14. Vinny
CHAPTER 14
Vinny
M y dad called in for medical intervention a few days ago. One of our OG home doctors, Dr. Carmy, woke me up early in the morning with an IV needle. I didn’t get a word out. Neither did he. He just hooked up the fluids and nursed me back to decent health. I can sit up today and my body still hurts like hell, but at least I feel somewhat human again.
“How long do I have until they finish me off?” I ask gruffly. Dr. Carmy chuckles and places a bookmark in his book. The odd thing about Dr. Carmy is the man can read and find humor in any situation. I’ve seen him be at the scene of women and children with a smile on his face.
“You know I can’t tell you that,” he replies.
I try to sit up and Dr. Carmy comes to check my fluids. “You’re healing well, as I’d expect for your height and age. You just need more rest.”
“I don’t have time for rest,” I continue.
Dr. Carmy adjusts the IV. “Look, I’ve served your family for years. They’ve always done right by me. Why you decide to do anything other than that is beyond me. But, if it’s for the reason I overheard, I suppose you let that dream die today.”
My heart sinks into my stomach. “She’s dead?”
Dr. Carmy’s eyebrows shoot up. “She? So, it is about a girl.”
I roll my eyes. Dr. Carmy also had a reputation for getting information out of victims. I search the room for any planted cameras but it’s no use. If my dad’s plan is to kill me off, he’ll win. I have no fight left in me. I just want to know what happened to Rosa.
“I don’t care what you think. I just care that no innocent blood is shed,” I say. Dr. Carmy is quiet for a moment as he shoves his hands in his pockets. He’s a tough man to read. What I know of his personal life is that he has no personal life. No wife, no kids, no flings. Just a man who practices medicine and serves a ruthless, crime mob family. There’s no way I can reason with his empathetic side.
“Whatever you choose, Vinny, you need to remember who you come from. You’re the royalty of crime. You’d risk throwing that away for something that can easily be replaced?” Dr. Carmy asks me. I hear the steps creak above him and he adjusts his tie. “Looks like your folks are back. As long as you stay hooked up to these, you’ll regain your strength.” He walks to the door and pauses without turning to face me.
“Escape is highly unlikely but there’s always a chance if you’re crazy enough,” he says as he taps his finger on the brick next to the light switch. I wait until he ascends the stairs. I keep staring at the brick next to the light switch, repeating Dr. Carmy’s last words in my head.
“Escape is highly unlikely but there’s always a chance if you’re crazy enough.”
I think I am crazy enough. There’s no word from Nick. I’m not completely healed but it’ll need to be enough to get me to where I need to go. It takes me a good five minutes to get out of bed and pull the IV out of my arm. It takes even more effort out of the pain in my ribs and legs. I can’t let them hear a sound. I have no idea when they’ll come and check on me and I have to be ready.
There are clothes in the corner — jeans and a semi-clean button-up. I slip them on and search the room for a gun. Of course, there is no gun. Why would they leave one here? But I can’t go up there with no protection. That’s a suicide mission. My eyes flutter back to the light switch.
There’s no way there’s anything in there.
Still, I’m crazy enough to believe I have hope in this situation. I hobble over and use both hands to pry the loose brick out. I nearly cry tears of joy as a revolver is wedged inside. I don't know if it was Dr. Carmy or Nick; I got my redemption. I climb the stairs and ease the door open to take a peek into the living room.
Instead of my father, I see Mikey and four cousins. They’re drinking beers and laughing at the game. If I’m quiet enough, I could sneak down the skinny hallway. That’s only if the game is interesting enough. I start to take my chances when the door creaks loudly and I lose my footing, spiraling onto the living room floor.
They rush over and kick me in the ribs.
“You idiot! Where the hell did you think you were gonna go?” Mikey growls. I stay on my stomach with the gun hidden inside my shirt.
“I’m not dying here,” I huff.
My cousin laughs. “Thank God Nick is taking over. This piece of shit has proven just how loose he’s gotten.”
My heart starts to beat like a drum. “Nick? What are you talking about?”
Micky snickers and kneels beside me. “Your good buddy waged a deal with your pop so he could take your place, big boy. Looks like he’s been hiding in the shadows waiting for the best time to strike.” Nick, that piece of shit. Now, I can only imagine what he’s done with Rosa. How do I know he didn’t kill her? The rage heats up my entire body. My eyes fall on the table near the kitchen area where all their guns are.
They don’t have guns on them. I have only a few seconds to act. This will cost me everything but I don’t care. I reach inside my shirt, cock my gun, and fire at my brother. The sound makes my ears ring and my cousins all dash for the table. I take two down before the other two make it to their guns. As I race for the door, we’re firing back and forth before I deliver the final, deadly blows. Silence takes over. There’s a reason why I was sent in to finish things.
I take the keys off the hook and race to the truck. It doesn’t hit me until I’m speeding down the road and that I just took the life of my family. Those people used to watch me when I was a kid. I shared a bed with all my cousins and Mikey. Now, they’re dead. As dark as it is, I feel free. Rosa stays on my mind as I drive faster, hoping to make it to the city before it’s too late. If she’s dead, then Nick better be ready for my wrath.