Page 25 of Surprise Twins for the Mafia Heir

I try to run but my legs are getting weaker. I’m still pregnant after all. Before I buckle to the ground, an arm grabs me, whirling me around.

It’s Nick.

“What…get off me !” I yell as I try to pull away.

His eyes are earnest as he yells back, “I’m trying to save your ass!”

I don’t believe him though. “Bullshit. He tried to kill me.”

Nick nods his head. “But he didn’t, right?”

“How do I know you’re not here to finish the job?” I challenge him, still convinced Vinny has tricks up his sleeves.

“Because he’s getting his ass handed to him as we speak. He sent me after you to keep you safe, Rosa,” Nick swears. Beads of sweat slide down his face. He has sweat pooling around his chest and pits. He looks like absolute shit.

“Did you know about the deal my parents made?” I press. “Did you know I’m just being tossed around like spare change?”

“Rosa, I’m sorry, okay? Your folks are twisted but we can’t stand here and argue about this. I need to get you to safety,”Nick urges. I can’t let myself be taken by him. I don’t know who to believe. I don’t want to rely on yet again another man in a gang who could potentially use me as a bribe. The street clears for a few moments and I decide to take that as my ticket to race across. I’m halfway there when there’s a loud screech at the top of the opposite street. I glance up and see a large, black SUV. A man is hanging out of the window holding a gun. Before I have time to react, he fires two shots.

My body falls to the ground and then fire shoots down my legs. I’m in too much shock to let it register that I've been shot. I bring my hands to my face as bright, red blood covers them. My version blurs as I spotted Nick hiding behind a pile of trash.

Maybe this is it. Maybe this is how I die.

CHAPTER 14

Vinny

My dad called in for medical intervention a few days ago. One of our OG home doctors, Dr. Carmy, woke me up early in the morning with an IV needle. I didn’t get a word out. Neither did he. He just hooked up the fluids and nursed me back to decent health. I can sit up today and my body still hurts like hell, but at least I feel somewhat human again.

“How long do I have until they finish me off?” I ask gruffly. Dr. Carmy chuckles and places a bookmark in his book. The odd thing about Dr. Carmy is the man can read and find humor in any situation. I’ve seen him be at the scene of women and children with a smile on his face.

“You know I can’t tell you that,” he replies.

I try to sit up and Dr. Carmy comes to check my fluids. “You’re healing well, as I’d expect for your height and age. You just need more rest.”

“I don’t have time for rest,” I continue.

Dr. Carmy adjusts the IV. “Look, I’ve served your family for years. They’ve always done right by me. Why you decide to do anything other than that is beyond me. But, if it’s for the reason I overheard, I suppose you let that dream die today.”

My heart sinks into my stomach. “She’s dead?”

Dr. Carmy’s eyebrows shoot up. “She? So, it is about a girl.”

I roll my eyes. Dr. Carmy also had a reputation for getting information out of victims. I search the room for any planted cameras but it’s no use. If my dad’s plan is to kill me off, he’ll win. I have no fight left in me. I just want to know what happened to Rosa.

“I don’t care what you think. I just care that no innocent blood is shed,” I say. Dr. Carmy is quiet for a moment as he shoves his hands in his pockets. He’s a tough man to read. What I know of his personal life is that he has no personal life. No wife, no kids, no flings. Just a man who practices medicine and serves a ruthless, crime mob family. There’s no way I can reason with his empathetic side.

“Whatever you choose, Vinny, you need to remember who you come from. You’re the royalty of crime. You’d risk throwing that away for something that can easily be replaced?” Dr. Carmy asks me. I hear the steps creak above him and he adjusts his tie. “Looks like your folks are back. As long as you stay hooked up to these, you’ll regain your strength.” He walks to the door and pauses without turning to face me.

“Escape is highly unlikely but there’s always a chance if you’re crazy enough,” he says as he taps his finger on the brick next to the light switch. I wait until he ascends the stairs. I keep staring at the brick next to the light switch, repeating Dr. Carmy’s last words in my head.

“Escape is highly unlikely but there’s always a chance if you’re crazy enough.”

I think I am crazy enough. There’s no word from Nick. I’m not completely healed but it’ll need to be enough to get me to where I need to go. It takes me a good five minutes to get out of bed and pull the IV out of my arm. It takes even more effort out of the pain in my ribs and legs. I can’t let them hear a sound. Ihave no idea when they’ll come and check on me and I have to be ready.

There are clothes in the corner — jeans and a semi-clean button-up. I slip them on and search the room for a gun. Of course, there is no gun. Why would they leave one here? But I can’t go up there with no protection. That’s a suicide mission. My eyes flutter back to the light switch.

There’s no way there’s anything in there.

---