 122 of The Don’s Omega

I shrug. “It’ll come back once you start weights.”

“Hope so.” He elbows me. “Come on, let’s go sit. I’m starving.” He eyes my backpack. “Did you remember to bring food?”

“Like I’d forget something so important?” I smirk. “I brought you a turkey and Swiss sandwich from that place you like.”

“Sharky’s Subs?” He pumps his fist, which makes me laugh and also makes something twist in my chest. He’s not a child, but something about him is so young. Maybe it’s that he’s so easily delighted. And here I am about to drop the weight of my entire double life on his skinny shoulders.

He turns to Dee. “You want to join us for lunch?”

She laughs. “Aww, no, but thank you for asking. I have other victims I need to go torture.”

He smiles and we leave her there in the workout room.

We find a quiet spot in the patient rec room at the end of the hall. It’s a medium-sized room with a few armchairs, and a television that’s not on at the moment. There’s a window that looks out over the parking lot. It’s not scenic, but it’s kind of private since no one else is in the room.

Before I give him his sandwich, I pull out a vanilla cupcake with colored sprinkles. He grins at me and I grin back.

“You thought I forgot it was your birthday, didn’t you?” I say.

His smile is sheepish. “I wouldn’t have blamed you if you did. A lot has happened recently.”

“Pfft. As if I’d forget my baby brother’s twentieth birthday.” I shake my head and stick the candle I brought into the thick frosting. I then light it with the lighter I also packed and meet his gaze. “I won’t embarrass you by singing Happy Birthday.”

“Thank God.” He smirks.

I lean toward him, holding out the treat. “Happy Birthday, little bro.”

He laughs, the golden flame of the candle reflecting in his eyes. “Thanks, Elio. I don’t feel a day over ninety.”

“You’ll feel different once you’re back in shape.” I lift the cupcake. “Make a wish and then blow out the candle.”

He obeys by closing his eyes and then opening them. “Okay, I know what I’m wishing for.” He leans forward and blows, snuffing the candle instantly. He smiles at me as a little wisp of smoke curls in front of his face. “Done.”

“Don’t tell me what you wished for. It’s bad luck.”

“I won’t.” He unwraps the paper from the cupcake and stuffs it in his mouth, devouring it in seconds. He swallows, licks his lips, and rubs his hands together. “Now, is it sandwich time?”

“Oh, yeah, baby. It’s sandwich time.” I pull the sub out of my backpack and Fabio settles into a chair. He then proceeds to tear into the sandwich with the enthusiasm of a starving bear. I guess the bland rehab food isn’t cutting it.

“Hey,” he says around a mouthful of turkey and Swiss. “How come you didn’t get a sandwich?”

I grimace. “I had a big breakfast.” I’m not lying. I ate a ham and cheese omelet and three pancakes. Now that the morning sickness is past, my appetite is healthy as a horse’s. In fact, it’s embarrassing how much I can eat right now.

He nods, studying me. “You look different.”

I tense. “Do I?”

“Yeah, like fuller-faced. Your jaw isn’t so sharp.”

“Damn. There goes my chance at being a supermodel.” I laugh, fingering my jaw. My plan is to wait until he’s done eating to drop my news on him. I want to let him enjoy his meal.

As he eats I examine him. His blue eyes are bright and there are sandwich crumbs on his chin. His T-shirt collar is stretched out and his surgery scar peeks above it, the top of the pink vertical line that runs down his sternum. He looks frail, but I know he can change that with some hard work. He’s smart and capable, and now that his physical health should improve, he’ll have more opportunities. Marcello’s money and influence will also help with that.

A few minutes later, he shoves the last of his sandwich into his mouth. My heart begins to race because now it’s time to come clean. I have to tell him about Marcello and me. There’s no more putting it off. There’s so much to share, I feel frozen with anxiety. Each secret is huge on its own, but when I combine them, I know he’ll be overwhelmed.

He must see something in my face because he squints at me. “Everything okay?”

“I… I need to tell you some things. A lot of things, actually.”