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Hanging my head in my hands, my adrenaline starts to wear off and I’m shaking. That’s when the first tear falls, that then turns into a hundred silent ones.

“Mia.” A hand rests on my shoulder and I look up into Vinny’s concerned eyes.

I swipe my cheeks with the sleeves of my sweatshirt. “What are you doing here?”

“I wasn’t going to let you wait here alone. The others are handling the situation, so I came to sit with you.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, and he takes the seat beside me, wrapping his arm around me. More tears start to fall when I realize how alone I’ll be again if Santino dies.

“It’s okay, Mia. It’ll all be okay.”

“I don’t know anything yet. All they’ll tell me is he’s in surgery.”

“I can go find out more if you want me to. I just don’t want to leave you alone like this.”

“No, go. Please find out anything you can.” I practically push him to his feet, and he leaves on a mission.

I watch the clock on the wall as the seconds dial moves smoothly in a circle and the minute hand ticks by ever so slowly. It moves ten times before Vinny comes back.

“What did you find out?”

“He was shot twice. Once in the shoulder, but that was a through and through that was easily stitched up. The other one nicked his liver and caused massive hemorrhaging, which is why he’s in surgery.”

I cover my mouth with my hands, holding in a sob.

“No, Mia, shhh.” Vinny sits back next to me and rubs my back. “They got the bleeding under control and are working on closing him back up.”

“So, he’ll live?” I ask, needing any sliver of hope to hold onto.

“Yes, he will.”

“Oh, thank God.” I throw my arms around my brother and hug him like I haven’t in years. “Thank you for using you’re annoying charms on the nurses for me.”

“You’re welcome, little sis,” he chuckles.

“Have you heard from Nico? He called me while I was driving and said he was about to touch down with Leo and Dante. How did this happen, Vin? Why was Santino down here?”

Vinny looks away and runs his hand through his hair and rubs the back of his neck. “Just focus on Santino. We’ll handle the rest. We’ll take care of it, Mia.”

I knew he wouldn’t tell me.

“I know you will.”

Chapter 28

Mia

“Mrs. Antonucci?”

My head whips around to see a doctor walk into the lounge, and I jump up out of my seat. “Yes? Any news on my husband?”

“He’s out of surgery and stable for now. He’ll need to be closely monitored for the next 24 hours to make sure he remains stable.”

“But he’s alive?”

“Yes, he’s alive.”

“Thank God,” I whisper. “Can I see him?”

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