Page 97 of Vito

"How do you know it's fully neutralized? There could be others in the buildings across the street or on the rooftops." Dom looks over his shoulder, jerking his chin at Hugo, who stalks off to ensure the threat truly is gone.

"How the hell did you get here so fast?" Lixin looks at Dom with narrowed eyes, his hands still over mine on Ambrose's chest.

"We had a race that was only three blocks away." Dom stares at Ambrose, then looks up at me. "We need to get you inside."

"I'm not leaving until I know Ambrose is getting medical help."

"See what I'm dealing with," Lixin mutters.

"If someone else were here, they would've attacked already or have hightailed it out of here," I reason.

"Are you okay,?" Dom asks, staring at me intently.

"Once Ambrose gets help and is okay, I'll be fine."

He shifts his attention to Lixin. "And you just happened to be in the area?"

"Yes," Lixin barks, then calms. "After Massimo and Ash's update about Amazu, I came to make sure there wasn't any trouble."

Dom frowns but nods.

The sound of a vehicle speeding nearer makes us stiffen, and they pull their guns.

Lixin re-holsters his Desert Eagle. "It's my doctor and team."

A crew piles out of a dark van with a stretcher. Another van pulls up, and those men go directly to the two dead bodies in the street.

The group of Triad soldiers with the stretcher nod respectfully to Lixin. Lixin and Dom move out of the way so they can bring the stretcher alongside Ambrose and lower it. A short Chinese man with gray hair is directing them; he's pointing at me, but I don't know what he's saying.

"Ed. You need to back up and let them work on Ambrose," Lixin translates. One of the soldiers is ripping open a pack. "They'll stuff the wound and then transport him to my private clinic. Everything will be done to save him."

I'm staring down at Ambrose, feeling like he won't make it if I lose physical contact with him.

Dom crouches beside me. "Let them do what they need to."

I nod, then sit back on my heels, giving them space to get close to Ambrose and pack his wound. When they lift him onto the stretcher, I stand and go to the doctor.

"This is Dr. Wang Lei," Lixin introduces us. "Ambrose will be in good hands."

"He doesn't die. Got it?" I say through clenched teeth, the weight of my guilt nearly bringing me to my knees.

Dr. Lei bows respectfully to Lixin and me, then follows the soldiers and his patient on the stretcher to the dark van. The street is empty when both vans pull away.

Dom grips my elbow. "Inside.Now. Don't fucking fight me on this, Ed."

Lixin strides beside us, and Hugo brings up the rear, having cleared the area.

"Massimo and Ash should be here soon," Hugo reports. "Amazu isn't answering."

"He's probably passed out," Lixin grumbles.

I unlock Gilly's, and we enter. It's past three in the morning, and this night shows no signs of ending anytime soon.

Chapter 27

Vito

ManuelMoraleshasn'trisenfrom the dead.

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