Page 69 of Heartless Union

He pushes my hands away. “No,” he whispers.

“What?”

“Lara, I’m dying already.”

“I’m going to save you.”

“You can’t.”

“I can. Now, be quiet.” I press the towel into his wound, but it doesn’t stop the bleeding. It only turns the towel red.

I glance up and see Rocco, Emilio, and Gabriella standing over Massimo with fear in their eyes. It’s their brother. Understandable. But it just makes me feel more alone with my dad.

It’s a clear choice over who the doctor will save, but I’m not ready to say goodbye.

How can I?

Dr. Johnson eventually arrives and, without even looking at my dad, rushes to Massimo’s side. “I’ll have to take him to my clinic.”

“No. Carlo might find you there,” Rocco says.

“I need more than what I have in my bag to save him. My clinic is safe. Massimo will be fine.” His eyes flit over to my dad. “I can take him, too.”

“Yes,” I gasp out. “Please, save him.”

He nods. “Get them both in my car. Only one of you can come with me. We don’t want to draw as much attention to you as possible.”

“I’ll go,” Rocco says.

“No,” Emilio cuts in. “You need to stay here for Lara. I’ll be there for Massimo.” He nods at me. “And your dad.”

Rocco hesitates a moment before nodding.

They get the two injured men into the doctor’s car, and then the doctor and Emilio take off.

“They have to save him,” Gabriella cries, leaning against Rocco.

He wraps his arm around her. “He will. Massimo will be fine.” His eyes flick over to me. I know what he’s silently telling me.

My dad won’t be fine. He’s already weak from his cancer. There’s no way he’s surviving a gunshot wound on top of it all.

“We need to leave the motel,” Rocco says, turning away from me, making me feel even more alone. “If Carlo’s men followed us, then they know we’re here. We need to find somewhere else to wait out the news. Come on.” He grabs the bloody sheets off the bed and carries them to his car. “Let’s go.”

Gabriella is frozen. “What if my brother dies?” she whispers.

I can only stare at her.

After a moment, her eyes widen as she looks at me. “Oh. Your dad. Lara, I’m so sorry.”

“He was dying anyway,” I say in a monotone voice as I walk past her.

Rocco reaches out for me as I approach him. “Johnson will save him.”

“No, he won’t. My dad is dead.” The tears don’t even come.

I just get in the car and wait for Rocco to take us somewhere safer. My heart is already broken, and there’s no repairing it.

CHAPTER 17

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