10.

TABBY

"Are you the doctor on staff here?" I asked as the woman who'd introduced herself a few minutes ago wheeled a sonogram machine closer to the bed.

"I am not," she said with a secretive smile.

"But you are a doctor?"

"Yes."

"No offense, but do you know how to work that machine?"

The doctor burst out laughing and said, "It's been a while, but I think I can manage."

"If you don't work here, then why are you here?"

"I was asked to come and give you a quick checkup after your fall."

"And you just came right over."

"Well, they sent a car for me," she said with an odd smile. "But yes, I received a phone call and came directly here."

"Who called you?" I prodded.

"The director of the hospital where I work."

"To come and see me." It wasn't a question since it was obvious that was why she was here, but I still didn't understand. "Just like that."

"Yes. Just like that." She booted up the machine and pushed a few buttons before she asked, "Would you like me to call the father in?"

"Um . . . well . . ."

"If you'd rather not, that's fine too. He's waiting just outside."

"He's probably holding Ember, so I don't want to bother him."

"Actually, the woman is holding the little girl, so I can get him if you want me to."

"The woman?" The doctor tilted her head but didn't have any more information for me, so I said, "Please ask Luca to come in."

The doctor walked around the machine and peeked out the door. In just a few seconds, she was back at my side and Luca was on my other. I looked at him with concern and asked, "Where is Ember?"

"Mamma has her. She's dozing off again."

"Mamma?"

"My mother."

"Your mother is here?" Luca nodded. "Why is your mother here?"

"She came with Papà."

"Your dad is here too?" Luca nodded again. "Why?"

"I called her to arrange for the doctor to see Ember about her arm."

"The specialist who also doesn't work here."

"That's the one."

"Who are you?" I asked incredulously. I looked over at the doctor and said, "He's like Tony Stark or something." The doctor bit back a smile, and Luca laughed softly. "What's next? If the doctor says I need a foot rub, are you going to fly in a specialist from . . . a foot rub place?"

This time the doctor wasn't successful in stifling her laughter and suggested, "Maybe Sweden?"

"Yeah. Is there one on the way?"

"Do you want one on the way?"

"You have got to be flipping kidding right now."

"Shall we begin?" the doctor asked as she motioned toward my belly.

"By all means," I said as I flipped the sheet down over my lap and lifted up the T-shirt I'd borrowed from Simon before my date with Luca tonight. Last night. How long had I been here? "What day is it?"

The doctor tilted her head and asked, "Are you feeling okay, Mrs. Russo?"

I felt my eyes widen at the title and looked over at Luca. He smiled at me, and when I looked back at the doctor, she asked, "Are you confused? Does your head hurt? Are you feeling any pain or pressure?"

"No, no, and no. I just don't know how long we've been here and if it's today or tomorrow?"

"It's not even nine o'clock, Lou."

"In the morning?"

"No.Same day."

"We haven't even been here three hours yet?"

"No."

"What in the world? I am confused." I looked pointedly at the doctor and said, "Not medically, like bumped my head and scrambled my brain confused, just . . . I think overwhelmed might be a better word."

"Why?" Luca asked innocently.

"If we were anywhere else or with anyone but you, apparently, we'd still be filling out paperwork in the waiting room."

"Why?"

"Why? Because I'm not Tony Stark!"

"What does he have to do with anything?" Luca asked.

I was trying to form a coherent answer that didn't include me screaming in frustration when the doctor put her hand on my arm and gave me a gentle squeeze.

"Let's begin, Mrs. Russo."

"I just . . ."

"Overwhelmed. I get it."

"I'm glad somebody does," I muttered. "I'm excited to see the babies, though."

"When was your last sonogram?"

"It was right after we found out I had conceived. That's when we discovered they were twins. They figured out they were both boys through a blood test. They were also able to tell that they're not going to be identical."

The doctor raised her eyebrows and asked, "Have you been seen by a doctor since then?"

I nodded. "I have monthly checkups." The doctor blinked at me and I said, "I think this next time I go, they're supposed to do more blood work."

"I'd like to see you in my office on Monday," the doctor said, even though she was looking at Luca.

"Is there something wrong?"

"They did a blood panel when you got here, but I'd like to do some more extensive testing, considering how far along you are in your pregnancy. It's not that I'm expecting any problems, but I'd prefer to have all the data available if I'm going to be your doctor going forward."

"Are you?" I asked. I looked over at Luca and asked, "Is she?"

"Have you ever blown off a patient"s concerns and said that her problems would go away as soon as she gives birth?" Luca asked.

The doctor furrowed her brow and asked, "What problems?"

"I guess they're probably the usual aches and pains," I hedged.

"Have your office call me with the first available appointment, and I'll make sure she's there. Is there any way for us to come in on Tuesday instead?"

"Of course," the doctor said with a dismissive wave. "Whenever you're available is fine."

I looked at Luca in complete awe, and he leaned down and whispered in my ear, "Tony Stark, remember?"

In just a few minutes, the doctor had shown us both babies and pronounced that they looked healthy and active, were a respectable size, and that she was eager to see more blood work and would even be able to do a 3D sonogram at her office next week.

I was still reeling from all of that information when she said, "From what I understand, you fainted during a stressful situation regarding your daughter's injury."

"Something like that," I hedged.

"The report said that you fainted a total of three times, the second of which was when you fell and hit your head." I looked at Luca, and he nodded. "There's a condition that some pregnant women experience called vasovagal syncope. That's when fainting can occur when there is emotional stress that triggers the vasovagal reaction and causes a rapid decrease in blood pressure and heart rate. That generally only lasts for a few seconds because your body recovers quickly when it relaxes during the faint. However, if this happens again, especially when you're not emotionally stressed, I need to hear about it immediately."

"Okay."

"I understand that you did bump your head, but I don't believe that you have a concussion. If you do, it's very slight, but I'm going to give you a list of warning symptoms to watch for. If you're unsure or worried about something, feel free to call my service, and I'll return your call immediately."

"Thank you," I whispered, overwhelmed at the difference in this doctor's consultation and any other I'd had during this pregnancy or Embers. "Can I go home now?"

"I don't see why not." The doctor pushed the cart aside and lifted up the trash bin for me to throw in the paper towels she'd given me to wipe the sonogram gel off my belly and then set it back down on the floor. "I'll have a nurse come in and take out your IV, but I want you to make sure to drink plenty of water and get adequate rest until I see you again."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'll make sure she does."

"Can I work?"

"What do you do, Mrs. Russo?" the doctor asked.

"I'm a bartender."

The doctor winced and she said, "I'd prefer if you stay off your feet for the next few days, if possible. General walking is fine, but extended periods might be problematic, at least for right now."

"Okay."

"I'll take care of her," Luca assured the doctor. "Thank you for your help and for coming so quickly."

The doctor let out an odd little laugh, and I could tell she was being sarcastic when she said, "It was my pleasure."

We said our goodbyes and the doctor left the room, pulling the door shut behind her. I looked up at Luca and said, "I feel so . . ."

"Overwhelmed?" Luca asked when my voice trailed off.

"Discombobulated."

Luca glanced over at the door and asked, "Do you need me to call the doctor back in?"

"No. I just need to get home so I can put Ember to bed and take a few minutes to process everything that has happened tonight and everything I've learned. I need to figure out what I'm going to do and what I'm going to tell Simon. I just . . . Yeah. I'm overwhelmed."

"I'll get you home and help you with Ember, and then we can talk things out."

"More marriage talk, huh?"

Luca leaned over me, resting a hand on either side of my waist and dropping his head down until we were almost nose to nose.

"Yes, Lou. More marriage talk. It's gotta happen and soon. I can't keep you a secret for long, and the more time we take hiding this from the family, the harder it's going to be to explain it. It will just put you in more danger in the meantime."

"Your family is right outside the door."

"The four families, sweetheart. But you're right. My mom and dad are in the hall and eager to meet you, but they're going to wait."

"Why?"

"Because in a few days, you're going to be their daughter-in-law."

"That's crazy," I muttered. I thought about it for a second and asked, "If they're here right now, then why do they have to wait to meet me?"

"So when my brother asks them if they were part of this, they'll be able to honestly say no."

"Why does that matter?"

"Trust me, Lou. It just does."

◆◆◆

"Send Eric to pick up the prescriptions and have him bring them back here," Luca told one of the men as he adjusted Ember in his arms.

"If you need anything else, just let me know. Since she knows, we'll station two upstairs and two downstairs - one at the bar entrance, one at the front, and one in the rear."

"She is right here," I snapped. I took a deep breath and blew it out before I apologized. "I'm sorry I snapped, but you're making plans and talking about me as if I'm not standing right here."

"I apologize," the guard said.

"Lou, this is Paulie and Ricki."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Paulie said with a nod.

The other man smiled at me before I asked, "And the driver? The other men?"

"My driver is Gabe. You also met Adrian and Vinnie."

"And they're going to sit downstairs and in the hallway? I'm not a monster, Luca." I looked at Paulie and said, "You and your friends are welcome to wait for Luca inside the apartment."

Paulie looked from me to Luca, and even though his face was blank, I could see his eyes twinkling and knew he was holding back a smile.

"You and I need to talk, and they'll be doing their jobs."

"What are their jobs, exactly?"

"They're standing right here," Luca said sarcastically. When I glared at him, he smiled. "Their job is to protect me and now, you and Ember."

"But . . ."

"We'll talk about it after we get Ember settled in her bed," Luca said, cutting me off. When the elevator came to a stop on our floor, I started to walk out, but Luca put his arm out in front of me while Paulie and Ricki walked out into the foyer. When Paulie nodded at Luca, he dropped his arm and put his hand on my lower back as I walked past him.

Darlene was standing in her open doorway with her eyes on Luca and didn't rush across the hall toward me like she would have if I had been alone.

"Darlene," Luca said in a pleasant tone.

"Mr. Russo," Darlene said in greeting before she looked at me and bit her lip.

"I'm sure you'd like to speak to Tabby."

"I would."

"Come over, and I'll tell you what happened," I encouraged. Darlene didn't move until Luca nodded as if to give her permission, and then she hurried across the foyer toward us. Once we were inside the apartment, I looked around and realized that everything inside was just like it should be even though I'd left the door wide open in my haste to get Ember to the doctor.

Darlene walked ahead to Ember's bedroom, and Luca followed her and then laid Ember down on her bed before he muttered something in Italian and then stood up and smiled at me.

"I'll be in the kitchen. Would you like me to salvage dinner or order something?"

"It's late, so we can just eat what's here."

"What do you want to eat, Lou?"

"Whatever you brought is fine."

"What do you want, Lou?"

His tone of voice rubbed me the wrong way, and I snapped, "Beef stir fry with onions, jalapenos, and bamboo. No rice, no cabbage, extra brown sauce, lo mein noodles, two spring rolls, two egg rolls, and a bowl of wonton soup."

"What do you want to drink?" He didn't even blink at my food request even though it was almost midnight now. I doubted he'd be able to find anywhere nearby that would serve him, so I couldn't do more than stare at him until he finally said, "The doctor said to stay hydrated, so I'll just make sure there's enough bottled water in the fridge. Do you want anything, Darlene?"

"I'm fine, but she forgot to tell you that she'd probably also like crab rangoons."

"Oh! You're right!" I said excitedly. I shouldn't get my hopes up that he'd be able to fulfill my food wishes at this time of night, but my mouth was watering at the thought of my favorites, including Darlene's suggestion. "Did I mention egg rolls?"

"You did."

I watched Luca turn around and walk out of the bedroom. Darlene waited until he was down the hall before she reached across Ember's bed and grabbed me by the front of my shirt. She pulled me closer to her and hissed, "Luca Fucking Russo, Tabby?"

I slapped her hand away and whispered, "I didn't know that was his name. He told me he was Luca Robono. I told you about him."

"Holy shit! What in the . . . What have you . . . What are you mixed up in?"

"I don't even know for sure, Darlene. How do you know him?"

"When I met you, his uncle was running things."

"And then there was a change in management?"

Darlene laughed bitterly and then ran her hands through her hair. "Yes. You could say that."

"What exactly does that mean?"

"It means that when the two youngest Russos overthrew their uncle and tossed him out onto the street, they decided they weren't going to run my kind of business anymore and found someone who would."

"Teddy."

"Yes.Teddy."

"What kind of . . ." I snapped my mouth closed because I knew that asking a prostitute what kind of people ran a business that profited off of prostitution was the wrong way to go about this conversation. Instead, I asked, "When they did that, what was it like?"

"What the fuck does that mean?"

"Did they organize a town hall meeting and put it to a vote?" Darlene stared at me like I'd sprouted horns, so I asked, "Did they say, ‘Hey, ladies and gentlemen of the evening, we've decided to sell the family business to an outsider. You can take early retirement with a healthy severance package or continue your 401K with the new ownership.' or was it more like, ‘You're all screwed.'?"

Darlene burst out laughing and said, "I still think it's fucking hilarious that you can't say the word ‘prostitution' without blushing."

"There's a mobster in my living room that thinks the best course of action for mine and Ember"s safety is to marry him, Darlene. My vocabulary, or lack thereof, isn't the issue right now." Darlene's jaw dropped in shock, and she stood there blinking at me for at least ten seconds before I asked, "See? That's how I feel about the whole thing."

"What have you gotten into, Tabby?"

I pointed at my protruding belly and said, "I found out something very important about the babies, Darlene."

"What?"

"Their last name is Campana."

When her eyes nearly bulged out of her face, I realized that she knew exactly who I was talking about, whereas I'd had to get an explanation from Luca to figure it out.

"You're carrying a baby . . . two babies . . . that belong to The Four Families?"

"They don't belong to anyone, but yes. Their older brother is Luca's best friend, and biologically, he's their only living relative other than Brett, who has apparently started dating him."

"Zach Campana and your friend Brett are dating?"

"Yes. And they've been looking for me. So have some other mobster types - Frank and Geno Bolognese or something like that and some Russian mobsters and . . . for all I know the Terminator is gonna show up with the Ghosbusters in tow, and they're gonna jump right into the middle of my shit too." I sat down on the edge of Ember's bed and put my hands over my face before I whispered, "I'm so out of my element. I don't know who I can trust or who's dangerous and . . . He's dangerous! Luca is a mobster! He's in the mafia. They make documentaries about people like him and . . . the whole Russian thing is all fucked up because Rebecca owed them money or owed the other guys money, so she was going to sell one or the other of these babies and . . ."

"Holy shit, Tab."

"Yeah.Holy shit."

"Frank and Geno?"

"Yeah. I think that's what he said. They're the bad guys. Or the worse guys. Aren't they all the bad guys?"

"The city has been very different since The Four Families took over. It was a huge deal. The younger generation took all the power - by force, from what I understand - and changed everything."

"How?"

"There are still drugs, prostitution, and all the things, but they've got a handle on stuff that used to be out of control."

"What exactly does someone in the mafia do, D?"

"They make money, control neighborhoods, they . . . they're like kings who have their hand in all the levels of the city - from the government to the dealers and everything in between."

"Luca deals drugs?"

"I don't think so - at least, not that I've heard."

"You know the most fucked up part of all of this?"

"I'm not sure how you gauge that, but hit me with it."

"I killed my best friend's mother, and that isn't my biggest problem right now."

"That is fucked up."

"I know, right?"