Vinnie just knelt there.Now was not the time for the man to freak out.
“Ricomponiti, Vinnie.”
The look the man gave me was totally lost.
“Call your people, Vinnie. The police and paramedics are on their way. They need to be able to get inside.”
“Yes, of course.” Vinnie got up and walked to a side table. He picked up his phone and started speaking to someone.
I turned my attention to Isabella. Her eyes were wide and filled with fear. They were flooded with tears, which leaked out through her thick lashes and trailed down the side of her face into her dark hair.
She knew she was dying.
“Just breathe easy, Isabella.” It was the only thing I could think of to say.
I knew she was dying, too.
“My…my ba-babies,” she gasped.
“Babies?” Christ on a crutch. “You have babies?”
“Tw-twin g-girls.”
“Yeah?” I sent her a smile that wobbled just a bit. “Lany and I have been thinking about adopting some kids. I think Lany would make a wonderful father.” I snickered, because despite the dire situation, Lany amused me. “He can get down to their level.”
He wouldn’t have far to go.
“Do…” Isabella winced. “Do it.”
“We will,” I promised her.
A drop of blood trickled out of the corner of Isabella’s mouth when she smiled.
Not good.
I glanced over to Vinnie, giving him a small shake of my head. I didn’t think Isabella was going to make it until the paramedics arrived. There was too much blood.
Vinnie dropped back down to his knees on the other side of Isabella. He grabbed the hand she held up between his own. “You’re going to be okay,amore mio.”
His words told me of how close their relationship was. They might not be romantically involved, but they did care about each other.
“Don’t…don’t lie.” Drops of blood flew out of Isabella’s mouth when she choked out her words. “We never lied to each other before. Don’t start now.”
Vinnie grimaced.
“You have to finish,” she said. “Promise me.”
“I promise, Isabella.”
I had no idea what Vinnie had just promised to do, but it seemed to settle Isabella. There was still a grimace of pain on her face, but some of the wrinkled lines on her face smoothed out.
Vinnie cried out when Isabella’s eyes fluttered closed. He grabbed her, pulling her to his chest. “No,amore mio.You can’t go. The babies need you. I need you. How am I supposed to do this without you?”
I pressed my lips together as emotion welled up in my throat. There was no response from Isabella. She had gone limp in Vinnie’s arms.
When I heard footsteps running down the hallway toward the room, I jumped to my feet and stepped forward to place myself between Vinnie and Isabella, and whoever might be coming.
I drew my gun.
