Tempting the Mafia Twins novel · Chapter 10 of 24

Chapter 10: Three Hours

The surgeon had gray hair now and a larger office, but she knew me the moment I walked in.

"Mrs. Valenti," she said, and stood up.

"Cassie, please."

"Sit. Please. I've thought about you every October."

I sat in the leather chair across from her desk with my coat on and my hands between my knees.

"Sergio Valenti told me to ask you who was in the room after she was born."

She was quiet for a moment.

"Your husband," she said. "Carmine."

"He told me he was there."

"Do you know what he did?"

"No."

"You were in recovery, under anesthesia. We placed your daughter in a warmer."

"A nurse came to take her to the morgue." The surgeon's voice stayed even, but her eyes didn't.

"Mr. Valenti asked if he could hold her."

"Hold her."

"For a minute. We said yes."

"He sat down in a chair and took her in his arms, and he did not stand up again for three hours."

I couldn't breathe.

"His father's men came to the door twice."

"They told him to leave, that the Don wanted him at home. He told them to wait outside."

"What did he do?"

"He talked to her. I was in and out. He told her about the room we'd painted yellow."

The surgeon pressed her lips together.

"He told her your name. He told her he was sorry."

"Then he asked a nurse to take a photograph."

"He said you'd want to see her one day, and he wasn't going to be the man who made you ask."

I put my hand over my mouth.

"He sat in the corridor outside your room for three days."

"Your father-in-law's men told the nurses to keep him out, and they did. He never once raised his voice."

"He never told me."

"I don't think he knew how."

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