Reputation's Play (Book 1)

Ch.40 Invincible

Chapter 40

"He's still breathing," Mario said, checking Luca's pulse.

Gia held her brother's head firmly on her lap and nodded. She couldn't see anything past the tears in her eyes and she didn't want to. All the blood on the ground made her stomach churn and her head spin. She hadn't taken a proper breath since the first gun shot. The dizziness she experienced sitting on the cold concrete floor didn't matter to her. All she wanted to do was hold Luca close just in case anyone else tried anything.

"Let's take a look at your head," Mario raised his hand but Gia flinched. She whimpered as she buried her face in the Crook of Luca's shoulder to try and hide. "Sweetheart, you're injured."

"Please help him," Gia whispered, her voice raspy and strained.

Daniel, who stood beside her on the phone with the hospital, shut his eyes as the sound of Gia's voice tore him apart. When he looked back up, his gaze zeroed in on Dante. He was being held at gunpoint by Mario's until they could take them all to the hospital and get their injuries taken care of. Not that Daniel cared so much about what happened to Dante. His blood boiled with rage every time he thought about how he had slammed her against the shipping containers. The sound would haunt his dreams forever.

"We will," Mario cautiously placed a hand over Gia's head. His palm immediately soaked with blood from her hair as she shivered and moved closer to her brother. "I promise you I won't let anything happen to Luca."

"They're here," Daniel said as he spotted the light from the ambulance down the road.

Gia looked up, holding her breath. She couldn't stop shivering as the ambulance grew closer and closer. Mario may have said something to her, but her ears were ringing. She followed the lights down the road and through the path at the docks. When the paramedics jumped out of the ambulance, Gia slowly pulled back.

"Come on, sweetheart," Mario moved his arm around Gia and pulled her to her feet.

"No, no, no," Gia protested with barely any strength. She couldn't leave Luca.

"He's okay to be okay," Mario said, holding her steady on her feet. "He's going to be just fine."

"Is she hurt too?" One of the paramedics looked at Gia.

"Yes," Daniel said.

"There are more coming behind us," the man said. "One of them can take her to the hospital."

"I want to go with Luca," Gia tried to step forward but her knees buckled. She slipped out of Mario's arms and headed straight for the floor. But Daniel grabbed her just in time and pulled her to his chest.

"Have her sit down," the first responder said, noticing how Gia struggled.

"Luca," Gia called out to her brother as he was strapped onto the stretcher and placed inside the ambulance. "I want to go with him."

No one listened as the paramedics climbed back into the ambulance and sped away. The siren blared, the flights flashed and then it was silent.

"I'm going with Dante," Mario turned towards Daniel. "I don't trust him. I'll take two of the men with me."

Daniel nodded.

"But before I go," Mario paused and turned to look at Gia. "Daniel's going to drive you to a separate private hospital a few miles away. Once you're taken care of, he will take you to London. From there you can head back to New York or wherever you want to go."

"No," Gia frowned as if she was not interested in whatever he had to say.

"My darling, your brother made a very foolish mistake tonight," Mario sighed, shaking his head. "Giovanni and Armani will not be happy. You need to leave Del Mare before they get here or find you at the hospital."