Reputation's Play (Book 1)

Ch. 9 Deep Deep Dive

Chapter 9 Deep Deep Dive

Daisy's quick surgery was a relief for everyone in the Silvano family. Carla had assured Gia nothing would happen to her best friend but until Daisy was out of the operation room, Gia could not stop thinking of the worst case scenarios.

"She's going to be just fine," Carla said as Gia sat by her best friend's bedside. "The bullet grazed her side. It didn't hit any major arteries."

"When will she wake up?" Gia asked.

"As soon as the anesthesia wears off."

"Were you able to get a hold of her mother?" Luca asked from where he stood by the doorway of the private room.

"No," Carla sighed. "The hotel in Cabo said she's away on some spiritual retreat until the end of the week. No cell phones allowed."

Luca rolled his eyes.

"But they will try to deliver the message to her," Carla patted Gia's arm.

"Actually, I think it might be better if Patty isn't here for all this," Gia said.

"Still," Carla shrugged. "She's her mother."

Nodding, Gia reached over and took Daisy's hand. Her shoulder was sore from the lacerations, making her movements slow and clumsy.

"Gia," Luca spoke up after a while. "Go home. Get some sleep."

"No," Gia frowned. "I'm not leaving Daisy. She's here because of me."

"Not because of you," Luca shook his head. "They were after me."

"Who?" Gia asked in frustration. "Who's McCarthy? What was Daniel talking about?"

"Daniel?" Carla arched her brow. "He was here?"

"Y-yeah," Gia's eyes flickered from her brother to her aunt.

"Luca?" Carla turned towards her nephew.

"Billy McCarthy of the White Rabbit gang," Luca rolled his eyes as if he was talking about some rowdy teens. "A bunch of Irish thugs who are trying to band together and seize control of the docks in Brooklyn. They've been snooping around ever since I got to New York and I guess last night when they saw me leave on my own with the girls, they thought they could pull a stunt."

"How did Daniel get involved?" Carla asked.

"Del Mare oath," Luca said. "Protect your country men from foreign attacks. I guess he must have been on the road behind us."

"That was awfully nice of him," Carla said.

"It's the oath, zia," Luca sighed. "His family signed it just like us. He has to follow the rules."

"Yes, but he didn't have to," Carla reminded Luca. "He could have kept driving and left you two for death. No one would have known he was there."

Gia felt her aunt's words deep within her heart in the darkest corners. She squeezed Daisy's hand as the memories of gunshots echoed in her ear.

"Maybe," Luca shrugged.

"Let this be the end of everything," Carla advised. "Forget whatever happened at the fundraiser. Forget the bidding. He helped you out, saved your sister's life and Daisy's life."

"Hm," Luca hummed, not fully hearing whatever Carla was saying.

"Take Gia home, will you?"

"No," Gia spoke up. "Please....I just want to stay here."