Sirens wail in the distance.
Fuck.
How am I going to explain this to the cops?
“Cipi!”
Stepping out of Dominic’s embrace, I see Nonna hobbling across the street in a pink robe. Curlers are wound tightly in her white hair.
Bruno follows behind her, leaning heavily on his cane. His head is still bandaged like a mummy.
She stops short when she sees me. “Madonna, Cipi you’re bleeding.”
I look down at my cut hands as she hugs me.
“We heard a noise, then I looked out the window and saw your car go up in flames.” Nonna shrieks.
Fire trucks pull into the compound. The firefighters jump out in full gear. They begin pulling hoses and grabbing fire extinguishers from the vehicles.
The cops pull up behind the trucks. Dominic goes over to talk to them.
Bruno glares at Dominic’s back, his expression darkening like an oncoming storm.
“Fuck!” He mutters. “That’s the last thing we need is the cops on our ass. I better go over there.”
He hobbles forward when Nonna catches his arm. “Dominic can handle it. Come inside. With his background, he’ll get further than we will.”
Bruno doesn’t seem to like that response but he doesn’t say anything. He turns to me. “What the hell happened?”
“I think someone put a car bomb under the hood of my car when I was inside the house.”
“Fuck.” Bruno slams his cane on the ground.
“What are you doing here at the compound Bruno?”
“Bruno is staying with me for the next few days. His housekeeper is going on vacation and according to his doctor, Bruno can’t be alone. He needs to be supervised,” Nonna explains.
Bruno scoffs. “I’m completely capable of taking care of myself but your Nonna insisted.” His eyes scan my face. “Was it an ignition bomb?”
“How the hell should I know Bruno? I didn’t look under my car. I had just used the car. I wasn’t even in the house for that long. There wouldn’t have been enough time to rig it. I think it was operated by remote. I think someone put the bomb under the hood of my car and when I got in they pushed the button but it didn’t catch at first so the explosion was minor. It only made a noise and caught fire.”
“We’ll know more once they put out the fire,” Nonna whispers.
Looking past Bruno, I see the firefighters using a combination of water, specialized foams, and dry chemical extinguishers to put out the fire. The flames bow under the pressure of the foam and water.
Dominic talks to the policemen who have gotten out of the car.
Nonna latches her fingers around my arm. “We need to get you inside.”
Just then the paramedics pull up. Sirens blaring and lights flashing. A man and a woman get out. They walk over to us.
“We got notified someone was involved in a car fire,” the tall man with sandy blonde hair speaks first.
“Yes, she was.” Nonna nods to me.
“Come sit on the porch and let’s take a look at you.”
I walk up the steps and sit down in one of the comfy chairs on the porch. The male paramedic kneels down in front of me while the female places the medical bag on the table. She pulls out some bandages and gauze.
