Mafia Wars: The Uprising Billionaire

5 A Pauper Has No Say

''Excuse me… nurse, where's my brother?'' Antonio barged into the reception in heavy, fast strides.

His gaze wandered from one angle to another, his eyes knitting in subtle apprehension.

There were three nurses at the reception, two of them clad in white gowns, while the third who sat in the middle wore a green round-neck top and pants.

The one in green had dark circles and eye bags hanging beneath her eyes, as she occasionally stuffed her mouth with popcorn.

The other two ladies brimmed with more youthful energy. Their eyes, were sharp and unwelcoming as their gazes shifted towards the approaching figure.

''Hey, I'm asking… where's my brother? Can you lead the way… he's not in the usual ward.'' Antonio blurted out everything without taking a break, his tone tinged with bafflement.

The three nurses shifted their eyes away from Antonio, treating him as though he were a fart.

The older lady in green went back to stuffing herself with more popcorn, while the other two had their eyes glued to the files they were handling.

Bang!

''Excuse me, I believe I'm speaking to people!'' Antonio slammed the white table, jolting everyone to their feet, including some patients.

The reception suddenly became silent, everybody now staring at Antonio with mixed emotions.

Some had looks of bewilderment, others disgust, while some seemed not to care at all about the lingering commotion.

The three nurses flashed their eyes at him, as though they wanted to devour him right on the spot.

''Do you realize that this is a hospital.'' The lady on the left, closest to Antonio, stood up.

''And if you continue this barbaric act, I'll be forced to call the police.'' She muttered, adjusting her gown before sitting.

''What?'' Antonio's lips parted, his eyes widening, as though he had just heard the most horrific thing in his lifetime.

'These people won't tell me where my brother is, and now they think I'm the one acting barbaric?' Antonio snickered.

'Now I'm going to show you what a real barbarian does.' He clenched his fist, and just when he was about to speak…

Four men in black suits, with muscular physiques and sharp auras, barged into the reception from the main entrance.

The reception once again fell into a state of quiescence, as all patients and hospital staff moved their attention towards the new arrivals.

A few moments later, an old man in a wheelchair was pushed into the reception by another man.

The young man pushing the gramp exchanged looks with the bouncers before they walked forward towards the nurses' direction.

The three nurses had sprung forward, the eye bag lady dropping the bag of popcorn in her hand.

They rushed towards the new people, but the bouncer at the forefront raised his hand, signalling to them to stop.

''A special ward,'' he muttered curtly.

''Okay, sir.'' The nurse in green replied with a bright, professional smile plastered on her face.

Antonio was rooted to the spot, dazed by the brisk turn of events.

The moment the young man in a casual blue shirt entered, he had already recognized him. Even if he was dreaming or groggy, his mind would straight away clear up, seeing that fellow.

'These bastards.' Antonio gnashed his teeth, as his whole body trembled in fury.

'And what's this piece of shit doing here?'

As though reading his thoughts, the young man glanced in his direction, and his eyes furrowed, seeing who stood some meters away from him.

'Oh yeah, his brother is here.' Alessio's heart momentarily skipped, before regaining his composure.

Antonio had yet to move from his initial spot, his gaze fixated on Alessio with cold and murderous intent.

Everyone present didn't notice the subtle exchange of messages between Antonio and his 'used to be friend'. The former could only trace the disappearing figures of Alessio's company, who had entered one of the elevators that led to the VIP unit.

The nurses had returned to their posts already, and before Antonio could demand where his brother was, once again, the nurse in green passed a white paper to him.

''Our hospital offers the best treatment in the states, but… it's not for paupers like you,'' she emphasized on her last word, not sparing Antonio a glance.

The other two nurses chuckled, the mockery in their eyes not hidden a bit.

''Many people love to wallow in their past glory, don't you think? Eli.'' The nurse closest to Antonio murmured.

However, Antonio didn't listen to their jarring ridicule, neither did he have time for that.

His eyes were glued on the letter that he was reading, and the more he read, the deeper the frown carved on his face.

In the letter, he was informed that Alessio's condition had worsened to a critical stage, and because the money deposited had finished a while back, they had transferred him from the previous ward to another one of lower standard.

That wasn't all, his daily medications would finish tomorrow morning, and unless they deposited a sum of five thousand dollars, they might have to suspend his medication until the money was deposited to the hospital pharmacy.

Yet, the last statement in the letter made Antonio's heart freeze, his body quivering in despair.

''E-eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars?'' Antonio scrutinized the letter again with shaky hands, yet, what was written in there didn't change.

Although the voicemail had prepared him before hands, seeing the figure from the letter made him suck in cold breath.

Since his condition had reached a terminal stage, they had no choice but to carry out multiple surgeries, radiotherapy and chemotherapy to alleviate the patient, and for that, he needed eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

''Um…'' Antonio swallowed, his voice softening.

''Okay I'm sorry I know I've been a jerk, but please…'' His voice trailed off, a cold, long breath leaving his mouth.

''Sorry, that's what the hospital demands, now if you'll excuse me.'' The nurse, near him, grabbed her files and walked past Antonio.

''Mr Antonio the sweet billionaire.'' Eli, the nurse on the left, waved him a smile etched with ridicule.

''Life is turn by turn, dude.'' Eli walked towards him, leaning in closer, as she filled Antonio's nostrils with her fruity cologne.

Her eyes flirted around, but her disdainful tone betrayed her body language.

''Hmph.'' She harrumphed, before walking past him, heading to a different ward.

Antonio tried to swallow, but his mouth was too dry for that action.

Dropping his shoulder in defeat, he walked out of the reception in a slow and disoriented manner, before finally leaving the hospital premises.

''Arghh!'' Antonio yelled, flinging the letter in his hand.

He slumped into the snowy ground, panting, as thick, dry mucus blocked his nostrils.

Even though the temperature was negative, Antonio's face was trickling with cold sweat as he recalled the series of humiliations he suffered today.

''Fine…''

''Fine…'' He repeated in his head, as he pulled out his mobile phone.