I checked my watch. “It’s about an hour’s drive from here without traffic.”
“Crap.”
My mind raced with thoughts of who’d done it, and I couldn’t shake the feeling the assailant was closer to home than I’d like once I’d learned the truth. But we’d deal with that if and when we had to. Right now, I had to get Lucia to the hospital and find out what the hell was going on.
18
LUCIA
Salvatore made call after call as he drove us to the hospital, first to his uncle, then to Marco who tailed us, then to Dominic. Dominic didn’t pick up his call. He also arranged for security to be added to the hospital, for which I was grateful.
I tried Isabella twice but never got hold of her. With traffic, by the time we got to the hospital, it was well over an hour later. Salvatore’s phone rang once more just as he parked the car. He checked the display, and I glimpsed the name. It was his father.
“I have to take this.”
I nodded, opening my door and setting my crutches outside. What a time to sprain my ankle!
“Marco,” Salvatore called out once Marco had parked his car. “Take Lucia upstairs, and stay with her until I get there.”
Marco nodded and took my arm, helping me out of the car.
“I got it,” I snapped, hating feeling helpless. I glanced at Salvatore, who walked away with the phone to his ear. Marco followed me into the hospital. At reception, I found out where they’d taken Luke. I went as quickly as I could to the trauma unit and found Isabella holding Effie’s hand, her face one of frustration and worry, her eyes weary and red.
“Izzy.”
She turned, a look of relief quickly replaced by surprise at my state.
“It’s nothing, just a sprain. I fell while running.”
She got up, and we hugged.
“Aunt Lucia, are you hurt too?” Effie asked.
“I’ll be okay. It’s just a sprain, kiddo.” I gave her a hug then turned to Izzy, who was watching Marco talk to two other men I just noticed.
“Salvatore?” she asked, gesturing toward them.
I nodded. “He wanted security for Luke and for us.
She snorted. “He’s probably the one who put Luke in here!”
“Wait. No, he was with me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so naive, Lucia. All he has to do is give the word!”
“Mama?”
Izzy wiped away a tear and looked down at her daughter.
“Let’s calm down.” I touched my sister’s shoulder, and she sighed.
“Sorry, honey. It’s fine,” she told Effie. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
“Uncle Luke is hurt,” she said to me.
“I know. Hey, I saw a vending machine just around the corner.” I dug into my purse and found my wallet, took out some dollar bills, and handed them to her. “Go get us some chocolate bars, okay?”
She looked at her mom, who nodded.
