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I watched him move his head to nod, not quite managing it. I carried on. ‘One of the cuts runs beside her eye, and I’m told it might scar.’
‘She will still be a beauty. Gabriel will marry her.’
‘Yes. He works his twelve-hour shift and then is beside her for the next twelve hours trying to get her to wake… He is turning into a fine man, without being given the instruction to, I know he’ll marry her.’
‘Mmmm,’ he offered, with a small smile on his lips, seemingly pleased with the answer I’d given.
‘Serafina and her mama are taking good care of her. Oh, and Serafina told me she’d look in on you later today.’
‘There is no need. She has enough to do, and she has done enough for me.’ His voice weakened and I leant closer again to hear his words. ‘Please tell her I told you so.’
‘I will.’ I knew he was effectively asking me to say his goodbye to her.
‘And look after her, and the family you’ve made together.’ Pain gripped my insides as I thought of our lost son. His medication had to be addling his mind.
‘I will,’ I agreed, not wanting to contradict him.
‘Look after your family. Family is everything.’ His chest heaved as his breathing grew suddenly shallow at forcing the words out.
I moved out of the way as Janine and another nurse rushed to his side. They effortlessly adjusted his position and the volume of the drugs being pumped into his arm.
‘Always,’ I promised.
I spent those next few minutes taking all of him in. His skin was sallow looking, as if the blood in his body was no longer reaching all of him. How was it possible for a man of his size and stature to seem suddenly swamped by his bed? A place, I was certain, only those who had spent time in his arms and in the throes of passion had ever seen him. But for now, there was no pain and I was grateful, because I knew having seen pain in many, many people, I’d be able to identify it even if he’d tried to hide it. The nurses Serafina had employed were doing an amazing job and he was well taken care of.
But I could tell that just having our brief conversation was taking all he had left to give, as his eyelids were looking heavier. I stood to retrieve my discarded clothing as they fussed around him, and the realisation hit me that this could possibly be the last time we spoke.
As the women moved away, I looked down the length of his body and stepping closer I picked up his large hand with my own and brought it to my lips. It was without the family garnet we all wore as he’d lost a copious amount of weight in the past few days and it was now slipping off his finger. As I kissed the cold skin of his hand, I hoped he would understand the gesture.
For once, I was honouring him and not the family he and I represented.
‘Buona notte, Nonno.’
‘Buona notte, Nipote… Speak to Gianni.’
‘I will,’ I promised.
What I didn’t promise was in what context.
* * *
Just as soon as I’d climbed in and closed the door behind me, the car Aldo was driving sped us away from my grandfather’s heavily guarded home. Almost in perfect synchrony, I watched as another car full of my men took its place behind us and closing my sore and stinging eyes, I sank into the comfort of the leather underneath me.
My body ached, I was so mentally and physically exhausted.
With my eyes still tight shut, I rolled my head around my shoulders trying to release some of the trapped stress.
With each click it made, I exhaled.
As the loose gravel beneath the wheels turned into the regular melodic rhythm of the smooth roads, I forced my eyes open and took down the screen between me and Aldo.
‘Anything?’ I enquired, asking the usual question.
‘More ground searched.’ His eyes found mine quickly in the rear-view mirror and then he focussed back on the road.
‘But nothing found,’ I added before he did.
‘Bruno thinks he might be on to something.’
