I sank down between him and Nevio, both of them bleeding profoundly. Nino was taking care of Nevio and Fabiano finally came over to Amo.
I was in trance, unable to catch a clear thought.
Soon Alessio, Massimo, Dad and Savio filtered into the room followed by two doctors and several nurses. Dad’s gaze swiped over the scene then he stalked toward me and pulled me to my feet. “Greta?”
“I’m not injured,” I said tonelessly.
Dad handed me over to Savio who touched my shoulder and I met his gaze. His was brimming with questions, but I couldn’t answer them. Dad knelt beside Nevio, while one of the doctors began to treat Amo.
Within an hour, we were in the Camorra hospital and both Amo and Nevio were in surgery to save their lives.
I sat on a chair between the two rooms, feeling like I was torn apart. Blood covered my hands and my dress. I wasn’t sure whose it was. Nevio’s? Amo’s?
I could feel everyone’s gazes on me. Nobody had asked any questions yet.
I had a feeling Dad was almost scared to ask what had happened. Maybe he worried what I’d say about my feelings for Amo. Nino and Fabiano had certainly filled him in on the details. Dad had reacted with a rageful outburst.
“Luca and Romero are on their way,” Nino said in a low voice.
“With a declaration of war,” Dad said with a dark laugh.
“We have his son, it would be stupid to threaten us now,” Alessio said.
“It might be prudent to kill Amo while he’s in surgery and get us an advantage in this war,” Massimo said.
I looked up. Nino shook his head. “War would be unwise at this point.”
“Killing his son will be an advantage.”
“You don’t know Luca like Remo and I do, Massimo. Killing his son won’t slow Luca down. He’s easier to handle as long as the people he cares about are alive. Luca is the most dangerous when he doesn’t have anything to lose, and we don’t want that.”
Mom came in and glanced worriedly at me. I gave her a very weak smile so she rushed to Dad. “How is he?”
“He’ll pull through. No major arteries were involved,” Dad said, hugging Mom as she sagged against him.
“Savio said Nevio attacked Amo to protect Greta.”
“I didn’t need protection from Amo,” I said firmly.
Dad’s expression darkened in a way that resembled the look in Nevio’s eyes when he’d attacked Amo. “Nevio obviously disagreed.”
“Nevio didn’t attack because he thought I was in danger.”
“Maybe it’s a danger you can’t see,” Massimo said with a hint of condescension.
I rose to my feet. Dad approached me slowly. “What exactly has been going on between Vitiello and you?”
“Nothing,” I said. I hated lying, and I was bad at it, so Dad’s eyes narrowed. He touched my cheek. “Mia cara, you know you can tell us anything. There’s nothing we can’t protect you from. Even if Amo makes you believe, he might have something over you, believe me there’s nothing he can do.”
Dad, like probably the rest of them, thought Amo had set his eyes on me and was trying to manipulate me into becoming his wife. They couldn’t imagine that I had fallen for him.
I glanced at Amo’s door. I wasn’t sure if the truth would improve Amo’s situation.
“He’s engaged,” Alessio said. “He’s probably just trying to have some fun before marriage.”
Dad’s eyes flashed. “Did he touch you?”
“Remo,” Mom said softly, seeing my expression. She took my hand and pulled me aside. “Greta, you know you can tell me anything.”