Chapter 20
BELLADONNA
Bella looked up just as Victor and his ridiculous entourage entered the private waiting area.
“What do we know?” he asked, looking from her to his mom.
“He's in surgery,” Tabitha Creed croaked solemnly.
Unable to handle the fear in her future mother-in-law’s eyes, Bella walked over to the corner, slid down the wall, and tucked her head in her knees.
Because Tabitha Creed was a well-respected physician, her lack of hope was crippling. If she wasn't optimistic about Lucas’ chances, it was likely that they should expect the worst. Bella didn’t look up when Victor asked again, “What happened?”
“To Lucas or us?” Donna asked. “So, what happened with y’all?” she questioned.
“Bella and I were also targeted.”
“What happened?” Victor asked.
Bella jumped to her feet, frustrated by the barrage of questions.
“Donna and I went out to lunch. After lunch, we walked to the car. A van pulled up, the side door opened, and the occupants opened fire. We got one. But, because of the bullet that went through his nose, you won’t be able to interrogate him.
Another one was hit, but they got away.”
Bella took a breath and swiped a tear from her cheek. She began to pace back and forth with her face twisted with anger. “We were in a full-on firefight on 79th Street, which is not that unusual, you know. We are cops. You know what is unusual?” Bella gritted. “What is unusual…”
When she clutched her chest in agony of the thought of losing Lucas, Donna rushed to pull her into a hug. After a painful sob that had to have been felt by everyone in the room, Bella continued.
“Unusual, is my fiancé, a businessman, getting gunned down in a fancy, fucking downtown restaurant!”