Page 165 of Cook

“Cook!” Celt dodged under the table, saving his own life. Good. Maddie would need the help.

A second heartbeat had started in me, itching in my stomach. It was quick and overtaking my own heartbeat. I tried to slow my breathing. I wouldn’t let this gunshot kill me that fast.

“Cook!” Celt tried to lean toward me, but bullets slashed past him. He doubled back, hiding. Smart fucker. “Morris.”

Was I really that close to death that he was calling me by my first name? Surely, I was fucked. How much blood could I lose before I blacked out? I didn’t know.

The bullets had slowed, mostly because the amount of people to shoot was going down. Except for Enzo. Even though he had been the first to whip out his gun and shoot, he had hidden from the mess he’d created. Now, he stood up, playing the hero as he shot at Massimo and the men who stood with him.

How fucking long would this take?

With my good arm, I aimed the gun at Enzo and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit Enzo in the chest, and the man fell back. As quick as the shooting had started, it came to a screeching halt. The interim Don was dead, and the fighting between their capos ended.

Only one Don could be supreme, and Massimo must’ve still been standing. It would’ve been easier on the MC if both managed to die. Maybe I could still swing my arm wide and shoot.

I started to bring my arm up again, but then Massimo stood in front of me. His suit was like black ink. He kicked the gun out of my hand, and it clattered to the side, out of reach. I bit back a yelp, pain shooting further through me. He looked down at me over his straight nose, pulling his lips back into a sneer.

He really was going to kill a man already down.

But then he stalked off, calling for the living capos to get back on their feet. The shit needed to be cleaned up.

“Cook.” Celt knelt down beside me, thrusting his hands against my body.

I blew out a hiss that sounded too much like a whimper, but I had gotten fucking shot. Pain clawed through me, and my vision blurred. Shadows crept in on the sides, and I blinked them away. More faces appeared beside Celt. Maybe it was just him. They all swam together, doubling and then tripling. I blinked again, focusing on the faces of my brothers.

“We need to pack the wound and get the fuck out,” said Angel.

“Where can we take him?” asked Celt.

“The goddamn hospital,” said Wilde, taking off his belt.

Angel slipped something out of his pocket, flashing his knife in the process. What the fuck did they have planned?

“He won’t be able to ride,” said Celt.

“I’ll do it,” I said through clenched teeth, and Celt gave me a worried look. Now wasn’t the time to be a wuss. We were still in danger, even if Enzo was dead. I didn’t need to be shot again or have one of my brothers shot. Leaving me lying on the ground any longer would kill me.

Getting to my feet was a bad idea though. Darkness inked in from the sides, and the last things I saw was Celt’s terrified eyes as he lunged for me.

Maddie

Excitement poured through me, andI stopped ahead of thegroup. I tossed my head back and spun in a circle, another layer of the Gambinos’ torment falling from my shoulders. I couldn’t believe I actually held my shit together while being deposed. My pulse raced, and I bounced on the balls of my feet.

Was I thrilled? Yeah, but I also wasn’t running away. I just needed motion. Contentment wanted to wrap around me, but I couldn’t embrace it completely until I was back in Cook’s arms.

Bou and Roni walked side by side as Mel lingered a few feet back, looking down at her cell phone. She had been checking her messages often, and I really didn’t understand. It had to be some former DA stuff. Paranoia, maybe?

If she liked being reunited with her former colleagues, she didn’t show it. I waited for Bou and Roni to catch up with me in the parking garage before walking ahead again.

I couldn’t get into the car without Bou unlocking the door, so I stopped and waited halfway there. When someone gasped behind me, I stopped cold. Spinning around, I found Bou staring at her phone with her hand covering her mouth.

“What is it?” demanded Mel, coming up to her other side.

“It’s not the baby, is it?” asked Roni, running a hand over Bou’s belly. All day, Bou had been petting her belly like it was the most natural thing in the world. I had felt weird watching, but Roni’s touch was that of a nurse. Concerned, measuring.

“No, it’s...” Bou’s mouth dangled open. Her eyes were wide, and I swore I could see myself reflected back.

Roni’s phone pinged next, and she whipped her cell phone from her purse. Less than a second later, Mel’s phone pinged. It was already in her hands. This had to be MC business. I waited for my cell phone to ping, but it didn’t vibrate. Didn’t make a sound.

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