“I’m here for Lucia.”
She snorted.
“How is he?” Salvatore asked me.
“Critical. They’ll be in surgery for a few hours.”
“Mommy, is Uncle Luke going to be okay? I got him his favorite candy bar too.”
“That was sweet of you,” Izzy said, then looked up at me. “It may be best if Effie goes home. There’s nothing for her to do here.”
“I’ll take her. You stay. Just call me as soon as you hear anything, okay?”
“I will.”
“I want to stay with you, mommy.”
Isabella hugged her daughter again. “I’ll be home as soon as I can, but there’s nothing for you to do here. Go home, and bake some of those cookies Uncle Luke likes. Then you can bring them with you when he wakes up, okay?”
“What kind of cookies?” I asked to distract Effie.
Effie studied her mom then gave her a tight squeeze, whispering something in her ear before turning away. A tear rolled down Isabella’s cheek.
“It’ll be okay,” I said, hugging her while holding Effie’s hand. “He’ll pull through. He’s almost as stubborn as you, after all.”
She gave me a smile, then turned to Salvatore. “Are you staying with them at the house?” Her tone changed utterly when she addressed him.
“I’ll take them there, and I’ve already got men stationed outside. I have to attend a meeting but will be back as soon as possible.”
“Of course, another meeting. You see what comes of those meetings,” she said, gesturing to the door the doctor had disappeared behind.
“Izzy,” I leaned in close so Effie wouldn’t hear. “Salvatore didn’t do this. I promise you that.”
“Take care of my daughter, and take care of yourself.” She hugged me. “I have a gun in my bedroom,” she added in a whisper. “Nightstand drawer.”
I pulled back. She had a gun? By her bed?
“Here are my keys.” She pulled her car keys off and handed me the ring. I took it, still not quite believing what she’d just told me.
“Let’s go, Lucia,” Salvatore said after giving Marco some orders.
“Call me if you hear anything. Come on, Effie.”
Effie and I followed Salvatore to the elevator and out to his car. Once we settled Effie and my crutches in the backseat, we climbed in. I spoke with Effie as we drove to her house, which was about half an hour from the hospital. Although she tried to hide her unease, it was evident she was anxious and unsure. Salvatore said only a few words, preoccupied. Maybe grateful for Effie’s presence, since that meant I couldn’t question him.
Once we got to the house, I saw two cars parked along the curb with two men inside each one. Salvatore pulled up in the driveway, and we all climbed out, me last, since I had to figure out how to use the damned crutches, and putting weight on my foot made me wince every time. Effie held my crutches while I climbed out and watched me while Salvatore walked over to the men sitting in the cars by the curb and, I assumed, gave them instructions before returning to us.
“Ready?” he asked, closing the door behind me.
Effie nodded and walked ahead to the front door.
“What meeting are you going to?” I asked, not sure if I liked him going to any meeting after Luke had just been shot.
“Luke’s shooting is just one of the incidents. Two of our businesses have been attacked as well.”
“What businesses?” I knew they had several shops, and I didn’t want to know what those shops fronted for.
“Doesn’t matter,” he said. “What matters is that what I feared would happen in time, what Luke was working on, is here now.”
“Luke? But—”
“He’s in the hospital, I know.”
“Is it Dominic?”
His face changed, and he looked just beyond me. “I’m not sure, Lucia.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“That the time for war, it’s dawning.”
Salvatore’s phone rang, and he reached into his pocket to get it. “I’ll call you right back,” he said and disconnected the call. “Let’s get you inside and settled. I’d rather have you at home, but this will have to do for now.”
We headed for the door. Salvatore slid the key into the lock and opened it. Effie went directly into the kitchen, leaving us alone for the time being.
“You’ll be safe here. I’m leaving four men outside. They won’t let anyone in.”
“Or out, I’m guessing.” He turned to me and took my face in his hands.
“Correct.”
He looked at me for a long moment.
“This is one I really, really need to trust you on, Lucia. I don’t have time to go looking for you, and I can’t keep you safe if you disappear.”