Everything Started Here With You

The Mob Boss

"Don't get revenge with anger but with skill. If you don't change, nothing else will either."

-- Dr. Romantic 1

 I bit back a pained cry as Tasha pressed on my back. It's been nearly two weeks since the shooting. A couple of days since I was released from the hospital. The police were around my house searching for me, so I was laying low in a hotel just a few minutes away. Ryder wasn't going to get me. I wasn't going back to prison.

"Why'd you leave Saturday?" Tasha asked and kissed my shoulder. "The stress isn't good for you."

"Nothing in this city is good for me," I muttered.

"Baby, you should be more careful. I can't have you going back to the hospital."

I chuckled. I'd never go back to a hospital. If Wayne hadn't been half the man he claimed to be, I would have died. At least he was good for something. He couldn't be trusted sometimes, but I knew I could count on him keeping me alive. He owns me a lot, but I owe him nothing.

Tasha laid beside me and smiled. I stared back at her. What? Was there something on my face? She sighed softly.

"You know...I never understand why you go through the things you go through," She started. "Isn't it tiresome to fight the same people everyday to get what you want? To be double-crossed almost every time you make a deal? Don't you ever just want to abandon the mafia?"

"Why do you ask so many questions with your fancy words?" I asked instead.

"...Because I'm smart. I can't help it." Tasha sat up. "Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat? I could order something for us."

"I'm not really hungry. I don't think I can stomach anything right now."

I struggled to switch positions. Tasha was already out of bed with her phone to her ear. Of course she wasn't listening to me. She was going to order at least fifty dollars worth of food I won't eat and get mad when I tell her I'm not hungry. Why do women sense they need to do things like that? When a man says no he means no. I definitely know when a woman says no she actually means get her double.

Ashton stood at the door with his hands behind his back. His eyes were slightly shifty as he tried to stare me in the face. It's only been two days since Wayne shot me. I expected Luca to come visit me and ask if I wanted him to get revenge, but no. I haven't heard a peep from the doctors about Lexi's condition. She shouldn't be too bad off. I don't think Wayne would go too far with carrying out specific orders.

"What is it?" I asked.

"...Tasha wants to know if you want to get discharged today or tomorrow," he said.

"Are you sure that's it? I could call her right now and confirm it with her on my own."

"I'm sure, sir."

I narrowed my eyes at him as I debated on whether he was telling the truth or not. I couldn't have him lying to me if something bad has happened.

"Look me in the eye, Ashton," I ordered. He blinked rapidly and did what he was told. "What has happened? Is it my daughter? Karli?"

Ashton looked as if he was actually going to shoot himself. Of course I knew something was definitely wrong. If Lexi was perfectly fine, she would have come to see me by now.

"Your step-daughter, Lexi--Wayne forced himself into the Intensive Care Unit and opened fire. He shot Luca and Lexi is in critical condition, sir."

"...How bad?"

"I heard she slipped into a coma. The doctors say she may not...wake up if she sleeps for longer than a month."

"...doesn't make any sense to me."

"Mhm..."

"Are you even listening!"

"No. I don't recall when you started talking."

Tasha chucked a pillow at me. I started laughing, but it was cut short due to the striking pain in my abdomen. She was instantly sorry and rushed over to help me. I shut my eyes tightly and tried to forget about the pain. I was getting too old to pretend everything was fine. One perfect shot could have me like Lexi. I could die in an instant.

"Anyway, I'm going to head to work and come straight here. Do you want me to pick up dinner then?" she asked.

"Of course, love." I smiled at her. "What did you order?"

"Some Chinese. I know you're going to want some later."

"...Mhm. You know me so well."

My life is so boring. I haven't a thing to do. Watching TV was short lived a long time ago. The pain in my abdomen decided it was going to come back today after five days of being nonexistent. What was up with my body? With Tasha, a pampered doctor, she had no choice but to take care of me. As my wife, I expected her to care for me when I was hurt.

I watched as she flitted around the hotel room getting dressed. How did I do all I did everyday? I was a mob boss who didn't know when he was too old to be doing stupid crap. Like trying to save the very woman I plotted against. If she found that out I'd surely let Wayne kill me then.

"I'll be back in five hours. The food should be here in thirty minutes. I'm sure you can get up and get your food, right?"

"Yes. I'm more than capable." I nodded.

"Just checking. Make sure you call Luca. There's something I need to give him and I don't want to show up unannounced."

"You're going to do it anyway," I reminded her. "Why don't you call him?"

"He's been acting strange." Tasha pulled on her jacket. "Plus, I don't know if the kids are home. If I drop by and they're not...Let's just say I'm going to be looking for an excuse as to why I'm there."

"He's not going to kill you."

"I'm sure he'd love to."

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Sorry this was so short. I was rushing to finish and I kind of don't have Brad doing anything at the moment. If you're confused about what might be going on...just go check out The Lies You Told. Just saying.

⚜Author-nim⚜