Deep (Pagano Family #4)(56)

Through her sobs and swollen mouth, forcing the words past an obviously damaged throat, she said, “Donnie…he needs help. And Bruce—they left him in the storeroom. I don’t know if he’s alive. They shot him.”

Nick realized that he had not taken stock of the situation at all—he’d seen Beverly and forgotten everything else, even Donnie, lying with her. Now he turned and saw that Donnie was unconscious. The side of his face and head was a melted horror. His ear was nothing but a blob. His cheekbone was completely exposed; the skin and meat over it had been burned away.

“Jesus.” He forced himself to ignore his pounding heart. There was no place now to feel. “Matty, report.”

Matty came from the counter. “We’re clear. Smash is dead—took a shotgun to the chest. He musta got one of the *s first, though. There’s a guy on the floor by the door. It’s a f*cking mess up here, boss—the door’s blown out, glass and blood everywhere.”

Sam came from the storeroom, his eyes wide and his complexion pale as he stared down at Donnie. “The owner’s in here—he’s alive, but he’s gutshot and looks not long for the world. No live bad guys.”

“We have to call this in. No cleaner on the planet is going to make this go away. And we need ambulances. Kerr can’t handle all this.” Holding Beverly close with one hand, he pulled his phone with the other and dialed Irv Lumley. The Quiet Cove Chief of Police was a family friend. He’d work with Nick to shape the story.

He spoke briefly and vaguely to the chief and got him moving. And then, finally, he turned back to Beverly, who’d been lying in his arms, no longer crying, but now listless. He tried to take calm stock of her injuries, but when he tried to pull her torn uniform back so he could find where all the blood was coming from, she moaned and clutched it more tightly closed. He didn’t force her. She had been forced enough, and Nick knew that if he saw what was under her dress, he would lose the hold he had on his calm. So he simply held her and let his mind work.

“I’m here, bella. You’re safe.”

Her eyes closed, she turned in his arms and buried her face against his chest. “They never said anything. They just—hurt us and left. I don’t understand.”

Nick understood. They had shut Church off from his New York connections as well. They had finally done him and all of his associates irreparable damage. Though Church had not yet surrendered, the Paganos and the families behind them had won the war. Now, Church was acting out of rage and panic, doing the only thing he had power left to do—causing personal hurt. Leaving a trail of blood behind him.

Calling Nick out.

Sirens wailed in the distance and Beverly stirred again in his arms. “No—Nick, please, no. I don’t—I can’t…”

She was growing panicky, and more pale. She needed to stay calm; he didn’t know how severely she’d been hurt, or how much blood she was still losing. Nick brushed her matted hair back from her bruised face. “Shh. What is it?”

“No hospital. I can’t…I can’t have all those people. Please. Nick, please.”

“Okay.” He looked around, made himself focus and see. “Matty.”

“Yeah, boss.” Matty squatted at Nick’s side.

“I’m taking her out of this. You’re on point. Irv knows the score. I’ll call and have him meet me later. The scene tells the right story already—it was a break-in. Keep somebody with Bruce—if he wakes up, he needs to keep his mouth shut until we talk to him.”

“Okay. Nick—you can’t go anywhere without backup.”

“I know. Sam, let’s go.” He kissed Beverly’s hot forehead. “Can you walk, bella?”

“I…don’t know. I hurt.”

“Then you don’t have to walk.” He stood and carried her in his arms out of the diner.



oOo



He called his uncle as soon as he got Beverly into his SUV and had him call Dennis Kerr, the family doctor. Nick was taking Beverly there. He’d already had his mother brought over. He needed the women to take care of Beverly, and he needed his mother safe.

By the time they’d made the short drive up Greenback Hill, Aunt Angie and his mother were ready. They met him in the hallway and directed him upstairs to one of the guestrooms, already made up and turned down, the bedding covered with plastic and towels.

Beverly was waxy-pale and had lost consciousness on the ride, and Nick hadn’t been able to rouse her. He wanted to sit with her until Dennis arrived, but the old women literally pushed him out of the room. He went downstairs as Ben greeted the doctor.

Nick gave Kerr the information about her condition that he had, and then watched him walk up the sweeping center staircase. When the doctor was inside the room where Beverly lay, Nick looked at his uncle. “I’m going for Church. Now.”

“Which is what he wants.” Ben put his wizened hand on Nick’s arm. “Let’s sit and talk, nephew.”

Nick shrugged his uncle off. “He must answer for this.”

“Of course he must. But if you find him right now, it will be because he wants you to. Because he’s ready for you.” Again, Ben took Nick’s arm, and this time his hand clamped down with strength. “Come and sit. Tell me everything. We’ll make a plan.”