AN: I am so happy that this story is getting an awesome response. I would love to know what you're thinking about it so far. Please feel free to comment and vote.

One more thing... I have been curious to who any of the readers picture Lorenzo to look like... I have my ideas of who I think but I have been torn between a few guys.

Thanks for all the love.

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Everything had happened so fast, one moment she was having a rare moment with Lorenzo then the next she was in fear for her life. Elena saw the blinding lights coming towards them then she was yanked down and Lorenzo was using his own body to shield her as much as he could in the small space. She was trying so hard not to scream as the gunshots rang out around them. The glass on Lorenzo's side of his black Mercedes all shattered bringing glass raining down on them. He held her trembling body tightly under his own in the confined space hoping she wasn't getting hit by any of the bullets.

Elena held her cries in but couldn't stop the tears from falling as the fear course through her trembling body. Three things could be heard in the car... the gunshots, the glass shattering and Lorenzo's grunts. When the shots finally came to an end and the car that was firing on them screeched away, Lorenzo still laid above her breathing heavily. After a few moments of eerie silence Elena couldn't take it no more and his lack of movement scared her.

"Lorenzo?" she said in a low cracked voice as she reached up and squeezed the forearm that he was shielding her head with. "Lorenzo answer me... please."

"Elena were you shot?" He asked in a low voice that sounded like he was in a lot of pain.

"No I wasn't ... were you?" she said hoping for him to say no.

"Yeah." He said grunting slightly as he tried to move but it hurt, Elena gasped as more tears fell. "Elena reach in my coat pocket and pull out my phone."

"Lorenzo where were you shot?" Elena asked as she slowly slid from under him as he leaned back against the seat with a loud grunt.

"Just get my phone out and call Tony."

"Why am I calling Tony? I should be calling for an ambulance." She said pulling the phone out.

"No Elena." Lorenzo grunted as he gripped the hand she held the phone in. "Call Tony."

"Ok but we can't stay here, what if they come back." She asked as her trembling fingers turned his phone on and scrolled to Tony's number. Lorenzo laid there watching her to see how she would react to all the female numbers he had but she didn't even notice or she just didn't react to them. When she hit send and pulled the phone to her ear Elena looked back at Lorenzo to see him slowly closing his eyes. "No... Lorenzo keep your eyes open and look at me." She said cupping his face with her free hand.

Lorenzo opened his eyes and smiled at her. "I'm alright." He grunted and she forced a smile to her face.

"What's up Lorenzo?" Tony asked answering his phone as he glared at the other guys to keep quiet.

"Tony, it's me Elena."

"What are you doing with Lorenzo's phone?" Tony asked the concern thick in his voice knowing the boss didn't allow anyone but himself to touch the phone she was currently on.

"Lorenzo and I were just attacked, he was shot." She said rushing through her words quickly as she glanced back at Lorenzo and he closed his eyes again. "Lorenzo I said keep your eyes open." She snapped at him and he opened his eyes again.

"Where the fuck are you?" Tony snapped into the phone as he began snapping his fingers at the men around him and pointed towards the door. "Who did this and where was he shot?" His words causing all the guys to move quicker as they ran towards the SUV's.

"We were heading south on Crandon boulevard when Lorenzo pulled over so we could talk, we were on our way home." She said as she glanced around to make sure they were still alone on the road that now seemed very eerie. "I don't know who did this to us and I don't know where he was shot."

"Is he awake?"

"Barely, he keeps closing his eyes." She said in a panic as she saw his eyes closed again. "Damn it Lorenzo open your eyes."

"Elena find where he was shot and try to stop the bleeding, we are on our way." Tony said not waiting for an answer and just hung up on her.

She dropped the phone and instantly began feeling around his upper body for any bullet wounds. When her hand became moist he grunted while yanking her hand away from his side, she knew she found at least one wound that she knew of. "That fucking hurts!" he snapped at her and she glared at him.

"I have to stop the fucking bleeding before you die on me." Elena snapped back at him as she yanked her hand from his.

"I'm not going to die." Lorenzo said in a painful laugh as Elena glanced around his car and couldn't find anything to use to stop the bleeding, when she reached for the hem of her shirt Lorenzo again grabbed her hand stopping her. "What are you doing now? The last thing I need is you stripping in front of me."

"I need something to stop the bleeding and you don't have anything in this damn car."

"Use my coat." He said trying to shimmy out of it but ended up stopping and growled in pain.

Not thinking about what she was doing and only worried about Lorenzo she quickly sat up straight and yanked her shirt over her head in one swift motion. Being the man that he was Lorenzo's eyes were instantly glued to her body, the black lace bra she had on barely held her tits in and he was amazed. Sure he saw her many times lounging next to the pool in a bikini but this felt different. Knowing Elena's mind was occupied with one his of wounds Lorenzo slowly placed his hand on her hip brushing the soft bare skin above the skirt she had on.

Elena quickly pressed her shirt to the wound causing him to growl loudly as his hand gripped her hip tightly. She watched as the beige shirt she had on slowly became a crimson color and she became worried that he was going to bleed out. They may not have loved each other but she didn't want to see him dead. Every little sound or creak had her head whipping in all directions like her head was on swivel.

Tony and two SUVs load with men quickly drove north on Crandon Boulevard keeping their eyes on the road looking for the sleek black Mercedes Lorenzo drove often. Tony didn't realize until he had hung up that he didn't even ask if she was ok and felt bad for it. Gino had been the one that asked him about Elena when he told the men what happened. Both men regretted not tailing Lorenzo even though they were ordered to stay behind.

When the guys arrived on the scene they didn't know what to expect, the amount of bullet holes on the car had all the men worried. Gino and Tony were the first out of the SUVs and running towards the car when a shot rang out hitting Gino in the shoulder. All the men quickly took cover and pulled their guns out as Tony went to Gino's side and dragged him to the back of the SUV. The two men leaned back against the SUV while Gino held his bleeding shoulder.

"Where the fuck did that come from?" Tony snapped in a low voice as he tried to glance around the SUV and another shot was fired just missing him.

"It came from inside the car." Gino said glancing over at the car and that's when they heard her stern voice yell towards them.

"Come any closer and I will fucking shoot again." She screamed out loudly. "I will not go down without taking any of you bastards with me!"

"Elena don't shoot." Gino called out to her and she could hear the strain in his familiar voice but fear had her questioning if it was them.

"Tony... Gino?" she called out still holding a tight grip on Lorenzo's gun as she applied pressure to the wound with her other hand.

"Yeah it's us." Tony called out as he slowly looked around the SUV this time not having to dodge a bullet. "I'm coming out... don't fire that gun again!"

"He won't wake up." Elena cried out as she dropped the gun placing both hands back on the wound.

Tony quickly began barking orders out at everyone as he cautiously approached the car and when she made eye contact with him he saw the fear in her eyes. Elena had blood on her forehead and cheeks probably from wiping at her face considering both hands were covered in blood. She had no shirt on so he quickly removed his coat and placed it over her shoulders before opening the door and anyone else could see her.

Tony took quick notice that she had used her own shirt to try and stop the bleeding and that she had checked Lorenzo's pulse at least once because he saw the bloody finger prints were it should be. "I got him." Tony said as he placed his hands over hers and she slid hers out. "Are you hit anywhere?"

Elena shook her head no and he breathed a sigh of relief. "Tony he won't wake up... I tried to keep Lorenzo from closing his eyes and I couldn't, he has a pulse but it's weak." she said shaking her head as she looked down at Lorenzo.

Tony kept talking to Elena to keep her calm as the guys came to help get Lorenzo out of the car and into the SUV. When the guys had Lorenzo out Tony quickly picked Lorenzo's gun up off the floor of the car then grabbed the phone. He reached his hand out to Elena and she slowly placed her hand in his and let him lead her over to the SUV. When he ordered a few of the guys to take her home she quickly refused to leave Lorenzo. Not being in the mood or having the time to fight with her he just grunted as he took her with them.

Before pulling away Tony pointed at Sal then over at the Mercedes, Sal nodded his head then climbed in the Mercedes to drive it to one of the warehouses while the others took Lorenzo to meet with the doctor at another location. When the men got Lorenzo to the doctor they were shocked to hear that Lorenzo had been hit three times. Two shots were extremely close to each other just below his ribcage and the third was a through and through on his upper left arm. That's when Elena realized how close she had been to being shot in her head because that was the arm he shielded her head with.

Elena kept pacing the area in front of the door to the room Lorenzo was in, she just wanted someone to come out and tell her that he was ok. She held Tony's suit coat tight around her torso keeping herself covered. Just as she turned to continue with her pacing Gino stepped in her way stopping her. Elena's eyes went wide when she saw that his arm was hanging in a sling, it was the first time she had laid eyes on him that night.

"What happen to your arm?" she asked in a shock voice and he shook his head with a smile on his face.

"I took a bullet from friendly fire." her eyes went wide when she realized what he was saying to her. "But I'm going to live."

"Oh my god... I did that to you." She said shaking her head as her hand shot up to her mouth. "I am so sorry."

"It's ok." Gino said assuring her as he used his good hand to quickly pull the coat closed again. When she realized what he was doing her arms went back down. "Why don't you go in the restroom and clean up, the boss always keeps a clean shirt in his office." Gino said gesturing to the shirt in his other hand.

Elena looked down at her blood covered hands then back up at Gino slowly nodding her head as he led her over to it. When she walked into the restroom Elena went over to the sink and looked at herself through the mirror. Gino walked in behind her and placed the shirt down on the sink then gave her some privacy. Seeing all the blood smudge over her forehead and cheeks made the scene come back to her causing more tears to fall.

When all was done and the doctor had Lorenzo patched up and was resting. They finally let Elena in the room with him. He still didn't regain consciousness yet but they were all fairly certain he would. After several attempts to get her to go home Tony gave up and left her to sit by Lorenzo's side. When the sun finally came up Gino walked in the room to check on both of them and found Elena curled up sleeping on the chair while Lorenzo went from looking at her to glancing over at the door.

"I'm going to get Tony and let him know you're awake." Gino said in a low voice and Lorenzo nodded his head at him.

It was just a few seconds between Gino walking out and Tony coming through the door. "What the fuck happened last night?" Tony questioned and Lorenzo silenced him when he pointed towards Elena.

"How long has she been there?" Lorenzo asked in a low voice as he glanced over towards the chair Elena was currently curled up on sleeping. "Why isn't she at home?"

"Since we brought you here last night." Tony said as his eyes went to her sleeping body. "I tried to take her home but she refused to leave until you opened your eyes."

"Any word about who did this?" Lorenzo asked as he held onto his side so he could adjust his body and grunt from the pain it caused him. "I want to know who was behind this attack that could have taken me and my wife out."

"I got Vinny and Sal tapping in and reviewing all cameras in the area hoping to get something but so far we don't got shit to work with."

"That shit was a planned hit." Lorenzo growled at him in a low voice as he glanced over to make sure he didn't wake Elena. "Whoever did this knew I was alone and where I would be. They had fucking eyes on me."

"What are you thinking?" Tony asked as he also glanced at Elena then back at Lorenzo. "You think this was inside?"

"Who all knew I was taking Elena out and would be without guards?" Lorenzo asked.

"All of the higher ranked guys and a couple of our lower ranked that were with me." Tony said shaking his head not wanting to believe they had a mole among them in the family. "It was only Moretti men... I could see something like this happening if Russo men knew but not our guys."

"Somebody fucking knew, I want to fucking know who it was and I want that bastard fucking dead." Lorenzo snapped this time it was a bit louder and dripping with venom causing Elena to quickly sit up.

"Lorenzo?!" Elena said in a voice that held a mixture of emotions that neither man was able to pinpoint as they both looked over at her.

"Shit." Lorenzo mumbled in a low voice as he looked from her to Tony. "Give us a few minutes alone." Elena nodded at him and went to stand up, when Lorenzo notice her moving he quickly stopped her. "I was talking to Tony; I want you to stay."

"I'm going to find the doc and let him know you're awake." Tony said as he walked out and closed the door behind himself.

"How are you?" Lorenzo asked as they looked at each other.

"I'm fine, it's you we should be worried about." Elena said shaking her head at him. "You could have..."

Lorenzo shook his head and stopped her before she could finish her sentence. "Elena I'm alive, I told you I wasn't going to die."

"I told you not to close your eyes and you did." She snapped at him and he raised his eyebrow at her. "I'm sorry."

"There is no reason to get all worked up about this." Lorenzo said as he tried to down play what happened so she would calm down. "This isn't the first time and I'm sure..."

Elena got pissed at the way he was acting and without thinking she cut him off. "You want me to relax?" she growled at him. "Do you feel that damn hole in your arm? Had it been just an inch lower and that bullet would have gone through your arm and into my head. So do not sit there and tell me to fucking calm down. While you laid there looking like you were going to die on me I was alone praying you wouldn't and whoever did this wouldn't come back and finish what they started."

"Enough Elena." Lorenzo said trying to stop her rant but it only stopped for a moment.

"Eighteen years I lived and traveled with Antonio Russo and not once had a bullet come within a hundred feet of me." She snapped at him. "Three years with you and I come close to dying and you yourself held a damn gun to my head."

"I said enough!" Lorenzo yelled as his fist came down hard on the table next to the medical bed causing him to growl loudly in pain. Elena jumped from the sound of his voice and fist then again when he was in pain.

"Boss you ok?" Gino said as he quickly rushed in the room.

"I'm fine." Lorenzo said shaking his head as he laid his hand over the wounds on the side of his body. "Take her home and I want you to stay with her."

"Yes sir." Gino said as he glanced over at Elena noticing the unshed tears as she wrapped her arms tightly around her torso.

Gino nodded his head towards the door and Elena slowly nodded at him as she began walking towards it. Just as she was about walk out Lorenzo stopped her. "Elena."

"What?" she asked in a low voice but not bothering to turn and face him.

"If I could change what happened last night I would, I would have kept this from happening to you." Lorenzo said in a calm voice. "As for the gun to your head... that was an accident."

"Ok." She said softly and walked out the room with Gino quickly following behind her.

Tony had stood there watching as Elena listened to what Lorenzo said. The tears she was holding back in the room slowly fell as her back was to the man that caused them. When she started to walk away Elena gave him a weak attempt of a smile as the back of her hand wiped at the tears. After patting Gino's good shoulder Tony walked back into the room and found Lorenzo laid back against the bed with his eyes closed.

"What happened to Gino?" Lorenzo asked not bothering to open his eyes.

"Your wife." Tony said with a laugh as Lorenzo's eyes opened and he raised his eyebrow at him. "I can tell you that she does know how to handle gun."

"She shot him... with what?" he said in a shock voice while Tony stood there with a smirk on his face.

"Your gun." He said not holding back on his laughter. "Gino and I were the first to try and approach your car and she fired a shot hitting him then yelled that we weren't taking you guys down without her taking a few of us bastards with her after taking a second shot at me."

Lorenzo couldn't keep from laughing as he stood there trying to picture the small brunette holding his forty-five and shooting one of his best men with it. Then her words hit him like a brick wall... she was alone and had to protect the both of them. She could have easily let him die and been free from him but she didn't. Knowing he had to protect her better Lorenzo had no choice but to move them into the mansion he owned. He had wanted to wait until the Russo family was fully turned over to him but things weren't going as planned now that someone was trying to put him down permanently.

"Have Gino, Rob and few of the higher ranked men move Elena into the mansion." Lorenzo said as he sat up straight and grunt in the process.

"And where are we going?" Tony asked knowing that not even these three bullets were going to keep the boss down long.

"I have business to conduct and meetings to attend." Lorenzo said as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. "All the remaining families will know that Lorenzo Moretti is the last fucking person you want to piss off."

"Are we going to stay local?" Tony asked as Lorenzo gingerly got out of bed.

"Only for the night, we don't have long before the new casino opens and I get all the power that I am owed." He said looking over at his friend.

"Will the hotel have a name before the casino opens?" Tony asked with humor in his voice.

"It will." Lorenzo said smirking at him. "This one will have meaning behind it."