Mobsters, Inc.

Three.

Five weeks ago

Franco flopped down on the couch as soon as he got home. He fled away from his mother and that hospital, and he went straight home to Crystal. He rubbed his face with his hands just as Crystal sat down beside him. Immediately, concern flooded Crystal’s body.

“Franco?” She said in a gentle tone. “Are you okay?”

Franco let out a ragged breath. “Water,” he croaked out. “Can you get me some water, please?”

Crystal swiftly stood up and within a couple of seconds, she was back at Franco’s side with a glass of water. Franco drank the water in one gulp, trying to calm his nerves and get his thoughts straightened out. Crystal’s face was lined with worry, and Franco hated that he was going to have to tell her something that would worry her even more.

“What’s wrong, love?” Crystal asked in a soft voice filled with worry. “Are you sick?”

Franco shook his head, and he heard his girlfriend release a lungful of air.

“Come on, Franco,” she pressed gently. “Talk to me.”

Just say it. Franco took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. He didn’t even notice that one of his legs was bouncing uncontrollably until he felt the warmth of Crystal’s hand against his thigh.

“It’s my dad,” he finally croaked out, and Crystal’s grip on his thigh tightened.

“What happened to George?” she whispered.

He took another deep breath and he spoke, the words seemingly creating more friction against his throat.

“Heart attack.”

Crystal gasped. Franco hung his head.

“How is he?” Crystal asked, her voice cracking. Franco’s stomach lurched painfully.

“He’s still at the ICU. He has been since last week. They didn’t tell me because they didn’t want me to mess the HG deal up.”

A sob escaped Crystal’s lips. It was quiet, a faint sound, but it filled the entire room and made the blood rush to Franco’s ears.

“Oh Franco,” she whimpered, leaning her head against his temple. She knew what this meant. He was going to have to handle all the deals that his father makes- business ones, and even underground ones. Her heart hurt for George, she loved him very much, but her heart was breaking for Franco, too. Crystal knew that the business deals, no matter how uncomfortable Franco feels dealing with some of these people, would be easily handled by the younger Moore. The underground deals, however, were an entirely different story.

Franco knew that she knew. He didn’t need to say anything, and those two words she uttered had said everything.

*****

Evelyn Moore was already at the hospital’s corridor, a day after her and Franco’s conversation, waiting for her son. When Franco finally appeared behind the entrance doors, she let out a breath.

“I want to see him,” he said. Evelyn just nodded. Together, they rode the elevator to the ICU wing of the hospital. For the entire ride, Franco’s heart was beating wildly inside his chest. It didn’t ease up even when they finally reached the floor, got out of the elevator, and stood at his father’s room’s door.

His mother pushed the door open, and Franco sucked in his breath. There he was. His father. Tubes were attached to his body, his complexion pale. His breathing was ragged and shallow. Seeing his father in that condition was hard. As a kid, though he loved his father, Franco had always been a little intimidated by him.