Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
When Mom follows Dr. Milazzo and I don’t move, she stops to give me a questioning look. “Aren’t you coming?”
“I need to make a call.”
Nodding, she leaves me alone in the kitchen with the intense rage burning like a wildfire through me.
I bring up Christiano’s number, and the instant he answers, I growl, “I’m going to kill Tanaka. This is me giving you a heads up.”
“Why?”
“Right now, his daughter is fighting for her fucking life because he starved her.”
“Christ, Augusto,” he snaps. “Are you at the hospital?”
“No, Dr. Milazzo is treating her at my house. He says it will be touch-and-go for a couple of days.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Do you want me to come over?”
I shake my head. “No. My mom’s here. I just wanted to give you a heads up. As soon as Yuki is better and settled in some kind of healthy routine, I’m going to Tokyo to kill that bastard. Not only did he endanger her life, but it’s a fucking insult to give me a wife in such a state.”
“I hear you.” He lets out a heavy breath. “We’ll deal with Tanaka once Yuki is back on her feet. Focus on your wife for the time being. I’ll check in with you tomorrow.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
We end the call, and needing something stronger than coffee, I stalk to the living room and pour myself a tumbler of whiskey.
Downing the alcohol, I work on controlling my anger.
I’m also going to kill Tanaka’s guard dog.
Yuki
My body feels stiff as I start to wake up, and when I try to turn onto my side to get more comfortable, a hand brushes over my temple.
“It’s okay, sweetie. You’re going to get better soon.”
I pry my eyes open, and seeing Samantha looking at me with something akin to affection, my tears instantly start to flow.
Moving carefully, she leans over me and gives me a gentle hug. “Shh…it’s okay. I’m here now, and we’re going to get you healthy again. I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”
I’ve never had a hug from a woman. It feels so good and safe, I want to beg Samantha to stay with me, but before I can get the words out, I’m dragged back into a dreamless sleep.
I lose all sense of time, and whenever I wake up, Samantha is there. At some point, I grip hold of her hand, and when I finally manage to wake up fully, the room is warm from the sun shining across the carpet.
“Hi, sweetie. How do you feel?” Samantha asks, giving my fingers a squeeze.
It feels like I’ve slept for a week. Every muscle in my body is tight, and my skin is sticky.
“Better,” I mumble as I pull myself up into a sitting position. Something tugs on the back of my hand, and looking down, I see a needle disappearing into my skin.
“The IV is to give you all the nutrients you need. Don’t worry about it.”
“What time is it?” I think to ask.
Samantha looks at her dainty wristwatch. “Just after ten am.”
Kuso!
Worry floods me as I think of all the chores I’ve missed, especially not making breakfast for Augusto.
“What’s wrong?” my mother-in-law asks.
“I didn’t do what’s expected of me.” My eyes fly to hers. “Augusto will be angry.”
“Sweetie, you’re sick. Augusto isn’t angry at all. Honestly, he’s been very worried about you the past three days.”
Frowning, I whisper, “Three days?”
“You’ve been in and out of consciousness for close to seventy hours, but Dr. Milazzo says you’re recovering much faster than expected. You’re a little fighter, and I’m proud of you.”
Shocked out of my mind, I can only stare at Samantha.
Then her words sink in. She’s proud of me.
A weird sensation ripples through my chest, but before I can inspect it, Augusto and the doctor come into the bedroom.
“You’re awake,” Augusto says as he stops by the foot of the bed. “Do you feel better?”
I nod while my attention is divided between him and the doctor.
“Yuki’s blood work looks good. We just need to go slow and keep doing tests.”
Why?
Augusto notices the question on my face and explains, “You were starved and almost died because of the food and alcohol you had at the reception. Dr. Milazzo is going to get you slowly used to food again, so you can’t have anything he hasn’t approved.”
“It will just be for a few weeks. Maybe sooner at the rate you’re healing,” the doctor says. “For now, you have to stay in bed and get a lot of rest.”
Fear creeps over my body as my eyes dart back to Augusto. “But I have duties.”
“Let’s give them some privacy,” Samantha tells the doctor, and I almost beg her not to leave but swallow the words.
Augusto comes closer, and as he sits down on the side of the bed, I pull my legs up and hug my knees to my chest.