Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“I just want to make sure,” my mother says as she tears up.
I glance to my left and the sun bounces off something that’s pushed out of the window of a passing car, grabbing my attention. Everything begins to move in slow motion.
My mouth falls open as I realize what I’m looking at. I shove my mother out of the way without thinking. My heart is racing as I realize I’m in my wedding gown. I don’t have any guns on me.
“Oni, get down,” Fredo calls out.
I look toward where Rico is standing. I can’t make it to him. Before I can decide my next move, gunfire explodes around us. Fredo makes it up the stairs and wraps around me.
“Oni,” Rico bellows.
He has pulled his guns and is starting to fire back, as he tries to move up the stairs toward me instead of taking cover. Suddenly, Fredo’s back bucks and he falls into me.
My mother reaches for me, pulling me toward her. Emilio comes out of nowhere and covers the three of us as Fredo bleeds out all over me. I scream as Emilio’s body begins to jerk as he’s hit while covering my mother and me.
“No,” I roar.
I pull Fredo’s gun and begin to fire. I hit one of the guys in the second car and blow the back window out of the other. The three cars speed off. The last one swerving as if the driver in it was hit as well.
“Oni, baby. Are you okay?” Rico says as he races to me.
“Yes, this isn’t my blood. I’m fine.”
“We need an ambulance. Someone help me,” my mother screams. She’s trying to help Emilio while looking frantically at Fredo, who’s face down, bleeding out.
“No, no, no,” I say as I rush to turn Fredo on his back.
“Come on, buddy. You’re not going to do this to me,” Rico says as he moves to sit and place Fredo’s head in his lap.
“Oni is safe. That’s all that matters,” Fredo strains to say.
“Emilio, you stay with me, you hear me. Don’t you leave me,” my mother sobs.
“Fuck,” Rico roars.
CHAPTER 39
Who’s Left
Rico
“I’m looking for Rico and Oni Gallo,” the nurse calls into the waiting room where we’ve been waiting for news.
I’ve barely been containing my rage. Instead of dancing with my wife at our wedding reception, we’re here in a hospital. Of all the days to pick to do this shit, they would pick today.
I stand and look down at Oni. She’s still in her blood-stained wedding gown. I took off my tux jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders hours ago.
She looks up at me and blinks a few times. I give her a tight smile and hold my hand out for hers. Oni stands as if on autopilot and places her hand in mine, then we walk over to the nurse who called our names.
“That’s us,” I say.
“Mr. Gallo would like to see the two of you, but you can’t stay long. He needs his rest.”
I close my eyes and nod. My uncle nearly gave his life for Fredo, Oni, and her mother. I still can’t believe what he did.
He should have taken cover and stayed close to his men. The interesting thing is, I’m not sure who he was trying to cover. His nephew, my wife, or her mother.
Whoever it was, he earned a new respect from me. I prayed the old bastard would pull through. We’re not ready to lose him.
Oni gasps as we walk into my uncle’s room. I don’t blame her. I’ve never seen him look so fragile in my life. Tubes and machines are everywhere.
We move to the side of his bed and Oni takes his hand in hers. Uncle Emilio opens his eyes. It takes a moment for his gaze to focus on us.
With his other hand, he reaches to pull the oxygen mask down. He swallows thickly and frowns. I squeeze Oni’s waist as she begins to tremble.
“Fredo?” he says, barely above a whisper.
I shake my head. “Still in surgery. They said the bullet hit his spine on the way in, then nicked his lung on the way out. We’re still waiting to hear if he’ll pull through.”
“He might not be able to walk again,” Oni sniffles.
Uncle Emilio gasps in a breath of air. “Find out who did this and you kill them and their entire family,” he wheezes out then places his mask back on.
“Already on it,” Oni replies before I can.
Uncle Emilio nods firmly then closes his eyes. There’s nothing else to be said. I kiss Oni’s temple and lead her out of the room.
When we get back to the waiting room, Mario is waiting with a somber look on his face. He comes to my side and leans to whisper in my ear.
“This was a play by Sullivan. He’s hiding behind old connections, but it’s him, no doubt,” he whispers.