Helping Mr. Gang Leader .Chapter 47: what about your father? .Simply, Gianna said, “You’re leaving.”Angelo didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to.“So now we’re down a doctor!” Enzo said, a furious look on his face. “We’re down a doctor as our patient numbers keep rising. And it’s not because he’s having an emergency of some kind, or because the situation is out of his control, no, we’re down a doctor because he’s leaving us for something better.”The disappointment was welling up so much in Gianna’s chest it was nearly overwhelming. “This clinic needs you.”“I know,” Angelo said, looking truly sorry. “I know it does, and I’m sorry to go. But this is my dream, Gianna This has always been my dream, and I thought you understood that if I ever got a shot at my dream, I would have to go for it. I’m not doing this to screw the clinic over. I’m doing it because this is what I’ve dreamed about at night since I declared my focus to be in ortho.”Enzo accused, “And we’re not supposed to t
Helping Mr. Gang Leader .Chapter 48: We do what it takes.“Speaking of,” Enzo reminded, “what can we do about your dad? Gianna? We have to block him from trying to kill our funding because he’s pissed about your brother.”Gianna swore, “I’m working on it. I won’t let him take our funding, no matter what he threatens. He doesn’t represent the whole of the Sangrid government, no matter who he knows. I won’t let him get away with this.”“But what if he does?” Enzo posed.“Then we go into funding overdrive,” Victoria proposed. “We get anyone and everyone to sponsor us. We have fundraisers, we appeal for research grants, take private donations, and whatever else we have to. We do what it takes to keep this place open.”“Got it,” Enzo said. “And that’s something we have to get the other nurses and receptionists in on. This has to be a group effort.”Angelo asked, “What about trying to get some of the neighborhood businesses to kick in a little? Everyone is strapped for money here, but if
Helping Mr. Gang Leader .Chapter 49: He always deserved better.. The middle of October meant that it was not only gloomy and overcast outside, but also cold and windy. For Gianna, who had a defective heart thatl rarely pumped blood effectively enough to fight off a constant feeling of coldness, the winter months were her least favorite.But stepping into the flower shop, the heat and humidity hitting her in the face all at once, Gianna could breathe deeply and enjoy clinging to a little artificial summer.“Hi,” the girl at the front registered called out when she saw her, bowing and welcoming her to the shop.“Are you serious?” Rio snorted from behind Gianna. “I can’t believe I’m spending my Saturday at a flower shop.”Gianna ignored him and made her way directly to the girl’s side, taking in the explosion of color around her and the fragrant smells. Gianna was especially fond of flower shops. And she certainly visited them enough over the years.“You have a very beautiful shop,”
Helping Mr. Gang Leader .Chapter 50: nothing will stop that . If it had just been Gianna’s relationship with her father that had suffered, she could have endured it. But Giovanni didn’t deserve to be caught in the middle.He always deserved better.“I’ll head to where you are now,” Gianna said, giving the flower shop girl one last wave and appreciative bow. “Tell me the address and I’ll get a taxi.”She could hear the confusion in Giovanni’s voice as he asked, “Aren’t you with Rio? Or was it Zeke? I can’t remember.”“Rio,” Gianna said, and now the girl outside was practically throwing herself all over the short male. Rio didn’t look as if he minded it much, but Gianna thought it was in bad taste to be done so publicly. “But I think he’s a little distracted right now.”“He shouldn’t be distracted when he’s supposed to be watching you.”“I don’t need him to watch me,” Gianna reminded. “And wouldn’t you think with this being Mariposa’s territory, that it would be safer? Or is there
Helping Mr Gang Leader .Chapter 51: Once was a fluke. Twice was trouble..“No matter what happens with our father, we will pay our respects like we do every year. We’ll go through the traditions, we’ll fulfill our requirements, and nothing will stop that. Don’t you believe me?”Giovanni hefted the hand basket up a little higher and gave a nod. “I believe you.”“Then let’s go pay for this,” Gianna said, steering him towards the cash register. She asked curiously, “Will this hamburger place also offer salads? I’ll nag you less if I know you’re getting a salad on the side.”Giovanni made a face. “I don’t think you understand the concept of what good tasting food is supposed to be.” He looked so serious that it was almost hysterical. “I think there’s a rule somewhere about good tasting food not being allowed to be green.”Gianna was laughing as she stated, “You’re capable of eating a five-pound watermelon by yourself, and I promise you, that’s not only healthy but green.”Stopping shor
Helping Mr Gang Leader .Chapter 52: moment between life and death. In the moment between life and death, with her mind floating and all sensation drifting away, there were many memories floating around in Gianna’s mind.But there was one memory that mattered.And there were a series of events leading up to it that went like this:Gianna had always been exceptionally observant. She had been a watcher, more than a doer, probably too quiet for her mother’s tastes, and too reserved for her father’s. She had been, by all accounts, the toddler who was sat in one place, usually on a soft blanket in her mother’s line of sight, and remained in place.So, to say that she’d been too aware of her medical needs from a young age, would have been an understatement. Because kindergarten had come around soon enough for Gianna. It had come along earlier for her than for others, in fairness, because at three Gianna knew her numbers, her letters, her colors, and had better sentence structure than mo
Helping Mr Gang Leader .Chapter 53: mind floating and all sensation. In the moment between life and death, with her mind floating and all sensation drifting away, there were many memories floating around in Gianna’s mind.But there was one memory that mattered.And there were a series of events leading up to it that went like this:Gianna had always been exceptionally observant. She had been a watcher, more than a doer, probably too quiet for her mother’s tastes, and too reserved for her father’s. She had been, by all accounts, the toddler who was sat in one place, usually on a soft blanket in her mother’s line of sight, and remained in place.So, to say that she’d been too aware of her medical needs from a young age, would have been an understatement. Because kindergarten had come around soon enough for Gianna. It had come along earlier for her than for others, in fairness, because at three Gianna knew her numbers, her letters, her colors, and had better sentence structure than
Helping Mr. Gang Leader.Chapter 54: Wonders never ceased, it seemed.. Gianna had few deep regrets in her life, but the way her relationship had broken down with her father, was one of them. And whether it was her fault or not, Gianna felt like she hadn’t done enough to save the relationship between them. She felt like there must have been something she could have done to make it easier between them, or to make it better.But distance had built between them so easily, and the years hadn’t been kind to the way Gianna pulled away into adulthood, having to leave an already lonely man further alone.Still, it was something that her father was there, not six feet from Gianna, twitching a little in sleep on the sofa. It meant something that her father had come, and not only come, had stayed with her.Her father was not a sentimental man. Not anymore. Gianna truly believed most of her father’s heart had died with Gianna’s mother and sister. But this was sentimentality. This was Gianna’s