Bates drove sporadically through the streets, speeding as he made sharp turns. Both hands were on the wheel as he got us out of the city and into the countryside. Once we were on a straight road, he gave me the most incredulous look I’d ever seen. “I can’t believe you did that.”
I still hadn’t caught my breath. Sweat dripped from my forehead and into my eyes. I tried to wipe it away with my hand, but it was no use. There was sweat everywhere. “Neither can I.” I chopped off a man’s dick and killed a few others. I’d turned into a killing machine, something I didn’t know I was capable of. But when it came to my family…I was willing to do anything to protect them.
And I wasn’t ashamed of that.
13
Cato
So much fucking pain.
Everything was broken. Everything screamed. It was the kind of agony that made you wish for death.
But it was nothing compared to watching Siena take my place.
That was the most painful thing I’d ever had to do.
To watch her hand herself over to that asshole so I could go free.
I would rather die a million times.
But there was nothing I could do. I fought the guards until they threw me on the sidewalk and my men carried me away.
Now I was at my estate, barely able to stand as I stepped into my home.
“Mr. Marino?” Giovanni caught me before I slammed into the ground. “What are you doing here? We need to get you to a hospital.”
“Martina? Where is she?”
“She’s in the kitchen, perfectly safe.”
I’d already lost one of my girls. I wasn’t going to lose another. “Siena took my place…I have to get her back.” I slowly slid to the floor, too weak to even hold myself up.
“Sir.” Giovanni used his strength to guide me carefully to the floor. “We have to get you to get you to a hospital.”
“Siena!”
“Sir, if you die, who will take care of Martina?”
All I cared about was saving Siena, even if it killed me. But I forgot about the person who mattered more, the person I swore to protect above all else. If I died, she would be alone.
“You need to go to the hospital, Mr. Marino.”
“I…” I could barely think, I was so weak.
The door burst open, and Bates walked inside. “Cato! Shit.” He leaned down and looked at me. “Jesus Christ, you look dead.”
“Siena…” I tried to get up again, but I couldn’t.
“She’s right here,” Bates said. “She’s right here.”
“What?” I asked, barely keeping my eyes open.
“Oh my god…” Her voice resonated in my ears, so beautiful it seemed unreal. “Cato…” She moved over me and cupped my face. “You need to get to a hospital. Now.”
“Siena?” I grabbed her wrist, wanting to feel her pulse, wanting to feel that she was real. “You’re here.”
“Yes, I’m here. I got away.”
I brought her hand to my lips and kissed it. “Thank god.” My breathing turned deeper and heavier as I became weaker. I’d never felt this weak in my life, never felt so powerless. Somehow, Siena managed to get us both out of there without my help.
“Bates, we have to get him to a hospital,” Siena said. “He’s barely holding on.”
“We’ll take the chopper,” Bates said. “We can all fit.”
“What about Martina?” she asked. “Can we put a car seat in there?”
“I don’t fucking know,” Bates hissed. “But Damien’s men are only a few minutes behind us. That chopper is our only chance to get out of here.” He turned back to me. “I know it hurts, Cato. But you have to walk to the chopper. I’ll get you to the hospital as soon as I can, but we need to hurry.”
I knew it would be painful, but I had to keep moving. I had to get Siena and Martina out of there. “Alright…let’s go.” I pushed to my feet then hooked one arm over Giovanni’s shoulder. Siena supported my other arm and took some of my weight on her slender shoulders.
Bates grabbed Martina’s carrier. “Let’s move.”
“Stay awake.” Siena gently slapped my cheek.
My eyes opened again, and I saw Bates flying the chopper. I had no idea how much time had passed. It seemed like hours, but it could only have been minutes. My eyes closed once more, and I felt myself drift away.
“Come on, Cato.” Siena slapped me again. “Look at Martina.”
I peered down into her face, seeing the little headset covering her ears. She stared at me with fascination, like this chopper ride was fun. I started to slump forward as the weakness overtook me.
Giovanni grabbed me and pushed me back. “How much farther?”
Bates spoke over the radio. “Almost there.”
We landed on the roof of a hospital. Personnel came out with a gurney to wheel me away.
All I could think about were Siena and Martina. “What about them?” I asked my brother over the radio.