Lucas
Mia had been reluctant to leave for the shopping trip. She’d barely spent any time away from Link since he was born, but it would be good for her to spend time with friends. In quiet moments, I’d caught her almost drifting away from us, tangled in her thoughts about our current predicament. She worried enough for all of us, and I hoped that some company and wedding planning would give her something else to focus her attention on. Something that would bring the glow back to my ray of sunshine.
The moment Dom’s name appeared on the screen of my phone I felt the world drop away from beneath me. There would be no reason for him to call me unless something was wrong. I’d hardly heard the explanation, blood thundering in my ears as I grabbed my keys and took Link to the car. Dante’s questions were left unanswered as he followed us blindly to the hospital.
It was only the sight of Mia, sitting on the hospital bed, looking paler than usual that brought my heart from my throat back into my chest. My muscles refused to uncoil as I took up my position by her side, leaving little space. Personal bubbles be fucked.
“I’m fine,” she said, looking up at me as the doctor continued her assessment. She blinked rapidly to rid herself of the tears that built, choking out, “Franco—”
“Will be fine,” I told her firmly. Link wriggled in my arms as if he sensed all the discomfort in the room. “You focus on yourself.”
She didn’t argue, letting the doctor finish their work. Nothing more than some nasty bruising on her wrists where she’d met the sidewalk. I was amazed and relieved that she’d walked away from the incident relatively unscathed.
“You told them everything?” I asked as she slipped from the bed and held her arms out for our son. Handing Link over, Mia buried her face against his, taking in a deep breath. My hand rested on the small of her back, needing her close by, and she trembled under my touch. “Mia.”
“I’m fine. I promise.”
Physically, I had no doubt, but this had shaken her, and I was determined to find out who took the shot. From everything Dom told me, it was no accident. I had a pretty good idea of just who would have orchestrated a job like this one. Only one family would be out to get Mia and aim for her as a direct target.
“We’re getting you home.”
She nodded and let me lead her from the room. As we exited, Dante pushed himself away from the wall he leaned against, looking up momentarily from his phone. “No lasting damage?” he asked, taking her in.
"Take Mia home," I instructed him, keeping up my pace. “And I want everything that you and Dom can find on who was around the area when it happened.”
"Where are you going?" Mia asked, practically jogging with Link to keep up with me as I continued to stride down the hallway.
"Paying Gabriel a visit."
“I’m coming with you,” she told me.
I rounded on her so quickly that she had to stop herself from bumping into me. Mia’s fire was admirable. She never quite knew when to quit, and it was equal parts frustrating and fascinating. This tiny woman sometimes unleashed an attitude that made you think she was a foot taller and several pounds heavier than she was. Usually, I’d indulge her, let her push the boundaries because I was curious to know how far she could go but not this time. There wasn’t time for her to test the waters when it had been her life on the line.
“Luc,” Dante warned me gently, sensing my mood. He wanted to keep this contained while we were in public.
My hand went to the back of Mia’s neck, keeping my anger pressed down so as not to hurt her. She took two small steps towards me and I leaned down as I spoke to her. “Dante is going to take you home,” I said, voice dangerously low. “And I’m going to do my job.” I hadn’t been this close to the wire with her since she’d first moved into the house. Mia held my gaze and my patience teetered on the edge. If she was about to argue with me then she had picked the wrong battle.
I could almost see the cogs turning as her brain ticked over the bind she found herself in. Mia worked in a different way from the rest of us. For every ounce of brawn and uninhibited sliver of darkness we allowed to consume us, Mia was quicker and sharper in mind. Where I was reactive, she was restrained. She was trying to find a way to stop me from confronting Gabe. Anything that would keep me with her and stop the situation from escalating any further. “You have no proof,” she said eventually.
That small sentence spiked my rage. As if I gave a shit about concrete evidence. “You want to tell me who else would pull a stunt like this?” Even if there was a list, there was a sure bet as to which family would top it.
Her cheeks turned pink with the knowledge that she wouldn’t be able to find a reason to deter me. “Do not do anything stupid,” she warned me. “We don’t need any ripples in the water.”
“You being shot at is a pretty big fucking ripple, Mia!” Link began to cry, effectively putting an end to our argument. “Home,” I ordered her for the last time. “I will see you there.” She defiantly tipped her jaw upwards, never one to take kindly to being told what to do. “I will not risk either of you,” I said through gritted teeth.
The anger seeped out of her system, chin lowering as she broke eye contact and rocked Link. Mia went to step back but my hand behind her neck kept her in place. I pressed a kiss to her forehead before letting her go. A reminder, more so for myself, that she was safe.
Without another word the three of us left the hospital, splitting ways as we got into separate cars. My knuckles turned white gripping the steering wheel, navigating towards Gabriel’s home. I’d start there and then head to the office if I couldn’t find him. Gabe wouldn’t be able to get away. I’d hunt him down until I made my point clear. If he wanted a fight, he should have come to me. Women were not directly involved in our line of work, but you’d need morals to stick to those rules.
It was Vittoria who opened the door after I hammered on it with my fist. "Where is he?" I asked her, pushing my way past her and into the house.
"What are you doing?" she asked in return.
"Gabriel," I said, rounding on her. "Where is he?"
"What do you want, Luc?”
"What is going on?" Gabe demanded, walking through the open front door with Chas, a step ahead. He pushed the woman behind him. A chivalrous act for a coward. “Tori, I told you not to answer the door.”
