The Mirage

Ch. 7 "Chaos broke loose"

"What's wrong."

"My house is trashed and my uncle is in the hospital. I have to go home." Gemma picked Luca up as Nico started for the car without question. They sped to the house and Gemma hopped out.

"Luca stay in the car!" Gemma pulled the gun from her the back of her waistband and shot the bedroom window. The fire just started in the bedroom and it grew with the new oxygen from the window. Gemma ran to the closet and secured the revolver and a knife. Sweating from the heat she lifted the mattress and pulled the two stacks of cash out. She only had time to grab one more thing. She swept the baby blanket her brother slept with off the floor and darted back to the window. Gemma ran to the car yelling drive before she got in. She closed the door and the car took off with a loud boom behind.

Nico looked at her and pulled to the side of the road a few miles away. Gemma looked over still panting from the amount of adrenaline rushing threw her body. Luca started to cry with his thoughts of everything left in the house. "Come here baby." Gemma breathed reaching back to set him on her lap. "Look what I saved for you." She pulled the blue blanket from her legs knowing it was his favorite. She rubbed the silk side on Luca's cheek and kissed his forehead. His crying substituted as he held the blanket. Nico put his hand on Gemma's lap lightly moving his hand back and forth. His touch instantly started to calm her and she thought about what just happened. "Would you mind taking us to the hospital?" Gemma questioned with a tear rolling down her cheek as she knew everything she left behind, most was from her grandparents or great grandparents and now she only had the gun.

"Of course. While you're there I'm going to make a call about your truck. I'll see what I can do to get it fixed."

"No you don't have to I can look at it after."

"I'm going to take care of it." Nico's voice was stern. Gemma nodded not wanting to argue on top of everything else.

                    *     *     *     *

Gemma walked into the room with her uncle in it as Luca held his blanket in her neck. Mia wiped her tears and looked up to Gemma with a weak smile. "Will he be okay?"

"Yes he was shot in the shoulder and stomach. They have stitched him up and now he's sleeping."

"When will he be released?"

"Tomorrow morning just because he lost so much blood."

"I'm sorry Mia. This is all my fault." Gemma shook her head looking down.

"No no no. It's fine bambina. He's okay it just scared me. Your uncle loves you and knows what your going through." Mia assured Gemma as she pulled her into a hug. Gemma excepted and returned with one arm. They stayed like this for a while when a cough from the bed made the two women look up.

"Gemma!" The faint voice of her uncle called.

"Hi, how are you feeling?"

"I have been better, but I have also been worse." The chuckle from her uncles lips made her smile and kiss both of his cheeks.

"I'm sorry about all of this."

"It's better me than you amore. I'm much older and have lived a full life... You should not be here. I have Mia with me." He winked at his wife as he motioned his hand to the door. "Mia will call you if anything happens. Now leave." Gemma did as told kissing her aunts cheek and walking out.

'We have no place to go.' Gemma though as a sad look washed over her face still carrying Luca who fell asleep in her arms. The sun was now setting and she slowly walked to the elevator. As she walked outside as Nico stood from the bench and walked to her. He silently led Gemma to the car and opened her door. "Where are we going?" Gemma asked in a faint voice.