“Tommy calm down. This won’t get us anywhere. We need to figure out the events that led to this.”
“Rain, was your sister consumed with the wedding events from the beginning?”Anna asked.
“Anna, Raven is the type of individual thats turns an occasion like this upside down to create an event of epic proportion. She’s crazy when it comes to how things look to others.”
“I see. Did she involve Michael at all? I mean, did she ask his opinion on what he wanted?”Anna continued.
“Knowing my sister, probably not. She always has to be the center of attention. Don’t get me wrong Raven is a good person, but she loves drama. She lives for it.”
“Mike on the other hand is the opposite. He’s easy going. He would have married Raven anywhere and anytime. He always wants to please her, but this time may have been too much; even for Mike.”Tommy stated.
“I have to agree with Tommy. He would always do anything for her, but from what he said to me when he was here earlier leads me to believe that he has had enough. He said Raven had forgotten about them as a couple. Mike feels the meaning of their relationship has gotten lost in the shuffle of all their wedding plans or non-plans as the case may be.”I added.
“Baby, it’s still no excuse for him to go after another woman. And it’s not like Mike for that matter.”
“I know, Tommy; but Mike has been with Raven for many years. Maybe they’ve just grown apart and the wedding plans and how she’s been acting was the final straw that broke him.”
“He still knows better, Rain. He should go to her and talk with her. No run around chasing a different skirt.”Tommy was frustrated.
“I for one want to know who this skirt is.” I stated.
“So do either of you have any ideas?”Joseph asked.
Tommy and I both shook our heads.
“Do either of you know when things started to go sour?”Anna asked
“Well, I can tell you that they were still fine when Dominick took me. Mike was originally supposed to take me to the airport and then Raven said she needed him to go to the caterers that day. He was in a great mood and ordered me the car for the airport ride to Newark; and he went with Raven.”I stated.
“Yeah, and he was still good that evening that you left here. Remember the night before you were leaving for Capri with Dominick? You called me and we were all going to have dinner with your dad on the new patio. It was the night that you and Kane had a falling out.”Tommy added
“That’s right! Dominick met everyone that night. Mike was fine. So was Raven for that matter.”
“We noticed that things were tense around Christmas time.”Anna revealed.
“Really? I hadn’t notice.” I was too caught up with Dominick and I’m guessing I didn’t see any of the warning signs.
“I didn’t notice either. Besides they seemed fine at the apartment that week before Thanksgiving. And Mike seemed normal at our parent’s house when we went there for the holiday weekend.”Tommy revealed.
“So, basically this change in direction started after Thanksgiving.”Joseph observed.
“Hmmm…….. I don’t know. Maybe something was wrong at the firm. I’m going to call my dad and ask him. He knows everything that’s going on in Mike’s professional life. He could be under pressure due to a case.”
“That’s a good idea, Rain. Call Victor and see if he knows anything.”Tommy agreed that speaking to my dad would be best.
I nodded and dialed the office to speak with my dad. Maggie answered and she was in a panic.
“Rain, thank God it’s you. I was just about to find your number and phone you.”
“Maggie calm down. What’s wrong?”
“It’s your dad. He didn’t come back for a very important meeting and I was about to text him when the police called……….”
“The police? What happened?”I looked at Tommy, Anna and Joseph. They were all staring at me, waiting for an answer.
“Victor was hit by a car. They've rushed him to NY Presbyterian. I just was about to contact you.”
“Maggie, how serious is it?”I called barely get the words out of my mouth.
“Rain, he’s being sent to the brain trauma unit.”
I began to feel sick, but I had to hold it together. This was my dad. I needed for him to pull through. I had to be the one to handle this. Raven would just go crazy, so it was up to me to remain as calm as possible.
“Maggie, contact Michael and Raven. Tell them to meet me at the hospital. Let them know what happened. Whatever you do don’t tell Raven that he’s in the brain trauma unit. Tell Michael and he’ll get her there. Tommy and I are leaving now.”
I hung up and asked Anna and Joseph to call Dominick and to tell him to meet me there as well. He was in court, so I knew he couldn’t answer the text I sent him. I didn’t want him to think it was me that was being rushed to the hospital. Anna and Joseph agreed to contact me as soon as they reached him. I grabbed my jacket and we left.
Raven and Michael’s drama seemed so insignificant in that moment. Maybe Dominick was right. Maybe it wasn’t my job to get involved in other people’s problems. Mike and Raven were adults. It’s time they started acting like it.
Tommy had his car out front. We hopped in and would be at the hospital in no time.
Dear God, please let him be okay.
****
CHAPTER NINETEEN
AN EXPECTED PARTNERSHIP
Tommy barely stopped the car when I jumped out and ran inside.
“Rain, slow down. I’ll park the car and meet you inside.”Tommy called out to me.
“Text me if you can’t find me.” I called back to him.
Once in the lobby of the hospital, I headed over to the front information desk to find out where my dad was. The lady at the desk was very kind and told me that my dad was taken in through emergency services and was now being transported to the brain trauma center. She gave me a map of where I needed to go.
I turned around and Tommy was headed towards me with two uniformed police officers.
“What kind of trouble has he gotten himself into now, officers?”I said to New York’s finest.
“Nice. There not here because of me. There here about your dad.”Tommy revealed.
“What? What about my dad?”I had a very bad feeling come over me.
“Miss Medici, I’m Officer Smith and this is my partner Officer Stack. Good to meet you.”The one gentleman replied.
“Good to meet you both and I don’t mean any disrespect, but I need to get to my dad. I understand he went in through the emergency room, but has already been taken up to the brain trauma center. If you would like to come with me, we can talk on the way.”
“That’s fine. I know where the center is, so you don’t need the hospital map for right now.”Officer Smith directed us down the hallway to the elevators that would take us to the floor of the brain specialty center.
The hospital was huge. About 2500 beds. My father was in the part of the center that was affiliated with Columbia University and the Neurological Institute of NY. They did amazing research and had many of the top surgeons in the country there.
Officer Smith spoke first and explained why they were involved with my dad’s accident. I wasn’t too concerned about the police. I mean if someone is injured, of course they are going to be there for the family.
“Miss Medici, your dad’s injury was no accident. Someone deliberately ran him down.”
“Holy Shit! What!”Tommy interrupted the officer.
“Tommy, let him finish. I have to say Officer Smith, I agree with Tommy. I don’t understand. Why would someone want to run my dad down?”When the question came out of my mouth, I realized we were taking about Victor Medici, the attorney. Not Victor Medici, the loving family man.
“We don’t know for sure. All we do know is that the person who hit him, did it on purpose. We have witnesses that can attest to seeing the car follow him and when he tried to get out of the way they continued
to pursue him. Others were also hurt.”
“Oh my God. Did you catch the driver?”I asked.
“No. The only thing we know is that it was a black Cadillac CTS that hit him. And that it had New Jersey plates. Do you or your dad know anyone with a car like that?”
“I do.”A voice came from down the hall.
It was Raven and Michael was with her. With his arm wrapped around her. Interesting……. one minute he’s making a pass at me and now hours later, he’s back together with my sister. How convenient, too convenient. But I don’t have time for their shit now. I need to know what Raven meant by that.
“Who do you know with a car like that?”
“You’re boyfriend, Rain. Dominick has a CTS.”Raven answered smugly.
She better cool it with the attitude or I’ll reveal that her boyfriend has a wandering eye and hands for that matter. It’s just like her to cause drama.
“My sister is correct. My boyfriend does have a CTS with NJ plates.”
“Do you know where you boyfriend was this morning with when your father was hit, Miss Medici.”The officer asked.
“He came home to see me and then left for a meeting and then he was in court for the rest of the day. He’s an attorney.”
“Was he driving the car this morning?”Officer Stack asked.
“No. That car is at his shore house on Long Beach Island, in NJ. He has his Hummer here in the city. It’s better in the snow.”
“Does anyone else have access to his cars?”
“Just his parents and me.”
“I see. Is the CTS still in NJ?”Officer Smith asked.
“I believe so. I could call the house. Anna and Joseph would know where it is.”
“Who are they?”Officer Stack inquired.
“They’re Dominick’s parent. They also take care of his home and his personal matters.”
“Can you give us their number and we will call them directly?”
“Sure.”I wrote down the number and gave it to Officer Stack.”
“So what happens from here?”Tommy asked.
“Well, we will look into any leads and make our phone calls. If you find out anything we will contact Miss Medici directly. Here is our numbers, Miss Medici. If you can think of anything else, please contact us. No matter how small a detail it may appear to be. It still may be important.”Officer Smith stated and handed each of us business cards with their numbers on them.
The officers then directed us to the elevators and explained how to get to the brain trauma unit once we reached the floor. They also said they would call us if they had any news. We each thanked them and piled into the elevator to go see my dad.
The ride up was silent, but when we filed out I grabbed Raven’s arm.
“Don’t ever cause a seen like that again. Do you get me?”I was breathing fire.
“I don’t know what you're talking about?”She was still smug.
“I believe you do, but just in case let me explain how this is going to go. You are going to keep the drama down to none. You are not the center of attention here. This is about dad and only dad. You will stay quiet or you’ll need to leave. If you so much as breath the wrong way, I will get the men in the little white coats to subdue you. Do I make myself clear, Raven?”I was firm and serious.
She looked at each of us. Michael said nothing. Good. Tommy was looking down and trying to keep from laughing. She seemed flustered and didn't know what to say.
“I said, do I make myself clear?”
She nodded.
“Good. Now let’s go see dad.”
We went directly to the center’s information desk. I was in the lead and I intended to keep it that way for the duration of time that my dad needed to stay here to recover and be back on his feet.
“Excuse, my name is Rain Medici. This is my sister Raven. We’re looking for our dad Victor Medici. We were told he was in a hit and run accident and that he is here to be evaluated.”
“Yes, I’m Dr. Allen. I was assigned to your dad’s case.”She was a beautiful blonde woman. Dad was definitely going to like the attention.
“How is he?”Raven asked with trepidation.
“Well, he was banged up pretty badly in the accident. He has a broken leg, broken arm and several broken ribs. He hit his head from the fall after the car hit him.”The doctor explained.
I started to feel lightheaded and found a chair to sit down in. This was just too much.
“Miss Medici, are you okay? I see you're pregnant? Do you want me to call your doctor?”
“No, no. I’m fine. It was just somewhat tough to hear what you just said. Can I just have a glass of water?”
“I’ll get it.”Tommy stepped away to get the water.
Tommy came back with the water and the doctor continued.
“We’ve placed your dad in a medically induced coma. We’re waiting for the swelling to go down in his brain to see the extent of the damage. We won’t know anything more for a few hours. If you would like to see him now that would be fine. He’s resting and he’s pretty bruised. So I ask that for now only his daughters go in the room.”
We all agreed. Raven and I went to his room. I walked in first. My heart sank. There in the bed was my dad. He’s hair had streaks of blood trailing through his silvery, white locks. He had a cast on his right arm and right leg. His face was black and blue. He seemed so small in the bed. Nothing like the strong man that always took care of us. Raven sat down in the chair next to our dad’s bed. She was shaky. She held his left hand gently. She lowered her head and started to cry.
I place my hand on my sister’s shoulder. She took her other hand and placed it over mine. We would be okay. We just needed our dad to pull through this.
It seemed like forever before we left the room. Then when we walked out Dominick was coming towards us. I broke away from Raven and headed straight into his arms.
“Baby, what happened?”He said without letting go of me.
“Someone ran him down?”
“What?”Dominick couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
“You heard her. Someone in a black CTS with NJ plates ran our father down. What do you have to say about that, Mr. Kane?”Raven sliced right into him. She never listens.
I broke out of Dominick’s arms and faced my sister.
“Raven, those men in the little white coats are on their way up to get you.”
She stepped back as if she was insulted.
“He’s the one with the same type of car that hit our father, Rain. He wanted to destroy him from the beginning and you're going to keep defending him?”
I stepped forward. Enough to be in my sisters face.
“Yes. I’m going to defend him. I’m carrying his babies. Now, are you going to continue to cause problems? If so, I will have you removed.”
“You can’t do that.”Raven was getting loud.
“Watch me.”I whispered.
“Sweetie, please calm down. Rain’s pregnant and if she tells the staff you're upsetting her, they can remove you.”Michael chimed in as his charming self. Hmmmmm…..
She huffed and puffed, but finally gave in.
“Okay, Rain. You win.”She seemed disappointed and defeated.
“Raven, it’s not about winning. It’s about finding out the truth and about dad getting well. Everything else is just bullshit.”
None of us wanted to take the doctor’s advice and leave, so Tommy, and Michael took Raven to get something to eat. Dominick stayed with me here on the floor. I wanted to stay for just a little while longer to see if there would be any news about the swelling that was affecting my dad’s brain.
“Baby, can I get you something to eat?”Dominick asked.
“No, thank you. I ate just before I got here, so I’m good for now.”I smiled at him.
“Rain, thank you for sticking up for me and not thinking the worst.”
“Dominick, it’s not like that. I know you wouldn't do this. I know that you and my dad had issues, but i
t’s all out in the open now. You don’t have any reason to hurt him.”
“You believe that, but you're family doesn’t.”
“It doesn’t matter. I know the truth. Besides what are you so concerned about. You never worried before what anyone thought of you.”
“I don’t give two shits what people think of me, but I do care about what you think of me and I do care about what our babies think of me. I don’t need your sister saying things that will give our children the wrong impression of me.”
Identity: …………..People aren’t always who you believe them to be (Miss Taken Identity Series Book 2) Page 30
