A Bookie's Odds (14 page)

Taking advantage of his location, Nicholas relieved himself. After washing his hands, he opened the door.

Alice shoved past him. She picked up the empty bag from the floor, glanced at the clear water in the bowl, and screamed.

“Asshole.” She charged at him, striking his chest with her fists. “Get out.”

“With pleasure.”

Nicholas started up the hall, gathering his clothes along the way. He stopped in the foyer, pulled on his pants, and slipped his feet into his loafers. With the rest of his clothes under his arm, he yanked open the door.

Gianni stood in the hall, his fist raised to knock.

“What do you want?” Alice screamed.

Gianni glanced at the naked, irate woman and then at his partially clothed friend. “I take it I’m interrupting something.”

“You can’t interrupt something he couldn’t start.”

“
Chiudi la bocca!
” Nicholas waved her off.

She should consider herself lucky he had been raised not to hit a woman. He was certain another man would not have brushed off her comment regarding his lack of performance. Instead of telling her to shut her mouth, someone else would have done it for her.

“
Cagna
,” he cursed as he stepped into the hall. He may not have believed in hitting a woman, but he had no problem calling a bitch a bitch.

She countered with, “
Bastardo
,” before slamming the door behind him.

“What was that about?” Gianni asked.

“Did you know she’s into drugs?”

Gianni shrugged his shoulders, which was not the response Nicholas would have expected from his friend. Their lessons on the evils of narcotics had been accompanied by a threat of what Nicholas’s father would do if he ever caught them using, dealing, or hanging around with anyone involved with drugs.

“Your old man called the club. You’re to meet him at Wyckoff Heights.”

Nicholas’s heart skipped a beat. Since his father was searching for him, it was obvious the older man was not in the hospital. Gianni was too calm for it to be Celeste. That only left his grandmother.

He dropped his jacket and tie on the floor and shoved one arm into his shirt.

“What happened?”

“That chick who’s always hanging around Celeste…”

“Georgia? What about her?”

“Someone busted up her father’s bar and attacked the old man.”

Nicholas froze with his shirt half on. His fear switched to Georgia. She had been a part of his life for sixteen years. Even the falling out could not diminish his concern for her.

“Was she hurt?”

“Your old man didn’t say.”

Nicholas finished pulling his shirt on and grabbed the rest of his things.

“Thanks.” He slapped his friend’s shoulder as he rushed past him.

He was thankful for the late hour and few drivers on the road. With his foot on the gas and a disregard for traffic lights, Nicholas raced to the hospital. Despite his erratic driving, he arrived at his destination outside an ambulance.

Nicholas rushed into the building and past the nurse at the front desk. Following the signs, he raced down the hall toward the waiting room. As he stepped into the room, every head inside turned toward him, but he focused solely on Georgia.

She stared back at him, her brow wrinkled and her lips pursed tight. She had twisted the strap to her purse into a knot. Dust and blood covered the front of her dress.

For years he had protected her from bullies, celebrated her accomplishments, and mourned her losses. He therefore assumed she would want him to sit with her while she waited on news of her father. However, the lack of emotion in her eyes made him wonder whether his presence was welcome.

It took less than five seconds for him to take in everything, and it felt like hours had passed before Georgia sprang out of her chair. Her bag fell to the floor as she rushed across the room. When she reached him, his arms wrapped around her and held her close.

Nicholas wanted to tell her everything would be all right, but having no more information about her father, he would have been feeding her a line. He had never done so in the past and was not about to start. He would simply hold her, offering as much comfort as his presence could provide.

Georgia laid her head on his chest. Nicholas regretted not going after her sooner. He missed their friendship…missed having her there to talk to…missed teasing her…and, most importantly, he simply missed having her around.

For a minute, no one and nothing else mattered. Though it had taken an unfortunate incident to return things to the way they should be, Georgia was back in his life, and he would do whatever it took to keep her there.

A throat cleared. Nicholas glanced over Georgia’s head at her date. The dust and blood on the other man’s shirt indicated he had been with her when she found her father.

The other man stood, frowning, obviously not pleased someone else was holding his woman. Nicholas couldn’t give a crap.

“In the hall,” his father said, ending the staring contest.

Nicholas reluctantly released Georgia. He felt empty inside without her closeness.

“Thank you for coming.” Her voice was void of emotion.

“I’ll be back.” Nicholas kissed her forehead before following his father out of the room.

Unwilling to let her out of his sight, he stood just outside the door. She shuffled back to her chair and sat. Her companion towered over her. In angry whispers, he appeared to question her. She stared straight ahead until he gave up and sat next to her.

“You look like a bum,” his father said. “Fix your clothes.”

Nicholas glanced at the man who never left the house in anything other than a full suit. His jacket was missing, as was his tie, and the top two buttons of his shirt were open.

Considering the situation, Nicholas felt it would be best to keep all comments regarding his father’s appearance to himself. Instead, he focused on his own disheveled clothing. With no concern over who would walk by, he unbuttoned the shirt.

“How is he?”

“He was unconscious when they brought him in,” his father replied. “They just wheeled him to surgery.”

“Does Georgia know who did this?”

“I didn’t ask, but I have my suspicions.”

Nicholas nodded as he opened his pants and tucked in his shirt. Knowing his father, the older man had spoken to Mr. Collins after learning about the previous break-in at the bar. And, while Georgia’s father, believing he could handle everything on his own, may not have said anything, Nicholas’s father would have asked around to at least get the name of the person attempting to intimidate the business owner.

“I have a few things I need to take care of. Stay with Georgia.”

It was a needless command. Nicholas had no intention of leaving her side.

Again he chose to keep his comments to himself. He simply nodded as he refastened his pants. He headed into the waiting room and sat in the row of seats across the room from Georgia and the man with her.

Nicholas pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He lit one, took a drag, and then sat back and watched Georgia.

Lost in thought, she did not reintroduce him to her companion. Not that Nicholas gave a fig. The only thing he wanted to know was why the other man had to sit so close to her. There were perfectly good seats…in the lobby.

****

The thunderous sound of soft-soled shoes slapping against the marble broke the silence. Georgia sat up and listened, her hopes rising as each step grew louder.

The doctor stepped into the room. Georgia jumped out of her seat, jostling William awake. Nicholas, who had not slept, was by her side when she reached the doctor.

“Your father’s out of surgery,” the doctor announced.

Georgia let out the breath she had been holding. As long as her worst fear did not come true, she was certain she could handle whatever else he had to tell her.

“He took quite a beating, and he was stabbed several times. He’ll have a long recovery ahead of him.”

“When can I see him?”

“We’re getting him settled in a ward—ˮ

“He’s getting a private room,” Nicholas stated.

“I was under the assumption…well, you know…ˮ the doctor stuttered.

“What?”

The doctor glanced from William to Georgia. “A private room can get expensive. How do you plan to pay for it?”

“You worry about the doctoring,” Nicholas said. “I’ll worry about the expense.”

The doctor glared at Nicholas for a second before he nodded his head.

“When can I see him?” Georgia repeated.

“Right now, he’s resting, so I suggest you go home and do the same. Come back in the morning, during visiting hours.”

“Excuse me, Doctor, you have a patient,” a nurse announced from the doorway.

“I’ll be right there,” he called over his shoulder, before addressing the group in front of him. “If you’ll excuse me.”

William let out a low whistle once the doctor had rushed out of the room. “That’s a relief. For a while I was wondering. He was a mess when we found him.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s been a long night. I’ll be lucky if I get two hours of sleep after I drop you off.”

Georgia shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“What are you talking about? The doctor told you to go home.”

“I don’t care what he said. I’m not going anywhere till I see my father.”

“Why? It’s not like you’re a doctor or anything.”

“I’m not leaving.”

William released a hard breath. His attitude reminded her of their earlier discussion.

“I don’t have time for this, woman. I have to go to work in the mornin’.”

“Then leave.” Nicholas’s tone was calm, yet the challenge was clear. “If Georgia wants to stay, then she stays.”

“I’m her ride.”

“I can drive her home.”

William cocked an eyebrow. Georgia knew he was facing a dilemma. And, no matter the choice he made, he would not come out ahead. If he left, he’d look like a cold-hearted bastard. If he stayed, he’d look like a punk caving in to a woman.

Understanding his situation and caring were two different things. She was not in the mood to soothe egos. Her only concern was her father. She was not going to leave the hospital until she saw him. Even if it meant she had to walk home.

“William, just go.”

He jerked back, apparently shocked by her order. He opened his mouth, yet one glance over her head had him pursing his lips. Georgia did not know what Nicholas did to change the other man’s mind, but, at the moment, she was grateful for any help.

“You sure?” William asked through clenched teeth.

“Yes.”

“Fine.” He leaned forward, his lips aiming for hers.

Georgia turned her head. The kiss landed on her cheek. She refused let him mark his territory by kissing her in front of Nicholas. The only person in the hospital who should be playing with tonsils was the doctor.

“So it’s like that,” he whispered in her ear.

“This is not the time or the place,” Georgia replied before she stepped back from him. “We’ll talk later.”

William straightened and muttered, “Sure, later.” Without acknowledging Nicholas, he turned and strolled out.

As the sound of his wingtips tapping against marble faded, Georgia spun to face Nicholas. Realizing Mr. Santiano would want to know about her father, Georgia had contacted him after calling an ambulance. She had not been surprised when he walked into the waiting room seconds after she and William got there. But she had been shocked when she looked up and saw Nicholas in the doorway an hour later.

Georgia had been certain that revealing her suspicions about Gianni had ended their friendship. However, he had proven he was a true friend by not letting their disagreement keep him from being there for her in a time of need.

“Thank you for coming,” she said. “You don’t have to stay.”

He reached for her hand and held it tight. “Yes, I do.” His tone was firm, telling her there would be no more discussion regarding the matter. As long as she needed him, he would be by her side.

Chapter 12

The nurse shook her head. She muttered a snide remark about the stubbornness of some people before she walked away. Georgia did not give the other woman a second glance. She sat in the lone chair in the private room. As promised, Nicholas remained by her side.

After two hours of prodding, the hospital personnel had finally stopped insisting Georgia and Nicholas go home. They let them sit in the waiting room until visiting hours. A doctor then escorted them to the room where her father slept.

Georgia spent the day by her father’s side, watching him sleep. Several times he regained consciousness and muttered a few incoherent words before drifting off again.

Nicholas thought about her loyalty. Someone willing to trade her comfort to stay by another’s side would not allow an argument to keep her from a friend. She would have tried long before this to bury the hatchet and find some way to make things work. So there had to be another explanation for her missing Celeste’s party.

“I had a feeling I’d find you here.” His father stepped into the room. He walked around the bed and stopped by Georgia. “You look like hell.”

The corners of her lips did not quite make it into the grin she tried to force onto her face. Her brow wrinkled and her eyes drooped. A nurse had given her a rubber band to contain her hair, though without a comb she could not do anything about the tangles. Strands that had not made it into the ponytail stuck out in various directions from her head.

Of course, she looked better than the man lying in the bed. The left side of her father’s face was swollen. A bruise surrounded his left eye, his nose was twice its normal size, and his lip was busted. A cast covered his right arm and a splint held together the pointer and middle finger on his left hand. The bulge from the bandage by his left ribs indicated the location of one of his stab wounds.

“You shouldn’t worry so,
cara
.” His father reached out and stroked her cheek. “Everything’s all right.”

Georgia glanced into his father’s eyes. A silent exchange followed, and after a few seconds, she nodded. “Thank you,” she said softly.

“Anytime.” The man dropped his hand to his side. “I want you to go home and rest. Someone will call you when James wakes.”