Chapter Thirteen
Moon
Cori’s been provided a room on the third floor so she can recuperate here. Carlo thinks it will take some time. After Cori’s fingers were delivered, we placed them on ice but there was too much tissue damage during the original transport to my house and they can’t be reattached. I’d send Cori to the best plastic surgeons in the United States if they could save her fingers.
My cell buzzes and I answer quickly.
“Boss?”
It’s Cal. “Yes?”
“They got away. Neither man was at the house. We’ve searched it from top to bottom looking for clues but have nothing. Where do you want us next?”
My hand grips the phone tighter and I’m lucky it doesn’t crumble beneath the strain. “Burn the place down so Madison and Cori’s DNA and fingerprints aren’t found if the police show up then come back to the house and we’ll make a plan.”
“What about the body?”
Madison never told me who the blood belonged to. “What shape is the body in?” I want to know how she killed him.
“His throat’s been cut and his groin is shredded to the point it looks like a meat grinder. With the amount of blood between his legs, he was alive when his cock and balls were nearly severed. The neck injury is what took him out, though.”
“Let the body burn with the house and come home.” I end the call and rub the back of my neck. It’s killing me not to be upstairs with Madison. Carlo insisted he see her alone. He knows both women were raped. I told him before he went upstairs. He said Cori told him what happened to her. I drive my fists against the top of my desk. I need to hold my wife and tell her she’ll be okay. She will be because she doesn’t have a choice. I love her and need her. God, I should let her go. This is my fault.
The change in my thinking just shows how fucked up I am right now.
The knock on my office door brings my head up. Carlo steps in. “I’ve given her a sedative. I’ll be leaving more here if she or Cori wake up during the night. I’ll also come by tomorrow and check on them both. I’ve got a drip line of antibiotics on Cori and the bag will need to be changed before I’m back here.”
I lift a decanter of brandy and wave him to the chair in front of my desk. Carlo waves the brandy aside but takes the chair. “I need a clear head in case Cori’s infection gets worse and I need to come back here tonight.”
“Stay over. Your service can reach you here if you have another emergency.” I lean toward him and place the decanter back on the desk. “How bad are Madison’s injuries?”
“Slight concussion along with bruising on her ribs and abdomen. Her face isn’t pretty, but you saw that.”
“My wife is beautiful.” I raise an eyebrow and even that is hard with how tired I am. “I know you believe in doctor patient confidentiality, but I already know my wife was raped. Please cut the shit and tell me how Madison really is.”
He stares at me for several seconds before releasing a long sigh. “Did she tell you?”
I shake my head. “Fernandez sent me video.”
“Okay.” He takes a moment and I’m about to reach across the desk and throttle him. He must know my intention because he raises his left hand, palm out before lowering it. “She didn’t want me examining her vaginally, so I knocked her out first. She has minor vaginal tearing, which will take a few days to heal. She’s in shock, which is how the brain protects itself, so I’m not worried about it yet. She’ll go through a lot of emotions or no emotion, which is where she was when I first examined her.”
“That’s how she was with me.”
“It might help if you tell her about the video.” He raises his hand again before I can respond with no way in hell. “Sometimes talking about what happened to the person you love most after a woman is raped is the most painful part. What do you say? When do you tell your spouse? If she knows you’re aware of what happened, it will take part of the weight from her shoulders.”
This time I rub my eyes. When I look back at Carlo, I’m sure my exhaustion and desperation show that I’m thinking I don’t know what the hell to do for her.
“Mak is strong and she’ll come out the other side of the dark tunnel she’s in. She needs time and love. I think you can handle those two simple things.”
“This is my fault.” The words have been playing in my head over and over.
“This is your life. You know the consequences and so does Mak. The last thing you need is more guilt right now. Concentrate on your wife. See that she’s kept safe. Later, you might want to reassess your lifestyle.”
That’s Carlo. Always straight to the point even when it’s something I don’t want to hear. He stands up and places his hand out. I stand up and wrap my arms around him in a quick hug. We go too far back for handshakes.
“Watch her closely,” he says after I release him. “She’s strong, but sometimes that makes it worse. Cori is another matter entirely. She asked me if I would leave enough pills behind so she could end her life. Gabriella is staying with her tonight. You need to be with Mak. Have someone fill in for Gabriella when the time comes. Cori shouldn’t be left alone.”
I follow him out of my office. He heads to his home away from home on the third floor. The room is next to Cori’s and I feel safer with him in the house. I head to our bedroom and find Madison curled up on the bed with the blanket spread over her that usually rests at the bottom. A fuzzy white section of her bathrobe peeks out. I open one of her drawers and remove a night shirt. Getting it on her limp body isn’t easy but I manage. After she’s covered, I remove my clothes, drop them on the floor next to the bed, and I crawl in beside her. I need to feel her heart beating so my soul knows she’s alive and here with me. We will get through this.
And Fernandez will pay.