Alfonzo by S. W. Frank Page A

it in mid-air and she spat , “ Bruto !”
    “Never raise your hand to me again . I give you respect because you ’re Luzo’s wife but I don’t tolerate abuse , it upsets me and I like to stay calm. Sai ?” He released her arm and watched her spin around indignantly then march back into the house.
    Gina fumed, Nico was the worst. Her advances and bold flirtations failed to work on the handsome bodyguard. She’d tried on many occasions to find his weakness but apparently, the brute was made of stone!
     
    CHAPTER T WELVE
     
    Domingo lay sprawled on the sofa engrossed in a video game when gunfire erupted. He looked out the window . Down the block were silhouettes tussling , then they toppled to the sidewalk . He strained for a better view of the action but beneath the dim streetlights it was hard to see. However, one man resembled his cousin Alfonzo. Without hesitation he hurdled over the coffee-table and raced out the door followed by his young brother Manuel.
    Alfonzo was in trouble !
    Maria r an from the kitchen, on her tail were Carmen and the girl’s.
    The noise interrupted their cooking conversation.
    “ Que paso , donde es Domingo y Manuel?” Maria asked her lone nephew who stood on the sofa peering out the window.
    “ Yo no se!” Rafael exclaimed, “Somebody shootin ’ and Domingo ran out.”
    “With Manuel?”
    “Manny went, too,” The eight year-old added.
    “ Aye Dios, mi loco hijo s !” Carmen shrieked.
    Minutes later Manny returned panting, “Alfonzo’s shot!”
    Maria screeched loudly and ran outdoors. Police sirens filled the block and multi-colored lights illuminated the dark street. Domingo cradled a bloody figure in his lap and shouted for an ambulance. Her feet were lead as she ran toward them and as she drew near her heart screamed. “Aye! Aye! Aye, Madre de Dios!” She shrieked falling to her knees beside her fallen son.
    Alfonzo’s beige Oleg Cassini shirt was stained a dark mahogany color and it clung to his body like a wet T-shirt. She cupped Alfonzo’s cold face. ‘ God please don’t take my only child…take me God…take me !’
     
    The handsome young face was battered . B lood poured from his head and she wiped it, smearing the sticky substance across the prominent cheekbones of his father and wailed when he did not respond to the touch of his mother.
    Domingo moved aside when the paramedics arrived and sat their equipment on the ground . One spoke to Maria asking her to step back so they can assist her son. She did and st ood nearby wring ing her hands anxiously as they worked. He frowned, it didn’t look good. His cousin’s face was extremely pale . He had the look of death .
    Hold on cuz …hold on!
    “We got a faint pulse!” The female medic shouted to her partner. She administered oxygen while her male partner cut away Alfonzo’s clothes .
    He inspected the extent of the injury . “We got two gunshot wounds, looks like the left clavicle and lower right flank.”
    Domingo spotted detectives pointing at something. He moved with in earshot and listened .
    “This looks like one of the weapons.”
    “We need to sort out whether he’s a perp or victim.”
    “Eyewitnesses say he’s the victim. He visits his mother regularly and apparently someone tried to mug him.”
    “ We’re still going to need a statement, that’s if he makes it….”
    “Looks like he injured the perp… we better notify the hospitals in case anyone tries to get medical attention for gunshot or stab wounds.”
    Domingo recognized Alfonzo’s knife by the carvings on the handle.
    ‘ Good work cuz you got that sonovabitch! Alfonzo never used that blade unless he intended to kill. ’
    Alfonzo’s limp body was loaded on a gurney then in the ambulance. A police escort was provided in case he awakened and could positively identif y his assailant.
    Maria stayed at Alfonzo’s side. She groped the beads at her neck in solace. Must Alfonzo suffer for the sins of his father? Could this be