The Body #4: Nico and Cosi

Chapter 23 (Nico): Open Your Eyes

Copyright © 2024 by GroveltoHEA

I didn't think it would be a good idea to pull my gun and threaten the paramedics while they worked on my wife as the ambulance sped toward the hospital, sirens blaring. They were doing whatever the fuck needed to be done, talking quietly but with urgency between themselves, monitoring her vitals. I don't know what I expected, but I wanted them to do more. To look my way and assure me that she was going to be fine. My instinct was to threaten them: if she dies, you die so make damn sure she lives.

Instead, I silently watched them work because I knew it wasn't fair or right to do that. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling very fair at the moment and I wanted someone to hold accountable until I could get my hands on her motherfucking step-father.  

Never in my life had I felt this helpless; I would have given every last drop of my blood for Costanza and happily died if it meant she could live. If she and the baby could live.

"We're about a minute out," the driver called back to us. "There's a medical team waiting for her."

The next few minutes were a blur of organized chaos, but they whisked my wife away, one of the male nurses stepping in front of me, telling me I couldn't go past the swinging doors.

"You save her!" I shouted after them. "You fucking save her!"

Then I didn't move from those doors. I had no idea how long I stood there before one of Costanza's friends walked in with Costanza's mother.

In two strides I was in front of her mother, my hand around her neck, and I stared into her terrified eyes.

"Lilah, did you have anything to do with this?"

"With what?" she gasped, her hands trying to pull mine away from her throat.

"With Costanza being shot!" 

"No! What are you talking about?"

"If I find out you're lying, I'll kill you myself."

Costanza's friend put her hand on my arm. "Let her go, Nico. I don't think she's involved. I questioned her on the way here."

I released Lilah. "What's going on?" she cried. "I don't understand -- why would I have anything to do with shooting my own daughter?"

"Because your fucking husband's the one who shot her."

"No! Rocco wouldn't do that to Cosi. To me."

"Oh, he did. And if you try defending him one more time, I'll kill you on principle. Time to play catch up, lady, and I hope you're a fast learner: your step daughter was making my wife sick and your husband shot her and two of my men. You're about to become a widow and your step-daughter won't ever be found."

Her mouth opened and snapped shut, proving she wasn't completely stupid, and she read what was in my eyes correctly: the need to commit murder.

"What's happening with Cosi?" she asked, looking away from me, wringing her hands.

I just stared at her.

"Where...where was she shot?" Now tears were running down her face.

"Shoulder and lower in her chest. Fortunately, it didn't hit the baby."

Her mother swayed on her feet and grabbed Costanza's friend, whispering, "She's pregnant?"

"Yeah," I said, not sure why I was getting more and more pissed except this woman was married to the man who tried to kill my wife and until I could get my hands on him, she was an obvious target.