Crossfire Queen

17.

Gio was right about the knife though. I wouldn't be able to walk down the road with a knife in my arm. So I did the only thing I could and Pulled it out. It stung more than I ever knew it could. But I didn't let myself scream, I didn't want to alert the two men outside to my pain.
Naturally blood started pissing everywhere and I had to tie a belt and three tea towels around my arm to stem the bleeding before I could shove a hoodie and trainers on. As I opened the window I noticed a trail of blood from the kitchen to the bedroom area and looked at my arm to see it trickling slowly. Holding my arm in the air I grabbed a towel and began wiping the trail. If the men came in they'd know how I escaped and I didn't want them to be able to follow me. After clearing it up, I went back to the windows and checked it was clear before jumping directly into the bushes, my ankle giving way as I landed causing me to limp slightly as I made my way through the bushes.
Poking my head from behind some leaves I could see the two men still staring at the front of the house, as they smoked their cigarettes and conversed lightly with one another. Slipping from the bush, I began walking as quickly as my ankle could take down the road. Each step praying that the two men wouldn't spot me. As I rounded the corner into the alley way I sighed and made my way further down, the darkness protecting me from the road. Following the alleyway round to the right I saw a shadow and stilled.
The figure advanced towards me and just seconds away from me I could make out their face, a woman walking her dog. "You alright love" she smiled at me as I reciprocated with a nod and walked further along the ally until I could see the other side. Waiting back slightly I glanced at my phone. It had only been eight minutes since me and Gio had parted on the phone. He would be here in two minutes, I just had to hold my nerve until then. I could feel my arm getting heavy with throbbing and applied more pressure to it.
As the seconds went by, my arm seemed like it was numbing, my body was feeling heavier than normal and so I sat down, hoping to preserve my energy into applying pressure to my arm. "Hurry Gio" I found myself whispering as I leant my head on a lamp post, hoping he would find me before the men out the front realised I'd gone. "Fuck" his voice said eventually as I opened my eyes to see a fuzzy image of him. "Sofia" he said worriedly. "I'm here" I slurred feeling heavy. "Ok, keep looking at me ok, we're going to get you home" he said as I felt my body lift in his arms.
I curled against him easily as he held me closely, putting me on the seat beside me as the car lurched forwards. He barked out several incomprehensible orders as I felt his hands pulling at my hoodie, before it was revoked from my body. "You pulled it out" he said looking at me shocked. "You said" I gulped. "Couldn't walk with a knife" I stuttered as he gawked at me. "Fuck Sofia. I meant wear a coat. Fuck man" he rushed as he turned back to the driver and barked more orders before pulling off his T-shirt and wrapping it around my arm. "You got to stay with me Sofia" he urged as we span around a corner. "Here" I whispered lightly. "Marcos going to fucking kill me now, you know that right" he chuckled at me slightly. "Not if he kills me first" I tried to smile as he tightened the belt on my arm. "We're nearly there" he said reassuringly as I nodded. "Just stay with me a little while longer" he urged as I nodded. "Little while longer" I gulped as my eyes felt heavier than ever. "That's it. Come on man, I'm loosing her here" he barked at the man driving. "Less" I said softly. "She's at home too" he said looking at me worriedly. "She'll be a pretty bride" I found myself saying. "She will. And you'll be a pretty maid of honour. Stop thinking Sofia. Just focus on me" he urged as I saw panic wash over his features. "Marcos calling" someone said making my ears prick. "Brother" Gio said seriously. "I've got her. Just get Fran ready and tell her she'll need blood. Lots of it" Gio said as he looked at me, my eyes rolling slightly. "Sofia" he barked making them snap back to him. "Stay with me remember" he said softly as I nodded pitifully. "I don't think that Is a good idea man" he said down the phone. "Ok" he then said reluctantly as he held the phone on my ear. "Sofia" Marcos voice said worriedly. "Hey" I said quietly. "I need you to hang on in there for me ok" he pleaded. "I am" I whispered as I looked at Gio sorrowfully. I felt bad I'd put him in this mess. "I told you to call me if you were in trouble" he continued sadly, yet seriously. "I didn't have your number" I gulped as my mouth felt drier than ever. "Fuck Sofia" he groaned. "I'm okay" I whispered again. "She's not okay" Gio said firmly. "He looking after you" Marco asked me. "Better than I could've imagined" I said as my breath hitched slightly. "Look after less for me" I urged him. "She's here" he said softly. "Just like you will be" he added as Gio breathed heavily. "Marco we're pulling in" he said taking the phone back before shutting it and throwing it back to its owner before the car slammed to a stop and he leaped out, with me still in his arms. "Thank You" I whispered as I let my head fall against his chest. "Stay with me Sofia, don't you fucking dare close them eyes" he warned as I felt him launching me up the stairs.

He thrust me through the doors, as commotion rang out aground me. The noise in here was unbearable compared to in the car. "Stay with me" he said again as he flew down the stairs and laid me down for Fran. "Hey Sofia" she said worriedly. "Hey" I said groggily. "I'm going to put you to sleep so I can stitch this ok" she said as I nodded, suddenly feeling a warmth on my hand. "You better wake up Sofia" Marco said softly. "I'll try" I whispered as I felt a scratch on my opposite hand followed by a cold sensation through my veins. "You better" he said with finality as I finally let my eyes close.

My dreams were vague, snapshots of me as child, me with Alessia. Me with the Di Rossi family. They were so sweet and realistic, yet I knew they were more of an impossibility. If i joined the Di Rossi, or even if I didn't join either family, I knew the Marchetti would kill me.

As I allowed my eyes to open, I felt groggy and weak. I managed to keep them open long enough to realise it was late in the night. The room only illuminated by a lamp. In the corner was a chair that lay vacant. It was to be expected. Maybe I had hoped that Alessia or maybe even Marco would have sat with me. But it was late. They both needed to rest as well. Nuzzling against the pillow I closed my eyes again before hearing the door close gently and feet pat in. "Hey" Fran said softly as I opened my eyes again. "Hey" I rasped as she smiled at me. "How are you feeling" she asked concerned. "Rough" I said as I tried to sit up. "Don't" she said quickly "let me help you. You need to rest" she said as she rushed to my side and repositioned the bed so I was more upright. "Is your arm hurting at all" she asked worriedly. "Just feels heavy" I relied as she nodded. "It will. Any pain anywhere else" she asked as I rolled my ankle slightly. "I think I twisted my ankle when I jumped" I said as she nodded, lifting the sheet to reveal a purple and bruised ankle. "We will x Ray that in the morning. Let me get you some pain relief" she said soothingly as she walked out of the room leaving me with my thoughts.

"Do you have a mini hospital down here or something" I asked as she walked back in. "Kind of. Three rooms, x Ray and ultrasound facilities. And a treatment room" she said. "Oh and my office" she added making me smile. "How did you even get into becoming a mafia doctor" I asked curiously. "I used to work in the army. I came out after two tours and accepted a private residency. Here I am five years on" she shrugged as I smiled. "I suppose it is quite like the army, dealing with bullets and stab wounds" I shrugged as she nodded. "Oh yes, and all the testosterone" she smiled. "Now take these for me" she said handing me a little pot with two pills and a glass of water. "Then if it's ok with you, I'll let everyone know you're awake. They keep pestering me for updates" she smiled as I nodded. "Do you want me to let them in or do you want to rest some more first" she asked. "You can let them in" I agreed feeling slightly overwhelmed that they had waited up to see me. "Ok, if it gets to much just tell them to go okay, you've been through a lot today" she smiled sympathetically as I nodded.
She turned on her heel and left me shin in the silence of the room. I glanced at my arm to see it dressed with a similar dressing to what I had on my shoulder. My arm was no longer covered in blood, instead my pale skin stared back at me. "Thank god" I heard Leo's voice chime through the door as he led a crying Alessia in. "I'm ok" I said to her as she looked at me worriedly. "You we're so pale" she sniffled. "Was. Look, I'm ok now" I said as I reached with my good hand to take hers. "I shouldn't have left you" she sobbed as Leo rubbed her shoulders. "You weren't to know" I said sadly. "Im just glad you answered the phone when you did" I added honestly as she nodded. "Please don't ever scare me like that again" she said choking on a tear. "I ditto that" Gio said as he and Marco strolled in. "Im sorry" I said to her softly. "I didn't have anyone else to call" I said sadly as she nodded. "You did right to call her, Sofia." Leo said with a small smile. "It just scared me seeing you like that" she said as she wiped a tear. "Im okay Alessia. I promise you. Fran wouldn't let you come in if I wasn't." I said as I squeezed her hand gently. "I appreciate you all, coming" I said as I looked at them all. "Earlier and now" I said as my eyes flickered from Gio to Marco. "I've told you before and I'll tell you again, we're here for you when you need us Sofia. We won't make you choose" Marco said softly yet seriously. "I think my choice has been made for me" I said closing my eyes slightly as Alessia squeezed my hand tightly. "You'll stay" she said hopeful. "I can't" I replied sorrowfully as she looked at me horrified. "You can't go back Sofia. They'll kill you" she said harshly as I winced. "They won't if I'm with them" I said sadly. "What are you on about" she said hysterically. "Leo tell her" she begged. "They sent me a warning Alessia. If I don't join them I'll be dead. It's safer for everyone if I go" I said sadly as she looked at me horrified. "You can't" she sobbed as Leo turned her to cradle her. "I'm sorry Less." I said as I looked down at my hands. "Can you all give us a minute" Marco said softly as he looked at me.