Chapter 1
Lulu and Dante had been on the run from Joey Limbo for a month now and time had run out. This was entirely his fault. He had thought after all this time it was safe to come home; that they had lost Joey and his goons. Lulu was struggling with one and the other two had Dante subdued. You know Officer Falconeri you led us on a merry chase; too bad you and your lady friend have come to an end stated Joey. My father, Sonny and Jason will hunt you down if anything happens to us shouted Lulu. Your father and Jason will never find you, and Sonny will probably be thanking me considering this cop was going to take him down too. Do you have anything you would like to say to each other before you die, Joey asked. The two flunkies had Dante standing between them by now. Nothing to say asked a smiling Limbo? Well then, let's get this over with.
Nooooooo yelled Lulu struggling with her guard. Just as Joey fired, Lulu freed herself from her flunky and rushed toward Dante. The bullets struck Lulu in the back. Oh God no yelled Dante as he caught Lulu in his arms. Lulu… Lulu… answers me. I love you Lulu said before passing out. A hale of bullets rained down on Joey and his friends as Luke, Jason and Sonny rushed in. We have to get her to a hospital now, Dante said as he gathered Lulu in his arms.
Lulu wake up, you can't check out on me now, wake up. You just told me you loved me. You aren't getting away from me that easy. Dominic you have to let go of her now said Dr. Patrick Drake. We have to get her to surgery. The waiting was the hardest thing Dante had ever had to do. He had never felt this way about anyone before. Jason had called Sam on the way in, so everyone was there. All he could do was stand at the surgery door and wait. He wasn't good at waiting. A light touch on his shoulder brought him around quickly. He was usually more alert than that, more aware of his surroundings. You love my daughter don't you? She was beautiful. His Lulu looked so much like her. He didn't know what her mother was doing here but he knew Lulu would be glad to see her when she woke up. She will wake up. She has too. You must be Lulu's mother Laura and yes I do love your daughter; more than my own life. Lulu will make it, Laura said, she has a lot to live for.
After fours hours, everyone was glaring holes in him except Laura; she was just looking at him with a quiet intensity. Someone had brought him some clean clothes and Liz had let him clean up in the Doctors showers. How much longer? Dante didn't know how much more he could take it. The not knowing was killing him. The doors opened and out came Robin and Patrick. The surgery went well Dr. Drake said. We removed four bullets. One damaged Lulu's kidney. We are going to be monitoring it closely; she could still need it removed. Another hit her in the back but missed anything vital. The other two bullet struck her in the leg and shattered her femur. Lulu will probably be in a wheelchair for a while when she leaves and will need rehab on her leg. When we can see her, Dante asked. You aren't going to see her stated Sonny. It's your fault she is in that surgery room, said Luke. Dante knew that he couldn't say anything; it was his fault that the woman he loved more that anything was laying in the hospital. Feeling his mother Olivia's eyes on him Dante knew he needed to leave before he did something stupid. Walking off as Patrick was still talking to the family; he snuck down the hall to the ICU room. He had to see Lulu. Dante just stood in the doorway staring at Lulu. It was his fault that she was here, in this hospital fighting for her life. God he loved her so much and he had never told her. Hesitantly Dante moved to the bed. Sitting on the stool Dante picked up her hand; it looked so lifeless laying there. He loved everything about her; her courage, her fierce loyalty to those she loved. Lulu can you hear me Dante asked. I am so sorry I got you into this mess. I love you so much. Now that he was in here with her; nothing could make him leave. Dante had nothing to do but think and wait. Sitting at Lulu's side watching her breathe he started thinking back to the beginning. He had to wonder if Sonny knew that he was a cop. Hopefully everyone thought that he and Lulu had been on the run because Joey Limbo had put out a hit on him for being the Zacchara traitor Dominic Parelli, not an undercover cop Dante Falconeri.