JOHN PAUL

"Capo," Adonis walks in the room quietly, taking my focus away from the irritating, yet also comforting beeping sounds from the monitors hooked up to Stella. They display her heart rate and breathing levels, letting me know she's okay because she's alive. 

There's another machine that provides the best sound I haven't heard in years, and hearing it again gives me the bittersweet memory of the first time I listened to it. 

But this time it will be different. 

It is different.

I caress her hand wishing desperately for her to squeeze my hand back. Even though the nurses wiped her face, arms and hands, there's still some dried blood on her fingers, wrist and arm. The image of finding her and Joey laying just outside an abandoned building will be burned in my mind forever. It was clear that Joey was gone, he was so pale and the blood that pooled under them was evident that he had bled to death. 

Stella's head was on his chest. The painful memories of finding her all those years ago unconscious came rushing back. My hand shook as I felt for a pulse and was relieved when I could feel her heart beat against my fingers. 

Enzo still tried to work on Joey, before the paramedics got there, but we all knew it was too late. 

"Capo," Adonis rest his hand on my shoulder and I jolt out of my thoughts. "You need to rest. You're going on three days straight with no sleep. You don't want to be delirious when she wakes up, do you?"

I notice he uses when unlike the staff who throw around if  more than I think is necessary. Even Damien has used if, but he's finally coming around. Of course it could be because I lost my temper on him the other day.

"I have slept here and there, Donny. I'm fine." 

"The little ones are asking if they can come see her," He informs me. 

"They're too young to have to see her like this. Especially after Melanie." 

"What about her kids?" 

"They're all our kids, Donny," I brush back her hair and stroke her face. Pleading silently that she wakes up soon. I sigh as I look over my shoulder at him. "Have Topo bring the older kids tonight." 

"You got it, Boss." 

"Is Enzo with Annalisa?"

"Yes," Adonis sighs. "She's still not talking, but she seems to be stabilizing so that's a good sign." I rest my head on the bed. Annalisa fell apart when she arrived at the hospital after Enzo told her Joey was gone. They had to sedate her to keep her and the baby safe, when she started having a panic attack.

"Her parents are arriving soon. They were hard to get a hold of but with Vince's help we finally tracked them down. They were celebrating their upcoming anniversary early with a trip to the Galapago islands. Joey's parents are still in the waiting room. They are wanting to see Annalisa when she's ready. The funeral arrangements are underway." 

"I should go see them," I stand and sway slightly, from the dizzy sensation that comes over me. Adonis grips onto my arm to keep me from falling. 

"You haven't eaten, have you?"

I don't answer as I lean into the railing of Stella's bed and take a few deep breaths. "I haven't had an appetite." 

I straighten up and head towards the door and Isabella walks in; she's not doing well, but is trying to be strong for the kids at home. "Oh, John Paul," She says startled, she's escorted by a few my men. " I just came to sit with Stella for a little while."

"Of course," I move to the side to let her in. "I'm going to go see, Nicky, and Annalisa but I'll be back." She nods, walking further into the room. The men wait outside and we walk down the hall towards the elevators to get to the floor Nicky and Annalisa are on. 

I lean back against the elevator wall and close my eyes, but it's always the same face I see when I close them the last few days and the real reason I'm not sleeping besides the worry of not knowing when Stella will wake up. 

I want nothing more than to find Jimmy; to rip him apart with my bare hands, but it will be slow. Killing him quickly will be merciful and he deserves none.

"Well, get him Capo," Adonis says next to me. 

"How do you do that?" I ask, keeping my eyes closed, but the ding of the elevator notifies me of our arrival on the floor. 

"Do what?" 

"Know what I'm thinking," I state as we walk out of the elevator. 

"It's what you pay me to do," He shrugs. 

I chuckle, "Remind me to give you a raise." 

"That will be the fourth one this year." 

"I appreciate your concern, Donny, but I think I can decide on what or who I want to use my money on, don't you?" I stop.

"Of course, I didn't mean to offend you."

I laugh. "You didn't offend me, but stop being so damn humble. Any Don would kill to have an underboss like you Adonis."

"Then I'll start spreading rumors that I'm the worst underboss any one could have," He tells me seriously.

I laugh again feeling the endorphins course through me, giving me a break with the anxiety and gut wrenching worry I've had since receiving Stella's text about the Albanians four days ago. 

Joey's parents stand in the waiting area when they see me. "John Paul, you look so tired, piccolo." Valentina cups my face and runs her hands over my hair. "You need to take care of yourself. She'll wake up soon." 

Her eyes are puffy and pink from her crying and my heart twist at how compassionate she is and concerned for everyone considering she's the one who lost a son. I hold her hand and kiss the palm. "Thank you, Valentina. Can I get you and Orlando anything?"

"No, figlio, we just want to be here for Annalisa, they said we can go in after the Dr is finished checking her," Orlando tells me. (son) I tell them I will check in with them later and head towards Nicky's room, greeting the guards outside the door. 

We walk in and Nicky's in the process of removing his own IV.

"Che cazzo stai facendo?" I rush over to him to stop him from pulling the needle out. (What the fuck are you doing?)  

He grunts in frustration and sits back on the bed running a hand through his hair. "I can't stay here anymore, boss!" His words are rushed in Italian. "I'm going fucking crazy; sitting here, doing nothing. I should be out there looking for those motherfuckers! They need to pay, they need to know they fucked with the wrong family." 

"Calmati, Nicky," Adonis tells him. "Stavo per rivedere un piano con Capo." (Calm down, Nicky, I was just about to go over a plan with Capo)

Nicky lowers his hand over his head and looks at Adonis expectantly, but I address Nicky first. "What were you going to do? Walk out of here? Your fucking foot is in a cast. And you were shot eight times, Nicky, you need to give yourself time to heal."

He shakes his head back at me. "Only sprain, not broken. No, heal. Need to kill." He tells me in his broken English as his eyes flash with anger.

"Bene, let's hear this plan of Donny's then," I tell him feeling proud of his need to want to seek out those responsible. (okay)

"Katalina phoned the other day. Luca was on the call, too," Adonis adds quickly once he sees the look on my face. "She wants to set up a meeting with Saimara, or more like a night out, knowing she will bring Jimmy." 

"We can't send Katalina in alone, and Jimmy knows most of the Don's, as well as most of us," I cross my arms. 

"He doesn't know Tej." 

"No," I shake my head, imagining the worst outcome already in my head. 

"He volunteered, Capo," Adonis informs me and I don't like hearing that he's involved in the discussion already. "He's not just knowledgeable with technology, John Paul, he's a skilled fighter as well. He's trained a few times with the men. He wants to do it for Stella."

"No. He's done more than enough," I state feeling the weight of everything hit me all at once, exhaustion, worry, anger and fear. "We'll find another way." 

My phone chimes and I see it's a text from Damien. 

D: She's awake.

"Stella's awake!" I rush out of the room not waiting for their response and take the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator. My heart is thundering in my ears knowing I'll see her beautiful eyes looking back at me. I pull the door open to her floor and run down the hall, several of the nurses at the nurse station shouting at me to not run.

I push the door open and pull the curtain to the side roughly and the bed is propped up now, and she's smiling back at me. Annalisa is sitting on the bed next to her, laying her head on Stella's shoulder. Isabella is smiling tearfully at me, too. Enzo is sitting on the bed, too, but near the end. Damien is writing on her chart at the other end of the room but walks towards me. 

"I'll give you a few minutes and then I'll go over everything with her." He tells me and closes the curtain before he walks out of the room and I look back over at Stella. 

"Wow, you look terrible," She tells me in a raspy voice with a smile on her face. A half laugh, half sob escapes my mouth. 

"Get over here," She slowly lifts her hand out to me and winces in pain and I rush over to her and lower her arm down, holding her hand in mine. She squeezes my hand and I brush away a tear falling with my other hand from her face and she leans into my hand. 

"I'm so sorry," She tells me quietly.

I shake my head, but she grabs my other hand from her face. "For Joe--" Her breath hitches and she cries, "For the guards, and Joey, Nicky...."

"It's not your fault, Stella," Annalisa tells her but Stella keeps her head down. "Hey, look at me." Annalisa tells her firmly and then lifts Stella's chin. "Joey loved you and he didn't die because of you." Annalisa's voice and chin both quiver. "Jimmy's going to pay." And even though she's hurting there's no denying the strength behind her words.

Our attention is pulled towards the door when we hear someone stumbling and cursing up a storm. 

"Merda!" (Shit)

"Porca puttana!" (Damn it)

"Figlio di puttana!" (Son of a bitch)

"Cazzo!" (Fuck)

The curtain is pulled back and Nicky is standing, barely hanging on to the curtain for dear life. 

"Fottuto idiota," Adonis mutters before he walks quickly to help Nicky walk; Enzo pulls a chair near the bed. (Fucking idiot)

"How did no one stop you?" Enzo questions. 

"I use stairs," Nicky informs him, as he pulls the chair closer to the bed and grimaces as he sits back on the chair, and takes a deep breath. He looks back at Stella and then down at his hands before he looks up again. His face is full of shame. "Mi dispiace. Di averti deluso, mia regina."  (I'm sorry. I failed you, my queen.)

He said similar words to me when he woke up after his surgery and offered his resignation before he knew that we had found Stella. And even after he was made aware, he told me he understood if I don't confide in him to keep Stella or the family safe. 

"You looked like fucking Swiss cheese, when we found you, Nicky," Enzo says. "What did you expect to do after they used you like target practice?"

"Enzo," Stella chides him before she focuses on Nicky, she glances up at me and I squeeze her hand to encourage her. "Nicky, non mi hai deluso, sei quasi morto." (Nicky, you didn't fail me, you almost died)

"I need you to focus on getting better. Don't think about what's already happened, what you have not control over. We need you with us when we get them," She finishes before we hear loud shouting. 

"Well, where the hell is she? What kind of hospital is this?" 

Annalisa groans quietly next to Stella. The door opens and Damien is trying to keep Evangeline De Luca back, even Federico De Luca can't keep his wife back as she barges in. Annalisa moves towards them.

"Annalisa! Oh thank god," Evangeline scurries in her high heeled shoes to get to Annalisa and pulls her into a hug, but Annalisa's arms hang down near her side. "How the hell did this happen?" She cups her face and Annalisa pushes her mother's hands away. 

"I told you not to come back here, but you never listen to me. I'm just your mother after all," she exclaims, with her hands in the air. "It's not like I know what I'm talking about. I told you we would go to you, wherever you were. And now you're alone, your damn husband shot to death for what? Your child will grow up with out her father! And you, what will you do? A single mom, raising a child on her own?" 

Annalisa's shoulders and chest are rising and dropping quickly as her mother berates her but Enzo moves in front of Annalisa. 

"I don't give a fuck if you're Annalisa's mother or not, I will drag you out of here with your over priced, custom designer clothes and ratty ass hair, if you continue to disrespect her while she is hurting and mourning," His voice is low and the look in his eyes reminds me of when he faced off against Giovanni.

Evangeline scoffs, turning to the side as she eyes Enzo. "Who the hell are you?" Even though Enzo towers over her, Evangeline still finds a way to look down on Enzo.

"You know Enzo, mamma. You've met him before," Annalisa responds moving next to him. Evangeline scoffs again and continues to scold Annalisa, but Stella interrupts her. 

"Evangeline, where's your compassion?" Stella struggles to sit up and I help her move forward. 

"You!" Evangeline walks around Annalisa and storms up to the bed, pointing her finger at Stella. I hold Evangeline back before Federico moves her away. Enzo's and Adonis hands hover near their guns but I shake my head at both of them. 

"You're the cause for all of this, death follows you everywhere. You're a damn plague. My daughter nearly died because of you all those years ago and that wasn't enough you had to drag Joey down with you and now he's dead!" She shouts at Stella. 

Isabella storms up to Evangeline and slaps her. "You know nothing of what my daughter has been through. She is not to blame for any of this!" She yells furiously in Italian.

Evangeline holds her face from where Isabella slapped her but turns to Federico. "You're just as much as fault as she is." She says as she glares at Isabella. "I told you Federico, if it wasn't for Stella, it was Joey's blind loyalty to this damn life that would get him killed and here we are." 

"Evangeline, that's enough!" Federico De Luca steps in. 

"No, let her keep going," Annalisa moves quickly grabbing Enzo's gun from his back and aims it at her mother. "She's going to give me a reason to do something I've dreamed about for a long time." Evangeline gasps placing her hand on her chest in shock. Adonis moves in to pull Isabella back.

"Anna," Enzo says her name quietly. But Annalisa's eyes are focused only on her mother. 

"I hate you," Annalisa tells her. "You've treated me like shit all of my life. Nothing was ever good enough for you. And instead of comforting me, supporting me, or just loving me while I'm hurting, look at you," She sobs. "My husband is dead!" Annalisa screams. "And all you can do is spout hate and poison. This is not Stella's fault! She's saved me in more ways than you will ever know or even understand." 

"Annalisa, dolcezza, you know your life has not turned out the way it was supposed to because of your association with her...with them," Evangelina continues to argue. (sweetheart)

"Shut up!" Annalisa cocks the gun and Federico De Luca moves forward. 

"Cucciola, please put the gun down. You're in pain, you don't want to do anything you'll regret," Rico coaxes her. (little cub)

"Growing up, I wanted to leave because of you," Annalisa continues talking to her mother. "But do you know why I stayed?" She looks at her mother expectantly. "Stella. She always talked me out of running away," Annalisa chuckles.

 "She'd actually defend you, too. Saying things like it must be hard to be a parent; wanting the best for your kids, but no one really knows what they're doing as parents, it's not like there's a manual and usually you don't know you've fucked up until it's too late. 

Stella encouraged me to do well in school to be able to do what I loved and when I was ready and prepared to leave, I could show you what I was capable of. She believed in me when you never did," Annalisa's eyes move to Stella. "Even as kids, she always tried to see the good in people, even when they don't deserve it, like you." She lowers the gun and I can see the tension ease within everyone. 

"I couldn't stand up to you as a kid," Annalisa steps forward towards her mom. "But I have to tell you; you were the real reason, we stayed away from New York, not because of the danger." I see the look of hurt on Federico's face. I can only imagine what Evangeline is thinking as Annalisa continues. "Enzo and Cristian did a great job of making us non-existent and would have been able to do so if we returned sooner. 

If there's anything I've learned from Stella and from Joey, is that I will die to protect those that I love from being hurt from people like you. My daughter will not grow up around your toxicity. I want you out of my life."

"Annalisa," Her mother pleads. "You don't mean that." She steps towards her daughter but Annalisa raises the gun again. 

"Get the fuck out." 

I nod towards Adonis and he steps forwards. "Mrs. De Luca, please come with me." Evangeline continues to stare at Annalisa for a few moments before Adonis touches her elbow and she pulls her arm wildly from him. 

"Don't you touch me!" She glares at him before she focuses on Annalisa, "You will regret this Annalisa De Luca."

"Salvatore," Annalisa corrects her. 

Evangeline spits on the floor near Annalisa's feet and Enzo growls moving forward but Annalisa holds him back as Evangeline flicks her chin at them. "To hell with you. To hell with all of you!" She storms out of the room. 

Federico looks back at Annalisa. "Cucciola..."

"I love you papá, but you never protected me from her." Her eyes shine before the tears spill down her face. "Go, please." 

Federico lowers his head in shame and walks out quietly. Annalisa waits until the door shuts and she breaks down. Enzo reaches for her and she collapses into his arms as she sobs loudly. Enzo guides her to the couch in the room near the window and sits with her as she cries. 

Isabella walks over to them and sits on Annalisa's other side and strokes her hair and arm, talking to her quietly. Adonis leaves but returns shortly with a wheelchair and Nicky gets in to be taken back to his room. 

"Sit with me," Stella tugs on my arm and I sit on the edge of the bed, but she pulls me towards her and I move to sit next to her. "Are you okay?"

"Me?"

"Yes you; you look like you haven't slept in days," She comments running her fingers under my eyes and then through my hair. 

"Now, that you're awake, princess, I'm fine." I kiss her head. "How are you feeling?"

"Hmm, right now?" She angles towards me and I wrap my around her. "Right now, I feel sad. My heart hurts for Annalisa," She wipes a tear from her face. "Joey loved her so much. That day while we were shopping for the shower, you should have seen him; he was so excited to meet their baby, John Paul." 

"I know, amore." I'm still coming to terms that he's gone, myself. I look over at Annalisa and see Isabella is holding her now, rocking her gently as Enzo walks over to us. 

"What am I going to do with you, Stella mia?" He picks up her hand and kisses it gently. "You knew I was bugged you got married without telling me or inviting me as your man of honor, so you had to find a way that I wouldn't be mad." 

Stella laughs and then winces. "Enzo, don't make me laugh." She chuckles holding her side as I glower at him, but Enzo only grins back at me. 

"You are a badass, Stella." He tells her appreciatively. "But quit trying to find ways to prove it, alright?"

"You don't have to worry about me, Enzo," She tells him, picking up his hand to kiss the back of his hand. "You don't owe anyone anything, and I know you will honor Joey's wish." She smiles back at him. "I'm officially releasing you from Stella guard duty,"  She chuckles. 

"Yeah, that's not going to happen; but nice try," Enzo replies. "You seem to forget who I am, I can be there for Annalisa and the baby and still look out for you, too, you know." 

There's a knock at the door before Damien walks in. "Oh, I thought you'd be alone, by now." He looks over at Annalisa and Isabella. 

"It's okay, you can go over what you need to, Damien," I tell him. 

He nods and proceeds to tell Stella about her injuries, the bullet on her side was a clean shot and went all the way through, narrowly missing major organs and they had to extract the bullet that was lodged just under her right shoulder.

"Mom!" Lucy runs in, followed by Miles, Kai and Marco; Topo follows them in. Lucy comes around on her other side falling over Stella as she sobs. Stella talks to her quietly as she looks back at Miles and Kai who are both silently crying. 

"Quit hogging her, Luce," Miles says, his voice thick with emotion. Lucy moves back and then Miles presses his forehead and nose against Stella before hugging her. She winces but doesn't say anything. "I love you, moms." 

"I love you, too, Miles." 

Kai does the same gesture with Stella before hugging her as well. He says something in his native tongue. "I love you, mom."

"I love you, Kai." She cups his face before he moves away for Marco to come closer. 

"I'm glad you're okay, Stella." He tells her as he hugs her and then he breaks down, too. 
"I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm crying like this," He tells her embarrassed, chuckling as he wipes his face. 

"It's okay, Marco." She kisses his head and he moves back and she turns back to Damien. "Sorry, Damien." 

"No, problem," Damien smiles at her and the kids. "We'll want you up and about, soon but you'll need to stay here for a few more days." He looks at me and then back at her. "There's something else, but I don't know if you want the others to hear." His eyes move around the room. 

"What is it?" Stella asks worriedly and then looks back at me. 

"It's fine, doc, we're all family," I assure him. 

"Yes, but...my concern is...the outcome may not be what you hope for, so, I don't want to get everyone's expectations high," He says slowly, and carefully choosing his words. 

"Please tell me what's wrong," Stella tries to sit up, but the Dr. gestures for her to lay back.

"Nothing's wrong. If anything, this is more like a miracle considering the wound on your side and the significant amount of blood you lost," Damien pauses and then moves over to the monitor closest to me. 

He turns up the volume and a loud rhythmic thumping is heard. "That's your baby's heart you're hearing," Damien announces.