Xo Novel
Chapter 110
I was there when Massimo blacked out.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
I kept talking to him, whispering in his ear, kissing his face, and telling him I loved him.
I cried the entire time.
Adriano elevated Massimo’s legs and kept pressure on his wounds. He told me Massimo’s heart was still beating, so keep talking and tell him to stay with us.
I was there when Lars showed up.
It was funny – after all of Massimo’s stories, I felt like I knew him and Adriano, even though I’d never seen them before.
“Are you the one who killed Zollner?” I asked.
He nodded somberly.
“Thank you,” I told him, then went back to whispering in Massimo’s ear.
Lars couldn’t do anything we weren’t doing already, so he left to go help any of his men who might still be alive.
I was there when the first helicopter landed in the courtyard outside the church.
Lars directed the EMTs to the bell tower, and they came rushing up the stairs.
They took over for Adriano and put pressure bandages on the wounds they could find. They strapped an oxygen mask to Masimo’s face and put a plastic collar around his neck. With Adriano’s help, they got him on a big plastic board to carry him, then slowly transported him down the stairs. It took all the EMTs’ strength just to get him down to the ground level. At that point, Adriano and Lars took over to carry Massimo to the helicopter.
I followed them every step of the way.
Another helicopter was hovering nearby, waiting for the first one to take off so it could land and help the other wounded.
I was about to climb in beside Massimo when one of the EMTs said, “Signorina, you can’t go with us – ”
“The hell I CAN’T,” I yelled over the helicopter’s blades. “My grandmother is the Widow of Venice, she’s fucking paying you, and I’m going with him whether you like it or not.”
The EMT glanced over at Adriano and Lars.
Lars motioned with his hand like Let her onboard.
“You heard the lady,” Adriano shouted.
The EMTs let me in the helicopter.
“Thank you,” I yelled at Lars and Adriano.
“Take care of him for us!” Adriano yelled.
“I will!” I yelled right before they shut the door.
While we were in the air, the EMTs hooked him up to IVs of blood and fluids.
The entire time, I kissed Massimo’s face and whispered frantically, “You can’t leave me… you can’t… I love you… you promised me you wouldn’t leave me…”
The helicopter landed on the roof of the hospital five minutes later.
I got out and ran beside them as hospital personnel put him on a gurney and wheeled him into the building.
I only left him when they wheeled him into the ER for surgery.
“Signorina – ”
“I know,” I said, then bent down and whispered in his ear, “I love you. Come back to me.”
I kissed him on the lips and let them usher me out.
I sat numbly on a chair outside surgery as a nurse checked on me, shining a light in my eye and asking me questions. I guess she was worried because of the blood on my dress – but she backed off a little when I told her it wasn’t mine.
Then there was a huge commotion at the end of the hall.
A group of men in black suits came striding towards me –
And at their center was my grandmother, her long black dress sweeping the floor as she walked.
“Nona,” I said, and my entire face crumpled.
I stood up, and she took me in her arms.
I put my head on her shoulder and wept uncontrollably.
“I’m so sorry, my darling,” she whispered as I sobbed. “I’m so sorry, my sweet child…”