I only half-listened. I picked up my phone and dialed Dad抯 mobile, my fingers leaving bloody marks on my screen.
The second Dad picked up, I began talking, 揇ad, Santino was shot. Several times. It doesn抰 look good.?
揥here are you? Are you safe??Dad asked. In the background, I could hear him move. 揤alentina, alert every guard!?
揝antino was shot, Dad.?
揅alm down, Anna. Are you safe??Mom talked in the background, and an engine sounded.
揧es,?I whispered. 揑抦 at the Lincoln Caf??
揝tay put, I抣l send the men closest to you over.?
揇ad, I think Santino is dying,?I whispered softly as I stroked Santino抯 unruly dark hair. His face was so very still, no anger, no frustration, no joy or love.
揥e抣l be there soon. Stay on the phone with me, all right??
Dad抯 voice was calm and controlled.
揙kay,?I said quietly, clutching the phone harder to my ear.
揌elp him, he looks worse than I do,?Clifford muttered.
One of his bodyguards kneeled beside Santino and felt for his pulse, then bunched up a cloth napkin and pressed it down on a wound in Santino抯 back.
I just sat there and stroked Santino抯 face as he lay on his side almost peacefully.
Time seemed to still. Sirens disrupted the quiet. And then strong hands gripped me. It was one of our men who tried to pull me up. 揑抦 staying!?I growled like a feral cat.
He nodded and positioned himself next to me. Paramedics fell to their knees beside Santino, shoving me aside. I crawled back a bit but didn抰 leave as if my presence could hold him here.
揂nna,?Dad said. I looked up as he bent over me, grabbing my arms and pulling me up. He scanned me and kissed my cheek. Then Mom took me in her arms. 揕et抯 get you home.?
揘o. I need to stay with him.?
Dad moved to Santino and that抯 when I saw Enzo kneeling beside Santino抯 head as the paramedics tried to resuscitate him. Mom抯 arms around me tightened. Enzo stroked Santino抯 hair like I had done. My heart broke. The paramedics put Santino on a stretcher and Enzo didn抰 leave his side as they carried him out.
I followed at a slower pace, Mom抯 arm still around me. Several Outfit soldiers were swarming the area by now. Dad was talking to Clifford and his bodyguards while two other paramedics took care of Clifford抯 shoulder.
揅an we follow them to the hospital??I asked Mom as the ambulance raced away.
Mom抯 expression was kind. 揝weetheart, we should get you home first and make sure you抮e all right. After you抳e cleaned up, we抣l visit Santino, okay??
Dad appeared at our side. He waved a black limousine forward and it drove toward us. 揇rive home. No stops. Straight home. I抣l be home as soon as I抳e talked to everyone involved.?
揑f you visit Santino, I want to come with you, please.?
Dad nodded and kissed my cheek before he ushered Mom and me into the limousine.
The drive passed in a blur and when we stepped into our mansion, Leonas immediately headed our way. He had two guns in his holster. 揃ea抯 in the library with Riccardo and Rocco. The area was quiet.?
Leonas pulled me into a hug and scanned me from head to toe. 揑 wanted to come too but Dad wanted me to guard Bea with RJ and Riccardo.?I nodded, sinking into him. 揥hat about Santino??
His eyes burned into mine. My throat clogged up. What I wanted to say couldn抰 be said in front of Mom.
Leonas wrapped an arm around my shoulders. 揑抣l take her to her room, Mom. Can you check on Bea, she抯 freaking out.?
Mom hesitated but I leaned into Leonas, taking the choice from her. He half dragged me upstairs because my legs felt too heavy to lift. We stepped into my room and Leonas closed the door. I caught sight of myself in my vanity mirror. My face was covered with blood splatters. I wasn抰 sure if they were Clifford抯 from his shoulder wound or Santino抯。 But the blood soaking my white blouse卼hat was all Santino抯。
揟oilet!?I croaked. Leonas dragged me into the bathroom and held my hair as I threw up into the toilet.
When I stopped retching, he flushed the toilet.
揟hat抯 the first time I抦 doing this for you. Usually it抯 Rocco puking his guts out after too much alcohol and pot.?
I smiled weakly as I took the wet washcloth from him and washed my face. I didn抰 bother getting up. Leonas sank down across from me with his back against the bathtub. 揂nna, what happened??
I told him, my voice breaking as I came to the part with Santino lying lifelessly on the gurney. Leonas reached for me and I pressed up to him, letting him hug me.
揌e抯 a strong and stubborn motherfucker. He won抰 die.?
I shuddered. 揌e risked his life for me.?
揟hat抯 his job, Anna. Don抰 feel guilty. Not about that. Feel guilty about making the poor guy fall in love with you and marrying someone else.?