Star-Crossed(129)

334



Sirens were wailing everywhere.

But they faded to the background behind the pained screaming that filled the air, reminding Romeo of a child instead of Frankie, and he opened his eyes to see Nova over him. Instead of the grim image of his father, Romeo saw him as he was much younger, crying the day their mother died. Angrier and more furious than Romeo or Tino, he’d shouted and broken things for hours after they took her body away despite knowing for a long time that the end was coming. At thirteen Nova hadn’t realized he couldn’t prevent her death. He’d held out hope until her last breath, not understanding some things couldn’t be solved with a photographic memory.

“NO!” Nova was sobbing, shaking as he leaned over Romeo. His hands were red.

He had a wild, frantic look on his face, as if there was a problem he couldn’t fix and he couldn’t handle it. “NO! NO! PLEASE, ROME! PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME!” Romeo wanted to tell him sorry. He wanted to hug his little brother and give him a reason to stop screaming. He fought against the pain, struggling for one word to soothe him, but he never found a way.

The world felt gray. Everything around him was fuzzy and hazed, making Romeo feel like he was watching Nova being pulled off him through distant tunnel vision. He blinked to see him flat on his stomach, two cops struggling to subdue him, but Nova fought against it. Still screaming, he reached out a hand to Romeo, as if touching him one more time would fix it.

He wanted to give Nova what he needed, but the throb of his heartbeat in his ears slowed, lulling him to something like sleep, and he gave in to it.

Romeo chose Juliet instead.





335





Chapter Twenty-Four

“We have more information on the deadly shootings last night in West Virginia. Live from The Green Roof Inn is Tim Parton. What can you tell us about the new information coming out about an eighth assailant? ”

“The body of another man was found in the parking lot, and police have reason to believe he was part of the gang that attacked Romeo and Juliet Wellings on their wedding night.

 Ginovelli Moretti, the son of Alberto Moretti, who was also killed in the deadly shoot out last night, was found with a gunshot wound to the head. There were several witnesses to the shooting, and police arrested Casanova Moretti in connection with the crime, but he was later released. ”

“Casanova is the half brother of Romeo Wellings, and his involvement was ruled self-defense. We have learned that Casanova is the son of Frankie Moretti, who was also killed last night. That makes him the grandson of Aldo Moretti—the suspected head of a large organized crime family in New York. There is a federal investigation underway in regard to the shoot out and the circumstances that led up to it. There could be more charges pending. ”

“But no arrests yet? ”

“Seven of the eight suspects were killed during the shoot out with Deputy Wellings and her husband, famous UFC fighter Romeo Wellings. Carlo Greco, the seventh suspect, is currently in stable condition at East River Hospital and under police supervision. ”

“Is there a reason he was taken to a different hospital than Romeo and Juliet Wellings?

 Does it have anything to do with the national media buzz surrounding the attack on the newlyweds? ”

“Police say it’s a common practice to take victims to different hospitals than their attackers when possible. It had nothing to do with the uniqueness of this situation. ” 336



“For more news on the Romeo and Juliet shootings, we go to St. Francis, where Romeo and Juliet Wellings were airlifted late last night. Do we have any new information on their condition, Fred? ”

“There is a small bit of good news, Carmen. We just received word Juliet Wellings’s condition has been downgraded to critical but stable, and my sources say doctors seem extremely optimistic about her recovery. There is still no word from Juliet’s camp, but we’re told her family is at her bedside. ”

Jules blinked, the glare of the fluorescent lights making her head throb worse than the constant buzz in the room. The television was all white noise to her, and she wondered for a minute if she’d fallen asleep on the couch with it on.

Her neck hurt something fierce, and she wanted to rub it, but moving was almost impossible. Her arms felt like lead. Something was stuck to her hand, and she reached over to pull it off impatiently.

“We don’t want you pulling on that, sweetheart.”

“Neck hurts,” she mumbled, fighting against the heavy weight of exhaustion.

“Ju Ju Bean.”

Jules shoved Wyatt’s big hand off her shoulder, still struggling with whatever was holding her hand back. “Get it off.”