Forgetting the enemy ene.., p.5
Forgetting the Enemy (Enemy Duet Book 1), page 5
“Of course, Dr. Siegel, and please, you’ve known me since I was a kid. Call me Michael. My father is Mr. Vitali.”
He chuckles and nods.
I leave Zaira with Dr. Siegel and step into the hallway. After dialing Vince’s number, I wait for him to answer.
He answers on the fourth ring. “How’s Zaira?” he asks into the phone.
“Our family doctor is with her now. We’re taking her to the hospital as a Jane Doe for a CT on her head. I’ll let you know what we find out.”
“No way, Michael. I’m going to that hospital and then I’m taking my sister home.”
“Vince, don’t test me. We had an agreement, you and me. An agreement that you have conveniently forgotten,” I reply.
“This isn’t part of the agreement. My sister is hurt. Unconscious. I need to see her. You’re being unfair, Michael, and it’s not like you.”
“I’m not being unfair, but I am taking advantage of the situation at hand. Your sister is getting the best possible care. I swear to you I won’t let anything happen to her. Why the fuck would I? I’ve got a vested interest in this as well.”
“Then why are you keeping me from her?”
“Vince, you promised me time. Fate handed this to us, and now I’m taking my time.”
“You can’t do this! The Bonitas will—”
“The Bonitas will do nothing,” I say, cutting him off. “The Bonitas are now a part of the Vitali family, and as underboss of the Vitali family, I say she stays here.”
“But, Michael—”
“Vince, don’t fucking push me. I told you I won’t do anything to harm her, and once I get a prognosis, you will be the first to know. I’m not trying to be a dick here. I’m taking what was promised and now owed to me.”
He’s silent on the line, and if it weren’t for the sound of his breathing, I’d think he hung up. But even Vince Bonita knows not to hang up on me.
“Vince, she’ll be fine. Everything will be fine. You have my word.”
“Fine, Michael, but if one hair is out of place on her head or if she is hurt in any way, I’ll come after the Vitalis with everything I got.”
“Vince, all I’m asking is for you to trust me. You came to me because you trusted me to make this hit on your old man. Now trust me to do right by your sister. Can you do that?”
“Do I have a choice?” he asks.
“Not really,” I reply. I see Dr. Siegel step out into the hall. “I’ve gotta go. I’ll call you as soon as I know something.”
Disconnecting the line, I look up at the doctor and ask, “Any change?”
“No, I’m afraid not, but the hospital transport should be here in a few minutes.”
“Good.” I head downstairs to let my father know the ambulance is coming for Zaira.
Thirty minutes later, I see the ambulance driving down our driveway and off the compound. Watching them pull away, I begin to fear for Zaira’s safety. After grabbing my leather jacket and keys, I walk out the front door and head for the garage. I mount my Harley and rev the engine. I call Dr. Siegel to inform him I’m coming to the hospital and that I would see him soon.
“Michael, the family is on lockdown,” Ricco says as he puts his hand on the handlebars of my bike.
My glare indicates I am not concerned about the lockdown and that I need to leave, now. He doesn’t relent. Ricco “Gunner” Rizzi is one of my father’s soldiers, my personal bodyguard, and my best friend. He’s a good man, and I know he is only doing his job.
“Ricco, you’re not going to stop me. So you either let me go or continue to do your job and come with me. The choice is yours.”
He shakes his head. “Fuck, Michael! You leave me no choice.” He pauses, and as he mounts the Harley parked next to mine, he asks, “You armed?”
I look at him and nod. “Of course.”
Yelling over the rumbling sound of both bikes, he says, “Where we going?”
“University Hospital,” I say as I pull out, Ricco following close behind.
Chapter 6
Michael
When we get to the hospital, a woman approaches me and asks, “Mr. Vitali?”
“Yes,” I reply as I continue to walk. Ricco follows briskly behind me.
She hurries alongside me. “Mr. Vitali, Dr. Siegel asked me to meet you here, sir,” she says fearful.
I increase my pace, and the poor woman has now broken into a jog.
“Mr. Vitali!” she calls after me, breathless.
I continue to work my way down the hall, and she calls again, “Mr. Vitali, please! Can you please just wait a moment?”
I stop and stare at her, giving her a look that tells her I have no time for this. Can she see that I have to know where they took Zaira? I’m not really sure what has come over me since they took her, but the thought of her not being under my protection… I mean, if people find out who she is and word of her father’s murder gets out, this could be all kinds of fucked up. So, to appease the worried woman, I say, “What?”
She is breathing heavy from chasing after me. “Thank you. Dr. Siegel wanted me to personally escort you to Radiology, sir,” she says.
Well why the fuck didn’t she tell me that in the first place? “Oh, well then lead the way,” I reply, and I watch her physically relax. She works her way through the emergency department toward a set of elevators.
When the elevator opens, we all step in. She presses three on the panel, and the doors close. She turns to me and says, “I’m Mary, Dr. Siegel’s assistant, sir. While he is in with Ms. Doe, he has asked me to provide you with whatever you need.”
I’m thankful Dr. Siegel rememberd to admit her for her tests under a Jane Doe. I soften a bit and say, “What would help me most is to see, uh, Ms. Doe.”
“We might be able to arrange that. If you’ve gotten here in time, you might be able to see her before they take her in for her tests.” The elevator doors open, and she says, “Follow me.”
We walk down a long hallway, patient rooms lining each side, and approach a set of double doors labeled Radiology. After stepping inside, we turn right and walk past the information desk and down another hallway. There are fewer patient rooms here, and at the end of the hall is another set of double doors. Before we get to them, we turn into one of the patient rooms on the right.
“Ah, I see you made it,” Dr. Siegel says when we enter the room.
“How is she?” I ask as I rush to her side. You would think there was more than just friendship between us by the way I am acting, but for some reason, I am compelled to ensure she is cared for and is safe.
“She’s the same,” he replies. “The orderlies will be here shortly to take her back. You will not be able to go with her, but you are welcome to remain here until she is done. If you’ll excuse me, I have a few things I need to attend to.”
“Of course,” I reply.
“Mary will remain here in case you need anything,” Dr. Siegel says.
“Thank you.”
Standing next to the bed, I take Zaira’s hand. She’s still unconscious. I take my other hand and lightly graze her cheek. “Everything’s gonna be all right, Zaira, I promise,” I whisper under my breath.
“Forgive me for asking, Michael, but what’s going on?” Ricco asks.
“What do you mean?” I reply defensively.
“Michael, I wasn’t born yesterday. I’ve known you all my life. We’ve grown up together, and I have never seen you so attentive to a woman before, even if she is comatose,” he replies.
I wave my hand to brush him off. “It’s nothing.”
“Don’t fucking tell me it’s nothing. I know better,” he says. Ricco is right. He has known me all his life, and I trust him with mine. None of the other soldiers would even think about talking to me like this, but Ricco is different. He’s also right that I have never been so attentive to a woman before. Women come and go. I never found one I wanted to invest the time and effort for. So why am I behaving this way toward Zaira? Because I fucking love her! I have loved her for years!
I run my hand through my hair and shake my head, deciding to lie. “Fuck, man. I don’t know.” He smirks at me, and I continue. “I guess I feel responsible.” I lower my voice and walk toward him. I continue to speak in a hushed tone. “She was never supposed to be in the line of fire. It was assured to me she and her siblings were not going to be in that room when we attacked.”
“She didn’t get shot,” Ricco says.
“I know, but she should be with her brother and sister, mourning her father’s death. Not comatose in a hospital awaiting a scan on her brain.”
Ricco nods. “Okay, I’ll give you that. But I’m gonna say this because you are not only my boss and it is my job to protect you, but you are also my friend. Be careful. She’s a Bonita. You’re teetering on shaky ground.”
“I know. I know it’s a risk, but it’s a risk I am damn sure gonna take. How can I not?” I reply, defeated.
He nods and drops the subject.
A few minutes later, the orderlies arrive and prepare to take Zaira away. Once they have her on the stretcher and are proceeding out of the room, Mary says, “It should only be about an hour, Mr. Vitali. May I get you and your friend something to drink? Coffee perhaps?”
“Nah, I’m good,” I reply. I turn toward Ricco.
“Yep, I’m good too.”
“Thanks, Mary,” I say, and the smile that crosses her face surprises me. I realize the woman has been a bit leery of me since I arrived, and I have given her nothing to put her mind at ease. She obviously knows who I am and knows about my family. Anyone outside the family would fear the Vitali name, so it’s only natural I get the same reaction from her.
There are magazines on the table next to the bed, so I grab one and sit my ass down. It’s gonna be a long hour.
***
About an hour and a half later, Dr. Siegel enters the room.
“How is she?” I ask immediately.
“She’s fine and awake,” he replies.
Relief washes over me from the news. She’s gonna be okay. Or not. The look on his face tells me more and that I should not assume everything is okay. Fuck, what now?
“But?” I ask ’cause there’s always a “but” in situations like this.
He takes a deep breath and says, “Like I said, she’s awake, but there’s a problem.”
“What?” I ask impatiently.
“The test showed there is some swelling on her brain but no bleeding, which is a good thing. For the most part, physically, she is a very healthy young woman,” he says.
“Physically? So it’s a mental issue?” I ask.
“Yes, she doesn’t know who she is.”
“What do you mean she doesn’t know who she is? Of course she knows,” I reply.
“No, Michael, she doesn’t. She remembers things like what she’s been taught. Basic things like how to talk, what a fork is for, learned actions. But she doesn’t have memories of her life experiences or the people in her life. She doesn’t know her name, and she has no recollection of family. She may have instances where she feels more familiar with one person than another, but that’s it.”
“So you are saying she has no memory? Will she always be like this, or will it return?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “At this point, I don’t know. We won’t know anything until the swelling goes down.”
I reach forward to grab him, but before I could make contact, Ricco pulls me back. I glare at him with a look that says, you fucking touch me again, and I’ll kill you, but he doesn’t release me and holds my gaze. He’s making sure I’m in check, and fuck, he’s right again. I really don’t need to be going all rogue on the doctor. I collect myself and nod at Ricco to let him know it’s okay to release me. “Dr. Siegel, can you explain, please?” I ask calmly.
“Basically, Ms. Bonita has amnesia. I know you are familiar with the term, but many people don’t fully understand what amnesia is.” He looks at me like he’s wondering if I need an explanation, so I nod. He continues. “Let me explain. Amnesia is a form of memory loss. Some people lose their existing memories and surprisingly enough have difficulty forming new ones. They can’t recall past experiences. People with amnesia usually retain learned skills, such as motor skills, language, and general knowledge. Some will remember their own identity, and some will not.”
“And where is Zaira?” I ask.
“That’s hard to say. She just woke up, so I haven’t had time to speak with her much more than determining the basics of what she remembers. She’s still getting used to coming to terms with what’s happened to her and that she is here in the hospital. It can be very disorienting for amnesia patients. When they have no memory of the past, it can be very confusing for them to wake in a hospital with nothing but strangers around them.” He waits to let his words sink in. “I won’t be able to pinpoint her amnesia and help her move forward until her swelling goes down and I speak with her more.”
“I see. Is this permanent?” I ask.
“Again, Michael, I don’t know. You need to be patient, son, and give this time. I’m not making any guarantees, but I have seen many cases like this all work out in the end. You just have to have faith.”
I nod. “So where do we go from here?”
“There is no need for her to stay at the hospital.” Thank fuck! “So you can take her home. She needs rest, and the gash on her head will need constant tending to. Would you like me to send over a nurse to care for her?”
“Do you think it’s necessary? I mean, we have lots of staff who can help if it’s just general care,” I reply.
“That should be fine. Ensuring she gets rest and changing her bandage should be all she needs. If something more serious should pop up, I can be there in mere minutes. You know I don’t live far from your family home.”
“Anything else? Something tells me there is more.”
“Yes, there is. This is the most important thing, Michael.” He takes a deep breath. “You must not push her to remember things. Do not put things in front of her such as pictures to force her memories. She has to remember on her own. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Also, it’s important you don’t treat her any different. She’s still a human being, and she is already confused enough. Once you start treating her as if she is fragile or that something is wrong, it could trigger all types of fears and stress, which could make her condition worsen.”
“Okay, got it,” I reply.
“Good, then I’ll have the orderlies bring her back, and she can get ready to go home.”
“Thanks, Dr. Siegel,” I say as he prepares to leave.
“Anytime, son. You know I would do anything for your pop and his family.” He gives me a quick pat on the back and turns to leave the room. Calling behind him, he says, “Remember what I said. Treat her normally, and do not volunteer any information. She will remember on her own.”
I look at Ricco. “Now what the fuck do I do?”
“Call Vince. You know he’s got to be worried sick about his sister. He’s gonna want to know what the doctor said.”
“I know, but he’s also gonna want to see her. You heard the doctor. He said to not force her memories. Don’t you think seeing her brother will do just that?” I ask.
Ricco shakes his head. “Aw fuck, man. I don’t know then.” We’re both silent, waiting for Zaira to return, and lost in thought when Ricco says, “You need to consult with your old man. You can’t keep him out of the loop on this one.”
I hate it when he’s right. But fuck, he’s so damn right, it pisses me off. My father is always the voice of reason, and he will not hesitate to point out that what I am considering is wrong. Maybe it is, but I feel too strongly about this to not move forward with having her stay with me. I will tell him, but I won’t change my mind. “Yeah,” I say, conceding. “I need to talk to Pop.”
A few minutes later, Zaira is wheeled into the room in a wheelchair. The orderly who is pushing her says, “This young lady is ready to go home.”
Although I am elated to see her awake, her appearance breaks my heart. She’s still wearing the dress she was wearing at the engagement party. It’s dirty and torn. Why didn’t I think to bring her something of Gina’s to wear? Her hair is disheveled and unkept. I could have given her a brush. Zaira was always so well put together. Looking at her now in this state, she reminds me of a lost child with no home and no money. I walk toward the wheelchair and say, “We’re ready to go.”
Zaira looks at me cautiously as I approach and asks, “Who are you?”
I’m not gonna lie to her, so I tell her the truth. “I’m Michael, your friend.”
“You are?” she asks curiously.
I nod. “Yep, I am. And now we’re gonna get you home.”
She suddenly appears panicked and looks at Ricco. Worry crosses her face.
Before she can ask, I say, “That’s Ricco. You don’t need to worry about him. He’s always hanging around where he isn’t wanted.”
Ricco feigns a broken heart as if I hurt his feelings, and Zaira hesitantly smiles. Fuck, that feels like a major accomplishment. But it quickly fades, and her smiles turns back to fear.
I kneel in front of the wheelchair. “Zaira, I know you are confused and scared. I promise you are safe with Ricco and me. We’re gonna take you home where you can rest.”
She looks at me curiously, and the stiffness in her shoulders recedes as she begins to relax. She smiles. I get up from kneeling and look at the orderly, indicating with a nod that we are good to leave.
As we wheel out of the room, I hear “Michael” in the frailest of voices. Realizing it came from Zaira, I ask to stop a minute and turn toward her.
“Yes, sweetheart?” I reply.
“Thank you,” she whispers and then says, “You have kind eyes.”
I am totally shocked by her words. That’s the second time she has told me that, but fuck if she doesn’t remember the first time. Or does she?
