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My heart feels like a thousand pounds in my chest, swelling and shattering only to circle back and redo it again.
“It’s okay, I’m okay, I just got really dizzy when my hearing went out.”
I sigh again, pulling her back to look at her, “How’s your hearing now?”
“It’s coming back, but the ringing is still loud,” she covers her mouth with her hand, “I need to get up.”
I stand and scoop her up in my arms, carrying her to the restroom just as Gio comes back into the apartment. His voice is frantic and wild as he yells for Lexi.
“Back here!” I yell, when I see him through the hole in the door.
He rushes into the room, shoving the door open further and coming straight for us. He cups Lexi’s face, placing his forehead to hers, his shoulder heaving as he mumbles apology after apology.
“It’s okay, Gio. I’m fine, I’m here, and I’m alive.” Lexi reassures him, stroking his cheek and doing her best to soothe him.
He kisses her forehead once more, eyes closed as he inhales her. When his eyes flash open, they lock with mine and in them I see the weight of a thousand years.
He looks down at Lexi once more, “Just remember, I love you. No matter what, I love you.”
“Wha–what are you…what’s happening?”
He looks back up at me as the sounds of cops coming into the apartment, shouting Gio’s name and stomping toward the bedroom.
“NYPD! Don’t Move!”
As the police push the door open further, Gio looks at me, “Take care of her, brother.”
“What the hell is happening?!” Lexi shreeks.
I place her on my feet and pull her behind me, barking at the officers as they point their weapons at Gio.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? We’re the motherfucking victims in this crime, you dumb fucks!”
Officers surround my best friend as a few push Lexi and I back to the far wall. They all ignore our barrage of questions as they accuse Gio of murder, “You are being arrested for the murder of Elena Vacarri and Maxine Rametta.”
Gio continues to stay quiet as I stand in stunned silence. How the fuck?
“What?! He didn’t kill them! Alan Vacarri killed his wife and Maxine! He almost killed me just minutes ago, and how fucking convient that you guys show up after he gets away!” Lexi screams as she tries to step around me, but I continue to hold her back.
I keep my eyes on the cops around Gio, trusting none of them for shit as they read his Miranda Rights and check him for the weapons he must’ve thrown off of him before coming back up to the apartment.
The entire time, Gio’s eyes are on us until they force him down to his knees by kicking his legs out from under him. My mind unfreezes at the sight, and I roar, seeing red as my best friend is forced to his stomach, his legs folded up onto his ass before a cop kneels on them, making Gio wince as they cuff him. I shove through the wall of cops in front of me, ready to kill every uniform I see. Lexi screams and tries to fight through them beside me, but an officer grabs her from behind, his big arms wrapped around her middle as she bucks and kicks.
“I will tase you!” A cop shouts from somewhere.
“Stop it, baby!” Gio orders, “Both of you, stop!”
“Where the hell is Detective Julio?!” I growl, shoving cops off of me and reaching for Lexi once more. I glare at the officer who had his arms around her, eyeing his badge and putting his name and face to memory as I fold Lexi into my chest. She sobs against me, her tears soaking my shirt as I force myself not to pull my gun out and start shooting.
“I’m right here,” Detective Julio says as he comes into the room with another man in a suit behind him. When they’re both in the room, Lexi freezes in my arms, her body quaking as her eyes land on the second man.
“Chief Jared Assman.” Lexi whispers softly, and Gio growls, pushing toward the guy.
He eyes Gio, before ticking his head to the side, ordering him to be taken from the room.
“Don’t let him touch her! Don’t let her out of your sight!” Gio roars at me as he is taken from the room.
I stare at the man, my lip curling as I take him in.
“Hello, Mrs. Vaccari,” I push Lexi behind me, but his eyes stay on her, “long time, no see.”
