Chapter Seven

It was later than Bruno had realized, and there really weren't that many reputable people out at this time of night. He kept a close eye on their surroundings as they parked by the warehouse and hurried around to open Maria's door for her, sticking close.

"I have some lanterns in the back of the car," he told her, crossing to the trunk and opening it with Sticky Fingers instead of fumbling for the key again. He pulled out two camping lanterns and handed one to Maria.

Now with light in hand, they made their way to the warehouse.

"It's just over here in this corner," Maria told him, pointing.

They crossed to the spot and Maria set her lantern on the ground, kneeling, to start prying out the bricks.

"It looks like someone's been here recently," she said.

Bruno knelt beside her. "Allow me," he said and brought out Sticky Fingers, who punched the spot, unzipping the wall.

Maria gasped as several bundles of white powder tumbled out, revealing that she had indeed been right about the hiding spot.

"Well…that certainly explains why Marcello was so set on getting this back," Bruno said wryly, as he hefted one of the bricks. "I'd say there's about ten kilograms here. That's a lot of money."

"So, what do we do with it now?" Maria asked.

"Dump it in the canal," Bruno replied firmly as he started to pick up the bricks.

Maria nodded and took the rest as they headed back out to the car and drove to the docks.

It was long past midnight now, and the briny water mixed with the city smell was much more unpleasant than the ocean, but there was a definite satisfaction with unloading the cocaine into the water under the moonlight.

"So, that's it then…" Maria said quietly.

"Well, besides taking Marcello down for good, yes," Bruno commented with some relief. "Though I feel like that's probably very short in coming now that we've gotten rid of everything he was looking for."

"Yes," Maria said softly, clasping her hands nervously in front of her as if there was something she wanted to say.

There was something Bruno wanted to say too, as he looked at the moonlight shining off her pale skin, the sheen in her hair and her wide green eyes, reflecting the movement of the water below.

He shouldn't say this, but nor could he stop himself. There was some pull that this woman had that he couldn't quite manage to escape from. Like being caught in the undertow, but without the fear of drowning. It was an insane sensation that made him all too free with his words, and yet he couldn't be bothered to care in that moment.

"Maria," he said quietly and she glanced up at him, lips slightly parted and, oh, how he wanted to kiss them in that moment…

He swallowed that thought away, trying to find his words again. "When this is over; I was wondering if you—"

"Well, if it isn't Bucciarati and our little fugitive."

Bruno spun around, and found Marcello standing there with his second and two other men, looking ready for anything.

"Gentlemen," Bruno said darkly. "What business do you have here this time of night? Waiting for a shipment, perhaps?"

Marcello smiled and it wasn't a pretty sight. "Yes, actually. A shipment I think you might have."

"Is that so?" Bruno quirked an eyebrow. "I think not."

Marcello looked like he was quickly losing patience. He turned to Maria. "Perhaps the signorina will be more inclined to talk. Well? Where are the drugs your brother stole, Maria?"

"You'll have to swim for them now," she said with no small amount of satisfaction. Bruno's lips twitched slightly.

Marcello stared at her. "You're lying."

"She's not," Bruno assured him. "You're not getting those drugs back, Marcello. But I am still willing to deal with you if you are so inclined. Perhaps we can meet tomorrow morning?"

"Oh, I'll deal with you," Marcello said darkly. "Right here and now. Smooth Criminal!"

Bruno had been expecting an attack so Sticky Fingers launched his arm at the other man, only to have it connect with a ripple of air a few inches in front of Marcello just like the last time. With a growl, he landed several more blows, but none of them hit Marcello.

The man grinned. "Like that? Smooth Criminal has the ability to manipulate matter. So, punch all you like, I can use the air around me to protect myself as long as I need to."

"I see," Bruno said darkly, as he saw the ripple of Marcello's partially manifested Stand at his shoulder. "And yet…I would bet that your Stand can't protect itself while it's protecting you."

He switched gears. "Sticky Fingers!" Bruno's Stand shot toward the shape and landed several damaging punches as it manifested fully.

"Ari!"

Blood and zippers appeared on Marcello's face and shoulder and he gasped, staggering back a step.

"Maria!" Bruno shouted and grabbed the stunned woman by the arm, hurrying her away somewhere safe.

"Get them!" Marcello shouted.

Something tripped Bruno but he kept going, shoving Maria forward as he caught himself on a large crate. He gasped as his arm sank through it like it was liquid, before it hardened again and trapped him tight.

"Bruno!" Maria cried.

"Go!" he commanded, calling out Sticky Fingers to punch the crate and release him.

"Spin Doctor!"

Something whizzed out of the night and slashed across Bruno's ribs. He cried out, collapsing to his knees as he was freed, the disc-like projectile that had come from Marcello's second's Stand sticking into the crate, still dripping with his blood. He pressed a hand to his side, zipping the wound closed, just barely managing to jump up in time to keep himself from sinking into the ground Marcello was currently manipulating. Luckily it seemed like his range was only about five meters. As long as Maria got out of that range…

"You've always been way too determined for your own good, Bucciarati," Marcello sneered as he advanced. "You don't think other people should get the opportunity to advance as well?"

"Not by hurting others, no, I do not," Bruno snarled.

Marcello laughed. "With such a bleeding heart, I sometimes wonder how you ever made it to Capo. I guess everyone is just going to have to get used to their new leader though, because I'm taking you down."

Something slammed into Bruno's injured side and he collapsed, catching himself on the ground, his hand instantly sinking. He growled and unzipped his arm, swinging a leg around to kick Marcello's feet out from under him before he got the chance to protect himself.

"As I suspected," Bruno said, standing up and zipping his arm back on. "You can only manipulate one thing at a time and cannot protect yourself during an attack."

"Yeah, I know," Marcello grunted as he got up. "Why do you think I have a partner?"

Nicola sent more of the discs whizzing toward him and Bruno dove out of the way, landing in a roll before he skidded behind more crates.

"Dammit," he gasped, curling around his side which was bleeding around the zippers. He glanced to the sides, wishing he had Mista or Narancia here, someone with another long-range Stand. He also didn't know where Maria was and it was distracting him worryingly.

"What's this, Bucciarati? Running away?" Marcello's mocking voice sounded out, closer than he would like. "I thought you were braver than that."

Bruno felt the ground under him start to ripple and hurried forward, trying to figure out his next attack.

A whizz shot toward him and fire burned across his thigh, sending him to the ground, hard with another spray of blood.

Marcello laughed before the flash of headlights and the rev of an engine heralded a car peeling around the corner. The vehicle slammed into a stack of crates before driving straight for Marcello.

"Holy shit!" he shouted before diving out of the way with the rest of his men.

Bruno rolled to the side but the car screeched to a halt and Maria jumped out.

"Bruno! Get in!" she shouted, sprinting to help him up.

Bruno forced himself up, gritting his teeth against the pain in his leg and side as Maria grabbed his arm and hauled him toward the waiting car.

Something shifted out of the corner of his eye and Bruno called out Sticky Fingers.

"Look out!" Maria screeched, shoving him.

Bruno grabbed for her as he crashed into a crate, trying to bring Maria with him, but could only watch in horror as two of Nicola's discs glinted dangerously and hit the spot Bruno had been a fraction of a second ago.

Where Maria stood now.

Her mouth opened in a silent gasp as one slashed across her side, and the other sliced deep into her neck.

"Maria!" Bruno shouted, lurching forward to catch her as she fell in a spray of blood. "Merda!"

He didn't think, simply hauled her up and into the car, slamming his foot into the gas before he even closed the door.

Marcello and the others had to dash out of the way again, and Bruno couldn't worry about the fact that he was leaving a fight. All he could think of was getting Maria to safety.

"Maria!" he shouted, glancing, horrified, at the slumped figure in the passenger seat. Everything seemed washed in red—she was covered in it, as the scarlet flowed freely from her neck.

"Sticky Fingers!" Bruno cried and his Stand appeared, cradling the woman gently where Bruno couldn't as he applied zippers to the wounds, attempting to keep her precious blood in, but it still seeped around the zippers. Bruno gritted his teeth, knowing his attempt at first aid wouldn't last long. He had to get her to Giorno, he couldn't let her die, he couldn't…

He'd been so stupid. He never should have brought her out there. What had he been thinking? (What had he been thinking getting so attached in the first place?) He should have known there was no way this would end well. Because this life only ever took things. And he didn't know what he would do if it took Maria too.

It seemed like forever to drive back to the house, even though he was breaking every speed limit and running every light. Eyes barely focusing on the road at all as they constantly darted to the sluggishly bleeding wound on Maria's neck, her white face, lips slightly parted.

He finally skidded to a stop in front of the house and rushed around the car, yanking open the door to haul Maria up into his arms, hurrying to the house and using Sticky Fingers to open the door.

"Giorno!" he screamed the second he came in the door.

"What's wro—Maria!"

Narancia came to greet him and then started running to help, eyes wide with terror.

"What happened?"

"Just get Giorno!" Bruno snapped.

"Bruno—holy shit!"

Abbacchio appeared out of the office and rushed to his side, reaching out to steady Bruno and his precious burden as he staggered toward the stairs.

"What the hell happened?"

"Marcello caught up to us," Bruno gasped, injured leg nearly giving out as he took a step upstairs. "Leone, please, I can't…"

Abbacchio swiftly scooped Maria out of his arms and carried her the rest of the way up to her room, Bruno hurrying after.

Everyone was gathering now as Abbacchio gently laid her down on the bed and Bruno went to grasp her hand tightly. Trish was crying as Mista hugged her. Normally Bruno would try to offer comfort but he wasn't able to right now.

"Where the hell is Giorno?" he demanded instead.

"I'm here!" the blond teen gasped as he sprinted into the room, Narancia behind him. His hair was dripping, clothes sticking to damp skin—obviously having just jumped out of the shower. He balked as he saw Maria and instantly rushed to the bed, Gold Experience appearing behind him.

"Hurry! Heal her!" Bruno pleaded, reluctantly moving to one side, fingers digging into his hair, fighting for breath.

"Is she going to be okay?" Narancia demanded, looking terrified as he clung to Mista and Trish. "Please, Giorno…"

Bruno watched as Gold Experience got to work, Giorno ripping pieces from Maria's clothes to make into new skin; it was taking so long….

Maria's chest spasmed and she choked, blood spattering her lips. The sound of painful, wet breaths, rattled through the room.

"Hurry!" Bruno shouted.

"I'm going as fast as I can," Giorno said, voice firm but with an underlying waver that also showed in Giorno's trembling fingers as they hovered over Maria's wounds.

Another rattling breath from Maria and Bruno felt like he was the one who couldn't breathe.

"Giorno! go faster!" he demanded, reaching out and grabbing the teen's shoulder.

"Hey!" Abbacchio snapped, snagging Bruno by the back of his coat and hauling him backward. "Let him work!"

Bruno fought briefly but it only reopened his injuries and he groaned, slumping.

"Abbacchio, please," Giorno spoke quietly, voice still shaking. "Get him out of here."

Abbacchio nodded. "The rest of you too," he said.

"Trish and Fugo can stay—I might need them," Giorno called

The two teens nodded and approached Giorno to await his orders as the rest of them filed out, Abbacchio dragging Bruno with him.

"Let go of me," Bruno gasped when they finally got out into the hall, pushing Abbacchio away, and sliding down the wall with a pained huff, his injured leg sticking out in front of him.

"Those look pretty bad," Mista commented, arm still slung around Narancia's shoulders.

"It's fine," Bruno gritted out, even as he felt fresh blood trickling down his side.

Abbacchio grunted. "Go grab the first aid stuff," he told the others who nodded and hurried off.

Bruno glanced back toward the slightly cracked door, hearing Giorno murmuring to Fugo and Trish. He could still hear Maria's labored breathing, and squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't know if it was better that he could still hear her, or worse, because why wasn't she able to breathe yet?

"Hey," Abbacchio gripped his shoulder and shook him. "She'll be fine. You know Giorno's more than capable."

Bruno swallowed hard, already feeling bad about yelling. "I know," he croaked. "I just…She never should have been out there in the first place. That's on me. She got hurt trying to protect me."

Abbacchio pressed his lips into a thin line and reached down to undo Bruno's coat, peeling the fabric away from the wound in his side as Bruno flinched.

"Well, at least you zipped it closed instead of letting yourself bleed out," he said wryly. "But you should get Giorno to fix these when he gets the chance, you're still bleeding pretty bad."

Mista and Narancia came back with the first aid bag and set it next to Abbacchio.

"Grab a towel," Abbacchio said, and when Narancia hurried back with one, he got to work, cleaning and wrapping the wounds on Bruno's side and leg.

Bruno strained to listen to what was going on in the room as he tried to remember to breathe. The pain was also setting in now that the adrenaline was wearing off and Abbacchio was scrubbing roughly at the injuries to clean them. Narancia sat beside him, handing him a glass of water and pills, which Bruno took without protest.

When his injuries were bandaged, Abbacchio cleaned up the stuff and Mista took it to Giorno just in case they needed it.

"Come on," Abbacchio told Bruno. "You should get cleaned up and into something that's not covered in blood."

Bruno nodded wearily and allowed Abbacchio and Narancia to help him to his feet. He cast another glance at the door before Abbacchio urged him on.

"She's in good hands," Abbacchio told him.

Bruno slumped, leaning more heavily on them. Maybe she was in good hands currently with Giorno, but him? Bruno was starting to think Maria would have been better off not knowing any of them—especially him.

They got Bruno into his room and settled him down so that he was sitting on the end of his bed.

"I know this probably means nothing coming from me," Abbacchio said wryly as he grabbed clean clothes for Bruno. "But you shouldn't blame yourself for this."

Bruno slumped wearily, running a hand over his face before he realized…

They were still covered in Maria's blood.

Nausea rose in his throat as he let out a strangled sound. Abbacchio rushed to his side and caught his shoulder with a curse. "Sorry, I didn't see that." He helped Bruno to the bathroom where he slumped against the sink, washing his hands furiously, scrubbing until his palms were pink. He then undressed completely and scrubbed the rest of the blood off his skin before carefully dressing in the clean clothes.

By the time he was done, he heard Abbacchio speaking quietly to Giorno in the hall and headed out.

"Giorno?" he inquired, stomach clenching in anticipation.

The young man smiled tiredly at him. "She's resting. There were…a lot of blood vessels I had to carefully repair, that's why it took so long, but she'll be okay."

Bruno slumped with a sigh of relief, feeling his body go slack. "Thank you," he said sincerely and reached out to touch Giorno's shoulder. "I'm sorry for yelling earlier."

Giorno shook his head. "It's okay. I was just as scared."

Bruno's expression softened as he tucked a loose, damp curl behind Giorno's ear.

"I can heal your injuries as well," Giorno told him.

Bruno shook his head. "Leave them until tomorrow. You need to get some rest. We all do."

Abbacchio raised an eyebrow. "You're actually going to hold to that?"

"If you pull a chair into her room, I'll rest there," Bruno told him.

"Not with those injuries," Abbacchio grunted. "We'll take shifts watching over her, but you need to sleep in a bed."

"I'll be fine…"

"Bruno," Abbacchio growled warningly.

"He's right," Giorno agreed. "Don't make me pull rank as Don."

Bruno glared at both of them, but they didn't waver, and he was honestly too exhausted right now to argue too much.

"At least let me see her first," he said tiredly.

"Of course," Giorno said. "Trish is with her right now."

Bruno nodded and limped toward the room, pushing open the ajar door.

Trish looked up at him from where she sat by the bed, holding Maria's hand. There was still fear etched into her features, but she gave him a small smile.

"How is she?" Bruno asked.

"Giorno said he was able to replace all the damaged flesh. She's still resting though."

Bruno settled a hand on Trish's shoulder and squeezed gently, before he reached down to stroke Maria's pale cheek, running his thumb over a bruise there.

"Are you okay?" Trish asked him.

"I'm fine," he replied, the easy, expected answer. He turned back to Trish. "I'm being forced to rest, though. Will you sit with her for a while?"

"Of course," Trish assured him. "We won't leave her alone tonight."

"Let me know…" Bruno began before he had to swallow and clear his throat. "If she needs me."

Trish nodded and gave his hand a brief squeeze before he turned around to leave the room before he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Part of him wished to be sitting there when she woke up, but another part told him that it would be better if he didn't. He really needed to start figuring himself out because there was no way he could continue to be a decent leader if he had all this turmoil roiling inside of him.

How could he have allowed this to happen?

Abbacchio and Giorno met him again in the hall, probably to escort him to his own room, but he went willingly.

"Do you need anything else?" Abbacchio asked him.

"No," Bruno sighed wearily. "Just… I suppose I should tell you we did find the drugs and disposed of them." It didn't seem like such a victory anymore. "We'll need to figure out what to do about Marcello. He's not going to back down from this and there's no way he'll agree to any deal now…"

"Tomorrow," Giorno said. "I don't think any of us are of a mind to think about that tonight."

Bruno nodded in reluctant agreement and trudged to his room. "Let me know if anything happens."

After closing his door, he gingerly lowered himself into the bed, and closed his eyes. Everything was weighing on him so much, and yet, he seemed unable to keep his eyes open. At least maybe he would sleep that night.

Maria drifted through darkness, confusion mixed with red of blood, followed by a warm, comforting golden light swirled around in the darkness between unconsciousness and waking.

She blinked her eyes open and inhaled sharply, heart starting quickly as she glanced around, expecting to see Marcello. And Bruno, where was Bruno…?

"Hey, easy. You're safe."

Someone touched her arm and she glanced to the side, seeing it was Giorno, looking at her with concern.

"Giorno?" she whispered, her throat aching slightly. "Wh-what happened?"

He offered a small smile. "You were injured, but you'll be okay now."

Maria's hand trembled as she reached up to her throat, feeling a slightly raised spot where she was sure she had gotten cut with something.

"That will go away in a day or so once the healing is complete," Giorno assured her quickly.

"This is…your ability," she said with sudden understanding.

"Well, yes, part of it," Giorno replied. "I can…change things into organic matter. It's not healing so much as replacing damaged parts so it will still hurt a little. You lost quite a bit of blood as well. I tried to replace what I could, but you might still be a little weak right now."

Maria continued touching the spot, trying to fathom it. "Thank you, Giorno. And... what about Bruno?"

Giorno glanced toward the door. "Hopefully still sleeping. I went in to fix his injuries about an hour ago while he was still asleep so he couldn't protest. But he's fine."

Maria sighed and slumped further in the bed. "He blamed himself for this."

"Bucciarati just cares a lot," Giorno told her fondly. "He'll come around again once he knows you'll be all right."

"I hope so," Maria whispered.

Giorno stood up. "I'll go get you some breakfast. Trish wanted to know when you woke up too."

He left the room, and Maria suddenly noticed that there was a huge vase of flowers sitting by the bed that she didn't think had been there before. Giorno and his flowers…

Maria felt so loved and cared for among this misfit group of gangsters. They had all been so kind.

She just really hoped that Bruno would be able to forgive himself for what had happened.

Bruno woke and was shocked to see that it was already past eight in the morning. He hadn't slept in that long since…well, he couldn't really remember the last time he had slept in, honestly.

He got up hurriedly, before remembering his injuries, but was surprised to find they didn't hurt as much as expected. He pulled up his shirt and peeled the bandage away from the one on his side, finding new, slightly raised flesh there.

"Giorno," he murmured. The fact that he had somehow slept through a healing session was worrying to say the least.

He pushed himself the rest of the way out of bed and hurriedly dressed, limping only slightly as he made his way down the hall to Maria's room.

He was a little reassured after hearing voices behind the door, but hesitated with his hand on the nob, his stomach knotting.

He at least needed to go and see that she was all right. He had to actually. But he also knew that eventually—soon—they would have to have a serious discussion about what to do going forward. And it would be better to get it over with as soon as possible. For both their sakes.

He took a deep breath and knocked a couple times before pushing open the door.

There was instant relief when he saw Maria sitting up in bed, a breakfast tray across her lap. Narancia was sitting beside her, a notebook in hand, drawing something.

"This is Fugo's Stand, Purple Haze. He doesn't let him come out a lot, but I think he's pretty cool," Narancia was saying before he glanced up. "Oh, Bucciarati, I was wondering when you would get up."

Maria glanced up at him with a small, tentative smile and Bruno wished for nothing more than to go over there and hold her like he had that night in his old house. But he schooled himself, instead nodding to her formally.

"I hope you're feeling better."

"I am mostly," Maria replied. "I'm still a bit sore and my throat hurts, but Giorno seems to have healed me almost completely. That's quite the power his Stand has."

"Gold Experience," Narancia reminded her, holding up one of the pictures he had left scattered over the bed.

Bruno couldn't help but smile as he saw them, carefully detailed pictures of all their Stands in Narancia's moderately talented hand.

"Narancia was just showing me what all of your Stands look like," Maria told him and reached out for one of the sheets. "I really like Sticky Fingers. I think he suits you."

Bruno felt his Stand hovering just under his skin as if glowing at the compliment, but he pushed him back down for now.

"Thank you for keeping her company, Narancia," Bruno told the teen, before he reached out and took the empty tray from Maria's lap. "Could you take this downstairs?"

Narancia hopped off the bed with a nod and took the tray before flashing a slightly cheeky grin at Bruno before he left, closing the door behind him.

Bruno sighed, standing awkwardly at the side of the bed, hating what he was going to have to say next.

"You're really okay?" he asked her.

Maria nodded. "Yes, I promise. What about you?"

"Fine," Bruno replied shortly before he pushed onward. "Listen, Maria…I never should have let you go out there last night. I'm sorry."

"It was my problem," Maria protested. "I should be helping you."

"No, you shouldn't," Bruno told her more firmly. "What happened last night—you almost died! And worse, you almost died protecting me."

Maria stared at him with wide eyes. "So, you're saying I should have let them kill you and just run away?"

"Yes, if it had come to that," Bruno snapped. "You are under my charge, Maria. I'm meant to protect you! I was…irresponsible and it almost cost you your life. I could never forgive myself if something happened to you. I cannot have you throwing me out of the line of fire just to take the hit for yourself!"

"You don't seem to realize that I don't want to see you hurt either!" Maria snapped loudly, then gasped, a hand going to her injured throat. Bruno felt a pang in his chest and took half a step forward, but she shook her head, eyes wide and pleading. "I—I care about you, Bruno. You think I could just stand there and let them kill you without doing anything?"

"I think you need to go," Bruno told her suddenly, forcing himself to say the words he dreaded but ones he, nevertheless, needed to get out. "You're not safe here. I think you need to go back to Rome until we secure your bakery for you and Marcello is no longer a problem." And she was no longer a distraction that would keep Bruno from doing what he needed to do.

Maria blinked, lips parted in shock. "You're…you're sending me away."

"I'm protecting you," Bruno nearly pleaded, trying to get her to understand.

"I'm not going," she said firmly. "I'm the one who hired you, who came to you for help. I'm not going to just run away and let you deal with it alone!"

"You don't have a choice in the matter," Bruno snapped, wanting to bite back his words instantly, but it was too late. "You came to me to do a job for you, and I decide how it's done. You're going back to Rome for the safety of everyone involved. Without you around, Marcello will not have a fixed target for leverage. It will get this mess done with quicker."

"And then what?" Maria asked suddenly. "What happens after this is over?"

Bruno simply shook his head, not wanting to say anything else right now, but Maria persisted.

"You were going to say something last night, on the docks. What was it?"

Bruno felt a knife stab through his chest. He had hoped in the chaos that Maria would forget all about that, but…there was no way that his hope could ever be a reality now. Not after everything that had happened.

So he forced himself to lie.

"That you should go back to your life," he said. "Take over your family business, and stay as far away from Passione as possible. And that is all I have to say on the matter…Signorina."

Maria's eyes were wet as she stared at him. "Bruno…"

He choked back another surge of need, refusing to say what he really wanted to.

"Perhaps…it's better if you return to calling me Bucciarati," he forced out, each word tasting like poison in his mouth. "I'm sorry if I caused any misunderstanding, but this really is no life for someone like you."

He turned to leave, grabbing almost blindly for the door.

"D-don't go," Maria whispered behind him. "Bru—Bucciarati…!"

He yanked the door open and hurried out, chest tight as the sound of a quiet sob echoed behind him.