10. Let's Keep It Between Us
1296 Words
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It had been four days since Dr. Johnson came to check on Mateo and he was getting restless and impatient for reasons Adam termed as "schoolboy crush". He didn't believe he had such immature feelings towards her but he did admit to himself that he wanted to see the surgeon who had saved his life. It was always her intern, that dumb timid Fentell, who made the rounds or sometimes other residents.
They all kept saying she's busy at the ER. He didn't know whether he should believe them or investigate whether that nurse opened her mouth or not.
Mateo turned to look at his cousin, Leonardo typing away on his phone, a cigarette in his mouth.
Motherfucker had to do it front of me. He thought bitterly. First it was his stupid best friend and now his brother. He wondered if he had such shortage of sensible people in his life that he was being tended to by idiots like the pair.
It had been almost a week since he drank, smoke or did drugs. It was taking a toll on him.
He couldn't wait to get out of the hospital and off medications and get back to work and the life he loved. But he had to endure about seven more weeks of it before he could do that. He suddenly felt respect for pregnant women who had to restrain from all of it for forty weeks.
Mateo stared at the puff of smoke his cousin exhaled
One puff won't hurt, will it?
No it won't. He decided
"Give me a smoke." Mateo forwarded his hand in his cousin's direction.
"Nope." Leonardo said, not even looking up.
"Leonardo-"
The door opened and Marsileo entered.
" Doctor Johnson is here, capo." He announced.
He moved aside to reveal the goddess, who looked barely like herself today. Though she did still look like a goddess.
Mateo found himself lost in her.
The motherfuckers weren't lying after all. She looked like she would drop dead any second now.
"Evening Mr. Adesso." She said, more like whispered and turned to Leonardo, frowning at the sight of the cigarette.
"You want a puff? Looks like you could use one." He said, holding it out to her.
Leonardo hadn't had a proper introduction with her though he was there the second time she had visited Mateo. The last few days, Leonardo was back in Chicago so it was mostly Adam or no one who stayed over.
But Leonardo should have figured out how capable and professional Dr. River Johnson was so Mateo was pissed he talked so casually and disrespectfully towards her. Mateo refused to admit that there were other feelings involved which made him irritable towards people who talked to her like that.
Mateo glared at his cousin but to his surprise, River just blew out a deep tired breath and took it. "See those pipes?" She pointed at the oxyline. "Keep fire as far from it as you can."
Leonardo thought she was going to douse it.
"Let's keep it between us." She said before she took a puff. But she started coughing.
Leonardo was ready to take it back from her when she put it back in her mouth, this time exhaling smoke rings as if she had been doing it for ages.
"I see you are a smoker." Leonardo mused.
She shook her head as she took another long puff, this time thoroughly enjoying it.
"Haven't done it in the last ten years." She sighed. The lack of sleep, food, rest and the stress from both work and Kiara's injury was taking a toll on her.
"When was the last time you slept?" Mateo asked her, pushing the buttons on the remote control so that he was sitting up properly.
"Today morning." River shrugged, smiling a bit as she took the clipboard attached to the foot of the bed and paged through it.
Mateo raised a brow. That was a lie. But she said it so convincingly.
"For ten minutes." She added, a lazy grin on her face.
She took another puff and dropped the cigarette, stepping on it.
"Hey hey!" Leonardo exclaimed. "Do you even know how expensive that is?"
"Surely not enough to cause a dent in your bank account." She shrugged before putting the clipboard back in its place.
Mateo gave Leonardo a cryptic eye, a smirk on his face. Leonardo nodded, impressed.
Adam kept on telling anyone who would listen about the tiny crush the Capo had on the doctor and it was getting irritating. And people were taking his words so seriously and all were asking around if she was worthy of being the Capo's wife.
Mateo was shocked to see how far his men and women were thinking. He was attracted to the doctor but which straight man wouldn't be? She was perfection.
And he wanted her. He wanted to pursue her. He didn't do crushes. He was looking for the right woman to spend the rest of his life with. To become the wife of an Italian Capo and then Boss wife.
He planned to pursue her as soon as he was discharged because he knew the doctor wouldn't be interested due to professional ethics. She couldn't date a patient.
He didn't have any wires or tubes attached to him anymore but being in bed all day, doing nothing but watching TV or sorting out paper works was boring. His abs had started to disappear. And he desperately needed some action. Nothing was working in his favor.
"Everything's going as per schedule I see. You will start with your physiotherapy tomorrow?" She commented.
Mateo nodded, breaking out of his thoughts and looking up at her.
She was a fantastic woman but he had to admit that she was a bit boring, well all doctors were.
"That's good." She said, putting her hands in her pocket. "Then I will be off."
"Do you have to see any more patients today?" Mateo asked, knowing very well she didn't. She had her entire weekly scheduled sent to him. It was her off day today. No, he wasn't stalking her. Just making sure if he was being avoided.
"No. It's supposed to be my off day today but you heard about the blasts, right? They are still bringing in patients from under the rubbles and stuff. So all of us specialists been around for the past few days."
"Then sit here until you get called again." Leonardo said, giving his cousin a cryptic eye as he stood up. "I'll be right back."
With that, he left the room.
River contemplated for a moment before she sat down. "I am going to make a call real quick."
Mateo nodded as she dialed the number. No one picked up. But then she saw a message from her mom saying the kids were fine and Kiara was feeling better so River was relieved.
But this had Mateo confused. Who was it?
"Can I rest my eyes for ten minutes?" She asked, her eyebrows furrowed, almost embarrassed. He nodded again.
"Thanks." She sighed again, leaning back onto the couch and closing her eyes.
Mateo took out his phone and texted the director of the hospital, instructing him to not call for her until he told him to. He replied in the affirmative within seconds.
Good.
Mateo stared back at her. She looked five years older with the bags under her eyes and a frown forever etched on her forehead.
He scanned her left finger which lacked a ring on tan line. She wasn't married and in Mafia world, unofficial relations didn't count. You were either married or single. So she was available.
And he was going to have her.
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- Writer
