“I’ll go get a vehicle,” a man said, running from the room as if someone finally lit a fire under his ass. Turning back to the wounded man, I knew his injury was bad. A direct shot to the chest. But what worried me more was that it was Dylan. Layla’s brother. I may not know much about the woman in my care, but I knew she would lose it if something happened to her only family member. I observed her when she talked about him. Her eyes lit up, and the love she had for him was evident on her face. Her brother meant the world to her.
“Come on, Dylan. Don’t do this,” Reaper pleaded as he held the young man in his arms. It was heartbreaking to see a man of Reaper’s statue holding on to a man that looked to mean the world to him. I couldn’t imagine what he was feeling, yet knowing how I felt about my own brothers, the thought of them hurt was painful to even think about.
“I got her,” the young Dylan mumbled as blood seeped from his mouth down his chin.
“You did good, brother. So, fucking good.”
Lorenzo looked up at me with worry in his eyes. I knew that look, and it wasn’t good. “He needs a hospital fast. I can’t fix this here. Gio, where’s the nearest hospital?”
“Salvatore, gather the boys and get the hostages to safety. Reaper, have one of your men call it in. Let the local LEO’s take the credit.”
“Where’s Kitty?” Dylan asked, looking for someone who wasn’t there. It wouldn’t be long now. I had seen death too many times to know that if we didn’t get Layla’s brother to a hospital fast, he wouldn’t make it.
“She’s coming, Dylan. I promise when you wake up, she will be there.”
“We’re gonna live my dream, Max. We’re gonna move away and live in peace.”
“That sounds boring.”
He coughed. “I want boring. No more death for me.”
“Alright, brother. If that’s what you want.”
“Promise me.”
“Anything.”
“What you agreed to before. Promise me.”
“I promise, Dylan. I give you my word.”
“Thank you, Max,” He whispered as his eyes closed.
“DYLAN!”
“The hospital is ten minutes away,” I stated, looking up from my phone.
“Let’s move!” Lorenzo shouted as he and some of the Golden Skulls members helped carry Dylan to one of the waiting vehicles.
Turning to leave, I stopped seeing Reaper still sitting on the floor staring at the pool of blood Dylan was lying in. Carefully walking over to him, I put my hand on his shoulder and said, “Mr. Doherty, we need to go.”
“I can’t lose him,” his voice barely a whisper rang with so much pain I actually felt for the man. “He’s the only family I have left. I can’t lose him.”
“I can’t promise you that, but I can promise that I will do everything I can to get him to the best possible help. We must go now.”
Reaper nodded and got to his feet. “I don’t know why you’re helping but thank you.”
I looked at the man I desperately wanted an alliance with and simply spoke from my heart, “You took care of my family for a time. Let me take care of yours.”
12
Giovanni
The ride to the hospital didn’t take long, and when we arrived in the emergency bay, I wasn’t shocked to see nurses and doctors waiting on us. My brother Lorenzo was proficient at his job. Nobody said anything as the doctors and nurses rushed Layla’s brother straight into surgery. As for the rest of us, everyone began filing into the small waiting room. Reaper paced, saying nothing to anyone.
I watched quietly as men steered clear of the man they all looked up to. Even Reginald and Dwayne were off in the corner with other members of their club, talking quietly.
“Gio, we’re exposed here,” Sal whispered, scanning the room. “Look at everyone.”