Page 26 of Surprise Twins for the Mafia Heir

Still, I’m crazy enough to believe I have hope in this situation. I hobble over and use both hands to pry the loose brick out. I nearly cry tears of joy as a revolver is wedged inside. I don't know if it was Dr. Carmy or Nick; I got my redemption. I climb the stairs and ease the door open to take a peek into the living room.

Instead of my father, I see Mikey and four cousins. They’re drinking beers and laughing at the game. If I’m quiet enough, I could sneak down the skinny hallway. That’s only if the game is interesting enough. I start to take my chances when the door creaks loudly and I lose my footing, spiraling onto the living room floor.

They rush over and kick me in the ribs.

“You idiot! Where the hell did you think you were gonna go?” Mikey growls. I stay on my stomach with the gun hidden inside my shirt.

“I’m not dying here,” I huff.

My cousin laughs. “Thank God Nick is taking over. This piece of shit has proven just how loose he’s gotten.”

My heart starts to beat like a drum. “Nick? What are you talking about?”

Micky snickers and kneels beside me. “Your good buddy waged a deal with your pop so he could take your place, big boy. Looks like he’s been hiding in the shadows waiting for the best time to strike.” Nick, that piece of shit. Now, I can only imaginewhat he’s done with Rosa. How do I know he didn’t kill her? The rage heats up my entire body. My eyes fall on the table near the kitchen area where all their guns are.

They don’t have guns on them. I have only a few seconds to act. This will cost me everything but I don’t care. I reach inside my shirt, cock my gun, and fire at my brother. The sound makes my ears ring and my cousins all dash for the table. I take two down before the other two make it to their guns. As I race for the door, we’re firing back and forth before I deliver the final, deadly blows. Silence takes over. There’s a reason why I was sent in to finish things.

I take the keys off the hook and race to the truck. It doesn’t hit me until I’m speeding down the road and that I just took the life of my family. Those people used to watch me when I was a kid. I shared a bed with all my cousins and Mikey. Now, they’re dead. As dark as it is, I feel free. Rosa stays on my mind as I drive faster, hoping to make it to the city before it’s too late. If she’s dead, then Nick better be ready for my wrath.

CHAPTER 15

Rosa

Ican’t remember the last time I was in the hospital. I used to hate them. The smell of sterilization and the squeaky sound of nurse shoes angered me. I had to frequent them for my mom’s overdoses. She’d claim she was fine and then they’d have to fight to get her into rehab. She never stayed. We always found a way to break her out. This hospital is different. It's dark with no windows or white sheets. I don’t smell plastic, cheap hospital food. There’s no nurses poking at my side or sticking a catheter inside me. It’s just Nick.

Nick is not who I expected to see when I woke up. I assumed I’d died. But, according to the tourniquet on my thigh, the gunshot missed my head.

“What’s the catch?” I ask. Nick hands me a bottle of water with a straw in it. I refuse. I don’t trust him, even at this point. But my shaky limbs tell me otherwise so I take a long sip. The water is lukewarm but feels like heaven to my dry lips. I slurp the entire bottle down and collapse back onto the pillow.

“You lost a lot of blood,” Nick tells me. “I had to drag you out of there before the ambulance found you.”

“Afraid they’d help me live?” I ask dryly.

Nick glares at me. “Once you realize I’m not the enemy and I’m actually helping you, then you’ll see how lucky you are I found you. If the ambulance took you, the Montoyas would’ve snuck in and finished the job.”

A chill goes down my spine. “Why do they want me dead so badly?”

“Just comes with the territory,” he says. I glance at the high-tech medical equipment in the dingy basement.

“Did you steal all this crap, too?” I press. Nick shakes his head and points to the door of what looks like a closet. It suddenly bursts open as an older man with snow-white hair and a goatee walks out.

“So, Miss Mommy is awake,” the man chirps.

Fear trickles in my heart but Nick doesn’t seem fazed. “Why didn’t you tell anyone, Rosa?”

The older man checks the IV and sits in the chair across from me. “Why would she tell anyone, Nick? She would’ve been killed sooner if they knew.”

Tears prick my eyes. “How did you know?”

He shrugs. “I’m a doctor. I ran a few tests and somehow, you’ve carried these babies without anyone knowing.”

“Babies?” I croak.

The old man holds his hand out. “Probably a good time to introduce myself. I’m Dr. Carmy. I just visited with your dear Vinny and he was a mess about you.”

“Sure, he was,” I mutter. “The last time I saw him, he was about to kill me.” Dr. Carmy winces, placing his hands together.

“Well, he is a Montoya,” he replies. “I have a sneaking suspicion he’ll try to do the best—”

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