Page 110 of Poison and Wine

“She’s fine. You kept her safe,” Dare replied.

I sighed in relief. “And me?”

Quinn’s expression remained grim. “We’ve got two doctors on the way, but I went ahead and gave you a transfusion. From the way it looks to me, a couple of inches to the right, and the bullet would’ve blown out your artery.”

“And I’d already be a goner.”

As Dare nodded, Quinn replied, “Yes.”

“Fuck,” I exhaled.

“But we won’t know the full extent until they go in.”

“And they’re going to do that here?”

“We knew you wouldn’t want to risk the hospital.”

“Exactly.” After an attack, it was never good being in an uncontrolled location like a hospital. It was why many families had a medical room in their houses where anyone from soldiers to bosses could be patched up. Gunshot wounds at the hospital also alerted the authorities, which was the last thing we needed.

“How is your pain?” Quinn questioned.

“Not great. But not too bad either.”

“How long was I out?”

“Not long. We literally just rolled the gurney in here when you woke up. Owen and Shane got you here within ten minutes.”

A female’s scream in the hallway sent a jolt through me. I’d know that voice anywhere. It was my Caterina. Quinn rushed from my bedside to block the doorway.

“Is he in there?” Caterina demanded.

“Yes,” Quinn replied.

“Why did we come here? Why aren’t you taking him to the hospital?” I knew she had to be in shock to even ask that question. Growing up as a capo’s daughter, she would be well-versed with not taking Made Men to hospitals unless there was absolutely no other choice.

“He doesn’t need the hospital,” Quinn answered quietly.

An agonized shriek came from Caterina. “He’s….”

“No, lass, he’s not dead.”

Caterina’s voice wavered as she pounded her fists into Quinn’s chest. “But he was wounded. He needs to be at the hospital!”

After Quinn related the reasoning why I was in the basement, Caterina tried pushing past him into the room.

“Stay back,” Quinn ordered.

“I need to see him,” Caterina pleaded.

“No, lass. You don’t need to see this.”

“It can’t be any worse than what I saw on the street.”

“Let her through, Quinn,” I croaked.

When he glanced back at me for confirmation, I nodded. Caterina rushed past Quinn and over to my bed. Tears stained her beautiful face. Trying to lighten the mood, I teasingly asked, “Are those tears in your eyes, Kitten?”

“Yes,” she hiccupped as she wrapped her arms around her waist.