Chapter Twenty-Nine
The phone rings twice. I frown as I see the caller ID flick to life on the screen in the car. “Bellino?” Confusion fills the air, and my voice.
“Arianna…” His voice breaks. “I need…” There’s something there, something unsaid, but I know in that second, he needs me.
“Where are you?” I bark down the line.
“Enzo’s,” he gasps. I wheelspin, skidding around the corner as I change gear and direction in a split second. Screaming back down the road towards Enzo’s
“In the basement, through the kitchen.” He blows out a breath.
“I’m coming,” I clip out and drop the call. I drive as fast as humanly possible. He wouldn’t have called me unless it was an emergency, and how I deal with this will secure or destroy our union.
I skid into the driveway, screaming up to the house, as Bellino exits the building and makes his way down the stairs carrying a limp Leo in his arms, cradled to his chest. I screech to a halt, flinging my door open.
I step out, guns raised on high alert, covering him as he carries Leo towards the car.
Meeting him at the passenger side and opening the door.
He slides Leonardo in, and he winces as Bellino leans in and clips his belt.
He’s beaten and bloody, barely conscious. Stepping back, he closes the door.
“Take him home,” he grits out, tension etched in every feature, gritting his teeth like he’s trying to stop himself from going nuclear. I’m so close to losing my shit for him, but that’s not what he needs right now.
“Bellino, he needs you,” I try to reason.
“I can’t be the man he needs right now, Arianna. Take care of him.” His fists clench by his side as he wars with himself.
“I’m not a babysitter, Bellino. He needs you.” I emphasise once more trying to reach him through his barely contained rage.
He just stares at me, swallowing hard. “I can’t be what he needs right now.”
He turns and leaves me standing at the side of the car as he walks back inside. I slip back into the car.
I call Vittorio. “Get the doctor, meet me at Bellino’s.”
“Are you okay? What’s happening?” He gasps through the phone.
“No time, I’m good, just get there. It’s Leo.” I drop the call and head to Bellino’s, trying to get there fast without jolting Leo. He looks in bad shape. I pull up outside, and Vittorio comes running down the steps towards me.
“Fuck what happened?” Vittorio rips the door open.
“Enzo,” I grit out as Vittorio gently lifts Leonardo from the front seat.
We head into the house and straight to their room.
The doctor is waiting, pacing in the room with his bag set out on the dresser.
Lying Leonardo down on the bed, we both step back and let the doctor work, stepping in and helping him move to undress Leo.
Turning him to assess his wounds, his nose and ribs are broken, and the doctor bandages his ribs.
We clean him up the best we can, and the doctor gives him antibiotics and something to help him sleep.
I pace outside the door, waiting for Bellino. When he climbs the stairs hours later, he’s covered in blood. He looks defeated, and it’s not a good look.
“Bellino,” I say softly, and his eyes flick to mine.
“How is he?” His face is peppered in blood, but pale and washed out, and his eyes are sunken and dark. His shirt is covered in blood and lumps of flesh.
“Broken nose and ribs. A few stitches on his cheek, he’s gonna be sore for a while, but he’ll be ok. The doctor gave him something to help him sleep, so he should be out for a little while. Enzo?”
“Dead.” He pushes past me, but I reach out and grab his arm. He turns and glares at the point where my hand connects with his skin.
“Bellino. You good?” He grits his teeth but nods. He turns and pushes inside their room. Whatever happens now, things have changed. The Syndicate has been destroyed, and there’s no one left. Just the three of us, can we work together, or will we destroy each other?