CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ROME
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I blinked, hoping to clear my vision while I shoved at the person grabbing me. I was trying to get away, but my body felt heavy, like I had cement bricks strapped to my ankles. Before me, people were using fire extinguishers to sweep across the front steps, clearing a path.
The bastards had cleared a way for this motherfucker to get to me. I would kill them all. First, I had to break free of this person’s hold. An arm wrapped around me just as my legs threatened to give out.
"I've got you, buddy."
I frowned.
That voice...
“Hold on. I’ll get you out of here.”
"Terzo?" I whispered, trying to look his way.
"Yeah. It’s me."
What? How? I blinked, staring at him. I couldn’t see him clearly. My vision refused to cooperate.
"Just relax," he said. "I'll get you to the hospital."
"How... are you here?"
“This way is clear,” someone shouted, voice sounding far away.
Adjusting his grip on me, Terzo led me toward the steps.
“How?” I started again, before coughing on smoke.
"Relax, man. Don’t talk. Damn, what have you been eating?” he said, partially dragging me toward the vehicles.
“How are you... here?” I rasped.
“Look, I didn't feel right letting you handle this alone. Your brothers aren’t here to back you up. Therefore, it’s my job to make sure you don’t die. That’s why I had some of the cleaners follow me here to check on you. I didn’t expect to find you roasting in a mansion."
Fucking Terzo.
I couldn’t believe he’d come here. How did he even know where to come?
“How... did you know... where I....” Another round of coughs wracked my body.
"How did I know where your cousin lived?”
I nodded. What the hell did I do that for? My world tilted on its axis.
“I remembered the address from when you were investigating your cousin,” Terzo continued.
“It was you who told me your cousin...hold on. Someone get the door for me,” he yelled.
“Like I was saying, it was you who told me your cousin had another home besides the villa.
We came here and found one of the guards setting fire to the place. "
That had to have been the front gate guard.
"Where is he?" I asked.
“Uh. Don’t tell me you need him alive?”
“No.”
“Good. He’s dead. Lower your head so you can get into the car,” Terzo instructed me. “There you go.”
I had no idea what he was talking about. I hadn’t lowered my head. His ass was stuffing me into his passenger seat.
“Fuck. You’re heavy as hell,” he complained after getting me inside.
"My car..." I muttered, eyes drifting shut.
"What?"
"My car ... Is in the woods. West side... dirt road... outside the gate."
“I’ll have someone sweep the area. We’ll get your ride.”
I spoke up again when he started to close the door.
“Keys... in... pocket.”
“We can get it without the keys. But if you want me to get your damn keys,” he said, checking my pockets. “Even when bleeding out, you’re an ornery bastard. But no matter what, you’ve kept your grip on that duffel.”
Had I? I couldn’t even feel it at this point.
“Hey, Mike,” Terzo called out. “Here’s his car keys. The vehicle is on the west side of the property. On a dirt road outside the gate. Get it and bring it to the hospital.”
“Okay, boss.”
“Hey, Rome. Hey, you still with us?” Terzo asked.
I forced my eyes open.
“I’m bleeding out... and you’re... yelling,” I whispered. “What the... hell?”
“Just making sure you’re not dead. Hell, the only reason you’re still moving is because of those pills you took. I don’t know if you’re a genius or insane.”
He slammed the car door. I closed my eyes again, unable to keep them open. I was no genius. There were plenty who would call me insane. But right now, I was just grateful. Grateful to Terzo. He got into the vehicle and started it. Before he could back up, his phone rang.
“What is it?” Terzo said into his phone. He then turned to me and asked, “Do you want us to call the fire department or let it burn?”
Opening my eyes, I stared at the burning house. My cousin was inside. I’d shot him in the stomach, and he’d been shot by one of his own guards in the arm. Death was imminent. But just to make sure, I’d let him be cremated in his home.
“Let it burn,” I told him.
“Leave it,” Terzo told the caller. “But make sure no traces of our presence are left behind.”
“Tell them there are... tear gas canisters in the back employee area,” I rasped.
“Hey, Mike. Check the back of the house. There are tear gas canisters back there. Mask up and get those out. Leave no trace of us behind. Alright. Thanks, man. I’ll double your pay for tonight since you worked two jobs. No. I’m doubling it. Tell the team. Just accept the money. Damn.”
Terzo ended the call. I relaxed against the seat as the car started. And then we were off.
“Thanks, Terzo,” I whispered.
“For this, you owe me a motorcycle when I come to the States.”
I started to say something, but the darkness was approaching. It pulled me under before I could get the words out. But my response wasn’t going to be about any damn motorcycle.
I wanted my laptop. I needed to know if Juliet had reached out to me. But I was too weak to ask for it. Right now, my body needed rest. So, I let the darkness pull me under.
***
Pain dragged me back to consciousness. For a second, I didn't move. Didn't open my eyes. Didn't breathe. I just lay there, trying to figure out why every part of my body felt like it'd been run over by a truck.
Ten trucks.
Eighteen wheelers.
I tried to turn to the side, hoping to alleviate some of the discomfort. All that did was make it worse. Fuck. The pain hit hard enough that my eyes snapped open. Bright light greeted me, and I immediately regretted opening my eyes.
I squeezed them shut, shutting out the world as I licked my lips, noticing how dry they were. My mouth felt like someone had stuffed it full of cotton. I swallowed and winced. Even that hurt. The events of last night came rushing back to me.
The pills had worn off. Every punch, every kick, every injury I'd ignored while fighting Pasquale had apparently decided to introduce themselves all at once. My shoulder was the worst of it.
It felt like someone had shoved a hot knife into it and left it there. I opened my eyes again, slowly this time, letting them adjust to the brightness of the room. I stared at the ceiling for several seconds, my mind replaying last night’s events in my head.
The attack at the lab. The estate. The fire. Pasquale’s weak-ass hypocrisy. The gunshot. Terzo.
Damn... I owed Terzo.
Slowly, I turned my head, taking in my surroundings. I was in the hospital. The one affiliated with the DeLucas. It was a safe space. And it wasn’t my first time ending up here. Next to the bed, a machine beeped.
I had an IV line hooked to my arm. And whenever I moved, I could feel the bandages covering my chest and shoulder beneath the hospital gown. Damn, I hated hospital gowns. I would feel more comfortable in my own clothes.
Now, where were they?
My gaze drifted around the room, landing on Terzo, who was asleep in a chair near the window, his arms folded across his chest and his head tilted back. I swear, this guy reminded me of my baby brother, Cas.
They were both so damn nosy, unable to relax until they knew everyone was safe and sound. I guess after all this time, I’d slowly started thinking of Terzo as a brother, too. The DeLucas were more family to me than my real family here in Italy.
Blood was thicker than water. But you needed both to survive.
Look at me, lying here waxing poetic. I needed to get up because lying here wasn't accomplishing anything. Sighing, I tried to get out of bed and search for my clothes. I instantly regretted it.
The moment I lifted my arm, pain shot through my upper chest and shoulder. Fuck, I needed one of my pills. Moving caused me to tug on the IV line, dragging the pole forward and bumping it into the bed.
The metal stand rattled loudly as it rolled across the floor. Terzo jerked awake, his eyes flying open. For a second, he looked confused. Then he spotted me and relaxed, slumping back down in the chair as he rubbed his eyes.
"Look who finally decided to join the living,” Terzo drawled.
"How long have I been out?"
"Two days."
Fuck!
"Two days?” I’d been thinking how many hours I’d been out, not days. Shit. “The casino? How's the casino?"
"Shouldn’t your first question be, How is Terzo? I nearly broke my back carrying your big ass away from a burning house."
"The casino, Terzo. How is it? Have the Corradinis retaliated?"
"My cousin and your cousin have a handle on things at the casino. And the Corradinis haven’t done shit. What the fuck can they do?"
Relief washed over me. I pushed myself up a little farther.
"I need to get back to work. There are things I need to take care of before returning to the States and..."
Terzo was out of his chair before I finished speaking. He strode over and stood beside the bed with his arms folded.
“You’re not getting out of bed. Especially not while wearing a gown with all your ass out. Nobody wants to see that shit.”
“Give me my clothes, Terzo.”
“If you need clothes, the nurse will help you with that.”
“Well, get the nurse.”
“I will. But even if I get her, she’ll only help you dress. They won’t let you leave yet.”
"Why the hell not?"
"Dude, you almost died."
"I'm fine now,” I lied, pain radiating all over my body.
"You’re not fine. You're stubborn. There's a difference."
I glared at him.
Terzo glared back.
"You lost a lot of blood. You needed four units of blood. Four.”
Four wasn’t so bad.
“The doctors spent the last two days trying to make sure your dumb ass didn't die. You got shot and then pushed yourself past your limits, all because you couldn’t feel shit. Those pills are going to get you killed one day."
I just needed to tweak the formula. Those pills were worth almost dying for. They did more good than harm.
"You won't be going back to work for a few more days. Doctor's orders,” Terzo told me.
"A few days?"
"Yeah."
"I don't have time to lie in bed for a few days."