Page 14 of Fighting

“Doc, do you have any blood for a transfusion?” I ask. He can explain the specifics of what I need to do later. This is urgent. If this goes sideways, he’s going to need blood. No, he’s going to need it either way.

He shakes his head. “No. We usually take the men to the hospital. It wasn’t safe for Val to go there. We usually only have minor injuries we deal with at the compound.” I’ve got the forceps back in Val’s chest. I think I see a glimmer of metal. Please be the bullet.

Wait.

Val? Luca?

Shit. Fuck.

“You can’t let him die.” Says Luca.

Holy shit. “Is your bother’s name Valentino?” I don’t look up. My eyes are frozen on the face of the man who’s bruised and beaten.

“Yes.” He says. His voice stretching the word. I can detect anger as well as confusion at my question.

“Valentino Mariani?”

“How the fuck do you know that name?” It’s strange. He both whispers and yells the question. Or maybe it’s the blood pumping loudly in my ears that makes me think he whispered.

The forceps clamp down on the bullet fragment. It didn’t puncture anything. I pull it out gently and toss it and my tools down. “Start closing him up.” I bark to Dr. Moro. It takes him a moment to snap out of his stupor. Turning to Goliath, I ask. “What’s your blood type?”

He looks at Luca, then at me. “A positive.”

Turning to the next monkey in the suit I ask the same thing. He’s not a match either. Shit. The other two in the room don’t know their’s. Turning to Luca, he answers before I can ask him. “I’m AB negative, and he’s my brother, that means we’re a match right?”

“No, you’re not.” I say with a shake of my head. “Val is B negative.”

“How the fuck do you know that?” He growls as he prowls around the table. I ignore him. “Dr. Moro, how far away is the hospital?” He’s nearly done stitching Val up. He doesn’t look good. Too pale. He has lost too much blood.

Without looking up he answers. “Fifteen minutes.”

“I can make it in eight.” Says Goliath as he turns and runs from the room. Presumably to go to the hospital. Even at eight minutes there and someone standing at the door with the blood, there will still be the turnaround time of another eight. I fear it will be too late by then.

“Who the fuck are you?” Barks Luca. He’s got me pinned against the counter along the wall. His hand at my neck, and his gun at my temple. I should be scared. I am. Just not of him. I’m scared for Val. For my Tino. I haven’t seen him in seven years. He’s changed so much. Even with the bruises and blood, I can’t believe I didn’t recognize him. Now I see him. I only see him.

It’s not safe for me to be here, but it’s too late for that. I can’t let Tino die. I walked away to save him once. Walking away now will kill him. I’d rather be the one to die.

Summoning all the courage I have, which isn’t much. I look straight into Luca’s eyes. The eyes of the brother of the only man I’ve ever loved. They are similar to Tino’s. I never did get to meet Luca while we were dating. I had wanted to focus on school before we became serious and did the family introductions. Then graduation weekend happened and I had to leave. “I’m Keira.”

Luca takes a step back. “Keira. The Keira.” His eyes wide with surprise.

I don’t answer with words. I only nod. Then turn to gather the supplies I need and jump onto the counter. It’s wide enough that I’ll be able to lay down on it, and close enough that the tube will reach Luca.

“You.” I yell to the man nearest the stairs. “I'm going to need a big glass of juice, some cookies, crackers, or some kind of snack with sugar.”

Luca gives him a nod. He’s taken a few more steps back from me, his gun now hanging limply in his hand. “On it.” Replies the man by the stairs before racing up them and past a man coming down.

I use my teeth to assist with wrapping an elastic band around my upper arm. I find my vein quickly. I’ve done it more times than I care to think about.

“What the hell is she doing?” Ask the new guy. He’s huge. Bigger than Luca, and he looks like he’s two seconds from losing his shit. Or maybe he already lost it, and this is him calming down.

Before Luca can reply, I answer. “I'm a universal donor.” I lay back against the counter and remove the elastic.

“What does that....”

I don't wait for him to finish. “It means Tino can take mine. You don’t have any blood bags here, no one else is a match, and it will take too long for Goliath to return from the hospital.”

The other man returns with the juice and a granola bar. I sit back up long enough to take two huge bites of the bar and chug back about half of the drink. Putting them down and grabbing the other end of the tube with another needle. I stretch them out to Dr. Moro. He takes them without a word, but I can see the questions swirling in his eyes.

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