Page 43 of The Don’s Omega

The medical equipment is all there, the monitors, the IV stand, the bed with its rails and controls, but the rest of the space has been designed for comfort. There’s a sitting area with an upholstered armchair and a small couch. A flat-screen TV on the wall. Flowers on the side table that I didn’t send. The room is filled with natural light, there’s a view of the hospital’s garden, green and sculpted, with a stone fountain. Remembering the hospital Fabio was in back home, I’m grateful for Marcello. My life feels insane right now, but seeing how spoiled Fabio is, it feels manageable.

Fabio is sitting up in bed with a textbook on his lap and his phone propped against a water pitcher, playing a video I can hear from the doorway. His dark hair is neatly combed and his blue eyes are brighter. There’s more color in his face. More life. Just seeing him like this fills me with joy.

He looks up and smiles. “I was wondering if you’d visit today.”

“Of course I’m going to visit.” I pull one of the armchairs closer to his bed and drop into it. My body aches when I sit, but I hope my face doesn’t show it. “Sorry I couldn’t come by yesterday. I was feeling under the weather,” I lie.

“That’s okay.” He closes the textbook. “You deserve a day off from babysitting me.”

I frown. “I wish you wouldn’t say things like that. You know I love coming to see you.”

He grins. “I know. I’m just giving you a hard time.”

I give him a chiding look. “How are you feeling?”

“Good, actually. They tweaked my meds and I haven’t been dizzy in two days.” He studies me. “You look rough. Tired. Are you not sleeping?”

“I’m sleeping.”

He looks unconvinced. “You look exhausted.”

“Oh, I’m just not used to my surroundings yet. You know how it takes time to sleep deeply in a new bed.” Not technically a lie. Marcello’s bed is very new to me.

“I guess that’s true,” he murmurs. “Can I ask you something?”

“Yes.” Uneasiness shifts through me because he looks serious.

“Well, I’d have to be blind not to notice how much nicer this place is than the other hospital.” He frowns. “How are you paying for this?”

“What do you mean?” I avoid his gaze. “Insurance is paying for most of it.”

“Elio.” He scowls. “I’m not an idiot. Insurance companies pay for as little as they can. This hospital is insanely nice. It must cost a fortune to stay here.”

“It’s not as bad as you think. Because we’re low income, they gave us a deal.” I feel awful lying to him, but what choice do I have? He’d lose his mind if he knew the truth.

His eyes narrow with skepticism. “Okay, what about the surgeon?”

“What about him?”

“I heard the nurses talking the other day. They were saying that Dr. Ashworth is one of the top cardiac surgeons in the country. The whole fucking country, Elio.” He frowns. “How the heck would we be able to afford someone like him?”

I exhale. “I thought I told you not to worry about that stuff. That’s my job, remember?”

“How can I not? Something is going on. I feel like you’re hiding things from me.” He looks worried. “You never talk about where you’re living. Are you still in a hotel?”

“No, I, uh, I got a small furnished apartment. It was less money than staying in a hotel long term.” I shrug. “Rent is a lot cheaper here.” That’s a complete lie, but he doesn’t know that.

“Elio,” he says softly. “I’m not a child. You can tell me stuff.”

My stomach churns with the temptation to come clean. I’m so tired of carrying this burden alone. Of going through what I’m going through with no one to talk to. I hate lying to his face constantly. But telling him the truth would be selfish. Nothing can upset him right now, and this situation I’m in would definitely upset him. Once the surgery is done and he’s feeling stronger, then I’ll tell him everything. But not yet. It’s too soon.

“Listen,” I say quietly. “I know you’re not a child or an idiot. But this is crunch time, right? The most important thing right now is that you don’t stress about things. Everything is fine. If I’m not telling you every single detail, it’s because that’s what’s best for you.” I lean forward. “All you need to know right now is that I found a way to pay for everything.”

He picks at his blanket, and his jaw tenses as he meets my gaze. “You didn’t knock over a liquor store or anything, right?”

I laugh. “No, I didn’t do anything illegal. You know, we made a lot of money on that GoFundMe thing.”

“We didn’t make this kind of money.” He waves to the luxurious room.