Chapter 212: Eye of the Storm
- LUCIANO -
Whenever there is a crisis, everything inside of me goes very calm. I can focus. I know what needs to be done, and I do it.
It’s an eerie ability that few have, and it’s one of the traits Pa would praise me for the most as a child. He used to call me occhio, Italian for "eye." He would say I was "the eye of the storm," "l’occhio del ciclone."
Now whether I was the one causing the storm or guiding people through it is another subject entirely, but I have always maintained the calm needed for those logical, calculated steps that come next. That’s what he’s always said makes a good leader.
Holding Rory, seeing her bleeding, is threatening that calm. I’m shaking internally—too full of fury at the fact that I wasn’t there when I needed to be, that she got hurt because of it, that she is in some kind of danger like I feared she might be.
In addition to the fury rocking me, though, is something else. And this I rarely feel, but it’s happening more often now that this precious girl is in my life. Fear. It’s the fear more than anything that unsettles me. As a rule, I don’t fear things. Ever.
As soon as Reddy returns with his bag of doctor things, finding the room we’re in, Rory straightens herself. She wipes her remaining tears and brushes the hair out of her face. Her breathing becomes calm and even. She regains the rest of her composure, and the fact that I was the one she trusted when she broke down strikes something deep down in my centermost being.
Rory let me in. I’m that person for her.
"Hello, my dear," Reddy says in his friendly way, and I bristle at the term even though he means nothing by it. He has nothing but the utmost respect for my father and the family. "My name is Dr. Reddy. But how about you call me Burt, eh?"
He chuckles and pats the seat next to the desk, encouraging her to hop down from where I’ve positioned her in my haste to check her over. She glances at me first, brows pinched in question. When I nod, she slowly follows Reddy’s silent instruction and settles into the chair.
"Burt," she smiles, dazzling my fucking heart in the process even though she isn’t looking at me, because I’m ready to go to battle for her right now—more than ever. I’ll fight anyone. "I’m Rory."
"Rory," his eyebrows raise at the unusual name, especially for someone of his generation. He taps the desk where she was seated next, scooting up to it in his own chair, and I step back to give him room. "Let’s see that hand, and we’ll get you fixed up, okay?"
I hear heavy steps approach outside and know it’s Dom and Sonny arriving. I texted Dom that I needed them asap and where to find me.
"I’m going to step out for a second," I say, bending over Rory, kissing her head in assurance of my intention to not go far. Hopefully it’s not an overstep.
"Wait," she says, fresh fear flooding her eyes when she looks up at me. "You’re not going to get Dex and Raya, are you?"
I don’t know why, but the cause of this particular fear of hers has me fighting a chuckle. Maybe because it’s of such little consequence.
"No, I’m not," I tell her. "Not yet."
"Did you tell them? Did you..." she bites her lip when Reddy starts cleaning her hand, and my fingers curl inward toward involuntary fists. "Did you text them about it?"
"No. I’ll let you tell them if you want."
A relieved smile spreads across her lips, and her shoulders relax before hiking up again when Reddy dabs at her hand. If he wasn’t helping her, I’d break his jaw. I swear to god.
"You have an anesthetic in that kit, doc?" I ask a little too sharply.
I know Rory is tough and that she can handle it, but Reddy better not try giving her stitches without numbing it first.
"Oh, yes. That too. Don’t worry," he says, distracted with his work but glancing up at me with a small nod. "I came prepared."
"Great. I’ll be right back."
I wink at Rory when I notice her watching me in the doorway instead of the doctor hovering over her hand—like she doesn’t want me to leave. Like she’s afraid of what will happen when I do. When she smiles faintly, I finally step out.
Why does my heart sink closing the door? Because I have to take my eyes off of her right after this happened, that’s why. Because I can’t be 100% certain of what’s happening when I’m not in there. And the guilt of leaving her earlier is carving itself deeply into my conscience.
I should have asked Rory if she still has the knife in case Reddy is a predator or a fucking traitor. I know she can take the old man, but I just gave her my unspoken assurance that she could trust him.
My hand reaches back for the doorknob, and I stop.
It’s a ridiculous thought. I know Burt is all too aware of what I would do to him if he ever laid an unprofessional hand on her. Or what my father would do. That’s why Reddy is the one who is here. He’s a friend. He’s trusted for a reason. And I know I can trust him with her.
This situation has got the calm and logic threatening to spiral right out of me, and I desperately need to keep hold of it.
Dom and Sonny are waiting a few paces down the hallway. They’re exactly who I need right now. They’re solid guys. I can trust them, and they’re going to help me with the real threat, which is out there in the forest somewhere.
Unfortunately, I also have to fight to keep a straight face with the Hawaiian shirt Sonny has changed into.
"What’s this?" I ask, throwing my arms toward his clothing.
"What? It’s my vacation shirt," he says. "What does it look like?"
"It looks like an eyesore is what it looks like," Dom grumbles next to him. "Don’t you have anything in a solid color?"
"It matches the surroundings, come on," Sonny shrugs, repositioning the shirt. "We’re supposed to blend in."
"Alright, listen. This is serious," I say, shaking off the humor as the ripple of fury catches hold out here where I don’t have to fight it in front of Rory.
I look back and forth down the hall to make sure no one is eavesdropping. Thankfully this resort doesn’t seem to have too many guests. I’m sure that’s partially on account of it being the beginning of a week rather than a weekend. On top of that, it’s the off season.
"No one is here, boss. We checked the lobby," Dom says. "What do you need us to do?"
"Rory is in there with Dr. Reddy," I tell them. "Her hand is all cut up. Someone was in her cabin, got into her room. Her room was unlocked when we got back today, and like a dumbass, I didn’t question it."
I rake a hand over my face, realizing the truth of that statement. I was a dumbass. I should have trusted my instincts and stayed close.
"I think this fucking guy was watching. I think he returned when he knew she was alone. That also means... he’s not getting off this peninsula unless he hikes deep into the forest, gets on a boat, or gets on a plane. That makes him a lot easier to find."
"Who do you think it is?" Sonny asks.
"The brotherhood," Dom answers for me.
I scowl and make a sharp gesture with my hand, indicating that we don’t talk about that. Not here. I doubt that anyone is listening—or that if they are, that they are aware of Russian organized crime—but I’m also not willing to be a dumbass twice in one day.
"I don’t know who it was. Just go check it out. Look around the area. Let me know if you find anything. This has to be really quiet. Efficient but quiet. My cousin is getting married here, and nothing is going to ruin it. Understand? Make sure his fucking cabin is secure, too. Make that the first fucking thing."
They both nod and turn to do the job. I’ve already told them where all the cabins are located. If there’s anyone out there, they’re going to have to hunt him down without me. I’m not leaving Rory again.
