#bitstarter

Aless. As seriously as Kate did not take Stefan, she had listened when he had asked for Aless’ protection. She was to keep an eye on all of them but she’d grown almost fond of the woman, been extra alert of her safety, and a bullet still tore through her skin. 

This whole ordeal was an action she had not agreed with. It was dangerous and stupid of the Rinaldi’s to attend and it ended up costly. She’d caught the shot to Genna too. She was allied with the Rinaldi’s, she was supposed to be, but she couldn’t help the turn in her stomach she felt for both of the women. 

She went to the hospital, lulling behind everyone else and keeping her head down, but if any more casualties were ready to occur, her eyes were those of a hawk.

How did she not catch the initial gunshot?

The car pulled to the curb just as Eva broke through the front door of her apartment building, completely ignoring the doorman. She slid into the back, removing the revolver she had hidden underneath her coat. Leveling it at the driver's head, Eva spoke with a cool voice that betrayed nothing. "You have fifteen minutes to get to St. Rose Hospital, or I will blow your brains out." The threat hit its mark well, and within seconds they were burning rubber.

With the driver's attention otherwise engaged, Eva pulled her phone out and made a call to Emilio. She left a message on his voicemail, only just catching herself from breaking into sobs. As she hung up, she ignored all rules of road safety and knelt on the backseat. She made the sign of the cross and continued her whispered desperate pleas to God. 

It wasn't the first time she'd found herself praying for the safety of her family. As a little girl, she had said her nightly prayers with a few unorthodox additions. 'God, please keep my Daddy safe. He's been yelling at Mommy and Uncle Tomas a lot. Please don't let him get hurt like my Uncle Rafael.' The prayers had changed as she grew, but they were no less frequent. 'Jesus, why did you have to take my Mommy to Heaven with you? I need her back please.' And finally, 'Holy Mother, keep my brother safe from harm.' After Eduardo's death, the prayers had stopped coming almost completely. Why pray when none of her pleas were answered?

But now, she wished for a faith like Gianna's. That maybe if she interceded with a God-fearing heart, He might listen to her this time. But even as she prayed, all she could see was Eduardo's cold hand in hers. She could remember the feeling so clearly; clammy skin, cool from the lack of blood flow as she'd hovered over the metal slab that held his gunshot ridden body. And all she could think was, please, please, not again.

That thing in the crib looks like a peanut. You could put it in a handbag and walk out of here with it, and no one would be any wiser.

Walking into a church, I'm surprised I didn't burst into flames crossing the threshold.