Disclaimer: I don't own KHR but this story idea is mine.

A/N: This is a story based on events described in Sir Apropos's Mafia Games and is also a prequel to Language Barriers.

He didn't remember hitting the ground. He was walking beside his 16 year old boss explaining to the angry teen why mafia boss or not he wasn't allowed to wander into a strip club, even if his family owned it. A sudden movement caught his eye. His arm moved on its own, shoving the still arguing teen out of the way and the next thing he knew something slammed hard into his shoulder and he was on the ground looking up at the sky. It felt like someone was digging a red hot stake into his flesh and he realized he'd been shot.

Blood was rushing into his ears so loud he couldn't hear anything else as his heart pounded, pain and adrenaline taking his breath away. He blinked his eyes quickly; thankfully his glasses had stayed on. Dino . . . he had to check on Dino. He shifted his uninjured arm weakly, trying to push himself up.

He flinched when a hand pushed hard on his chest, holding him down. Suddenly he was looking up into the pale wide eyed frightened face of his boss.

"Romario!" he said, voice high pitched from strain and suddenly the sound of the world came rushing back. He could hear people rushing about, a struggle just out of his line of sight. Voices were raised, shouting in a mix of Spanish, French, and his native Italian. "Romario!" Boss yelled jostling his chest, panic creeping into his voice.

Romario groaned in response. "Easy Boss. I'm alright," he grunted grabbing the kid's trembling hand that still held on to his bloody lapel. "Are you hurt Boss? Did you get hit?" Romario asked quietly, keeping his voice stead even as the pain burned through him and his head spun.

"I . . . I'm okay. I called someone. Help is on the way," Dino stammered, breathing hard and shallow.

"Boss . . . calm down. Take a deep breath."

"Romario . . . you . . . you're bleeding really bad. . . What do I do?"

"It's alright Boss, just a shoulder. Don't worry. It's gonna be fine," Romario soothed, trying to help himself and his still inexperienced boss stay calm. ""The shooter . . . what happened to the shooter Boss?"

"Gianno shot him . . . in the leg. He and two others are taking him away now," Dino said quickly.

"Where's Carlos?"

"Here Sir," Carlos answered from somewhere above his head.

"Give Boss your jacket," Romario ordered, "and keep an eye out. You're all he's got until the others get here."

"I understand," Carlos assured him as he handed his black suit jacket to the kneeling teen.

"What do I do with it?"

"I need you to put pressure on my shoulder Boss. Just until the Doc gets here okay. Can you handle that?"

The blond teen nodded, balling up the expensive material and pushing it tightly against his right hand man's bloody shoulder.

"Got to be harder than that Boss. You have to put pressure on it," Romario said firmly. He couldn't help the groan that slipped out as Dino pressed forcefully down on his wound.

"I'm sorry Romario."

"It's okay Boss, you're doing a great job. Keep holding it down," the older man forced out through clenched jaws.

"Okay," the teen answered shakily, shifting closer to him. "Romario?"

"Hmmm?"

"Thanks."

"Heh . . . anytime Boss."