Daddy's Little Girl

Chapter 8

I woke up in a large, unfamiliar bed the next morning. Beside me, Gabe slept peacefully and when I sat up the silky sheets fell revealing I wasn't wearing anything underneath.

"Shit."

I sighed and rubbed my eyes. I looked back at Gabe and couldn't help but smile a little. I reach over him to his nightstand and grab a cigarette and his lighter. After lighting it I tossed the lighter to the side and puffed a small cloud of smoke into the air.

"What happened to all that romantic BS about waiting until after we were married?"

I asked dryly. Gabriel was so deep in his sleep that he did not even stir in the slightest at the sound of my voice. I got up to start redressing and while I was slipping on my heels I whispered

"Gabe!"

Still no response. Forget it I'll just call him later.

~~~~

Pulling into my driveway, the staff seemed to be in extreme disorder and security was rushing about the Romano estate in some sort of panic. I parked the car and quickly got out.

"What's going on?"

I asked out loud with a strain of worry in my voice while walking inside the house.

"Ms. Romano! Thank God you are here! Please remain on Romano grounds until we get this mess sorted out."

"Mess? What the hell is happening and why wasn't I informed?!"

I yelled throwing my purse on the table. Nico at that moment came rushing down the staircase.

"It's about time you showed up! I've been trying to figure out how to handle this. Why haven't you been answering your phone?!""

"Handle what for God's sake?!"

I ask ignoring his question already knowing I was at fault for not coming home last night or keeping my phone charged so that they can always get ahold of me.

"Vincent and his wife have been shot. There was a shooting at the kids T-ball game last night. Some asshole falsely informed the shooter that you were going to be there."

"Oh my God, where are they? Are they okay? Jesus Christ, it's all my fault I was the target."

"They're in one of the guest rooms upstairs. I already called in the doctors and helped set up the medical equipment."

I flew up the stairs and cautiously opened the guestroom door where the Castellano's were in. There was blood all over the bed and doctors frantically rush to remove the bullets and stop the bleeding. Tears stream down my face at the sight of such close family friends going through incredible pain. My God, I've known Vinny since we were only five years old and now look at him; his life coming to an end with his beloved wife by his side. Suddenly one of the heart monitors dropped to a continuous low beep.

"We are losing him!"

A doctor said running to Vinny's side rubbing together two defibrillator pads between his hands.

"Clear!"

A doctor announced and the pads are pushed onto Vinny's chest and caused his body to jump a little due to the shock.

"Again! Clear!"

I couldn't bare to watch anymore and I closed the door that instant. When I turned, their young son, Lance, stood there in his little bloodstained uniform and looked up at me with worry in his eyes and asked

"Are mom and dad gonna be okay?"

In the background I can hear Angelina's heart monitor drop and the doctors trying to get the voltage up on the defibrillators again. That is what broke me. I scooped him up in my arms and told him everything was going to be okay even though I knew that just behind that door, his hero, dad, and my best friend was lying dead next to his wife who doesn't appear to be that far behind him. It's my fault. The killer was after me. If only I had just just gone to the game. I didn't deserve Vinny's loyalty. I am such a failure as a leader. I can't believe I let personal life get before the Family. A whole entire night past before I got news because of my stupid date. I will never let that happen again.