Page 97 of Choices

“I was at home when three of his thugs showed up. They shot Santi!" She shouts, her eyes going wide and her body tense.

"He's in a hospital. He'll survive. But he's worried about you. Tell...tell me what I should text him?"

She relaxes.

"They took me to his house. He called you. Then he tried to rape me, but I had my pocketknife key chain and I stabbed him in the throat. He tried to strangle me, but bled out before he could succeed….” Her voice trailed off.

I wrap my arms tightly around her, resting my chin on top of her head. I let out a deep sigh. He hadtriedto rape her. He hadtriedto strangle her. But he underestimated her. Fear, regret and pride swirl through my chest. My girl is a fighter. She isn’t going down without fighting back. And she had won. Against a life-long criminal, and someone equally double her size. And she had won.

I dry her off and wrap her in a robe before grabbing my phone from my discarded jeans. I facetime Matty, knowing he's with Santiago, and hand her my phone.

She looks up at me in question before Matty answers.

"Pretty girl!" Matty screams as he answers. I let them talk while I get dressed.

She doesn't reply, simply cries.

"There's someone here who wants to see you." Matty teases before turning the camera to show her Santiago.

Hannah sobs harder.

"Santi..." She cries between sobs. I climb on the bed and wrap my arms and legs around her in support. I look down at the phone and see the tears on my silent enforcers face.

They don't talk. They don't sign. They're simply content to look at each other, reassuring themselves that the other was still alive.

Suddenly, he looks down, looking ashamed.

"Don't you fucking dare, Santi." He looks back up at her under his lashes. "You're blaming yourself for Vitale's actions. I won't have it. I love you Santi. You killed for me and took bullets for me." Her voice lowers in sincerity. "You sacrificed yourself for me. I'll never be able to repay you."

I can tell he doesn't agree 100%, but he's comforted that she doesn't blame him.

A beat passes before she cries out suddenly, turning to look at me. “The kids!”

“Matty picked them up early from school. They're here. They're going to have a movie night with Diego and Lauren and a sleepover, and you can see them whenever you're ready. We’ll figure out tomorrow, tomorrow.” I say, running a finger across her forehead.

"Thank you," she whispers to Matty. "When do you come home?" she asks Santiago, who looks at Matty.

"The nurse says at least a week, but I don't think your boy will last that long. We're working on organizing at home health for him instead."

"Take me to him?" She asks leaning up to look at me. She's barely keeping her eyes open.

"No, mami. Rest. He's takencare of. I'll take you to him tomorrow."

"Please?" She asks and fuck, I can't tell this woman 'no'. As of an hour ago I thought she was dead. I kiss her nose.

"Alright, mami. Let's get you dressed."

Chapter forty-five

Santiago

When I came to after surgery, Matty's ugly mug was the first thing to grace my blurry vision. I instantly popped up and went to pull the IV from my arm, but Matty stopped me.

"She's alright. We got her."

And with five words I collapsed against the bed, the fight completely gone. I knew there had to be more to the story, but she was safe. I'd figure everything else out after.

Matty brought me my phone so I could talk to him, but I let myself wake up a little more. When they shot me and took her all I felt was a cold panic washing over me at what they would do to her. Vitale's a sick fuck, and he wanted our territory. The scenarios that played over and over in my head as I stuffed my bullet wounds and stumbled out into the street made my stomach churn.