Cara’s pov
“Luca.” I nudged him gently, my hands shaky as fear, shock and rising panic seeped into my bones.
He didn’t respond. He didn’t move. All of him, all big mass that was his body just laid in my arms, still and limp.
Except for the blood. It trickled relentlessly.
More panic surged through my veins as I stared at him, my vision going blurry. I blinked away the tears.
My heart seized with terror, each second stretching into an eternity. I clutched him tighter, desperately hoping to feel some sign of life.
“Luca, please,” my voice broke. “Stay with me.” I looked back at his wound and my heart beat even faster. He was losing a lot of blood so much his rich, olive skin was turning pale.
Thinking fast, I took off the jacket he gave to me earlier, folded it into a ball and pressed it to where the bullet tore through while praying desperately that it will help slow down the blood loss.
Luca reacted to the pressure, his breath coming out in a ragged wheeze, a small sound that brought a sliver of relief to my panic. He was still conscious, my heart leapt with hope.
“You’re… go-going t-t-to be fine,” I stuttered through broken sobs, assuring myself more than I was assuring him.
He opened his mouth repeatedly, struggling to speak, his entire body strained from the simple task. Blood sputtered out of his mouth and I pressed the jacket to his wound even harder.
I shook my head at him, swallowing hard on a sob before I spoke again. “Don’t try to speak, don’t say anything.”
Tears were endlessly streaming down my face now and I struggled to keep it together for his sake. I looked away from him, my eyes snapping around us. Alexei was nowhere to be found, same with his men and Santino.
I’m guessing they bought Santino’s diversion tactic and chased after him. As for Alexei…
My facial muscles hardened with pure hatred as my blood ran hot with it. As for him, he’d probably gotten away whereas Manuel was dead and Luca and was bleeding out on the ground.
Two of the guys that were with him before Alexei’s shots reappeared from the shadows, their eyes going wide when they saw Luca’s state.
“Boss!” The taller one whisper-yelled.
“Call Alfonso, now!” The other one ordered. He looked older and more seasoned than the taller one. And I could tell this from the claw like scars on his neck. He was also missing half of his left index finger. “And go find Dominic.”
The younger guy ran off immediately, back into the night, off to get Dominic. I fervently hoped Luca’s right hand man was in a state to help however he can and I hadn’t left him too botched up to try.
We needed all the help we can get. Aside the Dominic and the two guys, there was no one else. The rest of the men we’d brought were probably lying dead or injured somewhere or had been captured by the Russians.
I couldn’t call 911 or things would get messier for us. I couldn’t do anything.
I broke out in a sob, groaned harshly, unable to hold back any longer.
“Cara,” Luca’s weak call of my name yanked me back into the moment. “Get… get out here.”
My heart sank.
I knew why he was asking me to do that, a huge gunfight had just happened and even though the old port was completely deserted and on the outskirts of the city, it was only a matter of time before the police showed up to investigate the gunshots.
Even in this state, Luca was trying to protect me.
“Step aside,” neck scar ordered, not waiting for me to comply before pushing me to the side. He pulled a fat roll of gauze from his coat and I wondered if he always had that on him for emergencies like this.
Luca grabbed neck scar’s hand as he began circling the gauze his around his injured torso. “Get… get her out…” He exhaled heavily, finding hard to finish his sentence.
I scurried over to his other side, instantly catching his worried gaze. “I told you,” I pulled back stray locks of hair from his face, smiling through my tears. “Don’t say a word.”
The other guy returned with Dominic seconds later. I gave him a once over- save for his injured arm clutched to his chest, few cuts on his forehead and chin and blood that didn’t belong to him on his shirt, he was pretty much okay.
Dominic took a look at his friend’s wound and cursed, his hazel eyes dancing angrily. “We need to get him to Alfonso now.”
Second time that name was mentioned but I suspected whoever it was must be a doctor.
“I’ve sent for him.” Neck scar informed in a flat voice, still busy with wrapping Luca up even though the blood kept soaking through.
“We can’t wait for him to get him here nor can we let the boss get treated out in a place like this. He needs to be in a proper place with equipment.” Dominic reasoned. He turned to the taller guy. “Go get a car.”
I went back to stroking Luca’s hair, “you’re going to be fine. Once they take you this Alfonso”
“Dominic,” Luca’s hoarse voice came out rather forcefully for the state he was in.
His friend was attentive at once. “Yes, don?”
“Get Cara” Luca winced. “Get her away from here.”
“Boss-”
“That’s an order.”
Dominic clenched his jaw, his eyes shut in thought as he hesitated. Then he sighed impatiently and looked my way for the first time since he arrived.
No. I started shaking my head, my hand grabbing on to Luca’s. I wasn’t going anywhere. I wasn’t leaving him. “Luca please,”
He wasn’t looking at me. “Do it now.”
Dominic cursed and grabbed my waist with his good arm, “let’s go,” he grumbled.
I began to fight, “No! We can’t leave, I can’t leave. I’m not leaving!” I screamed, kicking and fighting with all my strength but Dominic, injured Dominic, was stronger, and despite my struggles, he hauled me away from Luca.
“I leave the boss to you.” He said to neck scar who nodded solemnly.
The other guy returned with the car and he and neck scar began lifting Luca inside. I struggled, begged and threatened to no avail, watching helplessly as I was pulled further away from Luca.
I was dragged to another car and pushed inside, my angry attempt to subdue Dominic met with a menacing “don’t!” The assh0le bundled me inside and, ignoring my sobs, started the car and sped away.
We only made it back into the city when Dominic suddenly veered off the road and brought the car to a halt.
“Get out,” he growled at me and the hostility in his tone, it just set me off.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
He got out himself, came around to me and yanked the door open. “Get out,” he ordered again, not bothering to answer my question.
I took a huge, patient breath. “Look here, you really need to take me back to Luca. I need to be with him so whatever this is just save it what the fuck!”
I was yanked out of the car.
Wide eyed, I glared at Dominic, noting him wincing from the force of the pull he gave me. I didn’t feel sorry for him, he was the one manhandling me.
His hands clenched and unclenched as he bore through the pain. When his eyes found mine, the intensity of the rage in them almost knocked me off my feet.
“You,” he wagged a finger at me. “This is your fault.”
I blinked at him, thrown off by the sudden accusation. “What the hell are you talking-”
“If you had stayed put like Luca asked you to, Don Manuel would have been here, Luca would have been fine!”
“What the fuck are you saying? Alexei would have killed Luca if I didn’t jump in.”
Dominic laughed and it was harsh and unpleasant. “You don’t get it, do you? You ruined everything, your interference, it ruined everything. Luca would have taken care of Alexei without your help, his father would still be alive.”
Something gripped my heart like a vice. It was painful to hear him insinuate I was the reason Manuel was dead, the reason Luca was hurt. I shook my head, whispering, “you don’t know that.”
“Oh, I do know. I do know Luca has a plan and you fucked it up. I do know that he could have saved the old Don but he ended up saving you. I do know that you bring him nothing but trouble, that you’re a useless distraction, a liability. I do know that everyone would be better off if you left.”
Ruthless, he was ruthless.
The vice around my heart gripped tighter, making it hard to breathe. Valentina words came rushing back. Useless, that was what I was to Luca. And now, I was the reason why he father was dead.
I dropped to the floor, fresh stinging tears flowing quietly from my eyes. It all hit me like a brick wall-Luca had taken a bullet for me, one that he wouldn’t have if I didn’t mess things up. I thought I was helping but I’d only made things worse Manuel was dead now and it was all my fault. I might have as well shot him with my own hands.
Dominic walked over to the car and punched the hood with his good arm, obviously grieving for the father figure he’d lost.
Manuel’s face before his death popped up in my head and my heart ache all the more, squeezing with guilt, self loathing and pain. I thought about Gina and the devastation shed have to go through, I thought about Luca who was currently fighting for his life.
“Would things really get better if I left?” I asked quietly, my voice barely audible.
Dominic pressed his balled fist against the car. He threw me a sideways glance. “Yes, you do nothing but slow Luca down.”
“But…” I thought better of the protest I was going to give and nodded instead, defeated. I rose to my feet. “I’d need some money and a ride back to my apartment to get some things.” I said, my eyes stoic and empty. Resigned. I looked squarely at Dominic, “I’d also need enough bullets.”