Unraveled (Guzzi Duet Book 1)(30)

But she did manage to catch a few words she knew mixed in.

Gian.

Autobomba.

Ospedale.

The name of the hospital was repeated, too.

Claud hung up the phone before Cara had even realized what happened. He waved a hand wildly at his wife. “My keys, get me my damn keys, donna.”

Cara didn’t move as her aunt rushed by her. “Gian is at a hospital?”

“What?” Claud’s gaze snapped to Cara, but just as quickly, he dropped the stare and headed for the front of the house. Cara followed right behind. “It’s none of your concern, Cara. Enjoy dinner with Daniele; keep her company for tonight.”

No.

She refused to relent, her heart beating hard in her chest. “Is that why he didn’t message me back earlier? A car bomb, that’s what I heard you say.”

Claud froze as he tried to put on his jacket. “Why are you even conversing with Gian Guzzi?”

“Because I’m a grown woman and I want to. Why won’t you answer my questions?”

“Because I’m not required to,” her uncle growled.

Cara straightened like a rod had been shoved up her spine, the familiar sense of being a woman in a man’s world creeping into her mind again. This was how it always was for the women in this life—told to turn cheek, shut up, and behave when it counted. She hated that the very most.

“Let me give you a piece of advice, Cara,” Claud said, finally slipping his jacket on properly. “You’re right, it isn’t my place to tell you who you can and can’t be running around with, now that your father is dead and your brother has the say over you, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still listen when you are told. My brother—your father—would tell you the same damn thing. Stay the hell away from Gian Guzzi, before you end up in a world of trouble that you don’t want and can’t handle.”

“Aren’t you a part of that world, too?” Cara shot back.

“You have no idea, do you?” Claud’s eyes blazed. “Stay the hell away from the man, Cara.”

“I want to go to the hospital.”

“No. Not with me, anyhow.”

Her uncle didn’t even give her a second look before he went in search of his wife and his keys. Cara had already called a cab before Claud slammed the front door on his way out.

Fuck him.

She would do what she wanted.





Cara stepped out of the taxi after getting her credit card back from the driver, and stared up at the bright lights of the emergency room of one of Toronto’s largest hospitals. She tried to stay away from hospitals—and this one in particular—as it reminded her a lot of Lea. Her twin had wanted to be a general surgeon, and had been a year away from starting her residency, when she died. Another dream cut far too short.

Letting out a slow breath, Cara shook off the unease and headed toward the emergency entrance. Her uncle had about ten minutes on her, so she assumed Claud would already be inside and doing his own thing by the time she figured out exactly where Gian was situated. Maybe he would even be gone by then, and that would be even better for her. Claud would be less likely to make a scene with others around, if he happened upon Cara.

She didn’t even make it inside.

“Cara?”

Constantino stepped out of the shadows, a lit cigarette dangling from his fingertips. The cherry-red tip glowed as he came closer. “What are you doing here?”

Why couldn’t anything be easy for her?

“Did your dad get here already?” she asked her cousin.

“Five minutes, or so, ago. He left right after. Now, answer me.”

Cara tightened the belt on her tweed coat, willing away the cold. “Take a guess.”

Constantino cocked a brow. “You probably shouldn’t be here.”

“Someone already tried to tell me that tonight. Try something new.”

“How did you hear about the bomb?”

So it was a bomb.

Cara tried not to let that word frighten her too much, but it was hard. “I overheard Claud’s phone call. Gian was supposed to come over, but I was already heading out. He hadn’t answered my message, telling him I was already gone.”

Constantino blew out a hard breath. “Don’t go around saying that too loud.”

“Saying what?”

“Nothing,” her cousin muttered. “It’s been a long night. Gian’s already discharged, anyway. He’s not even here, and he’s chilling out where he can’t be bothered.”

Cara stood firm. “I want to see him.”

“Yeah—”

“And why isn’t he answering his phone?”

“Kinda got smashed on the way down to the pavement, and yeah,” Constantino said. “Why don’t you head home, and I’ll let him know you were here.”

Nope.

“I want to see him,” she repeated.

Constantino scowled. “Since when did you become so fucking irritating and stubborn? Weren’t you supposed to be the quiet twin?”

Cara couldn’t quite let those comments roll off her shoulders. “You don’t know shit about me. Don’t pretend like you do, Constantino.”

“Clearly.”

“Take me to Gian.”