Page 26 of The Agreement

“I’m sorry Vinny. I’m sorry for the mess I created with the clothes, I’m not like that but I was wrapped up in my own mind. I’m sorry for making you think…”

“Stop Val,” he told her as he cut her off. “I won’t say I like it because we both know I don’t, but given what happened today, it’s okay.” He took her hands and gave her a smile. “You need to let today go.”

“I told my dad to go to Hell.” Vinny winced at that. No matter how angry he ever got with his own dad, those words had never left his mouth. Granted, he had been pushed a few times, sure, but never to the degree, it sounded like she had.

“Why? Well besides the slap. Why would you fling that in his face? He is still running a very powerful family and still does dangerous dealings.”

“And stupid ones. David, his other advisor, brought a deal to the table that was stupid and wouldn’t even have him breaking even for another five years and when I told him it wasn’t a sound deal, he said he was the boss, I wasn’t. That I was nothing more than another advisor and that as my dad, and my Don, I should listen. I told him I wasn’t on his payroll so no, he wasn’t my Don.” Vinny rubbed his thumbs over the back of her hands, trying to add what comfort he could. He wasn’t sure why everything came out at that point, but he was going to make it a point to find out. Because, family or not, no one pushed or touched, what was his and he didn’t care for his new development with her dad. And, to add to that, for as long as he knew De Luca, he had always heard him be a fair man, so this seemed even odder.

He also didn’t enjoy seeing his strong woman be this weak thing. He could tell she had been crying and that this whole thing had really bothered her. Not that he was saying it shouldn’t, because it should, but he just didn’t care for her this way. He rather have the woman who flung the shit back at him and stood up to him than this. And here he thought he wouldn’t like a strong-minded female, but given the other option, he rather take the strong female.

“Are you hungry? The guys should be calling me soon when it’s done so they could grab it on the way?” She finally smiled at him, even if it was a weak one.

“I’m okay. Don’t have much of an appetite, not with everything going on. It’s been a shitty ass day from the start and I’d rather just make sure everything was okay and go to…” She got cut off as his phone started to ring and he quickly stood, holding up a finger for her to hold on and answered the call.

“Sì(yes)?” he asked as soon as he saw the ID. He kept his eyes locked with hers as the person on the other end started rambling off in Italian. “Hold the fuck on Johnny. Who was shot?”

“Salvatore.” Vinny watched as all the blood drained from Val’s face and felt his own heart drop into his stomach.

~ Chapter 22 ~

Vinny ended the call and tried to control his anger once again. How the fuck did this go wrong? That was the biggest question. But he didn’t have time to dwell on that right now. He needed to call his dad and their doctor to have them both come here as Salvatore couldn’t go to the hospital.

“It’s going to be okay,” Vinny said, reaching out his hand to a trembling Val. He wrapped his arms around her once she stood up, her hands clutching tightly to his suit jacket. “They will bring him here so I need to call my dad and our surgeon. Will you want to go to bed?”

“No, I….want to stay, make sure he’s okay. My dad has had problems in the past and I would stay to make sure everything was okay.” Vinny nodded, reaching for the phone to call his dad, praying that he wouldn’t get the yelling then.

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“Che cazzo è successo(what the fuck happened)?” Donatello asked as he burst through Giovanni’s front door. Valentina glanced up at him and then at the two men following behind him.

“Val, this is the family surgeon, David, and the baby of the family, Santronio.” Val shook both pairs of hands but cast a look at Vinny.

“I wasn’t aware you had a younger brother.”

“Yeah, their fallback son if anything happens to me.” It was meant as a joke to ease the tension, but no one dared laugh.

“Where’s Salvatore?”

“On their way. From what Johnny told me, it seems like it’s an arm shot, but he can’t tell what all got hit or if it’s a through and through.”

“Bring him downstairs. I’ll make sure the table is ready, come on Santronio.” Val watched the two men leave before looking at Donatello.

“Why would he take Santronio?” Val asked.

“He’s studying to be a doctor; as you know, a family always needs one.”

“Oh, yes, of course.”

“What happened to your cheek, Val?” Val glanced at Vinny who tried to come up with something but couldn’t. Although, thankfully, he was saved from saying anything as the guys burst through the front door, a few of them carrying Salvatore. Val stepped back as Vinny directed the men on where to take him.

“Stay up here,innamorato(sweetheart), and I will let you know what happens,” Vinny told her as he placed a kiss on her forehead. She nodded and he followed his dad down to the basement and walked in as David had started an IV with an intense drug combo. “Well, what the fuck happened?” Johnny stepped forward, his hands and shirt covered in blood.

“Can we talk about this later? I need a drink and to wash my hands. I know the man is fine, he was cussing up a storm until we walked in.”

“Fine. Val’s up there and she can get you a drink.” Johnny nodded and Vinny walked over to the table, looking at his brother and then at a man who was pretty much like an uncle to him. David glanced up from the wound and nodded.

“Nothing major, a through shot. Santronio can clean it and then stitch it up, but he will need to let it rest, Vinny.” Vinny nodded to appease David, but they both knew the truth. “Now, I know you son, and you don’t hit women so why does your fiancé have a hand print on her face?” Vinny glanced at his dad, who was giving him the same look.

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