“Shit. Sorry.”
“Give me twenty minutes,” I called out.
“It’s urgent.”
I glanced at Lucia. Marco wasn’t one to cry wolf.
“I’ll be right back,” I said to her as I climbed out I settled her against the back of the tub.
“What’s urgent?” she asked.
I dried off and wrapped a towel around my hips. “No idea.” I went into the bedroom. One look at Marco told me this was bad. “What is it?”
He glanced toward the bathroom. I followed his gaze, then walked over closer to him.
“What’s happened, Marco?” I asked more quietly, so Lucia wouldn’t hear.
“There’s been a shooting.”
My entire body tightened. “Who?”
“Luke DeMarco. He’s being airlifted to Bellevue Hospital right now.”
“Fuck.”
“What’s happened, Salvatore?” I turned to find Lucia wrapped in a towel, hopping on one leg, leaning her weight against the wall.
“It’s Luke.” I went to her, put her arm over my shoulder, and propped her up by her waist. “He’s been shot.”
“Oh my God! Is he okay?”
“Not sure yet.”
“I have to call Izzy. She wasn’t there, was she?”
“I don’t know.”
“Shit, my phone is downstairs.”
“Here,” Marco said, handing her his.
She looked at him as if she were surprised, but took it and dialed.
A knock came at the door. Rainey peeked her head inside and held up the crutches Dr. Mooney had ordered.
“Already here,” she said, her smile fading when she saw the looks on our faces.
“Thank you, Rainey,” I said, taking them from her. “Maybe you can make us all a pot of coffee.”
Lucia looked up at me. “I’m on my way, Izzy,” she said into her phone. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” She hung up.
“Salvatore, I have to go to them.”
I nodded. “We’ll get dressed and go.”
Lucia blushed, and Marco and Rainey awkwardly left the room. I went into her bedroom and chose some clothes: a dress and a sweater in case it was cool at the hospital. I helped her get her clothes on before getting dressed myself. I handed her the crutches that had just been delivered.
“Thanks.”
Since she had never used crutches before—and there was no time to practice—I ended up carrying Lucia down the stairs—it was just faster that way—and asked Marco to follow us.
“Did your sister know anything?” I asked Lucia once we were in the car and on our way.
“No. Only that he was in critical condition. He took two bullets, one to the stomach, the other in his shoulder. She’s a mess.”
I checked my watch. “It’s about an hour’s drive from here without traffic.”
“Crap.”
My mind raced with thoughts of who’d done it, and I couldn’t shake the feeling the assailant was closer to home than I’d like once I’d learned the truth. But we’d deal with that if and when we had to. Right now, I had to get Lucia to the hospital and find out what the hell was going on.
18
Lucia
Salvatore made call after call as he drove us to the hospital, first to his uncle, then to Marco who tailed us, then to Dominic. Dominic didn’t pick up his call. He also arranged for security to be added to the hospital, for which I was grateful.
I tried Isabella twice but never got hold of her. With traffic, by the time we got to the hospital, it was well over an hour later. Salvatore’s phone rang once more just as he parked the car. He checked the display, and I glimpsed the name. It was his father.
“I have to take this.”
I nodded, opening my door and setting my crutches outside. What a time to sprain my ankle!
“Marco,” Salvatore called out once Marco had parked his car. “Take Lucia upstairs, and stay with her until I get there.”
Marco nodded and took my arm, helping me out of the car.
“I got it,” I snapped, hating feeling helpless. I glanced at Salvatore, who walked away with the phone to his ear. Marco followed me into the hospital. At reception, I found out where they’d taken Luke. I went as quickly as I could to the trauma unit and found Isabella holding Effie’s hand, her face one of frustration and worry, her eyes weary and red.
“Izzy.”
She turned, a look of relief quickly replaced by surprise at my state.
“It’s nothing, just a sprain. I fell while running.”
She got up, and we hugged.
“Aunt Lucia, are you hurt too?” Effie asked.
“I’ll be okay. It’s just a sprain, kiddo.” I gave her a hug then turned to Izzy, who was watching Marco talk to two other men I just noticed.