Nicola said. “While I’ve been away, he’s been helping out my dad. ”
I made an effort to conceal my feelings of guilt. Because of me, this young man was being drawn towards a path of violence. The course of Jim’s life may have been altered if I hadn’t been preventing him from seeing Nicola. Perhaps he is taking advantage of being a young man of eighteen and having fun.
“On the other hand, I didn’t want Nicola to have to endure that kind of danger either. My resolve to remove Nicola from Lasvagas strengthened throughout this brief family meeting. ”
There was another knock at the door, and a young guy with a tray of beverages came in. Beginning with Nicola’s Dad, he poured him a glass of red wine. Next up, a shot of whiskey for Philip. All of us other people were given champagne.
“Is it a cause for celebration, or are we just joking around? “Inquired Nicola.
His father beamed at me and said, “Of course, meeting Emily.” I didn’t know what to make of it. The man I was about to meet seemed genuinely happy to do so. Though he may have been a gangster, he didn’t seem very dangerous. Certainly not like Jim’s dad.
The toast was intended for all of us, so he took up his red wine and raised it. Instead of the champagne, I reached for my water glass. I just didn’t feel like imbibing. It may ease my anxiety, but I couldn’t afford to let my mind wander.
I caught his ire and he grimaced. “You don’t like champagne?”
I accepted his justification and said, “Not really,”
“Well, thank you, but I don’t need any help with my water supply. ”
“Here. Since you don’t appreciate champagne, let’s swap. ”
To my delight, he offered me a glass of his red wine. After I started to say no, Nicola squished my hand beneath the table.
I thanked him and took the champagne flute from him.
He played the flute, and we all followed suit by raising our instruments. He looked me square in the eye and toasted, “To family.” It was strange to feel safe with a guy I should have been afraid of.
I drank some of the crimson wine to show respect. Nicola grabbed my hand to indicate that I should accept it, so I figured I would have to drink a bit more over the dinner. His dad seemed to be laughing and joking, but there was plainly tension between them. Of course, nobody said “no” to Mr. Russo.
He said to me, “So, Emily. According to Nicola, you’re a student. Wow, that’s fantastic! ”
With heat rising to my neck, I felt myself flush. “Appreciate it.”
“Exactly what are you learning? ”
“Art.”
His eyebrows furrowed, but not in disapproval. “And what do you want to do with that?”
I felt like I was being watched and I didn’t like it. Suddenly, my sweater became much too hot, and my hand got damp against Nicola’s.
“I was thinking about applying for jobs in art exhibition.”
I felt a sharp twisting in my gut and held in a breath. Never before had I had such a severe anxiety response. But then , I’d never been in such close quarters with criminals before. Perhaps I had just reached the point of no return in terms of my anxiety.
“Excuse me, I have to use the bathroom. Thank you for your patience. ”
To be honest, I felt like my whole body was on fire from shame. Cold sweat formed on my forehead, and I forced myself to stand.
I took just one step before a stabbing ache in my abdomen knocked the wind out of my lungs and rendered my knees useless. Before I could even begin to fall, Nicola was there to grab me.
Once again, my stomach had turned and I let out a loud shriek. My lips spilled a frothy substance, and my tongue was covered with acid.
I had a hazy recollection of Mathew calling for an ambulance and Nicola calling out my name again. As the world around me went dark, my body trembled with anguish.
Nicola
I strode nervously across the hospital lobby, feeling a knot of anxiety in my stomach I’d never felt before.
Poison. Emily drank the poison that was supposed to kill my dad.
This might be her last breath.
Why Mathew could stay in that uncomfortable, cramped chair for so long was beyond me. His face was pale, and his eyes were fixed on something beyond of my range.
Unreasonable anger sprang up within of him. But how could he just sit there when Emily’s life was in danger? How could he seem like he’d given up on her by stoopeding over and hunching his shoulders?
“She’s going to be alright,” even though I wasn’t sure it was true. Seeing as how Mathew seemed to have already arrived for her fucking funeral, I had to say it out.
I heard him whisper, “My fault,” and knew he hadn’t intended to say it out loud.
Amid my wrath, I realized the confession. There was no telling who had put the poison in my dad’s wine, but if Mathew knew, he had best tell. There’s a good chance I’d kick him in the teeth if I found out he was keeping information from us. I was seething with rage and needed a way to release it. It would be an excellent place to start taking out your frustrations by punishing the motherfucker who started all of this.
“What do you mean?” There was a bark from me. ” Are you aware of the perpetrator(s)? ”
His dark eyes were drawn with pain when he finally glanced at me. “I did.”
I had no idea what he was up to or who he was attempting to shield, but that couldn’t be the case. “How much do you really understand about this? Give it to me straight, Matthew. “