Helping Mr. Gang Leader .Chapter 44: the secret behind Rio . “So,” Sal tried as they sped towards the clinic, mere minutes away with how the Mariposa member was driving. “Is it always this exciting at your clinic? I mean, gunshot wounds, gangsters lurking around, fistfights between the doctors.”Gianna gave him a look from the corner of her eye, clinging to the door handle. Instead of a proper response, she said, “I didn’t honestly think it was possible for me to feel more scared than when Rio is driving. And I’m certain he has a death wish.”Sal gave a deep kind of laugh. “He’s just an adrenaline junkie.”“He’s crazy,” Gianna corrected. “And not just because he drives a motorcycle.”They were well into Infinite territory then, and Gianna wanted to put a hat over Sal’s head or slip sunglasses over his eyes.“Rio just likes to feel.”The comment caught Gianna off guard. “Feel?”There was clear hesitancy on Sal’s face, then he said almost delicately, “Most of us in Mariposa, even if
Helping Mr. Gang Leader .Chapter 45: what seems to be the problem? . “Sal,” Gianna offered gently. “You don’t have to…”Sal looked weary as he said, “I don’t know the details. This is one thing Rio doesn’t talk about. I just know that Rio’s boy’s home finally started putting up a fight. The workers there refused to let their boys get devoured up by Shinhwa, especially as the gang was starting to have major issues at the time and were in danger of staring some kind of civil war. So, when the workers said no one more time, Shinhwa set the place on fire. Rio made it out, and so did a couple other kids, but lots of people died. Gianna, Shinhwa barred the doors. They locked those people in before they set the place on fire. Just to prove a point.”Gianna felt her heart seize up into her chest, and for one moment, there was a stutter. But it was just heartache, she realized a moment after that. It was just sadness.“Rio lost everything,” Sal said, “time and time again. He kept cheating
Helping Mr. Gang Leader .Chapter 46: This Traitor is betraying us!. Gianna pushed open the door and tried not to ask too frantically, “What is going on here?”.Angelo and Enzo were on opposite sides of the room, with Victoria between them like a mediator of sorts. She certainly had a small can of pepper spray in one hand, and a crackling taser in the other. She looked incredibly intimidating.Enzo, with some swelling to his forehead like he’d taken a knock to his head, turned to Gianna, pointed at Angelo and said, “This bastard is betraying us!”.Angelo shouted back immediately, “Don’t you dare call me a bastard!”.Gianna looked between them, gob smacked. “You’re doctors,” She told them, incredibly disappointed. “You are doctors and you’re supposed to be symbols of something better than this. How can you behave like this? How can you call each other names, fight with each other, and scare our patients?”“It’s because of him!” Enzo shouted in a heated way. “Angelo is a traitor and
Helping Mr. Gang Leader .Chapter 47: what about your father? .Simply, Gianna said, “You’re leaving.”Angelo didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to.“So now we’re down a doctor!” Enzo said, a furious look on his face. “We’re down a doctor as our patient numbers keep rising. And it’s not because he’s having an emergency of some kind, or because the situation is out of his control, no, we’re down a doctor because he’s leaving us for something better.”The disappointment was welling up so much in Gianna’s chest it was nearly overwhelming. “This clinic needs you.”“I know,” Angelo said, looking truly sorry. “I know it does, and I’m sorry to go. But this is my dream, Gianna This has always been my dream, and I thought you understood that if I ever got a shot at my dream, I would have to go for it. I’m not doing this to screw the clinic over. I’m doing it because this is what I’ve dreamed about at night since I declared my focus to be in ortho.”Enzo accused, “And we’re not supposed to t
Helping Mr. Gang Leader .Chapter 48: We do what it takes.“Speaking of,” Enzo reminded, “what can we do about your dad? Gianna? We have to block him from trying to kill our funding because he’s pissed about your brother.”Gianna swore, “I’m working on it. I won’t let him take our funding, no matter what he threatens. He doesn’t represent the whole of the Sangrid government, no matter who he knows. I won’t let him get away with this.”“But what if he does?” Enzo posed.“Then we go into funding overdrive,” Victoria proposed. “We get anyone and everyone to sponsor us. We have fundraisers, we appeal for research grants, take private donations, and whatever else we have to. We do what it takes to keep this place open.”“Got it,” Enzo said. “And that’s something we have to get the other nurses and receptionists in on. This has to be a group effort.”Angelo asked, “What about trying to get some of the neighborhood businesses to kick in a little? Everyone is strapped for money here, but if
Helping Mr. Gang Leader .Chapter 49: He always deserved better.. The middle of October meant that it was not only gloomy and overcast outside, but also cold and windy. For Gianna, who had a defective heart thatl rarely pumped blood effectively enough to fight off a constant feeling of coldness, the winter months were her least favorite.But stepping into the flower shop, the heat and humidity hitting her in the face all at once, Gianna could breathe deeply and enjoy clinging to a little artificial summer.“Hi,” the girl at the front registered called out when she saw her, bowing and welcoming her to the shop.“Are you serious?” Rio snorted from behind Gianna. “I can’t believe I’m spending my Saturday at a flower shop.”Gianna ignored him and made her way directly to the girl’s side, taking in the explosion of color around her and the fragrant smells. Gianna was especially fond of flower shops. And she certainly visited them enough over the years.“You have a very beautiful shop,”
Helping Mr. Gang Leader .Chapter 50: nothing will stop that . If it had just been Gianna’s relationship with her father that had suffered, she could have endured it. But Giovanni didn’t deserve to be caught in the middle.He always deserved better.“I’ll head to where you are now,” Gianna said, giving the flower shop girl one last wave and appreciative bow. “Tell me the address and I’ll get a taxi.”She could hear the confusion in Giovanni’s voice as he asked, “Aren’t you with Rio? Or was it Zeke? I can’t remember.”“Rio,” Gianna said, and now the girl outside was practically throwing herself all over the short male. Rio didn’t look as if he minded it much, but Gianna thought it was in bad taste to be done so publicly. “But I think he’s a little distracted right now.”“He shouldn’t be distracted when he’s supposed to be watching you.”“I don’t need him to watch me,” Gianna reminded. “And wouldn’t you think with this being Mariposa’s territory, that it would be safer? Or is there
Helping Mr Gang Leader .Chapter 51: Once was a fluke. Twice was trouble..“No matter what happens with our father, we will pay our respects like we do every year. We’ll go through the traditions, we’ll fulfill our requirements, and nothing will stop that. Don’t you believe me?”Giovanni hefted the hand basket up a little higher and gave a nod. “I believe you.”“Then let’s go pay for this,” Gianna said, steering him towards the cash register. She asked curiously, “Will this hamburger place also offer salads? I’ll nag you less if I know you’re getting a salad on the side.”Giovanni made a face. “I don’t think you understand the concept of what good tasting food is supposed to be.” He looked so serious that it was almost hysterical. “I think there’s a rule somewhere about good tasting food not being allowed to be green.”Gianna was laughing as she stated, “You’re capable of eating a five-pound watermelon by yourself, and I promise you, that’s not only healthy but green.”Stopping shor