Marcello
I almost died. Again.
This time was different, however. The other attempts on my life had been sloppy, easily avoided. Except for the car bomb, I saw them coming.
The sniper caught me by surprise. I hadn’t expected a coordinated attack to facilitate Marco’s escape. I suppose I should have-he knew it was me or him, that one of us would end up dead-but I’d been shot on the street like a foot soldier. In front of my girl.
What had I been thinking?
What if she had been the target instead? It is Federico who planned this shit and he still hasn’t got over his list for the De Luca’s wealth. He would be more stupid than I thought him to be if he thinks merely getting rid of Elsa will eventually make Roberto’s business a walk over to make his.
I’d been careless, which is unforgivable. I should’ve held firm and had Lorenzo cancel the appointment. Instead I let her manipulate me to get her way to meet her uncle.
I will not make that mistake again.
Consciousness once more tugs at me and forces me awake. My brain swims toward the sounds until my eyelids flutter. I hope to find the beautiful face of my baby girl who stays here at night with me, but instead Gabrielle is there.
“cugino,” he says. “They say you won’t be able to eat solid food for months.”
“Fuck you,” I whisper, my mouth dry.
He chuckles and helps me sip some water. “How do you feel?”
I give him a pointed stare, not bothering to answer such a stupid question.
The doctors said Gabrielle probably saved my life by packing my wound and stopping the bleeding in the car. I remember nothing after dropping onto the sidewalk, but my cousin had acted quickly, apparently. I’d never be able to repay him for that. “Thank you.”
“You would have done the same, if the roles were reversed. And you’re welcome.” He lightly touches my shoulder. “I’m not ready to lose you, you stubborn bastard.”
“Have you learned who took the shot at me?”
“A professional, hired by Federico. I saw the rooftop. It was a clean, patient job. They were there for a couple of hours, at least. They knew you were going to be there.”
Fucking Federico Killing him is my top priority once I am released from the hospital. And that shooter had better watch his back because I will slice him into tiny pieces the instant I learn his identity.
I should have killed Marco as soon as I had the chance to.
“Elsa?” I ask.
“A rock. She’s safe, working on the legitimate side with Rocco. He says she’s very capable.”
This pleases me.
“Everything is in good hands, Marcello. You don’t need to worry. Just get better.”
“No one can know.” I am so tired, I can’t finish the thought. But I know Gabrielle will understand.
“Of course, of course,” Gabrielle says. “We’ve covered up most of the reports and bribed the staff to keep quiet. No one knows the full extent of your injuries.”
I raise my brows. “I want to come home.”
“They think by the end of the week, if necessary, but it doubles the risk of infection. No one is advising it, Marcello.”
“I don’t care.” I will be safer, as well as hidden from prying eyes, inside my house.
Gabrielle holds out his palms.
Every day I linger here makes me and the entire empire vulnerable. If I have to build a sterile hospital room in the house, so be it. I have to get out of here.
“Any problems?” I ask him.
“None I’ll bother you with. I told you, stay focused on getting better.”
“Tell me.”
He shakes his head, the bastardo. “Some people making plays, speculating that you’re too weak to stop them. But I am handling it. You have to focus on getting well soon.”
“Maybe we can talk about it tonight.”
“What if you are asleep?”
” Then wake me up.”
“Elsa will gut me if I do that. She’s been hovering over you at night like a mama bear.”
My dolcezza. The best thing that has ever happened to me. I love her beyond reason. Which was why she needs to stay at the estate from now on. Coming here is too dangerous. “No more.”
“You mean no more visits?” When I nod, Gabrielle grimaces. “She won’t like it.”
“No more visits.”
“I’ll try, but I’m not certain she’ll listen to me. Between her and Zia, the two of them never leave you except when the other is here. Zia hasn’t let anyone come visit you. I had to threaten her just to get her to leave for a few hours.”
Picturing Gabrielle squaring off with Zia would have made me laugh, if I didn’t hurt so damn badly. Elsa needs to obey orders. I am the man of this relationship and I make the rules. No more bending when it comes to her safety. “What about Marco?”
“Not a trace. If I had to guess, he’s recovering up in the mountains surrounding Napoli. What do you want to do? Hire a hitter?”
“Yes.” Elsa isn’t safe as long as Marco continues to breathe. I could feel my energy waning, the darkness calling me again. If Elsa isn’t safe with me then I will lose her again and this time I will never be able to live with myself if she leaves me.
“What about Federico?”
“He is still in Sicily. Though we can’t be sure where he is exactly because he keeps moving about. ”
“I think I have given him too much grace and he has lived long enough. Get him some people to deal with him too. I don’t care how much it will cost. We have to kill him when he is still in Sicily.”
“Good idea. Federico is always on the move. We need people to track his movements. But don’t worry. I will be able to handle this.”
“Good.” I close my eyes, unable to fight any more.
When I fall back under, my dreams are of blood and death.