STELLA

The massive banquet is in chaos. Nicky, Enzo, Joey and Tej are corralling Annalisa, Michelle and I back out into the hallway, but I keep looking to see where JP went. I need to be with him. 

Everything felt like it should between us before shots rang out all over the place. 

As Enzo leads us to a small room, we hear more shots going off. Enzo tells us to wait while he goes out to see who's behind the attack.

"I'm not staying behind, Enzo. You know I can help," I tell him.

"Stella, you're staying," Enzo argues with me. 

"I'll stay with the girls," Tej assures him. 

"Please don't go back out there!" Annalisa begs Joey, but he promises her, he'll be back. 

Adonis walks in and tells us he needs Enzo and Joey with him since several of their men where taken out and they follow behind Adonis quickly.

I hold Annalisa, who is crying quietly, desperately worried about Joey. 

More gunshots are heard but this time they sound closer. The minutes tick away achingly slow and I begin to pace the room. There's some shouting and then more gunshots and finally silence; and this time the silence drags on. 

The door handle wiggles and I aim my gun as do Tej and Nicky but we lower them when Enzo walks in. 

His suit is disheveled indicating he was fighting. Annalisa runs to him asking where Joey is and then we see Joey walk in; he has blood dripping down his lip. Annalisa runs to him, but stops short as she slaps him before she starts crying loudly; Joey pulls her into him, wrapping his arms around her. 

I check on Enzo's face and he has a small bruise on his cheek but otherwise in good condition. "Where's JP? Is he okay?"

"He's fine. He's talking to the police. Come on, he wants you out of here," Enzo says, pulling me by the hand as we walk back into the hallway and make our way outside. I'm still on high alert as I look around, surveying my surroundings; looking for anything or anyone that looks out of place. 

Several of the attendees are huddled in small groups outside the venue, still in shock. Some are crying as they sit with their friends or loved ones, others are being assessed by the paramedics that are here now. 

I let out a relieved and happy breath when I see JP and Adonis are talking to a few detectives and policemen. 

Enzo tells us the driver is pulling the car around and should be here soon. My eyes scan the street and down the sidewalks. Several policeman are talking with people or walking to and from the building. 

"Stella!" I turn and am shocked when I see Sean walking quickly towards me with his cousin, Tommy. 

What's he doing here? 

He looks upset yet relieved when he sees me and I look back and see JP and Adonis are now heading toward us as well from my other side and I look between the two of them. 

Everything starts to move in slow motion when I notice a policeman heading straight for Sean. The policeman's hat, is lowered in a way that hides his face until removes it and my eyes land on the goat tattoo on his neck.

He aims his gun at Sean. "Sunny Malone. Jimmy, says hello." Sean and Tommy, both reach for their guns.

"Krishnick, no!" JP yells.

Krishnick turns and shoots towards JP, but Adonis pushes JP out of the way.

Time stands still as I watch Adonis fly back from the impact of the bullet, but the distraction of JP yelling allows Sean and Tommy to shoot Krishnick; more screams and shouting surrounds me.

Enzo leaves my side to run to check on Adonis.

But then there's a domino's effect of explosions and car alarms going off all around us and I vaguely hear my name being shouted before I feel the impact of not only someone slamming into me but the blast sending me airborne, before landing hard on the sidewalk. An explosion near the entrance of the building where I was standing went off sending glass and other building pieces spray everywhere.

I blink my eyes open slowly. Debris is floating in the air and smoke haze surrounds me as I lay face down. I try sit up but realize I can't get up. Something heavy is on me, but then I realize for a terrifying moment maybe the impact caused an injury where I'm unable to move.

But as I continue to try to sit up I feel an arm on me. I grit my teeth with the effort I need to push up off the ground and something heavy slides off of me to the side. There's a ringing in my ears that makes everything inaudible and I fight through the tunnel vision I'm experiencing as I look around.

The muffled sounds of screams and yells are hard to hear clearly. Nicky rushes to me, I watch him as his mouth moves but I don't hear anything and then I'm grabbed by Enzo. He holds my face as he talks to me and then he looks over me and moves his hands down my arms, I assume to check for injuries. 

Enzo touches the side of my head and I wince as he puts pressure on my face. 

I look over and see Sean sitting against a wall, being assessed by some policemen and then paramedics rush to him, but he's shouting out to the side of him and then I see his cousin Tommy, laying on the ground and I don't know if he's alive or not.

I glance to my other side and then everything comes into focus in an instant. 

Adonis is crawling over to us and I realize the weight that was on me was JP. He's on his back and the left half of his suit jacket and dress shirt frayed, his exposed chest and shoulder have red marks.

I scramble over to him, but Enzo holds me back. 

"NO!" I scream.

"Stella, we need to have you checked first," Enzo tries to tell me, calmly. 

Why is he keeping me from JP? But then I realize he thinks JP is dead and doesn't want me to go near him.

Adonis shouts at JP trying to wake him. He looks up and meets my eyes and I push Enzo away rushing to them. 

"John Paul! Open your eyes!" I shout as I fight through the flash backs of when he was shot. I lean down and I feel his neck for a pulse and I can't find one.

"No!  No, John Paul! Someone help!" I scream and then Michelle comes to JP's other side. She leans down to check on him and then begins compressions on him. 

"There's a defibrillator on the ambulance someone go get it! Hurry!" Michelle instructs and Enzo runs to the ambulance.

"John Paul, listen to my voice. You're not dying, not like this!" I yell at him. "Hold on, do you hear me? I love you! Come back to me!" I choke on a sob. 

Michelle keeps pushing on his chest and then gives him two puffs of air.

"I need you, JP! Come back, please don't leave me!" I scream.

Enzo sets down the defibrillator next to Michelle and opens it up. Michelle rips JP's shirt open and then grabs the paddles and charges them. 

"When I tell you to, hit the large button," She instructs Enzo, and he nods at her.

She places the paddles on JP. "Move away, Stella. Let go of him." 

Tej pulls me back and I drop JP's hand. Michelle instructs Enzo to hit the button and we watch as JP's body is shocked and it jerks from the current running through him. 

The screen reading his heart rate is still flat. 

"John Paul, come back!" I yell. 

Michelle instructs Enzo to move the electric charge higher and then hit the button again. Once again, JP's body jerks but there's still no reading on the monitor. 

"Come on JP!" Joey and Enzo both say.

They shock him once more and Michelle feels for a pulse and looks over at me sadly but I shake my head. 

"No! No! JP, open your eyes!" I scream at him as I pound on his chest. "Don't you leave me again! Come back, please! I still need you!"

I pound on his chest again and again and then break down on him, sobbing as I scream his name.  And then I hear him gasp loudly and he coughs. I move back and look at him, but his eyes are still closed. 

"JP!" I hold his face as tears fall down my face. 

His eyes open slowly and then he looks at me. "Stella, are you okay?" He asks me trying to catch his breath. He lifts a hand to my face.

A small laugh escapes in between my crying. "I love you, JP," I kiss him. "I love you." I repeat as I lean over him to hold him, so grateful as his arms come around me.

"I love you, princess; are you hurt?" JP asks me still breathing heavily and I lean away. 

"I'm okay, but your heart stopped, JP. You died, saving me," My breath hitches as I look at him brushing some of his hair back. 

"Death would not keep me away from you, amore mio," He says as he brushes away the tears that keep falling.

"Don't mind me while I check a few things," Michelle states as she assesses JP. "You're heart rate is stabilizing which is a good sign. Does anything hurt?"

JP shakes his head. "No. Well, my shoulder but I think I can move it," JP says and lifts his left arm and moves it around. 

"That's probably from when you hit the ground after going airborne," Michelle responds, paramedics jog over to us and Michelle explains she's a resident and gives them a run down of what happened.

"Sir, we need to take you to the hospital for a thorough evaluation. We want to make sure you don't have internal bleeding anywhere," A paramedic informs JP. 

I help JP sit up slowly. "Donny! Where's Adonis?" He questions urgently, looking around.

"Sono qui, Capo," Adonis says from behind him; he's limping towards us. (I'm here, boss) 

The sleeve of his jacket and shirt are cut off and his arm is in a sling now.

JP turns and looks relieved to see him. "Ti devo amico mio." ( I owe you, my friend)

Adonis shakes his head. "No. Ho fatto un giuramento per proteggerti e sai che morirei per te." (I took an oath to protect and you know I would die for you) 

JP nods in return. "Has anyone checked on the kids? Or the rest of the men at the Villa?" JP asks Adonis as the paramedic helps JP onto the stretcher.

"Yes, everything is fine and secure at both houses," Adonis assures him.

I walk along the side of the stretcher, holding onto JP's hand; they stop to load him in the back of the ambulance. 

"I'll see you there, I'm going to check in with the older kids," I tell him, as I kiss his hand before they lift him in.

"Come on, let's follow him there," Enzo says and guides me back to where the car is waiting. 

I see Michelle talking with Tej and I pull her into a hug. "Thank you, Michelle." Silent tears fall down my face. 

"Don't mention it, girl. I'm glad he seems to be okay. How are you doing?" She pushes my hair back and looks at the small cut along my hair line. 

"I'm okay; shaken up but fine, considering," I tell her as I wrap my arms around myself. Tej tells me goodbye and says he'll check in with me tomorrow; and he leaves with Michelle. Enzo puts his jacket over me and rubs my arms. 

"Where's Sean?" I ask realizing I don't see him anywhere. The last thing I remember was paramedics looking over him. 

"He's fine, he was taken to the hospital. He may have a fractured or sprained wrist from landing on it after being thrown by an explosion," Enzo tells me. "And his cousin is fine, too. He was just knocked out and has a concussion."

I send a text to Kai telling him briefly what happened and explain to him that I'm on my to the hospital and will keep him posted. I assure him I'm fine and so is everyone else but Sean and JP are being evaluated at the hospital. 

He responds quickly telling me he's glad everyone is okay and will let Miles, Lucy, and Marco know in the morning, not wanting to worry them; and I let him know I'll keep him posted if anything changes. 

At the hospital, the waiting room is the worst kind of torture imaginable for my mind right now. I'm anxious yet feel wired at the same time. 

When I asked about Sean, I'm told he's still being evaluated, too. I look around at Enzo, Nicky and Cristian, sitting around me; they all have somber looks on their faces. 

Adonis had to get stitches; the bullet when straight through his right shoulder. He stands quickly and I follow his gaze as Damien walks to the desk and speaks to a nurse. 

"Damien, what you can you tell me? How is he?" Adonis asks him urgently.

"JP is fine, but he's getting an MRI done as we speak to make sure there is no internal bleeding injuries, but we want him to stay overnight for observation." 

"Can we go in and see him?" Adonis asks.

"No, not yet." Damien shakes his head. "I will let you know when he's taken back to his room." 

"What about Sean?"

"He has a fractured wrist but otherwise seems to be in good condition. He was asking about you and the others as well," Damien tells us. "His father is with him and they will be heading out soon." 

<><><><>

I was grateful Enzo had gone back to the house to get me a change of clothes while we continued waiting, and am now in joggers and a sweatshirt with an oversized collar.

I lean my head back on the wall I'm standing against uttering what seems like the hundredth hail mary in behalf of JP. I chew on my thumbnail as I watch the hospital staff walking past me rushing from one end of the hall to the other.

I push away from the wall when Damien comes through the doors and hurry towards him. Adonis follows me, his dress shoes clacking against the floor as he attempts to walk quickly even with a limp. 

"Everything from his scans came back clean, and he is resting. I expect him to make a full recovery quickly, but we will want him here for a few days to monitor him as well as the burns on his chest and shoulder," Damien tells us. "I did give him something for the pain, so he may be out of it as it is until morning."

I see the relief that I feel, mirrored in Adonis as he exhales loudly and runs a hand through his hair. He thanks Damien and claps his shoulder, excusing himself to make a call, probably to Vito.

I look over when I see Sean coming around the corner with his dad; I rush over to him and hug him. 

"I'm so glad you're okay, Sean," He hugs me back tightly.

"Are you okay?" His fingers graze the cut on my hairline on the side of my face. 

"I'm fine, just keep adding scars everywhere," I try to joke. 

"How's JP?" He asks. I look over at Declan Malone who is watching me, his expression is severe and I'm sure he knows I broke things off with Sean.

"The Dr says everything seems fine, but they want to keep him here for observation," I inform him. 

"I owe him my life," Sean says somberly. "If he hadn't shouted out when he did..." He shakes his head. 

"We're indebted to John Paul," Declan Malone states and I'm surprised his features appear to soften with sincerity. "Please let him know I will call him when he's out to thank him personally." 

I nod and then turn back to Sean. "What were you doing there, tonight?"  

He glances at his father and I see the small nod his father gives him. 

"We got a message about history repeating itself. There were pictures of not only you, but Enzo, Annalisa and Joey from the event...I tried calling you, but the signal was jammed or something. I couldn't get a hold of you; my dad tried JP, too. So, we came but we thought we were too late when we saw all the police presence once we arrived." 

I nod as I let all the information sink in. Sean pulls me in for another hug and kisses my temple before he leaves with his father. 

A nurse approaches me and lets me know JP is resting in his room. I thank her and she leads me to his room. I walk into the darkened room and stand next to him. 

I run my fingers through his hair then lightly down his face. "I love you, John Paul." I lean down and kiss his forehead. My eyes fill with tears realizing how different tonight may have gone.

I carefully crawl into the bed and lay next to him, resting my head on his chest. The sound of his heart beating calms my nerves blocking out the images that will be burned in my head, of the flat line his pulse reading gave not that long ago. 

I snuggle up as much as I can next to him and trace his arm and chest with my fingers. "After Pop was killed and you stayed with me...I remember this moment during that first night; I woke up for what seemed like the tenth time from a nightmare and you wrapped your arms around me and held me close to you. 

The tears wouldn't stop and you held me tighter and you whispered. "You're safe. I'm here--I'm right here. And I'm not going to let you go. I'm always going to be right here, always." And even though I was still hurting, in that moment, I knew I was never going to be more loved." I wipe my eyes as I tilt my head back to look at him. 

I chuckle as I pick up his hand in mine. "There was this other time, after we were together, it was just a normal night--well, as normal as it could get for us," I laugh again. "But we were just in bed and we were laughing, you were teasing me about something, I don't even remember what about, but I know my stomach hurt from all the laughing. I miss that, John Paul. I miss us." 

I look down at my hand when I feel his fingers move. I glance back up at his face and he squeezes his eyes, then blinks his eyes slowly open. His eyes move around the room before he looks down at me.

"You cut one loose."

"Excuse me?" I sit up as I look back at him confused and somewhat indignant that he thinks I passed gas.

"That night...you fell asleep, but you woke yourself up when you farted," He grins drowsily at me, his gravelly voice is more raspy than usual..

"I did not!" 

JP closes his eyes, and sighs deeply. "Yes, you did. I was reading to you and you fell asleep until you ripped one and it startled you awake," He chuckles.

I chuckle, too, vaguely remembering what he said happened that night. 

Vaguely.

JP squeezes my hand. "I'm so happy to see you, my princess."

"I'm so glad you're okay, John Paul." 

"Don't leave," He swallows thickly, as I watch him. "Don't leave me, again. Please." 

"I'm not going anywhere."