Chapter 34
Gio
Sometimes I dreamt of my childhood.
I’d dream of being on a trampoline, staring up at a sky full of stars while my best friend lay next to me, searching with me. I’d dream of a time when I’d watch my best friend create crowns made of twigs so that my brother and I would be made into little kings while she was the queen to us both.
Those dreams were always something I craved when I was away from Presley, but now that she was next to me every night, I didn’t care for them.
I wanted the reality so much more than any memory I ever had of her.
Yet, when I woke up this morning, I knew there was this strange wall between us as if our reality had been altered and our future threatened.
Now, as I lay here, staring up at her tear-stained face, I wondered if I’d merely go back to the dreams I had of her.
Or if I’d get to stay here with her…if I’d ever get the chance to wake up on a random Tuesday and see how the sun highlighted her freckles and soaked into her lashes.
I wondered if I’d ever get to see her rock a baby of her own, or if she’d smile at me and ask for me to take a turn.
It used to bother me, this idea that I’d have to share her and all of her future, but now as pain spread through my chest and things became colder, I realized it didn’t matter.
None of it did. I’d been so fucking childish about her and her needs. She’d been through so much, a thoroughly broken queen, and instead of the king she’d needed me to be, I chose to be a fool.
My hands reached for hers, but I couldn’t make them wrap around her.
“Kingston, why are his lips turning blue?” Her voice shuddered, and I knew she was afraid.
I knew she’d lost one love, and I knew she couldn’t lose another.
There wasn’t room in that greenhouse for any more graves, and I didn’t want my brother to expand it just to accommodate another broken piece in Presley’s life.
So, I dug deep and fought as hard as I could to stay lucid.
“My left arm…did the bullet go through. I think it might still be in there.”
I heard my brother curse, and Presley sniffed. “It’s okay, Gio. We’re going to get you to the hospital.”
“We need someone to fly the chopper.” My brother pulled out his cell phone, but who was he going to call? El Peligro had abandoned us.
He looked at Presley, who shook her head. “All my dad’s men belonged to Scotty. They’re gone.”
“Gio!” I heard my dad yell as he came into the room. He dropped next to me, then Mom and Alex followed suit.
“We need someone to fly the chopper to get him to the hospital. Scotty’s men are gone,” Kingston explained.
My mom began tenderly pressing around my wound and trying to inspect it.
“Bullet is still in.”
“Where did it hit?” I coughed, which fucking hurt. I felt Presley’s fingers in my hair again while she tried to soothe me. Another tear fell from her nose.
“Your right side, under your arm.”
I tried to smile, but my mouth felt wet. “That’s not so bad.”
“We need to get him out of here!” my brother roared.
My dad pulled his phone out. “Where the fuck is your gang?”
A tear slipped from King’s dark lashes as he held my hand. “Guess they weren’t as loyal to us as we thought. Scotty bought off half of them, and the other half were loyal to Markos.”
I didn’t see what my dad was doing, but I heard him talking, seconds later.
“I know you’re retired, Hector. But, Primo, I need you. El Peligro has deserted my sons.”
There was some yelling on one end, and then Dad’s voice shook. “They took a blood oath, and if they won’t show up for my sons, then tell them I’m the one demanding their oath. I am the fucking one calling in their loyalty.”
My dad seethed. “Yes, I know they’ll demand I step back into that role.”
My brother made some sound, worry or anger. “Dad, no. Call Archer’s contacts. You were right to reach out to him. You knew the whole time that they wouldn’t pull through for us.”
He ignored him. “Yes. I am officially taking it back. You tell them that Juan Hernandez, Manny’s son, is back. You tell them they will wear their colors and arrive at my home to get my son to safety, and they will stay here, or I will personally hunt them down myself.”
My mom held my dad’s hand and squeezed it tightly while my father’s rage seemed to shake the room.
I didn’t know how long it was, but a rush of men came in and placed me on a flat board, which was carried to the chopper we had covered, near the armory. At one point, I felt like I was dreaming again, then I’d blink and see Presley’s blue eyes on mine.
“You’re going to be okay, Gio.” She kissed my knuckles as we took off.
I liked the reality better. Always the reality of her, not the dream.
“The sky is falling,” I whispered, and she leaned over me, pressing a kiss to my lips.
“I’ll hold it up, my love. I’ll hold it. I promise.”
I closed my eyes again, and this time I dreamt of her holding the sky at the age of eight, and it crashed all around her.