“Preston!”I shout, and Coco whimpers.“Is it clear?”
“Yeah, boss.”He’s now standing where Angelo had been, opening the door and cursing.“You’re hit.”He takes my weapon and attempts to help me up.
“Coco first,” I command as I ease off her.Tears streak her face, and blood stains her jacket.“You’re hit!”I roar.She shakes her head and crawls up the seat, confusing me when her hands press to my shoulder, and fire explodes through my chest.I hadn’t realized I was shot there as well.
“Oh god, Lucca.”Her fear-filled eyes are glued to the wound I now see and feel in my shoulder.Preston rips off his shirt and hands it to Coco to help staunch the blood flow.I guess my legs weren’t the only thing hit.
Brushing Coco’s hair off her face, I attempt to soothe her as the adrenaline begins to wear off.“I’m fine,mia amore.Please allow Preston to check you over.”I’ll die a thousand deaths before allowing her to get hurt because of me.
“I’m fine, Lucca.It’s you who is bleeding.”Her eyes have dropped to my legs, where it’s no longer possible to mask those wounds either.Though I suspect bullets simply grazed them as I covered Coco’s body.
“Preston.”I turn my head to him.“Bulletproof rentals in the future.This can never happen again, especially now that I have Coco and our babies.”I’m babbling now, and my words come out slightly slurred.
“Anything, boss.”Sirens sound closer.“Ambulance and police are here now.”
“Nobody talks to her unless it’s to check her over,” I order with a pointed finger that barely lifts off my lap.
“Got it, boss.”He steps aside as paramedics arrive and take over my care.
Before I can demand someone check Coco, the other door is opened, and another set of hands reaches for her.Reluctantly, she releases me but grips my fingers as I’m worked on.
My eyes remain on her until I’m pulled from the vehicle and placed on a gurney.Everything happens quickly after that.Chief Parks rides with me, but I can barely get a word out as agony rips through every muscle in my body.
Before the doors close, I see Preston climbing into another ambulance with Coco.She gives me a little wave and thumbs up so I know she’s alright.Briefly, I wonder about my phone and cousins who were on the call with us when the shooting began, but I don’t get to ask as drugs start to filter through my system and knock me out as we drive away from the scene.
* * *
The subtle sounds of sniffling drag me from the depths of my unconscious state.Instinctively, I know it’s Coco.She’s trying to keep her teary sobs quiet, wondering if I’ll wake up.
“Mia amore.”My eyelids struggle to lift, and my voice cracks, but the hitch in her breath tells me she heard me.“Why are you not in bed with me?”My head pounds, morphine and I are not good friends.
“Lucca, are you okay?”The little hiccups in her tone kill me.
“No,amore, I’m not.I still don’t feel you.”Until she’s in my arms, nothing will be alright.
“I can’t, there’s too many wires.”Her fingers slip into my hand, and for now, I’ll have to accept that as enough.
Slowly, my eyes begin to open, fighting the anesthesia working to keep me under.I blink a few times, but it’s not until her red-rimmed eyes and exhausted face appear in my vision that I breathe easier.
“Don’t cry for me,amore.”She lifts my hand to her lips, kissing each knuckle.
“We told her the same thing.You have a stubborn woman.”Surprised by the voice, I look down the bed to see both of my cousins there.
“Why the hell are you here?”My eyes narrow as I look between the two of them.
“We heard your vehicle being shot up.Did you really think we wouldn’t show up to make sure you’re alright and support your woman?”Sal tilts his head to the side, curiosity tinging his stoic stare.
“As long as you’ve kept your hands to yourselves.”In all honesty, I’m not terribly shocked they’re here.I’d have been disappointed if they hadn’t shown up.
“Trust me, Luc, she’s yours well and truly.A fierce little queen.”Cormac tips his head to her in respect.
“Help her into bed with me,” I request.The need for closeness is an unescapable craving.
“You just…didn’t he just tell us not to touch her?WTF, man!”Cormac acts as dramatically as ever, but he does it with a cocky grin, so I know he’ll do what I ask.
Sal lifts all the wires out of the way, and Cor is putting her in bed when a doctor and nurse enter.The doctor begins to open his mouth in protest when the nurse places her hand on his arm and shakes her head.Smart woman.
“It’s good to see you awake so soon, Mr.Marcello,” he says instead.“Normally, patients are out for a few more hours.”
