Page 72 of Vinny

He realized that she was barely clothed, glad she had been able to rid herself of the dress, but also aware that she was suffering from hypothermia.

She clung to him with one arm around his neck, the other dropped at her side.

“Where are you hurt?” he asked, unable to ascertain her injuries in the dark water. She lifted her head from his shoulder and said, “I…I’ve…got some wood..in…in my arm.” Her teeth were chattering so hard, he could barely hear her speak.

“Babe, I’ve got you. Relax and I’ll get you to safety.” With that, he pushed off with a powerful kick, holding her with his left arm wrapped securely around her and using his right arm to stroke through the water.

He came. He came for me.The cold was fading away as consciousness began to slip from her. As the water flowed by, her head held up out of the water by his strong grip began to nod.

The park next to the concert hall had a concrete wall that held the river at bay and on a warm summer day was usually filled with laughing children and their parents. Tonight, it was filled with firemen, policemen,and Tony’s group. Huge spotlights had just been turned toward the water, allowing the searchers to see the surface of the swirling waters more easily.

Gabe had made it to the wall, ready to jump in when needed. Tony walked up and had just clamped his hand on Gabe’s shoulder when Jobe shouted. “Visual. Man in water. Two o’clock.”

The group turned to his directions and saw Vinny swimming toward them, carrying Annalissa. He just made it to the wall when Gabe jumped in next to him. With both of them hefting her body out of the water, Jobe and Tony were able to lean down to grab hold of her.

She was barely dressed and her body had a bluish color. The men felt the ice cold touch of her skin. Jobe immediately wrapped her in a blanket and began rubbing her limbs to aid in circulation. BJ, Terrance, and Doug had appeared beside Tony and they all hoisted Gabe and Vinny out of the river as well. Tony threw blankets at both soaked men, knowing that Vinny would not even notice. He had already rushed over to Annalissa’s side where the rescue squad had placed her on the stretcher.

“Let me get to her, I’m a medic,” Vinny ordered.

“Sir, you need to stay back. In fact, you need to be checked out as well.”

“Fuck that, I’m staying with her,” he growled.

The EMT gave up arguing and turned his attention back to Annalissa.They prepared to move her to the ambulance and did not attempt to dissuade Vinny whenhe got in the back with her. He looked out of the ambulance before it took off, seeing Gabe, Tony, and Jobe standing together. Always together. Friends. Brothers.

24

Annalissa was sitting in the hospital room, anxious to leave. “Vinny, can’t we just sneak out?”

“For the last time, no,” he said, pretending to be stern. If the truth were told, he would have given her anything her heart desired, but the ER had admitted her for observation overnight.

She had been saved from hypothermia, although her body temperature was low when she was brought in. Most of her cuts from the small shards of wood had been cleaned and would heal quickly. The more concerning injury was the large, four-inch splinter of wood that had pierced her upper arm, slicing through muscle and almost severing a nerve. That injury had required extensive stitching and would take longer to heal.

She had made the doctor save the piece that he removed. He asked her where it came from, but it hurt too much to tell him that her beloved instrument had been shattered. She shook her head and gave a weaksmile. “Just from something I cared for,” was all she could manage.

Vinny noticed that she did not speak of Easnadh so he did not bring it up in conversation either. For him, the vision of the broken harp with her blood spilled on it now replaced the other horrific memory of another harp years before.

Gabe and Jennifer came to the door, smiling to see Annalissa sitting up on the bed. Jennifer rushed over, throwing her arms around her. Gabe walked over, kissed the top of her head and then moved to stand next to Vinny.

Vinny held his gaze for a moment, the secret communication between twins at work. Gabe knew that Vinny wanted to know what had happened to Sharon and what the rest of the story was. He also knew by looking at his brother that Vinny did not want anything said that could possibly upset Annalissa now. With a nod of understanding, Gabe moved back over to his wife.

“Tony said to call him as soon as she’s discharged. Shane and Matt will meet over at your house. They need her statement but had enough evidence for now,” Gabe said.

“Babe, we don’t have to do this today,” Vinny stated emphatically, watching her carefully for signs of distress.

The nurse entered, interrupting their conversation, carrying the discharge papers. With everything signed, he wheeled her out of the hospital into Gabe’s waiting vehicle.

Arriving at his parking garage, Vinny insisted on carrying her to the elevator and refused to let her walk.

“This is ridiculous,” she protested. “My arm is hurt, not my legs.”

“Quiet, princess,” he whispered. “It makes me feel better if you’re in my arms.” He wanted to carry her straight to the bedroom, insisting that she needed to rest, but she equally insisted that she was tired of being in bed. They compromised when he set her down on the sofa and covered her with a blanket.

It did not take long for the apartment to fill with friends, bringing food and good wishes. Matt and Shane came over but kept their questions to a minimum. She recited her side of the events and then questioned them, wanting to know what had happened.

“It appears that Sharon’s been a drug runner for a well-known cartel based out of California for a couple of years. She’s carried drugs in her cosmetic bags and has gotten more creative in where she hides them for transport,” Matt reported.

Tony picked up the story. “She met Gordon at an after opening party for one of his small-time actresses and it seems that she kept him supplied with cocaine for the past year. She wasn’t his direct dealer, but as a runner she had access. She also then began to blackmail him into getting jobs for her.”

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