Chapter 99 Aftermath
Dakota's P.O.V.
I can hear screaming, but something is on top of me, so I can't see anything. I move to get up, and Ari rolls off of me onto the ground. I scream when I see that his eyes are closed.
"Ari, please wake up," I yell, but he doesn't move. I look around and see Noah and Sarah on the ground. I check Ari's pulse, and it's weak, but it's there.
"I called 911." A man says, running out of the restaurant. I crawl over to Sarah and Noah.
"Please call Galdino," I tell him. He nods and pulls his phone out. Sarah and Noah are both unconscious but have pulses. I'm scared to move either of them. If Ari hadn't pushed me down, I would have been like all of them. I look at the SUV, and the back is burning. I jump up and stumble to the front, where Xavier is sitting. He's partially hanging out of the window, unconscious, and his body looks a mess, but he has a pulse. I hear sirens coming, and I don't know what to do. Who would do this? Who could get into the garage at the compound? I have so many questions, and I will get the answers as soon as everyone gets to the hospital, and I know they'll be alright.
I look around and see others on the sidewalk hurt, but they're not like Ari and my family. Several ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars all pull up at once. I'm surprised they were able to get here so quickly. I feel lost. My ears are ringing, and I don't know what to do.
"Dakota?" I turn and see Galdino. I run to him as I sob.
"We were coming here for lunch, and the SUV exploded right after we got out." He wraps his arms around me as paramedics begin working on Ari, Sarah, Noah, and Xavier.
"I want them taken to a private hospital where we can protect them. Are you okay with that?" Galdino asks.
"Yes, please. Thank you. I don't know who would do this. I would be lying there with them if Ari hadn't pushed me out of the way and covered my body. Is he going to be alright?" I ask the paramedics as they put a backboard under him.
"We have to get him to the hospital now. He has burns on his back, and it's covered with shrapnel. We won't know the extent of his injuries until the doctors can clean the wounds," one of them says. I look at the others, and they're all being loaded into ambulances.
"I want them taken to Saint Ann's. I'll have teams ready for them," Galdino tells the paramedics. One begins to open his mouth to argue until he sees who spoke. Ari, Sarah, Noah, and Xavier are loaded into the backs of the ambulances. I jump into Ari's.
"I'm going with him." An officer runs over to the ambulance.
"Miss Kondrati, we need to question you about what happened here today." I glare at the rude officer.
"Well, if you know my name, I guess you know how to find me. I'm going to the hospital. Do your job and figure out who in the fuck tried to kill my friends and me." Galdino shuts the back of the ambulance before the officer can say anything else. We take off down the busy street. I hold Ari's hand while the paramedic works on him.
"What's his name?" The paramedic asks as she starts an IV.
"Aurelio Buccheri. He's my boyfriend." I reply as tears run down my cheeks.
"What's your name?" she asks softly.
"Dakota Kondrati." Her hands freeze, and then she begins working again.
"I'm sorry about your boyfriend and friends. You should get checked out at the hospital, too. Your face has some abrasions." I look up from Ari to the woman.
"Thank you for being kind and not judging us because of our names. What's your name?" She smiles.
"Bethany. What you do or don't do isn't my business. I'm just here to help people. We'll be there soon," she replies. After the few days I've had, I feel a little hope that there are still good people in the world.
"Dakota?" Ari mumbles. I lean down and kiss his head.
"I'm right here. We're almost at the hospital. I love you." I lightly lean my head against his while my tears fall. I hope the others are waking up, too. I need to tell our parents what happened.
"I love you. Are you okay?" He's the one on the gurney, and he's asking if I'm okay.
"I'm fine. You, Sarah, Noah, and Xavier were injured. Your dad is having us go to St. Ann's." I look up when we slow down and see the hospital ahead. Please let everyone be okay.