Izzy threw her arms up into the air. “There you go again, another affair. First it was Luke, now it’s Dominic? Excuse me, sis, but I’m not going to justify that with an answer.”

“Ms. DeMarco?” a doctor called out, rounding the corner.

“Yes?” Isabella went to him, and I followed, hobbling behind her.

“Your cousin’s injuries are very serious. We’re operating now, but it will be several hours. I can’t speak to the outcome just yet.”

“He can’t die,” she started, her eyes watering, her voice desperate. “You can’t let him die.”

The doctor looked to be immune to her emotion. Probably so used to doling out bad news, it just didn’t faze him anymore.

“Mommy, I got you a Snickers bar,” Effie started, coming back toward us with the candy bars, Marco behind her carrying cans of soda, looking as much out of place following her as possible. It would have been comical if we weren’t standing in a hospital waiting room with Luke in critical condition a few doors down.

“What did you get for me?” I asked, lifting her up and turning her away while Izzy wiped her tears.

“A Twix. Same as me.”

“I love Twix. Good choice.”

“I thought you might.”

“I’ll check in with you as soon as I have some information, but it will be several hours before he’ll be out of surgery,” the doctor said.

I watched them. Izzy nodded her head. When I set Effie down, she went to her.

“Here, mommy.” She held out the candy.

Isabella took it then hugged the little girl. “I love you, honey.”

“It’s just a Snickers,” Effie said, confused, and tried to squirm out of the tight squeeze.

Salvatore walked in just then, and I felt an immediate sense of relief. His expression, however, showed how preoccupied he was. Isabella glared at him, but he watched her with concern.

“What are you doing here? Not enough that you had to attend my father’s funeral? You had to come see this too?”

“I’m here for Lucia.”

She snorted.

“How is he?” Salvatore asked me.

“Critical. They’ll be in surgery for a few hours.”

“Mommy, is Uncle Luke going to be okay? I got him his favorite candy bar too.”

“That was sweet of you,” Izzy said, then looked up at me. “It may be best if Effie goes home. There’s nothing for her to do here.”

“I’ll take her. You stay. Just call me as soon as you hear anything, okay?”

“I will.”

“I want to stay with you, mommy.”

Isabella hugged her daughter again. “I’ll be home as soon as I can, but there’s nothing for you to do here. Go home, and bake some of those cookies Uncle Luke likes. Then you can bring them with you when he wakes up, okay?”

“What kind of cookies?” I asked to distract Effie.