Protecting The Principessa (Complete)

~ Chapter 53 ~

"You bastard," she muttered as she sat down in the chair next to the bed and took Adriano's hand. When she saw the blood, she freaked, there was no other way to describe it. Mike was the one who called 911 and then called Carlo, who made sure everything was handled quietly. They managed to rush Adriano to the hospital and though she could see the faint rise of his chest, she was worried it would stop sooner than she had wanted. And that wouldn't do for her because she had to tell him how she felt. She didn't want to admit it, but she loved the damn man, and he couldn't leave her, not now, not like this.

Her eyes glanced over him and all the wires that seemed to come from various parts of his body. Seven hours later, she and her dad were the only ones at the hospital. After they got here and rushed Adriano into surgery, her dad pulled Mike aside, and after a brief conversation, Mike left, leaving just the two of them. No one else had come and she wasn't sure if that was her dad's doing or just because, but she was going to bet it was her dad.

And about two hours ago, the doctor came out to talk to them, explaining that the bullets had just missed some vital organs, one being his heart. Whomever it was that decided to have a one-way shot out was banking on taking him out and that didn't sit right with her. She nearly freaked at the idea, but the doctor said they managed to remove everything, and that Adriano would be okay. They wanted to keep him for a couple of days to make sure no infection set in and make sure he rested.

"Damn dumbass," she added, dropping her head on the bed, willing the tears not to fall. She was grateful that he was okay and that the doctors were able to stop the bleeding and save him, but the last several hours had taken their toll on her. She wanted nothing more than to curl up to this man's side and crash. But with all those wires, she didn't dare.

"Who?" Izzy blinked and lifted her head, looking straight into Adriano's eyes. She slowly grinned and stood up.

"You," she told him, kissing his cheek.

"I got shot, and I'm the dumbass?"

"Yup." She nodded her head in answer as well, sniffling a bit. "But you're okay so that makes you a bigger dumbass."

"That doesn't sound like something a fiancé should say, you know?"

"Tough shit." Izzy carefully sat on the bed but still held his hand. "How do you feel?"

"Like crap. I don't think there is a part of me that doesn't hurt. What happened?"

"Besides you getting shot?" Carlo asked, walking into the room and looking at Adriano. "That sure as hell was no accident. And that wasn't for Ignazia, that was for you." Adriano winced as he tried to sit up, causing Carlo to push him back down. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he asked, making Adriano look up at him.

"I'm fine, I can sit up."

"Like hell you can. You got quite a few holes that had to get stitched up, the best thing you can do, is lay there and get better." With that, Carlo brought the chair up on the other side of the bed. "Did you see anything?"

"A car, the one that was chasing us when we left the pier. At least, I'm sure that was the car. I didn't see anyone, though. And I tried to duck in enough time so that my ass didn't die." Adriano ran his fingers through his hair as he gazed at the wall. "There should be a camera pointed at the lot that the car came from, so check the footage. I don't know if it caught the plates or not, or any footage of the driver, or shooters for that matter. It wasn't one and the same."

"What do you mean?" Izzy asked.

"The shooter was on the passenger side. Actually, in the back too. So, there were at least three people in the car. Which is rather unusual unless, as your dad said, I was meant to die. That's probably what they were coming back to check on. In fact, text Mike, he knows what to do and can see if he can send you anything." With that, Adriano closed his eyes and let his head flop back on the pillows. "No one was supposed to come after me; why the change-up?" Carlo lifted a brow and turned his gaze to Izzy. "What?" Adriano asked, seeing the look.