Mafia Heir

Chapter 36

Charlotte

Flames engulfed the car as I watched helplessly over Marco's shoulder. If I was only a few seconds sooner, I would have been inside of it. Someone tried to kill us--that was evident--but that was about the only thing I was sure of at the moment. Was it Silvano? Someone else? Was this even about me or was I merely caught in the crossfire of Luca's dealings? Fear paralyzed me.

Marco carted both Jenni and I into the building as quickly as he could, ignoring Jenni's hysterics and questions as he led us down a hallway. It was dark and remote; an area Luca conveniently left out of my first tour of the health club. I expected Jenni to be frustrated by the lack of information Marco was giving her but she followed along obediently.

When we got to a steel door, Marco pressed his thumb print into a keypad, and the door slid open. Marco ducked us into the room, making sure the door shut behind us. The room itself was stark. The walls were cement and bare without a single window. No decor, no furnishings, only one chair tucked neatly under a desk in the corner. The desk held about ten computer screens, each displaying a different screen from the security footage outside. It was a safe room. 

"Where the hell are we?" Jenni asked spinning around and taking it all in.  Her gaze feel over the computer screens and the expression on her face changed, as if the gravity of all of this was hitting her. There would be no lying to her after all of this. She was involved now, too.

Marco set me down on the floor and I leaned against the wall, letting my head fall back a bit. I closed my eyes, trying to ease my throbbing headache. The ringing in my ears was deafening, and as hard as I tired, I couldn't keep the room from spinning. Marco ignored Jenni, his full attention focused on me. "Charlotte, look at me. Where are you hurt?"

"I... I don't know." My voice broke as tears welled up in my eyes. My entire body hurt, but I couldn't pinpoint exactly where it was coming from. I knew I hit my head on the cement, but other than that, I wasn't sure. 

"Oh my god!" Jenni shrieked, pacing behind us. She was muttering something to herself that sounded like a prayer. I never knew her to be all that religious, but something about seeing your life flash before your eyes could bring out that side of a person.

"Jenni, there is a button over there on the wall that will turn the light on." Marco pointed back towards the door. "Can you help me do that?"

Jenni nodded anxiously and rushed toward the switch.

"There is a cabinet, too. That will have a first aid kit in it. Will you find that for me?" 

I tried to focus on the sound of his voice instead of the throbbing in my head and it seemed to help just slightly.

Having a responsibility calmed Jenni down and now she was determined to help fix this, whatever it was.

"Now," he said turning his attention back to me. "You're okay. You're going to be just fine. You're in shock. But I need you to tell me where it really hurts so I can help you. Got it?" All I could do was nod. Marco's calm and commanding side was one I didn't get to see very often, but it was exactly what I needed right now. Without him, I wouldn't have the slightest idea what to do.

"My head hurts." I said taking a sharp breathe in. "And my ears are ringing."

"Okay, thats good." He looked deeply into my eyes and I knew he was assessing for a concussion. "The back or the front?"

"The side. Right here." I put my fingers to the spot, and felt a gaping wound. When I pulled my hand away, I could see the crimson red of blood. 

Marco winced as his eyes glanced at it. "You're doing great, Char. Anything else hurt?"