They should never have met.
Each one of them lived in different parts of the world. She lived in the light, an ordinary existence while he kept to the shadows, the underworld.
But one fate encounter brought them together and no matter how hard the...
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Maximus
Stepping out of the car I reluctantly groan from the rippling pain of my gunshot wound that seemed to grow with every breath. Trying to put aside the pain I focused on my anger, letting that emotion block the feeling to help me walk up to the Sorrentino estate. My body began to move slow, sluggish as blood loss caught up with me.
My eye sight began to blur around the edges and voices sounded far away. Someone grabbed my left arm, placing it over their shoulder helping me keep walk through the front door. Glancing over to see who is responsible for keeping me upright I see Vinzo, his scared right half of his face next to mine as his body carried part of my weight.
Out of breath I make it through the door into the estate dreading the stairs I will have to take to get to my room.
"I got it." I muttered heading up the stairs, pushing through the pain.
Vinzo snarled, his thick Italian accent being spoken. "Don't be an idiot, your about to fall over from exhaustion, blood loss and pain."
Annoyed I agreed and let him help me up the stairs, somehow making it to the top where we then headed down the hall towards my room. Every step sent waves of pain to my side, every breath seemed harder to make then the last.
Somehow through the torment we entered my room, my body dropping on my bed with a sharp intake of breath and a deep groan from a blinding flash of agony.
Vinzo looked at my side. "Tate should be here soon with the doc."
Flashing him a smile I sent a wink. "Aw Vinzo, I didn't know you cared so much. Maybe we can grab some dinner and a movie."
Clicking with my tongue I wink seductively at Vinzo, the man rolled his eyes grumbling 'fuck off' in Italian leaning against the wall.
I didn't have to wait long till my room's door opened showing Tate strolling in eating an apple like this was an everyday occurrence. Well maybe not every day, maybe weekly or so? Behind him came our residential doctor, Doctor Amir who quickly came over dropping his medical bag beside me.
"You milking it?" Tate asked taking another bite of his apple with a smirk
Scowling at him, Doctor Amir took off my bandage and began to flush the wound. Keeping my attention on Tate I ignore the pain. "Have you picked up the others? We had to separate."
Tate finished chewing his apple with a deep sigh. "Kiko and Alek are in the Hospital and Nate was dead by the time we got to the shipping crates. Don has closed down the area having men find out what the fuck happened."
Twisting my neck, I heard it crack, my jaw snapping down when Doctor Amir began to poke the wound. "You're lucky Maximus. The bullet went through, close to the edge of your side. I should be able to stich it together with no problem."
Nodding I refused to look at the wound, not wanting to have my eyes see the damage and register more pain than I was already feeling. "Do your best Doctor. Has Lorenzo contacted Nate's family?"
Vinzo passed me a bottle of rum but I waved it away. Pain is good, keeps the mind clear and right now I must think clearly to find out how this ambush happened and who the fuck could have done it. Plus, pain is a lesson. I should've been prepared for this, if I had been none of the men would be hurt let alone dead.
The crunch of an apple brought me back to the present, my jaw clenched tighter with the Doctor's needle stitching me together. Tate chewed nodding. "Don took Romano to go tell his mother. I'm sure when he gets back the focus will be on what happened and catching the bastards."
Vinzo scowled against the wall. "Who would attack during the day? Who would be ballsy enough to attach us at all."
"Ballsy or stupid?" I mutter, the taste of iron in my mouth from thinking about the blood that will soon be spilled. "We will find them soon enough and the bastards will be praying for death."
Tate and Vinzo both nodded their heads, their faces masked with anger for the death of one of our own. Justice and vengeance will be delivered for Nate. The taste in my mouth went bitter as the death of Nate settled on my mind. My job as underboss is to protect the family and I let one of us die today.
Focusing on the pain I shook the bitterness away, it does not do well to dwell on it.
"Send a new couch to 'London Threads' and give a good amount of payment to the owner, Stella, for my disturbance." I tell Tate who leaned against the bed as the doctor began to wipe the wound over with disinfectant. "No touching or looking at her."
Tate tried to hide his amusement at the last order but before I could order him to keep his opinions to himself the doors to my room were thrown open yet again. Within the doors stood my older brother, also the Don, Lorenzo who strolled in followed by my younger brother Romano.
Lorenzo has led the family for fourteen years taking over when he was twenty-one. During those years he brought the family away from the risky drug and gun businesses and into more stable, economic enterprises. I have been able to prove myself as his underboss twelve years ago when I was twenty-one with our brother Romano following in our footsteps. For many, the age we started ruling was too young, and I agree but we didn't have a choice. War killed all the others and a Sorrentino has to lead the family.
"What the fuck happened?" Lorenzo growled looking at my stitches. "He going to be alright Doctor?"
The doctor nodded adding another stitch. "Yes, the bullet didn't go deep so he will heal well. I'll say it again, you are lucky. I will leave a bottle of antibiotics for you."
Clenching my jaw, I didn't feel lucky. With the final stich, new gauze was placed over my wound and Doctor Amir stood up.
"Thank you, Doctor, Vinzo has your payment outside the room. Enjoy the rest of your day but stay on call in case something else happens." Lorenzo shook hands with the man before the Doctor walked out leaving Lorenzo to look at me for answers.
Tate moved to head out of the room making me call out to him. "Hey! No threatening her either! I'll talk to her making sure she doesn't say anything. Just remember what I said about touching or looking at her."
"Her?" Lorenzo asked raising an unimpressed brow. "If he needs to threaten someone he should do it."
Sighing I sat up, my face scrunching up to try and withhold the wince from the tenderness pulling my stitches. "It's the woman who helped patch me up and get a phone. Nothing to worry about and I'll handle any concerns she may have."
