thought I’d have time, that we’d have time to be together, had taken it for granted. The speared watch on my forearm taunted me as I stroked Gemma’s skin. Outsmarting time, what a stupid thing to think.
A gentle pulse throbbed against my fingertips. I jerked my head up, staring at Gemma.
“What is it?” Remo asked immediately. Diego lifted his tear-stained face.
I dug my fingertips into her throat. A pulse. A fucking pulse. For a moment, I didn’t dare believe it. “Remo,” I got out. He knelt beside me and shoved my hand aside, then he pressed his fingers against her pulse point. “Nino!” he roared.
“What… what’s going on?” Diego whispered.
Nino came in then rushed over to us and bent over Gemma, feeling her pulse. “She’s alive.”
Diego sucked in a sharp breath.
Relief washed over me.
Remo moved to the Bratva asshole. “He too.” He grinned twistedly.
“He’s mine,” I said. Once Gemma was taken care of, I’d turn the last few hours of that asshole’s life into a nightmare.
Remo inclined his head.
Nino felt Gemma’s head then moved on to her ribs.
“What are you doing?” Diego asked, eyeing my brother’s hands on Gemma’s belly.
Nino cocked an eyebrow. “Making sure she stays alive. Back off.”
Diego nodded and crawled to Gemma’s head, stroking her hair. “Gemma, can you hear me?”
“Don’t move her yet,” Nino said.
I took Gemma’s hand, linking our fingers. They twitched. Then her lashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes, fixing me with those stunning olive irises. Confusion showed on her face. She glanced from me to Diego who looked a teary mess.
She frowned. “Diego, what’s—” Realization flashed in her eyes. “Nonna?” Her voice was small, bringing out my protective side. There were so many things I wanted to tell her.
Diego closed his eyes and gave a small shake of his head. Tears gathered in Gemma’s eyes. “Where’s Dad?”
Diego didn’t react, but got up and turned his back to us, covering his face with his hands. Gemma looked at me, her eyes two pools of misery. “Savio?”
I squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry, Gem.”
She shook her head in denial, then winced, her eyes going out of focus for a moment. She tried to push up into a sitting position, but I grabbed her shoulders, stopping her. “Careful. We don’t know how bad your injuries are.”
Tears slid out of her eyes, and the sight of them trailing down her cheeks cut me deeply. I promised myself to never be responsible for them again.
“Let me take a look at your head,” Nino said. Slowly he and I brought Gemma into a sitting position. I steadied her with an arm around her shoulders, feeling her shake.
Gemma flinched when Nino touched the back of her head.
“Say something,” I said to Nino.
“She’s got a concussion. I don’t think it’s more than that.” He held a finger in front of her eyes and moved it slowly. “You should have a head scan just to be sure.”
Gemma shook her head, grimacing. “I’m fine.”
“Gem, being tough is honorable, but don’t be unreasonable. A head injury isn’t a joke.”
“I need to see Nonna and Dad.”
I looked toward Nino and he gave a small nod. I stood and helped Gemma to her feet. She swayed slightly, causing me to wrap an arm around her waist and pull her against me. She leaned into me, her head resting in the crook of my shoulder. That she didn’t push me away after how much of an asshole I’d been showed how bad it was.
Diego still hadn’t moved. He clutched the kitchen counter with closed eyes.
“Diego?” Gemma asked softly.
His shoulders tensed then slowly, he turned to us with red eyes. “Give me a moment, Gemma. Go ahead.” He looked me in the eye. “Will you keep her safe?”
Fuck, yes. From this day on, I’d make sure she was protected at all times. “Sure.” He nodded then returned to staring at the kitchen counter.
I led Gemma toward her nonna. She grasped my hand in a crushing grip as we stood over her nonna’s body. Someone had closed her eyes. Gemma twitched in my hold. Silent tears still rolled down her pale skin, caught on her full lips.
She looked up. “My dad?”
“Are you sure you want to see him?”
She tried to shake me off but I tightened my hold. “All right. I’ll take you to him, but he’s been hit by more bullets than your nonna.”
Gemma swallowed, resolved. We stepped through the swinging door into the restaurant. Daniele’s eyes were closed as well. Yet, he looked less peaceful than Gemma’s