Chapter 143: 143 ~ Mira
I wanted to stay back in the suite but Jace insisted that I followed him to the hospital even though I wanted to give him some alone time with his mother.
He was paranoid. I could see it in the way his eyes strayed to me at almost every moment and how he didn’t want to let my hand go even while we were seated in the back of the vehicle that was taking us to the hospital.
It would have been sweet on a normal day but today it only spiked the anxiety building in my chest. I heaved and sighed a couple of times and threw him a smile when his brow arched as he stared at me.
I took a closer look at his face. Within the past few days, he had grown a small stubble that made him look older than his thirty five years of age.
Using my left thumb, I reached for his forehead and ironed out the creases that lined it.
"You need to relax," I whispered.
"I’m trying, I promise."
His eyes softened as a smile covered the frown that had been the permanent fixture of his face for as long as I’d known him.
I smiled back and nuzzled him, falling into his arms for a hug that lasted for several seconds.
"I love you," I reminded him just in case he had forgotten.
"I know," he smirked.
Playfully, I pulled back and smacked his arm. "Wrong answer, Romano."
"Just kidding. I love you more." He kissed me briefly.
I didn’t want it to end but we were already approaching our destination.
We reached the hospital after a few minutes. He stepped out of the car first and held the door open for me, stretching his palm for me to once again place mine in his.
Getting to the hospital room, a strange chill found its way to me as I saw Donna laying there. The color was slowly returning to her face. But seeing her look to so fragile with all those machines connected to her was a far cry from whom I knew her to be.
Just like I did with Jace, I thought she was invincible. I used to believe nothing and no one could harm her.
But today I got to realize that no matter how powerful a person seemed, sickness and death could always humble them. No one could escape it.
I held in a breath as I fought back the saddening thoughts. I couldn’t think about death right now. She wasn’t going to die and Jace would not be without a mother.
I stepped back as she stood over her, placing a palm on her forehead as she stirred and came awake.
Donna squinted for a bit before her eyes focused on him.
"Jacopo," her voice came out hoarse and raspy. Not the the usually authoritative sound we were used to.
Jace and I locked eyes in that second. We were both thinking the same thing.
"Mom,"
"Why do you two look like somebody died?" Her voice came out sharper this time as her eyes darted between both of us.
"Don’t say anything about dying." There was a crack in Jace’s voice that I had never heard before.
I didn’t think I could handle seeing a man like him cry so I looked away and focused on Donna.
"How are you feeling today, Donna?"
Her mouth lifted up in a slight grin. I almost missed it.
"I’m alive. That’s what matters."
I nodded, not knowing what else to say.
"You have to tell me who did this." Jace spoke with annoyance clogging his words.
She gestured for him to bring his face lower. When he did, she tugged at his ear.
"Ow!" Jace exclaimed.
"What are you a don for if you haven’t already figured out who tried to kill your only mother?"
"Am I supposed to have two?"
I palmed my face as Jace blurted out something so foolish.
Donna turned to me. "Mirabel, how do you cope with him?"
"I should be asking you. You gave birth to him." I shrugged.
Jace shot me an accusatory glare. I simply chuckled.
"I’ll have you know I’m the best son a mother can wish for."
I snorted. "More like the most hardheaded one."
"Agreed." Donna concurred.
Jace scowled even deeper, making it more hilarious. "Okay this is not the time to gang up on me. We have pressing matters at hand."
"Right, sorry." I cleared my throat, biting on my tongue so I wouldn’t let a laugh slip out there.
"I have some names. You have a number of rivals and I can’t understand how you ended up with a New York gang tailing me and almost ending my life."
Jace’s gaze darkened. "A New York gang?"
"Yes. I just said that Jacopo. Pay attention."
I held in a laugh. How was she able to be so sarcastic when talking about something this serious? It was hilarious.
"Massimo," Jace clenched his fist.
The mention of his name sent chills down my spine.
"That boy has become a pain in the ass. What’s your plan?" Donna tilted her head and stared at him.
"I had a solid plan but now that he isn’t working alone, it makes it even more difficult."
"You have to strike at the center then."
"I wanted a slow death for him."
"Look at the situation of things. Now is not the time."
"You’re saying I should be rash and reckless? Wasn’t that what you warned me against?"
Donna Carmela went quiet for a couple of seconds.
"You can always come to a compromise and shake hands over a cup of tea."
I couldn’t hold back my laughter at that one.
Jace scowled. "Are you sure you were shot or you planned this to get my attention?"
"Is it working?"
I grinned as her sardonic responses grated on Jace’s nerves. He was worrying for her life and she was being such a pain for him. This was one for the books. That was when I realized, this was the first time I had seen them interact like a real mother and son. They weren’t arguing. And even if Jace seemed upset by how lightly she was taking the situation. He was relieved that she was alive and well on her way to recovery.
It was endearing to see.
"Mom,"
"Take a wild guess. Would your mother like to wear a cheap hospital gown and lay in bed all day?"
"I guess not." He shrugged.
"Exactly."
I soon zoned out of their conversation as I sat on the couch, scrolling through my phone. Jace pulled a seat and sat next to her as they plotted in low tones.
"Mira, you’re glowing."
My head snapped up and I saw Donna Carmela scanning me with her eyes.
"Um, thank you?"
Jace turned to me as well, his eyes ravaged me like we hadn’t been together all day and he was seeing me for the first time. I felt my cheeks heat up then.
"How was your vacation?"
I smiled widely before I could stop myself. Thoughts of the vacation still had that effect despite the fact that it was cut short due to obvious reasons.
"It wasamazing,"
"Seems like you came back with a souvenir."
"We got a few things-"
"That’s not the kind of souvenir I’m talking about." She cut me off.
My brows furrowed in confusion.
What was she talking about?
I immediately shook it off. Her medication may have been messing with her head a bit. Maybe that was why she was free spirited and speaking a lot more than she usually would.
Her conversation with Jace continued after that.
A few hours rolled by and we were still in there. When she drifted into sleep, Jace got on his phone and made a number of phone calls.
The nurse came in and did a few checks on Donna. Jace watched her like a hawk, making the poor girl so nervous, her hands shook as she did her job. There was something about his domineering presence that could overwhelm anyone. It took a hard glare from me to get him to tone down his scrutiny.
When I yawned, he ordered for lunch to be brought to us from a restaurant close by.
We ate in comfortable silence. And while I wanted to ask him when we were going back to the suite, I didn’t want to seem insensitive.
The man had almost lost his mother. She was probably the only family member of his that didn’t entirely hate his guts.
"What are you thinking about?" He asked me.
"Oh nothing." I said, waving my hand dismissively.
"You’re tired." It was statement. Not a question.
"Yeah. Hospitals can be quite triggering for me."
"Because of your mom?"
"Yeah." I let out a soft sigh.
My mother never recovered from the loss of my father and it told on her until her last breath. We visited the hospital more times than we were out of it. And when she passed, even though I was deeply hurt, I was somewhat relieved that her pain had finally come to and end.
"I’m sorry." Jace squeezed my hand and placed a kiss on the back of my palm.
"It’s fine."
He leaned in to kiss me and just as our lips were about to touch, a knock on the door interrupted.
We turned instinctively and saw a young man who looked about Jace’s age standing there with a bouquet of flowers.
Jace got on his feet and approached him.
"You’re in the wrong room."
"I’m afraid this is the right one. I’m here to see Carmela."
I sat and watched their interaction.
"Who are you to my mother?"
"You must be Jace. I’m Alejandro." The man stretched his palm to Jace for a handshake.
Of course, he left it hanging.
"Answer the question." His tone was as cold as ice.
"Your mother and I..."
"We’re in love." Donna’s voice cut in.
Uh oh.