Don't Read in the Closet: Volume Four (114 page)

“Julian—”

“Don’t you flake on me, Romeo Balducci! That is a hell of a lot of

blood and you are
not
leaving me now get your damned tie off and

give it to me!”

His tie. Romeo tugged it off and put it in the grasping hand he

could barely see in the dimness. Julian moved and a wave of pain

crashed through Romeo. He bit his lip, please don’t let him throw up

on Julian when—

“That—that’s helping.” Julian patted Romeo’s hand on his

shoulder. His hand was sticky with Romeo’s blood. “Romeo, I’m so

sorry. I’m such a blasted idiot.”

“I’m the one who turned in front of a damned truck.”

“Why is it taking so long? I can’t even hear anything anymore.”

“I don’t know.” Romeo had been trying not to put his weight on

Julian, but he didn’t have a lot of choice. And Julian was warm. He

wondered if the heater would still work.

“Romeo,” Julian squeezed his hand. “How do you feel?”

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“Fine,” Romeo lied because his head was spinning. “I think…I’m

sure they’ll get us out soon.”

“Romeo, my parents died in a car accident.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Nonna is all the family I have. When we found out she’s dying…I

felt like I was dying too.”

“Julian…” Romeo wanted to hold him. The best he could do was

to rub his back.

“You changed that. Donata was sure she’d find me dead when she

came—she didn’ t know until the day before that Aunt Arenza and

Uncle Guiseppe didn’t send anyone to look after me, and she came

straight out but she was sure she’d find me dead. But you fed me.”

“I just entertained you. Without me—”

“Romeo, half the time I can’t be arsed to save my own life. I get to

working, or moping, and I forget to eat and then wonder why I’m

dizzy and falling down stairs. I have candy on me
all the time
and I

still get to that point.”

“If you’re trying to convince me to never let you out of my sight

again, you’re doing a fine job.”

“Yes.” Julian squeezed his hand again. “That’s just what I’m doing.

Romeo, I’m an idiot and I don’t know why the hell you’d care, but if

you still want me…”

“God yes!” Romeo tried to move and couldn’t and slapped the roof

of the car in frustration.

“Don’t move!” Julian snapped.

“Damn it! I so want to kiss you right now!”

“You’ll get your chance.” Julian’s hand moved, holding Romeo’s

wrist. “But you listen to me—my parents died. Nonna is dying. If you

even think about leaving me, I will never forgive you.”

“Julian, I’d never—”

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“I think you can do anything you decide you want to,” Julian

interrupted. “You are so amazing. So I’m making sure you’re

determined, Romeo. I won’t live without you.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Romeo said, laying his spinning head

on Julian’s back and closing his eyes. That was better. “You’ll never

be rid of me now.”

“Good. I’d probably fall down a well.”

“…I won’t let you…”

“Romeo?” Zeta asked. “Julian?”

“Get us out!” Julian shouted. “He’s dying!”

Dying?

“We’re working on it. That’s a gas truck sitting on you, so we have

to be careful.”

“You have to hurry! I put a tourniquet on but he’s still losing

blood. His pulse is weak and he’s losing consciousness get
in
here,

damn it!”

“We’re not losing either of you, Julian. Without moving more than

an arm, can you get a hand out the window?”

“Here!” Julian moved and it set off shooting pains in Romeo’s side

and leg. He bit his lip on a curse.

“I…love you, Julian,” Romeo said instead.

“Remember that,” Julian ordered.

“Now listen,” Zeta said. “I want you to wrap his leg, Julian. Use

the whole roll, tight but not as tight as the tourniquet. Wrap it up good

and then tell me.”

“All right.” Julian touched Romeo’s leg. Romeo tried not to clutch

at him, but the pain shot up in stabbing bursts and made him gasp and

shudder.

“Talk to me, Romeo,” Julian said. “I know it hurts. Talk to me.”

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“I don’t…fuck!…don’t know, can’t think—”

“I’m sorry. I hate to hurt you but I’m not losing you. We haven’t

even had sex yet!”

Romeo laughed, a short sharp bark of pain and humor. “I don’t

want to die a virgin…”

“Right then,” Zeta said. “Separate rooms for you two when we get

you out. Don’t want anyone pulling stitches.”

“Oh my God…” Romeo groaned.

“So you know, anything that you guys say now goes with me to

my grave. It’s kind of a sacred trust. Like being a priest, without the

chastity.”

“You’re not funny…”

“I’m told I’m good at this. Julian, that’s your grandmother bossing

my boss around?”

“Nonna?” Romeo jerked as Julian’s hand fumbled. “I’m sorry!

Zeta, tell them—”

“There’s no telling them anything, Julian; no one can get a word

in. She already threatened to beat me with her IV stand and told my

boss she’s ‘seventy-three and if you touch me I’ll shatter now if you

want me back in bed get my grandson out of there!’”

“Julian…love your grandmother…”

“So do I,” Zeta and Julian said together. Zeta went on. “She’s

pretty damn smart, too. She came up with a plan that we think will

work; we just have to get a few things here. We’ll have you guys out

soon.”

“…starting to like it…” Romeo said, rubbing his cheek on Julian’s

back.

“Romeo Balducci, don’t you go to sleep!” Julian jerked as he

talked and the wave of pain sent Romeo tumbling into blackness.

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Romeo couldn’t move. And Julian wouldn’t answer him. The car

pressed on him smaller and smaller and he couldn’t move and Julian

didn’t answer.

“Juliaaaannnn!”

“Romeo! It’s all right!”

“Juliaaaannnn!”

“Stop thrashing, you’ll hurt—”

“It’s the anesthetic. Get a doctor.”

Momma. Poppa. Not Julian. Julian didn’t answer.

“Juliaaaannnn!”

“Hell with that.” Marcellus. “Ariana, get Julian.”

Hands grabbed him. Momma talked, pleading and comforting, but

Julian—

“Romeo!”

“Julian!” He couldn’t see, but—

“One wrong word from any of you and I break your arm,” Donata

said. Romeo’s eyes focused on Julian. Wheelchair, white room—

Julian. Not trapped in the dark.

“Julian.”

He smiled. “I’m here, crazy man.”

“Julian…” He could move one arm. Romeo reached for Julian.

Momma and Poppa stepped back; Donata pushed Julian’s chair

forward and he took Romeo’s hand.

”
Bello
…” Romeo said, and closed his eyes.

“Romeo?”

“He’s all right now,” Marcellus said. “It’s better if he sleeps, what

with the blood loss and the drugs and all.”

“I’ll be right here, Romeo.”

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Over a dream of flying, voices intruded. Romeo knew them, but

they were far away and he was flying.

“I can’t…it’s not that easy, Lavinia.” Poppa.

“Easy? Our son nearly
died
, Silvano. Because we were stupid and

hateful. It’s time for it to end.”

“I…you’re right. I know you’re right. It’s just…very hard.”

“In the morning,” Momma said, “call Marino. He’s dying to be

here. Let him come.”

Uncle Marino drifted through Romeo’s thoughts. He’d like

Julian—

“Julian!” Romeo jolted awake.

“Like a broken record.” Momma smiled at him. Poppa sat in a

chair with his face in his hands.

“Julian?”

“It’s the middle of the night, Romeo,” Momma said. “Julian is

sleeping. You don’t want me to wake him, do you?”

“No…”

“Go back to sleep,
bambino
.” She smoothed his hair back and

sang softly. Romeo closed his eyes and drifted away on the lullaby.

“No, it’s a good sign,” Marcellus was saying. “When Gastone puts

him in a headlock, we’ll know he’s accepted things.”

“If Gastone wants more kids ever,” Donata growled, “he better

wait till Julian’s healed to put him in a headlock.”

“Julian!” Romeo jerked fully awake. It hurt. He groaned.

“For God’s sake,” Donata growled. “Julian’s fine, Romeo. Nonna

made him take her to eat. If Gastone tries anything, she’ll rip his arm

off and beat him with it.”

“Big brother,” Marcellus said with a grin, “you have got it
bad
.”

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“Do you want anything?” Donata stood and grabbed the cup with

the straw from the bed-table. “Thirsty?”

“Julian…”

“Yeah, I knew that,” she grumbled. “Have a drink. He’ll be back in

a few minutes. Dragging Nonna if she doesn’t walk fast enough,

probably.”

Where Romeo couldn’t see, the door opened. Donata smiled.

“Like I said.”

“He’s awake? Romeo?” Julian. In a moment he came around the

bed, walking slowly. Romeo reached; Julian caught his hand. “Hey,”

Julian said, and all the world but him went away.

“Hey,” Romeo answered.

“All right, out of the way.” Julian was shoved aside and the world

came back in the form of a tiny old woman who stared at Romeo. The

formidable Nonna. Romeo nodded respect, the best he could do.

“Nonna!” Julian yelped. “You shouldn’t be out of your chair!”

“Bah.” She waved the hand not attached to an IV. “Yesterday was

invigorating! Might just live to a hundred after all.”

“You
fraud,
” Donata said. “You were faking it!”

“I thought he was just scared to ask you,” Julian’s grandmother

said. “The tumor was real.”

Julian choked. His Nonna didn’t notice; her eyes were on Romeo.

“If I could stand,” he told her, “I’d show proper respect, ma’am.”

“If you could stand,” she said, “I’d make sure of that!” She cackled

and prodded Julian farther aside. Donata moved the chair after her,

since her IV hung from it. She paid it no mind as she leaned over and

kissed Romeo’s cheek. “Call me Nonna,” she ordered. “Donata, help

me.”

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“Yes, Nonna.” Donata set her coffee down and left with Nonna.

Julian stared after her. Romeo pressed Julian’s hand to his cheek and

drifted back to sleep.

Someone was crying. Romeo tried to move but he drifted instead.

“I meant to protect you,” a woman said. “I thought if he flirted

back, that would prove…well. It got out of hand. I’m sorry.”

“Arenza,” Momma said slowly, “I love the life I have. I love

Silvano. And I never would have looked good in Versace.”

The other woman laughed softly. “Versace makes anyone look

good, Lavinia. That’s why we loved him. Will you forgive me?”

“Because of you my family didn’t disown me and I’ve spent thirty

years married to a man who loves me more than Guiseppe ever did. I

think I can forgive that.”

“I’m grateful. I’ve missed you so. And Julian’s like a son to me.”

Julian. Romeo jerked awake. “Julian?”

“I’ll get him,” Arenza Vocelli said, standing with a smile. Her eyes

were wet. Momma sniffled and smiled at him too. Julian came and

Romeo pressed Julian’s hand to his face and drifted back to sleep.

Romeo drifted, contented at first, but awareness grew and with it

pain. He couldn’t tell if it was his arm or his leg or even his body at

all, he just knew it hurt. He groaned and something touched him, a

hand on his forehead.

“Julian,” he croaked.

“No, I made him wait outside.” The voice was female, perky, and

amused. “It took two orderlies and a pry-bar, but we got it done.” The

hand lifted from his face; he heard her moving to his right. It occurred

to him to open his eyes and he tried. Like his throat, they rasped.

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His head was turned to the left; all he saw at first were bandages.

Shoulder. Damn.

“Give me a moment,” the woman said from the other side, “and I’ll

get you a drink.”