Burning Ties

Chapter Eighteen

Carmine POV

For the first time in a very long time, I felt at peace being around my family. I know it bothers them that I don't talk to them, but I can't explain why I did it, it's been over a decade since I've been like this, and I still can't explain the exact reasons I stopped talking to them.

Still, it warms my heart that Iris makes a conscious effort to actually make me feel included in the family. I don't blame my brothers for not including me all the time, it's difficult and I know it, but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate Iris.

Today had been going exceptionally well, despite the fact that Iris barely bought anything, I enjoyed hanging out with Iris and Leandro, and up until right now, everything had been perfect.

My eyes slowly go over every inch of the restaurant, until I see a man come up behind Iris. Nobody else seems to notice, they're all engrossed in their conversations, and without thinking, I do the first thing I can think of.

I scream, using my voice for the first time in fourteen years, but I'm too late. The man punches her head? I mean, it's kind of a weird spot to punch, but I mean, I know it's going to hurt both of them because why the hell would you punch a person in the head?

Immediately, Leandro, who's sitting next to Iris grabs the man by the arm he hit her with and snaps it. No, I don't know how he had the strength to just break his hand like that, it's Leandro, we've all just decided to no longer ask questions.

Leandro punches the guy in the face before a shot rings out from somewhere in the restaurant, and I'm immediately gesturing at Iris for her to get under the table without catching too much attention. In the meantime, everyone else in the restaurant, including the staff all run out, scared that they're going to get shot. Stupid.

Leandro was right, we should've brought guards.

"Holy shit, did you get shot?" Luka asks, turning to Leandro who just shrugs. Blood is already pouring out of his stomach, but he doesn't seem to care.

"We'll worry about that later. Iris, stay under the table. Carmine, Luka, stay here. I'm going to try and find the shooter. Luka's friends, I don't give a shit what you do."

With that, Leandro walks off casually almost as if he hadn't been shot. I blink in confusion, and Iris, who's still under the table, scoffs.

"Did he actually get shot?" She asks, having not seen anything.

"Yeah, in the stomach. Seemed like a flesh wound though." Luka answers.

"You mean to tell me that we just let him walk off after he was shot? And we're just sitting here doing nothing because there might be a shooter somewhere?" She questions, her voice a higher pitch than usual.

"Uh, yes?" Luka replies.

"If course," She scoffs, "Why exactly are we sitting around?"

"So nobody gets lost." Luka shrugs.

"Whatever. Why aren't your friends panicking? And why would the guy punch my head?"

"They're used to it, and they're all involved in some way or the other."

I sign that he can tell her to get out from under the table, which he sighs before doing it.