Page 7 of Medical Malpractice

An injured sob tore its way up my chest. “Oh, my—what did I ever do to you? WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS?!”

Then he transitioned into a man I had never seen before. A ruthless gleam shone from his eyes as he looked at me with absolute contempt.

“Come off it, Gabs, for once in your life! You know you didn’t want kids with me anyway. I was always the second option.”

“Second option…?”

“YES! I’m the backup, the fill-in, since you couldn’t get who you really wanted. I’m not fucking dumb. I know you still want him. Well, FUCK YOU AND FUCK HIM!”

“What are you talking about? I have no idea what you’re talking about!” I truly didn’t.

“Don’t fucking lie to my face!”

“You mean like you’ve lied to mine for thirteen fucking years? I’m not you, Nico. I’m not cruel like you.”

Then I raged forward, my fists pummelling into him. I didn’t think I was causing much damage due to my uncontrollable shaking, yet I simply couldn’t stop. I didn’t even recognise myself.

“You stole from me! You took everything from me! So many years wasted. Give them back! GIVE THEM BACK!”

I was tearing at his clothes, at his flesh as he tried to escape.

Then, a sharp whistle rang out. Our heads whipped to the sound. Nico’s coming-home surprise had arrived and stood shellshocked before the open front door.

“Ah, if it isn’t the man of the hour!” Nico yelled with an arrogant, condescending sneer. “Option number one!”

That’s when everything clicked into place.

Leonardo had been my first choice, and Nico had never forgiven me for it.

Chapter 3

LEONARDO

I’d landed, organised my rental car and was on my way to my best friends’ house.

It had been over a year since I last saw them both. Living on opposite sides of the country will do that.

When we became such a tight-knit crew nearly twenty years earlier, I never would have imagined being so far away from them. I even tried to get a job in the same hospital as Nico once, so I could be closer. Alas, that wasn’t meant to be.

We were a trio of misfits who couldn’t rely on our biological families that were filled with drama, tragedy and regret.

So, we created a family within each other. I talked with them often, both together and individually.

Gabriella remained the same, just an older, more mature version of her former self. Nico, on the other hand, had changed much over the years, especially the last six months—a subtle shift I noticed before he left for his secondment. I was glad he was venturing further afield, hoping that would settle his restless nature.

He would be surprised at my arrival, but Gabriella swore me to secrecy, and I had never been able to deny that woman anything.

I cut the engine in their driveway, collected Gabriella’s favourite ice cream and snuck up to the entrance.

Should I go in all guns blazing, or settle for the stealthy sneak attack?

As I approached the front door, there was a strange energy in the air, a particular unnerving stillness that preceded any natural disaster.

That’s when I processed high-pitched screeching.

“Give them back! GIVE THEM BACK!”

It was Gabriella, and it sounded like she was breaking down, her voice filled with deep anguish.