“That’s amazing. I can’t wait to see them. Since we are on the subject of the girls, how much do they know about what happened to me?”
“I was as honest as I could be. I told them you were mugged and hurt enough that you had to spend a few days in the hospital to get better. Who knew I would ever have to tell them this? And knowing all along that it was their father who was responsible for it.”
“Karen, he is a danger to you and to your girls. I tried to explain this to you, but you ran from me and then everything happened with the fire, Dawson, and then this. I never really had the opportunity to explain why I met with McCarthy and what I had learned from him about your ex-husband. Yes, he is working construction out in Oregon, but the company is owned by some heavy hitters that also deal in a number of seedy ventures. Most of his income is under the table. Right there, that’s a warning flag. If he’s not reporting, then he has something to hide. He shows up here after years of being off the grid and with a wad of cash? It doesn’t add up, babe. It never did.”
“Nick, please tell me what happened on the night you were attacked. I have a right to know.”
“Okay, I will tell you, but again, you need to keep quiet about this until I speak with McCarthy. I mean it, Karen. You have to promise me.”
“I promise, Nick. I will not tell a soul.”
“Okay. I was angry with you for reacting in the manner you did. I felt as if you were taking Alex’s side against mine. I called you over and over again, and you ignored my messages and texts. I didn’t know the state of our relationship at that point, and I was in the middle of shift. Well, you know what happened next, the call came in and we raced against time to prevent that explosion from happening, but then Dawson got hurt, and then I got hurt. It was a mess. When I got home, I never expected to see you there, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t happy about it. I just had so much to deal with, and I wasn’t ready to tell you how I felt about what was happening between you and me.”
“I respect that, Nick, and I don’t know how many ways I can say sorry to you. I messed up, baby, and that’s on me. Please just tell me what I can do to make things right again between us, and I will do it.”
“Karen, will you listen to me? There is nothing you can do to fix us.”
“Oh…I see. Okay, I guess I’ll be going then.”
She was shaky on her feet as she began to walk away from me. Please God, help me get through to this stubborn woman who I love very much. I pulled her back, and that surprised her.
She said, “Nick, please. Let me leave here with some dignity. A girl’s pride can only take so much.”
“Shut up, Karen. Just shut up and kiss me.”
She blinked at my command, but then beautifully submitted to me.
“I don’t understand, Nick. I thought you wanted me to leave.”
“I said no such thing. What I did say is that we do not have anything to fix, because we are not broken. We are stronger than ever, and I am not going anywhere. Neither are you. So put that thought out of your mind and just allow me to hold the woman I love.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck, carefully avoiding the bandaged section of it, and said, “Thank you for forgiving me, even though you said otherwise. It’s a hard habit to break, so just deal with my crazy.”
“You got it, babe. Now, before another word is spoken, I need a promise from you.”
“Anything, Nick, I will do anything for you.”
“No more running. I want you, Karen, and I want the family we are dreaming about, but you have to trust me with your heart. You cannot run every time life treats you hard and is not always perfect. We are going to fight, that I am sure of, but I promise to always make up with you before the day comes to an end. I will love on you, kiss you until you are breathless, and say as many apologies as you need to hear, as long as you stay with me.”
“You have my promise. No more running,” she responded.
“Good. Now, baby, we are okay.”
We were kissing again when my mother came into my room.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said.
“Sure you didn’t, but come in,” I told her.
Karen giggled close to my ear and then got up from my lap. It was a little harder this time around to get up from the chair, but I made it back to the bed with little discomfort and still no headaches or dizziness. The doctor wanted me to keep track of my movements and if I experienced any changes. Karen grabbed her purse and kissed me one more time before leaving. I cupped her face and kissed her back.
“I will see you later?” I asked her.
“Of course, after I close the bar.”
“No, you don’t have to do that. I already had Philly call in more staff, and he is more than capable of running the bar and closing out for the night. I need you here with me.”
“Okay, I’ll be here after I put the girls to bed then. Mom has been staying with me since you got hurt. I’m sure she won’t mind staying with them.”
“Okay, one more thing,” I requested.
“Anything.”
“Give him a thirty-minute window, and when you are ready, call Tony to pick you up. He will bring you here.”
“Nick, I can drive myself. I will be fine.”
“Karen, please don’t argue with me. You will not win, certainly not on this. I need to know you are safe, and Tony will make sure that happens.”
“Okay, Tony will drive me tonight. Anything else?”
“No, that’s all for now. Just keep your phone on, and I will call you in a little while.”
Mom asked, “Wow, what was all that about? You are up to something Nick, I can feel it down to my toes.”
“Stay out of it, ma. It’s better that way. Also, I didn’t want to have this conversation with you, but I feel you need a reminder on boundaries. Karen is a part of my life whether you like it or not, so either you accept her or you don’t, but it would make me happy knowing that you do.”
“Nick, I am not mad at Karen. I was upset when you first were brought in here, and I already apologized to her. My only son had just survived an explosion where he was hurt and will wear a permanent scar as a reminder to how close he came to dying, and then he gets brutally attacked? Give me a break, son, and allow me to process all of this. I didn’t mean to lash out on anyone.”
“Okay, I’m sorry too, and thank you for staying here with me, but it’s time for you to go home.”
“I am home!” she shouted.
“You know what I mean. You have a whole other life waiting for you down in Florida, and once I am home, I am going to want to be with Karen and the girls. Please don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad, quite the opposite. I am so damn happy you finally found someone to share your life with. Karen is a good choice, and it’s clear she’s just as much in love with you as you are with her. Look at it this way: I get to say I am a grandma now, and I get to share it with one of my dearest friends.”
“Happy to hear you are finally on board with it all. Thank you, mom. I really do love her, and I would not be committing to her if I wasn’t serious.”
“I know, son. Okay, I am going to go back to the house and pack my things. I already have a return home ticket scheduled for tomorrow night out of JFK.”
“All you do is amaze me, mom. How did you know?”
“Easy…I’m your mother, and it is my job. Get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I was thankful for the quiet time. I had taken a shower and dressed in track pants and a t-shirt. My neck was slowly healing but not hurting as much as it once was. My ribs were tender, but they were so tightly wrapped that I didn’t feel much more than that. My scans came back clear; one more thing to check off my list.
Chief Michaelson came by to update me on the house, my guys, and how my replacement was doing. The guys seemed to accept him, but only as long as it was temporary. Spinelli returned from California, proudly showing off his trophy and ribbon. I promised the guys a cele
bration party once I was back on duty. I was brought up to speed on everything else and was feeling pretty good about everything that happened.
I knew it was far from over with Alex. That sonofabitch would be getting his due, and once I get sprung from here, I would make it my mission to nail his ass against the wall.
“Well, if it ain’t Sleeping Fucking Beauty. It’s about time you are awake. So, ready to talk with me?” I heard from the doorway.
I looked up from the magazine I was reading and smiled at McCarthy. He was a bear of a man with a no nonsense attitude.
“Hello to you too,” I said.
“Yeah, let’s cut the shit, Bartelli. You will talk to me right now, or I may have to give you another concussion to that thick skull of yours.”
“Matt, I had every intention of coming clean with you, but as you can see, I was a little busy recovering from the biggest ass beating I had ever taken.”
“Yeah, and how did the other guy look?” he asked.
“Pretty fucked up until he got the upper hand on me. I was already down because of my neck. If it wasn’t for that, he would have never gotten the jump on me.”
“I know that’s true. So do I have to ask? Or do I already know who is responsible for this happening to you?”
“It’s exactly who you suspect, and now the big question is: How do we find him?”
“Without confirming my suspicions, I already began my search. We know he is not in Oregon, or his last known address we can place him at. So unfortunately that leaves us empty-handed and nothing more to go on until he resurfaces.”
“I have to draw him out, Matt. That’s the only way. I have what he wants, and that’s his family.”
“No way, Nick. That will never work.”
“Says you, but you have to at least allow me to try. The girls have a guard on them, right?”
“Yes, and Karen has notified the school. They have his picture on file.”
“Good, well that’s a start. Matt, you don’t know this guy the way I do. He was always a punk ass. He doesn’t deserve Karen, and he certainly shouldn’t be anywhere near those beautiful girls, especially after what he did to me. Matt, I am not going to go vigilante on you, but I will be watching my back, and I have many others who will too. He’s not going to get the jump on me again. And this time, I will be ready for anything.”
“Nick, I hear what you are telling me, but I can’t say that I believe you. This guy has history with the woman you love, and now he has staked some fucked up claim to her. He’s already struck once. I hope you know what you are doing.”
“I do, and it helps to know you will be there too.”
We were just about finished when Karen knocked on my door and came in carrying a casserole pan. Whatever it was smelled out of this world.
“Hey, babe, you are finally here,” I said to her. “Everything okay at home?”
“Yes, all is well. The girls are in bed, and mom is with them. I saw the guard, Nick.”
McCarthy said, “That’s my cue. I’ll see myself out, Nick. I’ll call you.”
I waved off Matt, and then my focus went back to Karen, who looked worried.
I told her, “Come here, baby, and give me a kiss. Your man needs some TLC, and you are just the right woman who could give it to me.”
“Yeah, yeah, sweet talker, tell me something I don’t know,” she said as she placed the food down and tossed her jacket onto the chair along with her purse.
“I missed you today. Truth be told, I’ve been missing you desperately since I left you sitting in that Starbucks. I know you said you forgive me, but I am still so sorry, Nick. I can’t stop myself from reliving what you went through. First with the explosion, and then the beating you suffered from Alex.”
“Okay, listen to me. The fire was the fire, and you know it’s the job. What I do is layered with risk, but I only got injured helping one of my men. There is a difference. Secondly, I had already taken down Alex, and my only mistake was turning my back on him. I did not expect him to get one up on me, and when he did, he went for my neck first, like the coward he is. We are going to be okay, and Alex will be brought to justice one way or another.”
“Nick, I know you have every reason to hate him, but every time I look at Gigi, it’s as if I am looking at the smaller version of Alex. She resembles him so much, and she would just be crushed if anything were to ever happen to her father. Please let the police bring him in.”
“Karen, I have no control over Alex and the decisions he makes. I know he is dangerous. When a man has nothing to lose, he does not care whom he hurts and what roadblocks he has to go through to get what he wants. In his case, I’m the barrier he believes is keeping him from his family. When he walked out on you all those years ago, he lost every God given right he had to his family. The gloves are off, babe. Like I said, it will be up to Alex on how he wants to end this. Either way, I will have no problem taking him out if it comes down to his life or mine. You need to understand that right here, right now.”
“What happens if I can’t?” she asked.
I tightened my hold around her and breathed her in, reveling in the fact that this may be my last night with Karen, depending how she accepted my answer.
“If you can’t, then we have reached an impasse that I don’t want to have. I don’t want to, Karen, but if it means keeping you, Gigi, Trinity, and your mom safe, then I will walk away from you and never bother you again. I won’t stop protecting you from a distance, but I will not be in your day-to-day life, not when you are unable to choose me, and what we have.”
“Wow, you sure answered that question in great detail.”
“Did you expect anything less from me?”
“No, that’s not the man you are. I trust you, Nick, and I know you love us and will protect us from Alex, so yes, I accept it all.”
“Thank you, baby. I promise I will do my very best not to have the outcome you are imagining, but I can only speak for myself.”
“I know. Okay, enough with the heavy. I don’t want to waste another minute with you. Let’s eat before my mother’s gnocchi gets cold.”
We ate with lighter conversation between us, and then we shared a piece of cheesecake from Carmine’s. It was just what I needed as my sendoff meal from this place. After Karen packed up the dishes, I made room in my bed for her to lay beside me. I asked her to stay the night with me, and she didn’t put up a fight. She was careful of my neck and ribs, but she fit my body like a glove. I had already told the nurses to not disturb me tonight with vital checks. I was cleared already by my doctor to be discharged in the morning. I needed this night with Karen, because I truly did not know what tomorrow would bring.
“Welcome home, Nick!” rounds of cheers rang out, as I entered my home. I was surrounded by lifelong friends and my guys from the firehouse. It was wonderful, and to make it even sweeter were two little girls waiting for me to hug them. This would be the first time I had seen them since I came home two weeks ago from the fire.
Trinity was first. She usually pounced on me, but I think she knew I was hurt and to be gentle with her hug. I couldn’t get down to the floor with my ribs, so I took a seat on a folding chair, and she slowly walked into my arms. I felt the wetness of her tears on my shoulder, which nearly broke me down to my knees.
“I missed you so much, Nick. Are your boo-boos better yet?”
“I missed you too, sweet girl, and I’m working my way back to our big hugs, okay?”
“Okay. I love you.”
“I love you too!” I told her.
Trinity found her place on my shoulder and wasn’t in any rush to stop hugging me. These girls needed a man that could rise up to be their father, and I was so ready to be that man for them. Trinity gave me one last smile and then looked over her little shoulders to her big sister.
“Come on, G, it’s your turn to hug Nick,” Karen said as she took a knee to the floor and gave her daughter an encouraging hug. “It’s okay, baby, he’s fine and ge
tting stronger every single day. You can hug him but only if you want to.”
“I want to, mommy. I just don’t want to hurt him.”
“You won’t, Gigi. I promise,” I called out to her.
She quickly accepted my answer and walked over to me.
“Welcome home, Nick. We missed you.”
“I missed you too, sweetheart. Now, I heard that two little elves were busy baking all day. I am fixing for a chocolate cupcake. Do you know where I can get a few of those?”
“I’ll get it for you, Nick!” Trinity called out as she made her way back to my kitchen with Gigi following behind her.
“How are you?” Karen asked as she entwined her arm within mine.
“Better now that I have seen the girls. They are so sweet.”
“We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?”
“We have, and it’s only going to get better for us. You’ll see,” I told her.
I gave Karen a kiss, and then I was pulled back into my huge circle of friends, all asking how I was doing and when I was coming back to work. My favorite moms were here too. Frannie hugged and kissed me. She, along with my mom and Veronica, stocked my freezer with every Italian dish in existence. Mrs. Rossini blessed me with some homemade pastries. I was very lucky and certainly feeling the love.
Mom said a tearful goodbye to me, and then Tony took her to the airport. She made me swear on the Bible that if I needed her, I was to call her, and she would be on a plane. I reassured her once more that I was fine and it was time for her to go home and relax a little with less drama. She scoffed at the notion that I expected her not to worry. She hugged me a little too hard for my ribs, but I grunted and said nothing.
The party was coming to a close, and most of the guests left or were getting ready to go. My house was bigger than Karen’s and Veronica’s, so I insisted that they all move in here until we located Alex and dealt with him. Little did they know, that I had planned on Karen, Gigi, and Trinity staying on a more permanent basis once I proposed to Karen, which would be happening very soon. Her ex would not stop our plans.
Revive Page 32
