He watched a worried look come over her face.
“Have I done something wrong?”
“No. No, you haven’t." He rushed on, “It’s just.” He paused.
“What? Is it about last night?” She asked him.
“What about last night?” He looked at her then with that same look he had last night.
“You made me leave. You said you had an urgent meeting.”
“Oh, yea, that… well, that may have something to do with it.”
“Geo. I really need this.” She confessed.
He wasn’t expecting her to say that. He had expected her to tuck her tail and run. He was giving her an easy out, but she wasn’t taking the bait.
She looked up at Geo. “She’s out. She’s had another episode.” “Another episode? Should we call an ambulance?” He asked her. “No. It's a side effect of her new medication. Her Doctor made us well aware of the pros and cons of it. He told me she could end up like this or worse. I kind of didn’t believe him because she has been feeling so great these last few days. Hopefully, she will be fine in a few hours. In the meantime, we need to get her into bed.” Geo thought that was a horrible side effect and wondered if there was any other medication the Doctor could prescribe her. He felt this was his concern now. He could see it in Carolina's eyes. Times were hard for her. She was being brave. She never showed weakness. He admired her more for that.
“Maam, we really should go. Your mother can’t wait.” She knew he was right. She sat back down in the ambulance. He closed the door, and the sirens sounded as they exited her neighborhood. Geo was seeing red. He was so angry with this charlatan of a Doctor. Geo had had his suspicions about Dr. Roberts and his treatment of Mrs. Hilden. He was proved correct when Dr. Roberts informed him that Emily's medication had not been regulated by the FDA or any other legitimate pharmaceutical agents. He also found out the medication was still in the Human trial stages. He had taken advantage of Carolina's mother and countless other patients in their illnesses. He then wondered if her illness was due to an actual illness or the medication this doctor had been pumping her ful
He felt her pain. She had been right. He should have included her when he had confronted Dr. Roberts. “I am having my lawyers look into it. Please, don’t cry. Everything will be alright.” “How do you know that?” She wiped more tears away. “I just know. Let's go visit her.” He suggested, ready to leave the small waiting area. “I can’t." She confessed. "I can’t see her like that. It breaks me down every time.” “It’s o.k., Carolina. If you break down. I will be there to pick up the pieces for you.” He smiled at her. She kissed him lightly on the lips. “Thank you.” She said inches away from his face.
She inhaled loudly and exhaled as if all of her worries had been blown away by it.Geo felt his heart breaking for her. She had been honest with him from the very start and to see her loyalty and love for her mother on full display now was moving. He felt like he didn’t belong here in this special moment between mother and daughter, so he stayed by the door. She was beautiful in her sadness. So fragile. So alluring. He needed to figure out why he was so attracted to her. With every minute he was with her, it was gnawing at him. His phone rang then, interrupting the moment. Carolina looked in his direction then. He pressed the 'talk' button and took the call. “Hello.Yes. Fine.” He hung up.
Geo hated to hear that term of endearment come out of his mouth.The car stopped and they were in front of his company, Montclair Industries. It was located downtown. It was a formidable, sleek, high rise building. It was among the newest additions to the city in the last decade. The door opened for him and he got out. The goon snarled at him and he grinned at him, still wanting to punch his lights out. As if they were of little consequence to him he walked past them both without looking at them. Once he made it to his office he saw a portly, elderly gentleman sitting in his inner lobby. Hillary was nowhere to be found. He hadn't seen her since their late-night encounter and he was relieved. The man stood up when he saw Geo walking up to the glass doors of the all-glass lobby.
He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number. “Yes, Mr. Monzoon. It is done.” There was a long pause, then he hung up and put it back in his breast pocket jacket. Geo still couldn't believe this was happening. In a matter of 24 hours, his father's life of crime had caught up to him. He had so many other things on his plate right now. Hong Kong. Carolina. His father's recovery. Carolina, his mind went back to her beautiful face. He had left her with her unconscious mother; he would have to call and check on her. He could do that as soon as this business was concluded. He crossed his legs then and leaned back in the leather loveseat he sat on across from Mr. Jarcone. “That settles that. Now, Mr. Monclair, If you will give me a list of fifty names. We will
Carolina's mind had finally grasped the current situation at hand. Her tears had stopped flowing so freely now. Her mother was still lying in a hospital bed, unconscious. Carolina felt just as helpless as her mother. The hum of the overhead fluorescent light made time with the sound of the respirator. It was a somber, yet familiar feeling.Would this be her life? She wondered. Endless hospital visits. Always on the cusp of special intimacy with someone she wanted. It was all so pathetically inadequate. It was her life. Even when she got close to someone her mother's health and wellbeing always loomed in the back of her mind. Her current relationship was proof of that.She felt guilty for the anger that simmered
Geo arrived back at the hospital several hours later. He hadn't expected his appointment to go on all day. In fact, Geo had been ready to go back shortly after his meeting with China had ended, but that was to not be. Just when he was about to leave, Mr. Jarcone had come back to his office and needed his approval on the area he had picked out in the basement of Montclair industries. Geo had to hand it to him, Jarcone had already found an off to the side, well-hidden area that could be easily turned into a large office space. Once Mr. Jarcone saw Geo's face and that his selection was satisfactory he reached into his right breast pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out another sheet of paper. "I gather my choice is to your liking?" He asked, verifying what his eyes had shown him. "It is. Wha
Carolina woke up in a cold sweat. Her heart was racing. She had had the most vivid dream. Her mother had been medically abused by Dr. Roberts. She and Russ were broken up, and she was a companion for a Crime Lord. She looked at the clock on her nightstand table. It was 2.a.m. She pulled her knees up to her chest. The dream had been so vivid. Carolina put her hand to the place where the gunshot wound had been. There was nothing there, but the sat
He was pulled off of Lorenzo by two of Monzoon's guys. Lorenzo stood up and spit blood. Geo was still on the ground kneeling. Tired. Feeling defeated by his past and the inevitable trajectory of his life in crime. "You piece of shit !" Lorenzo pulled out a gun, took the safety off, and pulled the trigger. Geo knew his life was over. He closed his eyes when he heard the trigger click and heard a collective gasp from the crowd as the gun went off. He heard a large thud and smelled Carolina's perfume. He opened his eyes to Silk's scream and he saw her then. Carolina was lying in front of him on her stomach. A small pool of blood was slowly forming underneath her. He rolled her over gently. She moaned
"What the hell was that ?" His father whispered to him, referring to the bow he acted when Monzoon had given the briefcases. "I do have my pride, y'know. He doesn't have to buy me." "Son, he isn't buying you, he's buying your loyalty and your silence. It is a sign of goodwill, and you better get used to accepting large quantities of cash from people for the services we render. You are lucky Monzoon is like family. I know gangstas who would have slit your throat for less." His father was right. His behavior could have made a turn for the worst, Monzoon could have harmed him or his father. "It won't happen again, pops." He apologized as they rounded the corner in the staircase. Geo scanned the crowd and within a few
“Oh, yea?” “Yea. You lit up on the dance floor. I didn’t even know you could dance so well. Now I feel like an asshole for always breaking your mother’s balls about her making you take all those dance lessons as a kid.” He lightly chuckled at his father’s remark. “Thanks, Pop. I like her. She is very special to me. In fact, tonight, after this sham of a party, we are leaving for a nice long vacation together.” “Vacation? Where are you going? And why wasn’t I consulted on this, son?” “Because I didn’t think I had to tell you my every move, Pop. It's a vacation, not a hostile takeover.” “I know, but son do you think taking a vacation right now is in our-your best interest?”
They were left alone on the fringes of the dancefloor, watching others laugh, and dance. It was still a wonderful sight to see. The party she would probably never be able to forget. A waiter walked by. She grabbed some more champagne. Silk spoke. “Let’s take a walk.” She nodded her head in agreement as she took a nice sip of the cold, sweet champagne. Carolina had expected Silk to take her in the same direction she and Geo had gone earlier, but she went in the opposite direction. They walked through the large rooms and out on the lawn. The music was faint, background noise now. The air was crisp on her skin. She inhaled and took another sip of her champagne. “He is in love with you.” Silk announced. Carolina
Usually, when she went to large parties like this, she felt like she was floating in a sea of people, but not tonight. His strong hand was like a grounding stone. She saw someone across the room waving. She focused her vision and realized it was Silk. She smiled and was about to wave when she remembered his reaction to her having a relationship with her. She turned to him and then pointed. Geo saw her and his father and nodded. He knew he had said some harsh things about his father's wife, but he still wanted to be hospitable. It was a party, after all. She trailed behind them as they crossed the large room. When they reached his dad and Silk, his dad hugged and congratulated him while Silk gave a slight smile and a timid wave to him. “Hi, Silk.” Carolina Greeted her. Knowing it would probably ruffle his fe
“This is some Party.” “Yes. It is.” “Is everything ok?” She said as she drank champagne. “Yea.” He agreed. She smiled at him then wrapped her arms around his neck. She put her body up against his. He wished they had no clothes on then. He wrapped his arms around Carolina's small waist. It seemed right in the moment. No one seemed to notice what they were doing. Then she looked up at him and smiled. She broke their hold and took him by the hand. “There's something I want to show you. Carmella showed it to me. "C’mon,” Carolina informed hin She guided him toward the open f
The goon moved, and she saw him. Mr. Monzoon was an old, portly man no more than 5’7, sitting behind a large mahogany desk, in a red velvet wingback chair. He reminded her of a mob boss. The room stunk of expensive cigar smoke. She saw him roll one in his mouth. “Come in. Gino, Move. The guest of honor has finally arrived.” “Mr. Monzoon.” He greeted him. Mr. Monzoon stood and shook Geo's extended hand. “And who is this doll face?” He asked as he looked Carolina up and down. “This is Carolina,” Geo explained. “A pleasure to meet you.” Mr. Monzoon directed his attention to her.
“We are going where?” Carolina asked giddily from excitement and the surprise he had just given her. “To the Virgin Islands tonight. After the party.” She did a little happy dance. He smiled at how adorable she was. She danced her way over to him, got on her tiptoes since her heels were not on her feet, and kissed him on his lips. He embraced her. “I can’t wait to get away with you.” “Me either.” “Get finished getting dressed. We will be late to the party.” “Isn’t