Page 17 of Protecting Olivia

Instead, I addressed Tom. “Mr. Anderson, can you please do me a favor and tell Erin I’m sorry. I was horrible to her, and she didn’t deserve it. And please tell her she was right about everything. She’ll know what I’m talking about.”

“Sure will, kiddo. She misses you something fierce. I got the hot side of her tongue when I told her she couldn’t see you. My Erin is a firecracker when she doesn’t get her way.” Tom’s face always lit up when he spoke of his daughter. She was his pride and joy. Something I never had – a dad who loved me so much his face brightened when he thought of me. My mom had stolen that from me.

“Don’t I know it.” I laughed. I could picture Erin stomping her foot at her dad when he told her no.

“Olivia, please talk to me,” my mom pleaded.

“Nothing to say,” I answered.

“I’m sorry. I’d like to explain,” she offered.

Peter and Tom had moved to the doorway and started talking amongst themselves. I could see Zane and the guys by the far wall trying to look like they were working. Studying tablets and a large paper map that was spread out on the desk. Everyone seemed to be trying their best to pretend not to be listening to my mom and me. Everyone except Leo. His focus had not shifted from me. He was waiting to swoop in and rescue me if needed.

Not this time.

“Mom, I don’t want to hear your excuses.”

“I didn’t say excuses, I said I wanted to explain,” she retorted.

“A little too late to explain. You lied to me my whole life – I don’t want an explanation. I want you to leave.”

“You can’t mean that, honey. I know you’ve been through an ordeal and you're scared but…”

“No, Mom, I do mean it. Leave. I’ve heard enough. You’re a liar. You lied to me, you lied to Peter, and you probably lied to some poor guy in Paris trying to pass me off as his love child before he died,” I spat out.

The look of shock on my mom’s face would’ve been heartbreaking if I wasn’t so mad. I had never spoken to her with such blatant disrespect.

“There was no other man. There never was. I have only ever been with one man, and that is your father. I fell in love with him the moment I met him and have loved him every moment since.”

“Well, there is that. At least there was a sliver of truth in your momentous lie.”

“Olivia,” my mom cried.

“Enough, tesorino,” Leo whispered.

“Umph.” I crossed my arms over my chest like a child, uncaring about the IV in my arm. I was a grown woman being scolded by a man I barely knew. The nerve of him. It wasn’t enough, not nearly. I had plenty more to say to my mom.

“I love you, honey. Be safe.” And with that, my mom left the room with tears in her eyes.

I’m not sure if my disappointment stemmed from her leaving before I could spew more venom her way, or if she didn’t care to stay and fight for me. Either way, she was gone. Peter following closely behind, no doubt to continue their unfinished drama in private. Good for him, I hope he gave her an earful.

The door shut behind my parents. The word was foreign to me. I’d never had parents, plural; I had only ever had a singular parent.

“Everything will be fine,” Leo reassured me.

“Famous last words.”

Nothing would ever be fine again. The days following only proved me right. My life as I knew it would be forever changed, my life would be altered in a way I could never imagine. My regrets piled up, and no amount of begging and praying could exonerate me.

Chapter Nine

Leo

Well, that was a cluster fuck of epic proportions. Olivia kept taking one hit after another, yet she continued to put on a brave front. After the bomb Peter had dropped on her and her ma’s come apart. Olivia turned her gaze to me. I felt the weight of her stare as it hit me square in the chest. She was looking to me for support. What I wouldn’t have given to scrap this mission and whisk her away some place safe where nothing could touch her. Anywhere to get her away from the present danger and family drama I knew was hurting her more than she wanted the rest of us to see.

Westinghouse was back by Olivia’s side checking her IV and her wrist again. White bandages lay on the gurney next to her as he prepared to dress her wound.

“This dressing needs to be changed once a day. I’m leaving enough sterile gauze for fourteen days. Her antibiotics are here, instructions are written out.” Westinghouse held up a bottle of pills. “These start tomorrow. Small meals, lots of fluids. A minimum of 6 ounces of the electrolyte solution every hour. No pure water for the first twenty-four hours. If she is not able to keep down fluids, or she is not urinating every hour, or her urine is brown or discolored, you are to call me,” Westinghouse instructed. “Zane’s team will take good care of you, young lady. I’m sure of it, or I wouldn’t be leaving you in their care. Lots of rest, you hear me?”