Chapter 130

Aldo

My voice came out so hoarse, that I wasn’t even sure that I heard it.

“What?”

“Layla?” Ethan sounded just as aghast as me.

No. No, that shouldn’t have been possible. Why the hell would Agent Carter go after Layla’s medical license?

What the fuck did the asshole have to gain from doing that?

I gaped at my wife with wide eyes and a disbelieving look. Layla—my Layla could hardly match my gaze. Whatever strength she’d initially used in order to speak to Ethan had officially run out. She lowered her head, wanting to hide her look of shame and sadness.

That single tear she’d been fighting back finally won the battle as it streaked triumphantly down her cheek.

Oh my God...This was what she’d been talking about. The last real conversation Layla and I had shared as she was in the middle of moving out of our bedroom.

“...Somehow I feel as though I’m the one who ended up losing a lot more than she did...”

I’d spent hours wracking my brain over what she had meant by that line. It hadn’t made an ounce of sense at first but now...

Jesus Christ, the urge to close the distance between us and snatch her into my arms threatened to take over me like a man possessed. I wanted to brush away all the unfallen tears and find a way to promise her that I would fix the problem.

I didn’t necessarily know how at that very moment. But I was determined to find a solution.

“Layla, wait. Let’s talk about this,” I suggested softly.

She shook her head and casually wiped her cheek. “There’s nothing to talk about,” she said. “What’s done is done. Luca, I suggest you call Doctor Liam Prassin,” she instructed.

And just like that, she’d disappeared back into the darkened part of the hall. Upon hearing the faint ‘click’ of a door closing shut in the distance, I knew then that it was just Ethan and myself again.

“My office,” I said pointedly. “Now.”

Given the fact that Ethan’s captain had especially sent him over here to collect a statement, the station wouldn't be missing him for quite some time. Ethan and I moved through the house on a two-man rampage.

The second we reached the confines of the office, I slammed the door shut and made a B-line straight for the liquor cabinet across the room. I hastily poured myself a drink, something I seldom did lately.

I lifted the rim of the tumble to my lips and allowed the first heated bitter taste to hit my tongue. I failed to flinch at the burn that slowly clawed its way down my throat. Glancing over my shoulder and holding up the glass, gesturing to Ethan.

“Want one?”

Ethan shot me a deeply contemplative look. Yes, technically, the man was still ‘on the job’ but it wasn’t as though he’d be getting any real work in. He hadn’t given me a legitimate answer yet I went ahead and poured him a sizable drink anyway.

I silently held it out for him to take. Ethan’s resolve dissolved to nothing. “Fuck it,” he said.

He proceeded to undo the work belt around his waist and loosen the two few buttons on his shirt.

I handed him the glass which he took a decent mouthful. My mouth curved into a smile, even though there wasn’t an ounce of positive feeling behind it.

“Anyone who can face off against Layla when she slips into that kind of mental state deserves at least half of the bottle,” I said.

Ethan bristled while letting his eyes drift over the room. “Please, she went easy on me. Especially, because toward the end, I could tell that her emotions were getting to her.”

He had a point there. In previous instances, nothing would break Layla’s death glare. That unnerving look that would spread across her eyes was impenetrable. But it seemed like her other emotions had finally caught up to her.

We took our drinks in silence for a few good beats.

Halfway through my own, I shook my head. “I can’t believe it,” I muttered. “I just can’t.”

“That makes two of us,” Ethan added.

“How could they revoke her medical license?” I asked dubiously. “For fuck sake, she’s one of the best surgeons on the East Coast.”

Layla’s job was one of the top things in her life that she prided herself on. It came as a close second to mothering Eli. Being a doctor was part of her identity. Without it, there was no telling what it would end up doing to her.

It’s been a few days and she’s already well beyond devastated. No doubt, she’s in for some much darker days ahead.

This Agent Carter had knowingly screwed around with the wrong family. While he may believed that he’d gotten the upper hand, I was going to ensure that he

“Aldo.” Ethan’s voice grew tempered with caution. “Whatever it is you’re planning on doing, I’m imploring you to think twice. Remember, this Agent Carter you’re dealing with. He’s not some rookie cop in his first year, alright?”

I placed down the now empty glass and pressed both my hands down on top of the desk. “And I’m not someone that’s just going to allow some prick to destroy my wife’s work without some kind of repercussion.”

Aldo shook his head in puzzled disagreement. “I just wish I knew what the charges were,” he said. “I mean, as far as medical practices go, Layla has always followed her teachings. Her colleagues idolize her and her patients are absolutely enamored by her.”

“I don’t kn—”

My entire body went stiff as the words died out on my tongue. Holy shit. I lifted my shocked eyes to find Ethan who obviously came to the startling conclusion on his own.

“The clinic,” we said together.

I let out a series of curses and threw myself down into the chair. Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long breath.

“How the fuck could he have known that?” I asked angrily. “Did you say something to him?”

Ethan shot his head up and gave me a look that could rival a true Marcello glare.

“I resent that inquiry,” he snarled. “When the hell would I even talk to Agent Carter? The son of bitch works on a completely different floor from me at the station.”

“He could have overheard you in passing,” I suggested.

He let out an unsavory sound from his chest. “I never spoke about Layla’s clinic. Ever. Not to anyone. Why would I?”

“Because at the end of the day you’re still the law-abiding officer—”

“Don’t give me that shit, Aldo,” he snapped back. “Yes, I knew about the free clinic. Did I know that what Layla was doing was technically against the law? Yes. Did I commend her for wanting to make a positive difference in the area and to help those that didn’t have the financial means otherwise? Yes!”

I ignored the man’s glower and roughly rubbed a hand over my tired face. Good God, I was exhausted. Ever since Layla had moved out of our bedroom, I hadn’t been able to get in a real night’s sleep.

The effects of her lack of presence were really starting to take their toll.

“Be that as it may, I have to figure out a way to help Layla overcome this,” I said earnestly. “Ethan there’s something much worse than becoming consumed by the darkness that runs rampant in our family.”

“What’s that?” he dared to ask.

“Depression.”