Page 1 of Gabbriello Deluca

CHAPTER 1

Ten years ago…

Gabbriello, Mariano, Rinaldo, and Carmine walked out of their favorite burger place in South Philly. They were celebrating Gabbriello’s twenty first birthday. They all laughed at something Carmine said.

“You are so full of shit,” Mariano said as he continued to laugh.

“You know it is true,” Carmine responded.

Gabbriello’s smile turned solemn when he noticed four men approaching them speaking a different language. Gabbriello knew they were Russian. He had heard that a few more families had moved into the neighborhood, and some had connections with the Russian gang that were trying to make a name for themselves in the area. It was important to Gabbriello that knew everything that was going on in his area. He straightened his back as became acutely aware of their movements as he glared at them.

“Do you have a fucking problem?” Carmine glared as they passed.

“Maybe you're my fucking problem, walking around here like you own the neighborhood,” the one man said with a thick Russian dialect.

“Fuck them. Let's go,” Gabbriello said as he tapped Carmine on his shoulder. He didn’t want to get involved in petty arguments.

They were about to walk away when one man said pussy.

Carmine swung his body around. “What the fuck did you say to us?” he asked as he quickly closed the gap between him and the man.

“I think he called you a pussy.” One man said in a strong Russian accent as he stood off to the side.

Gabbriello put his hand on his gun that was in his back holster. “You need to keep the fuck walking,” Gabbriello said.

“I don't think,” he said as he got closer to Gabbriello. “I know you,”

Gabbriello stood toe to toe with the man. “If you know who I am, then you know you need to keep fucking walking.” he growled.

The man stepped back and smiled before he turned and walked away. The other men followed. Carmine stood, glaring toward the men.

“Let’s go,” Gabbriello said as he tapped Carmine on the chest and walked towards their car.

When they arrived at their car, Gabbriello got in on the front passenger side. Rinaldo and Mariano got in the back and Carmine got in the driver's seat. As Carmine put the keys into the ignition, Gabbriello looked up to respond to something Rinaldo said when he noticed the same group of men pulling up next to them, driving slowly. Gabbriello noticed the passenger had a gun.

“Gun!” Gabbriello yelled as shots rang out. He jumped out of the car and returned fire as the car sped off. Gabbriello ran back to the car when he noticed blood all over his jacket and shirt. He ran back to the car and noticed Carmine slumped over in the seat. He then noticed that Rinaldo and Mariano were standing outside the car crying.

“What the fuck?” Gabbriello yelled as he looked at all the blood in the car. “Call fucking 911,” he yelled as he slid back in the seat and scooped Carmine up and placed his head on his lap. He noticed a gaping hole in Carmine’s neck as he tried to gasp for air. Gabbriello wrapped his hand around the wound to try and stop the blood from seeping from Carmine’s neck.

Carmine looked up at him.

“Help me get him to the back. We have to get him to the hospital.”

Mariano froze.

Gabbriello put his arms under Carmines’ and pulled him from the front seat.

Rinaldo rounded the car and grabbed his brother’s feet as they put him on the back seat. “Drive the fucking car, Mariano, drive!” Gabbriello yelled. said as he jumped in the back seat with his Carmine and held him while they sped down the street towards the hospital. They stopped in front of the emergency door, almost crashing into it. Rinaldo jumped out. “We need help. My brother has been shot.”

“Hold on Carm, we are getting you help.” Gabbriello said as he looked into his friend’s glassy eyes.

Doctors and nurses ran out and quickly took Carmine to the back while they tried to resuscitate him.

They were all sitting in the waiting room when Roberto Deluca, Gabbriello’s father and Luigi, and Emma, Carmine’s parents, rushed into the waiting room. Gabbriello’s father had two bodyguards with him.

“Are you hurt?” Roberto asked, looking at all the blood on Gabbriello’s clothes.

“I wasn’t hurt, but Carmine,” Gabbriello fought hard not to let his tears fall.

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