First, because he’d left Inéz alone when he knew there was always a small chance that someone would find out who she really was, or try to get into his place. Second, it was Elio who’d figured out his father’s whereabouts, having worked with him for so many years. Third, he was so full of rage that he couldn’t even get behind the wheel himself and had to rely on his brother to drive. And lastly, and perhaps the most hurtful was that when he could finally atone for his earlier mistakes, he hadn’t been able to control himself enough to help Inéz, and had kept on punishing Gastone instead. The sight of him cutting and punching her kept flashing before his eyes and he couldn’t shut it off.
Even Flavio couldn’t get to him and he tried. He really did.
"For fuck’s sake, Noah. Get your shit together," he roared, finally being able to separate him from theCapodecina, who was lying on the floor in a pool of his own blood, barely breathing. "He’s not important," he added.
Noah knew that, but the anger he’d bottled up got the best of him.
His eyes settled on the broken chair behind Flavio’s back. Inéz wasn’t there anymore, just a few of his soldiers who were standing patiently, waiting for a command.
Where was she? Was she safe?
He glanced at his brother questioningly.
"Lynette took her to the hospital," Nicodemo chimed in as he walked into the room.
There were no more words necessary and Noah was out of the old building in a matter of seconds. He arrived at the hospital in record-breaking time, roaming the hallways to find Lynette, or better yet - Inéz. His heart was tight and mouth dry. No one would have taken her to the hospital if it hadn’t been crucial. They had doctors on stand-by to treat cuts, shallow weapon wounds and all those that could be taken care of easily.
A small figure caught his attention, pacing back and forth by the ICU.
Lynette.
He ran towards her, his hope dying out with each step. Lynette had changed a lot and didn’t carry her heart on her sleeve anymore, but that, too, seemed to have changed at that moment. She felt someone’s presence and turned around, facing the Capo. Her eyes were full of worry but flashed with a dangerous expression as she registered who it was in front of her.
With a swing, she punched Noah, taking him by surprise. Only barely keeping himself standing under the strength had Lynette put into the move. "You’re a motherfucking dick!" she yelled, not caring about the other people in the hall. However, their attention was more on Noah’s bloody clothes anyway.
"How is she?" he asked.
"How is she? Are you fucking kidding me? I should be the one asking you this!" Pause. The girl took a few deep breaths before continuing. "She’s being operated on. She hit the floor and couldn’t move because of an old back injury. I don’t know anything more right now."
Noah finally realized how bad of a situation it was. It wasn’t a wound from a blade or a bullet that had ripped through her body. It was something that had been a scar from her childhood, and now, because of him, the woundripped open again. And it was all his fault for making her work as a spy, for getting her involved with him in the first place. Forever trusting that he could keep her safe. His actions had become so poisonous to those around him that there was no saying whether the girl he loved would survive them.
Yes, he loved her. She was the most important person in his life. And even though he’d tried to deny his feelings time and time again, now that seemed useless. Whatever denial he concocted would be nothing more than a lie he was trying to make himself believe in.
Entering that goddamned room had been like a knife rimmed into his heart. It was punishment for Noah if he had ever seen one. And Inéz got hurt by default. Rescuing her hadn’t been enough. Now he finally realized it.
He’d never wanted something as much as he wanted her, but he knew that the monster in him would never really deserve her. Presently, he wasn’t even certain that he would get the chance to right his wrongs, and become the person the girl needed.
It didn’t take long for both Issac and Drew to barge into the waiting area. Their faces held concern as they advanced. While Isaac had stayed in Noah’s office in case mafioso needed help with anything, Drew had come into the building after his Capobut had stayed in another part, dealing with the other guards Gastone had placed. He wasn’t skilled enough yet to be given harder tasks, so his place had been beside Elio, who had been and probably still was in total shock about the whole plot with Inéz. Besides, both men were too close to the people involved and had to be kept away from the direct line of fire.
"What happened?" asked Drew, clearly fighting the urge to bust through the ICU doors. It didn’t take a genius to know that the girl must be somewhere behind them. And it made him even more restless.
Noah looked at him but didn’t answer. As Lynette was about to explain, the doors opened and one of the nurses emerged. Looking around she came up to the girl who had been there with Inéz from the start.
"You’re family with Miss Díez?" she asked, however, as she spotted Noah coming closer, she could already figure out the answer to the question. None of them was family, but she was to speak up nonetheless.
Lynette nodded even though it wasn’t necessary anymore. "Miss Díez is still being operated. Her condition is severe. She had trouble breathing on her own and that is still one of the main problems. We don’t know if her heart will hold up for
