Eli (Sinful Shadows Mafia Book 2) Page 4

  “Have Dad call me as soon as he knows something,” I said.

  Mom waved her hand in the air as she continued talking with the nurse. I snickered and shook my head, my eyes darting back over to the officers. They weren’t even paying attention now. Just standing in the corner, talking and laughing over whatever joke it was they were listening to. I walked back toward the E.R. doors. I felt people’s eyes on me as I walked out into the night. I peered over my shoulder, trying to snag one more glimpse of my mother. Of the nurse. Of the night that had flipped itself over on its head.

  And I found that gorgeous gray stare looking right back at me.

  5

  Giana

  I watched him as he walked out the door. His tall, lean stature. Cut clean against the steel gray suit that accented his glorious green eyes. They were bright, like grass on a hot summer day. And juxtaposed against his swept-back black hair? It made my stomach flip over. That was Eli Diliano. The eldest sibling of the Diliano Crime Family. A family my own family had run into several times. I hadn’t seen him since we were children. Maybe seven, eight years old. And holy hannah, had he grown into a beautiful man.

  A chiseled jawline. Broad shoulders that slid into long arms and a tapered waist. Long legs that strode with confidence underneath the tailored suit. He took my breath away. I had to keep from shivering when my fingertips touched him. I had to stop myself from pulling him closer when I grabbed his arms to sit him down. He struck me from the moment our eyes connected, and he hadn’t pulled released me from his hold yet.

  Not until he finally faded away. Into the darkness that matched the color of his hair.

  “Nurse?”

  Mrs. Diliano’s voice pulled my attention back to where it needed to be.

  “Yes. Your son has a high chance of pulling through, but he was shot three times,” I said.

  “I already know those details. Do you know what the bullets hit?”

  “While I’m almost certain no major organs were hit, I think his liver was grazed. And I know his stomach was punctured. Which means he’s bleeding internally and will need to be pumped of that blood and fixed up before we can administer more blood.”

  “How many units?”

  I paused. “Judging from the small time I saw him? Three, maybe four units. More, depending on how surgery goes.”

  “Any exit wounds?”

  “No. But, one of the paramedics is concerned one of the bullets fragmented. So, until we can chase down those fragments--if there are any--surgery is going to take a while. If you want to wait here, you’re more than welcome to order food from the cafeteria. They’ll bring it to you--.”

  “No need. If I need something, I’m sure someone from my kitchen will deliver something here.”

  I nodded. “Wonderful. I’m sorry I don’t have any more information from you. But, as it comes in, I’ll update you.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  She walked with a grace and a poise that left me almost envious. I’d never been able to wear heels like that. Or pencil skirts. Or sleeveless blouses. With a straight back, she sat on the edge of the seat, crossing her legs at her ankles like the royalty she was in the community. The Diliano Crime Family had scaled the ranks. Really made a name for themselves as ruthless go-getters in the underworld. And judging by the way she held herself, that reputation had only grown.

  Even after I pulled away from the lifestyle itself.

  All throughout the night, I fed the mother news as I got it from Janie. And for a while there, it didn’t look good. One of the bullets had fragmented, and every time they found a shard, another one popped up. They pulled five of them from his veins before they reached his heart, only to turn around and realize his liver had been grazed by the bullet that entered his stomach. It came at him from an angle, apparently. Piercing completely through and lodging in his side. He crashed, yet again, on the surgery table. And at this point, the human body usually gave up.

  But, not a Diliano body.

  Shockingly, he pulled through. After a four-hour surgery that lended itself seven units of blood and way too many stitches to count, Julian had been rolled out of surgery. His mother was at his side as we took him into recovery, not saying a word as she clung tightly to his hand. It was the only show of emotion that had come from her all night. White knuckling her little boy’s hand as we wheeled him into his recovery room. Julian would be here for a while. At least for the next week.

  But things looked good for him.

  “Nurse Giana.”

  I slipped out of the recovery room, heading for the nurses’ station. The Head Nurse--Nurse Cabot--looked at me from beyond her small-framed glasses. I saw her doing up the schedule for the next two weeks. Trying to figure out where to put everyone and how to arrange things. I figured it’d be the usual questions. ‘Do you have any days you need off?’, or ‘Anything last minute pop up?’.

  But instead, I got a very different response.

  “I’m going to put you on duty with the Diliano boy during your shifts next week. I think he could use someone he knows at his side right now. And it’s what the mother requested downstairs,” she said.

  I paused. “Okay? I mean, that’s fine. But I don’t know Julian.”

  “You know enough to know his first name.”

  “Yes. But that doesn’t mean I know him.”

  “The nurses downstairs seem to think differently. Mrs. Diliano herself seems to think differently.”

  I shook my head. “Well, they’re all mistaken.”

  She sighed. “At any rate, you’ve been requested as his nurse. So, that’ll be your week next week. Tending to this one patient, unless there’s another emergency on this floor.”

  “So, I won’t even be in the E.R.? That’s my specialty.”

  “And for next week, Julian Diliano will be your specialty.”

  Great.

  I turned my head, gazing into his pristine hospital room. I saw his mother sitting on the edge of the bed, gripping his hand and kissing it steadily. Her eyes lifted to mine and she nodded. As if in solidarity or some shit. I didn’t have solidarity with her. I wasn’t part of this lifestyle. I wasn’t her buddy, or her pal, or someone in this hospital she could manipulate because of who my parents were. But she’d already gone over my head.

  Telling me she knew that was the case. But, she simply didn’t care.

  “Do what you have to do,” I said, sighing.

  “Already done,” Nurse Cabot said.

  And with a sigh, I returned back to work.

  Over the course of the next week, I did nothing but tend to Julian. I checked his vitals. His fluids. The color of his urine. I took blood and cleaned his wounds. I checked his stats and sat in his room with him whenever he didn’t want to be alone. I was his personal slave. And the only positive thing that could have come from all this was the fact that it gave me a chance to see his brother again.

  Only, his brother never showed up in the dead of night.

  Because he was a fucking normal human being.

  “So, Julian.”

  “Yep?” he asked.

  “How goes things with your family? Been a while since we’ve seen one another.”

  He shrugged. “Same old same old. You know how it goes.”

  “Not really, actually. I don’t talk shop with my family these days. Not since I became a full-time nurse.”

  He snickered. “You sound like Eli.”

  I ignored the jab. “Speaking of, has he come in to visit at all? I’ve seen your mother and a couple of your friends. But, no one else.”

  “Nah, and I don’t expect him to come in. Especially after he abandoned his family.”

  “I mean, he didn’t abandon him family. He probably just didn’t want--.”

  Julian shot me a look that told me to shut up. So, I did. This wasn’t the time nor the place to be discussing something like that. And it sure as hell wasn’t my business anyway to be defending some dude I didn’t know. I crossed my leg over m
y knee, keeping an eye on his vitals. Julian was the only one on the floor right now, which made for very boring nights.

  Every. Single. Night. Of the week.

  “Are you and Eli still close?” I asked.

  “Look, Nurse Giana, I’m tired. And I’d really just like to sleep.”

  “Of course. I understand.”

  But, when he didn’t fall asleep, I felt my mouth running again.

  “You know that just because your parents probably block him out doesn’t mean you have to, right?”

  Julian sighed. “Goodnight, Nurse Giana. I’ll have my mother release you tomorrow.”

  “Not necessary. Goodnight. Press the red button if you need anything.”

  I had to physically remove myself from the room in order to stop prying him about his damn brother. And as the days passed on, our conversation grew almost nonexistent. I cleaned his wounds. Changed his dressings. Helped get his catheter out when he felt well enough to walk to the restroom. I helped him shower, trying to give him as much physical privacy as possible while still keeping him safe. I even helped him change into some decent clothes one most of the tubes running in and out of his body had been removed.

  I’d seen more of Julian Diliano than I ever cared to see.

  And absolutely none of Eli.

  “Well, I have some good news,” I said.

  “You’re going to shut off all these machines so I can get a decent night’s sleep?” he asked.

  “Even better. I get to prepare your discharge paperwork tonight so you’re ready to go first thing in the morning.”

  “Thank fuck.”

  I smiled. “I’m just going to check you over really quickly. You know, do what it is I do. Then, I’ll get started on your discharge stuff.”

  I went through the motions on his last evening in the hospital. All in all, he’d spent nine days here. Nine long, grueling days with just myself and him at night. I couldn't type up his discharge paperwork quickly enough. I smiled with delight as I printed it off. I prepared a folder for him, filled with paperwork that walked him through everything he needed to know. From cleaning his wounds to a scheduled check-up appointment with our gunshot wound E.R. doctor downstairs, I had everything prepared for him and sitting there. Waiting for the morning nurse.

  And as I clocked out for my shift, I stuck my head in one last time.

  “I’d say I’d miss you, but you’ve been a pain in my ass,” I said, smiling.

  Julian chuckled. “And I’d say I’d miss you, but you talk too fucking much.”

  The two of us laughed softly, then I patted his doorway. I started down the hallway, ready as ever to get out of that place. I raced down the stairs, unwilling to wait for the elevator. I had too much energy. Too much excitement. I wanted a massive plate of breakfast food and an entire carafe of coffee to myself to celebrate.

  No more Julian Deliano in my--.”

  “Shit!” I exclaimed.

  “Oof,” I heard someone grunt.

  I ran into something solid. Something stiff. I stumbled back, dropping my things all over the damn floor. Fucking hell, I really needed to carry a purse. I fell to my ass on the tile floor, my world disoriented by the moving wall I’d apparently run straight into.

  Until I gazed up into his eyes.

  I found those bright green eyes staring back at me. That chiseled suit pulled tightly over that lean, tall form. His black hair looked a bit disheveled from the run-in. But, all it made me want to do is run my fingers through it to right it again. He held out his hand for me, and I promptly took it. His touch was warm. Strong. It filled me with excitement has he helped me to my feet.

  “You all right?” he asked, bending down to pick up my things.

  And as I watched him move, I realized something.

  He had the same grace in his movements as his mother.

  “Yeah. Yeah, I’m--okay,” I said.

  “Here. I think I got everything,” he said.

  He handed my things to me and I took them back. My neck craned back to keep his face in view as he continued gazing down at me. I lost myself in those emerald pools. They reflected beautifully against his tanned skin. I felt my breath coming in soft pants. Sounds I attempted to mute as we stood there in the middle of the damn hallway.

  “Um, your brother’s up on the fifth floor. Room 503. The nurse on duty right now should be getting him discharged,” I said.

  He nodded. “I know. I’ve been tasked with picking him up.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah.”

  I didn’t know what to say. But, I also didn’t want him to leave.

  “You’re striking, you know that?” I asked.

  I felt my cheeks blush as the words flew out of my face. Striking? Was I an idiot? I closed my eyes, shaking my head softly as a snicker fell from my lips. But, when I opened my eyes, I found him grinning down at me. A cheeky little grin that set his eyes aflame.

  “And here I thought I was the only one that felt this way,” he said, chuckling.

  “Well, at least you see it, too.”

  “I meant regarding you.”

  I swallowed hard. “Well, thank you.”

  “No thanks needed for the truth.”

  I felt the blush deepening as his hand came up. He placed his touch against my upper arm, moving me off to the side. And that touch alone made my skin pucker. Why in the world did he affect me like this? Why did he have me in such a trance? Was that all it took nowadays? A pretty set of eyes and a stare that lingered a little too long on me?

  Yes. That’s all it took, considering how long it had been since I’d gotten laid.

  “Look, I know this might be inappropriate, but I wanted to ask you something,” he said.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “Do I know you from somewhere?”

  I felt my heart drop to my stomach. So much for asking me out on a date.

  “Um, well. Yes? Kind of?” I asked.

  “I thought you looked familiar. You’re Giana--.”

  I held up my hand, signaling for him to keep his voice down. And when he nodded, there was something in his eyes that told me he understood.

  “Yes. I am,” I said softly.

  “Well, in that case, you’ve grown into an outstandingly beautiful young woman.”

  I smiled. “And you haven’t turned out too bad yourself, Eli.”

  “And here I thought you wouldn't remember my name.”

  “Took my brain a second to jog. But, it eventually came to me.”

  He chuckled. “How inappropriate would it be to ask you out for dinner?”

  Yes!

  “Not at all. In fact, I’d enjoy something like that,” I said.

  He nodded. “Wonderful. Um, here’s my number. Give me a call and we’ll set something up.”

  “I might be a little rusty on how this goes. But, aren’t you supposed to get my number?”

  “Traditional. I’ll keep that in mind. But, I am in a bit of a rush. Mom’s expecting Julian home by a certain time.”

  I plucked the card he held out for me from his fingertips.

  “Well, we wouldn't want to upset Mommy Dearest,” I said.

  “Trust me, we really don’t,” he said, winking.

  The two of us went our separate ways, and I felt his eyes staring back over his shoulder at me. I walked away, swaying my hips a little deeper as I looked down at his card. It had his name embossed in dark brown against a cream-colored background. A soft embellishment between his name and his place of business prompted my thumb to trace across it. Eli James, Criminal Defense Attorney. James Haven Associates.

  And below all of that, his number. Minimalist, like his suits. Bright, like his eyes. The cardstock was strong, like his stature. Everything about this business card screamed ‘Eli Diliano’.

  Or, ‘James’. Apparently.

  A lawyer. Nice.

  And as I looked back over my shoulder, I watched him disappear into the elevator. But, not before watching him rip
his eyes away from me.

  6

  Eli

  I rose up the elevator with a smile on my face. With a pep in my step. With happiness rushing through my veins. I couldn’t believe I’d just run into her like that. Literally! I’d been keeping an eye out for her during the times I did come to the hospital. Late at night, when Julian was sleeping, and I figured she’d be tending to him or something. I’d sit by my brother’s bedside, hoping he didn’t wake up while hoping she walked into the room.

  But, after the sun rose, I’d slip out. Having to get back to the office after only getting a couple hours’ worth of a nap.

  The elevator let me off on Julian’s floor and I paused. I heard his voice wafting down the hallway. I knew I was taking a chance, coming and seeing him while he was awake. But, Mom finally reached out to me. She asked me to come pick up Julian from the hospital today since he was apparently supposed to be discharged. After over a week in this place, I’m sure he was ready for a decent meal. Regular clothes. His own bed. I’d had Violet rearrange my morning so I could take my younger brother to breakfast, on me.

  The second I rounded the corner; however, Julian had a much different view of how this morning would go.

  “No,” he said curtly.

  I paused in the entryway. “What?”

  “I said, no. Whatever it is you’re here to do or ask or say, the answer is a resounding ‘no’.”

  I felt myself plummet from cloud nine onto the steep concrete below. Splattering like the little ant I had become to my family.

  “Mom sent me to come get you home. You’re being discharged, right?” I asked.

  “No,” Julian said.

  “I’m pretty sure that paperwork in your hand says you are.”

  “No, Eli.”

  “Julian, come on.”

  “No, you come on. You abandon the family, and then you expect me to go with you like nothing happened?”

  I paused. “I went to law school, Julian.”

  “You turned your back on this family. You haven’t been with us during holidays. Or birthdays. You haven’t fucking called, or texted, or send goddamn smoke signals.”