Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Gabriel
Icling to Susanna as I lower her to the ground. Blood is pooling from her abdomen.
“What have you done?” I snarl, glaring up at Luca, who’s looking at Susanna in shock. As if he thought shooting her with a gun wouldn’t do anything to her. I know he was aiming for me and she got in the way but it was still fucking reckless. I could kill Luca if Susanna didn’t need me right now.
“Gabriel,” she gasps out, gripping my hand. There’s so much fear in her eyes but also trust. Trust for me to take care of her. Trust for me to get her out of this situation. I’ve never had anyone trust me like this before.
Susanna and I, despite how we met, are perfect for each other.
And I can’t lose her.
“She needs to get to the hospital,” I say. “If you don’t want me to kill you right this second, then call for a fucking ambulance.”
Luca hesitates only for a moment before he does as I say. I hear him talking to the police as I hold Susanna to me. Her eyes begin to flutter closed.
I’m someone who never involved the police in my business but right now, that needs to change. To save Susanna, I have to put aside my own wants and fears. I have to do what’s best for her.
Is that what love is?
We haven’t known each other long but she’s revealed her deepest secrets to me. She chose to marry me. She chose to trust me.
Now it’s my turn to step up and show her that she chose wisely when she married me.
I don’t have to just be a man who lives within darkness. I can be a man with a wife who was made for him. Who understands him. Who accepts him.
Susanna’s pulse is weak but it’s still there. The blood won’t stop seeping down her dress.
Luca puts his gun away before the ambulance arrives. “I was aiming for you,” he says.
“I know. But look at what happened.”
“You’re one to talk. You goaded me into this. You wanted to make me angry when you kidnapped her. When you taunted me.”
“I did,” I admit. “I wanted you angry. But right now, I need to focus on saving Susanna. And you should too. How will your wife feel if she finds out you were the one to kill her sister?”
Luca goes quiet at that.
The ambulance finally arrives and Luca lets them inside. The paramedics get to work, placing Susanna on a gurney and stuffing her wound.
“I’m her husband,” I say.
“You can ride with us,” the paramedic tells me.
I don’t spare Luca a backwards glance.
The ambulance gets Susanna to the hospital fast and then everything after that is a blur. She’s taken straight into surgery and I’m left behind in the waiting room.
That’s when I see Nina and Luca and Maria, Susanna’s mom, burst through the doors.
“What happened?” Nina demands, rushing up to me. “Did you hurt my sister?”
I glance at Luca. “I take it you didn’t tell them.”
Nina looks between me and her husband. “Tell me what?”
Luca sighs, running his hand down his neck. “I was aiming for Gabriel. I swear. But then… Susanna ran in front of him right as I fired. And…”
“So you’re the one who shot my sister?” The pain in Nina’s voice is clear.
“I’m sorry, Nina,” Luca says. “I truly didn’t mean to hurt her. You have to know that.”
“I do,” she whispers. “But I also know your obsession with trying to kill Gabriel is what got my sister hurt. I only ever wanted you to help get her back. I never wanted you to go after Gabriel. I told you this. And look at what happened. If my sister pulls through this, then there needs to be some changes.”
“What kind of changes?” Luca asks warily.
“You two” – she points at both me and Luca – “need to make peace. I will not let my sister get hurt again. I will not let my mom get hurt. Or myself. Or even you,” she says to her husband.
“You will make peace for all of us and stop this fighting.” She turns to me.
“You will not hold my sister as a prisoner. I will be allowed to see her. For some reason, she told me she’s happy with you and my sister will always do what she wants.
And if she wants to be with you, then I know she means it.
I will accept that if it means she’s safe.
If it means all of us are safe. Is that clear? ”
Luca and I look at each other for a long moment.
“Do you really think you can make peace with me?” I ask. “Because right now, I want to fucking kill you for shooting my wife.”
Nina’s eyes widen. “Do you actually care for my sister?”
“I do.” It’s a vulnerability to care but right now I don’t, well, care about that. “I promised I would protect her and I failed. All because of your husband.”
“I get why you would want to kill Luca,” she says.
“Right now, I’m pissed at him too. But I love my husband at the end of the day.
And I want both him and my sister in my life.
If you try to kill Luca, Gabriel, he will come right back at you and my sister could be put at risk again.
So if you truly care for her, you will make peace with Luca.
” She turns to her husband. “And if you truly love me, you will make peace with Gabriel. No more trying to kill each other. It’s what led to my sister getting hurt in the first place. ”
“What if she doesn’t make it?” Luca asks.
“Hoping for that?” I snap.
He glares at me but doesn’t take the bait.
“If she doesn’t make it…” Nina sighs. “Then I don’t know what will happen. So let’s just hope she’ll make it. And if she does, you two will make peace. Now.”
Luca and I glare at each other but I know in my gut that Nina is right. I may hate Luca but I’m the reason Susanna is hurt right now. I did taunt Luca into coming after me. I set all of this in motion.
Susanna was just a pawn in my game initially but now, she’s become so much more.
I… I love her.
Knowing I could lose her has made me realize this. I love my wife. And I will not lose her to petty fights.
So, I’m the one to extend my hand. “I will make a deal with you. For peace. My marriage to Susanna will keep me in line while I know your marriage to Nina will do the same for you. I know neither one of us wants this but I’m willing to do it. If you are.”
Luca stares down at my hand for a long moment before he takes it. “Deal,” he grits out. “I’m not happy with this either. But I can’t be the reason Susanna dies.” He wrenches his hand from mine like it burns. This is a peace built on fear, not trust. But it’s all we have.
At that moment, Alek comes running through the ER doors.
“I just saw your text,” he says, coming over to Nina. “Susanna?”
“She’s in surgery,” I explain.
Alek’s eyes widen when he looks at me. “What’s going on here?”
Nina places her hand on his chest. “I’ll explain everything. But Luca and Gabriel have agreed to make peace. And you should too. I know you want Gabriel dead for taking Susanna. But… he cares for her. I know it.”
“What happened?” Alek asks in a hard tone.
“I shot her,” Luca says. “I was aiming for Gabriel and she got in the way. I didn’t mean to.”
Pure rage forms over Alek’s face and he punches Luca right in the nose. Luca stumbles back but doesn’t fight.
“I deserved that,” he says.
Alek then turns to me and punches me in the face.
I also don’t fight, even though I want to. “I guess I deserved that too,” I mutter, rubbing my sore cheek.
“You both are fucking idiots,” Alek growls. “You both have put my daughters in danger.”
“They agreed to make peace,” Nina says. “But you have to agree to it too. If you want me and Susanna to stay safe, you have to agree to it, Alek. You know you do.”
Alek looks between all of us, clearly angry, and clearly not wanting to make peace but… then he sighs and slumps onto a nearby chair. “I just want this fighting to be over. I just want to know that both my daughters are safe.”
“I know you have every reason to hate me,” I say.
“But Susanna and I are married now. She chose to marry me. I get her in a way no one else does. She will be happy with me. I’ll take care of her.
I promise. And if I’m being honest… I’m tired of being in hiding.
I’m tired of always looking over my shoulder.
I don’t want to lose Susanna. And if she makes it through, then I’m willing to make peace. For her.”
Alek gives me a hard stare before he nods. “For some reason, I believe you. I don’t like any of this. I want to kill both of you. But… if it means protecting both Nina and Susanna by ending this war, then I’m on board.” He holds out his hand to me. “Deal.”
I don’t hesitate to shake it.