A Long Road Ahead (August 1986)

Isabella knew that there was something going on and so she had expected him to try and attack her. She evaded him and while the man stood there in shock she grabbed hold of his arms and then kneed him in the stomach.

"Someone call the police!" she shouted out.

As he bent over his weapon went off and bullets quickly shot into the floor And wall. The machine pistol was full automatic designed for quick jerks on the trigger not a constant press. In moments the magazine was empty but as he fell onto his knees he struck her hard in the side of the leg with the empty pistol. Doctors and nurses in the area ducked for cover as the man, who was alot stronger than he looked crawled on top of Isabella and began to choke her.

Isabella was lucky that she hadn’t been shot when the gun went off. She had not expected this man to be as strong as he was. She fell to the floor after he struck her leg with the gun and then he began to choke her. She struggled against him and tried to reach for the gun to hit him with it.

Frank had been running down the hall when he heard the pops of the pistol. He had blood on his shirt and face and as he suddenly showed up into the waiting room the 3 people that were there gasped and stopped mid step on their way to the double doors where they heard Isabella and the sounds of gunfire. “Frank!?” Lorenzo said in surprise. Frank looked around quickly and saw the double doors. In a moment he was through them and began to move down the hall searching for Isabella.

“Isabella!” He shouted just as Isabella felt something solid under her fingers.

Isabella heard Frank's voice, but she couldn't get any air in her lungs to yell out to him. She could only hope that he would find her. In that moment though Isabella felt the gun in her grasp. She managed to twist it so it butted up into her attacker's stomach. She felt his hands let go from around her neck and she was able to gasp for air and then she shouted out to Frank.

"Frank!"

Frank heard her and rushed forward. The man grabbed hold of the weapon and leaned down onto her throat with his forearm. Before he could put any pressure though he was suddenly jerked back. Frank lifted him up and then growled as he threw him bodily into the wall. The man in uniform hit hard than fell with a crash into the hard floor. His head hit first and bounced on the floor tiles. Frank looked down at Isabella and helped her up.

“Their gangbangers, i saw more of them. There must be some corruption in the police department,” he said as he held her up. He saw her feel at her throat. “They will likely try to kill Luca again, ill watch the hall, call a different precinct for help,” he suggested and handed her a full magazine. On the side of the weapon it said, ‘Stark Industries’

Isabella could already feel her throat starting to bruise. She was lucky to be alive though. She looked at Frank and could see that he had been fighting and could only assume that there were more men outside. She took the gun and the magazine Frank handed her. She looked at the side of the gun and a name caught her eye...Stark Industries. She felt a wave of anger wash over her. She already didn't like Tony Stark and now she hated him even more. His weapons were being used to try and kill her brother by men that were supposed to be officers of the law.

She nodded to Frank and then rushed down the hallway to a payphone. She called another precinct. It was one she trusted and she asked specifically for Officer Wolfe. He was a friend of hers. She explained the situation to him.

"We need officers we can trust down here to guard my brother. Can you help me out?"

Even as Isabella was on the phone she heard Frank shoot down the hallway. Her family were moved into the surgical ward with the doctors and nurses who were in Luca’s room. Laura sat at his bedside though Luca was unconscious. She held his hand and had a worried, toed look in her eyes.

Frank overturned several crash carts and had taken up a position behind them. Only half of his face was exposed and his hand, shoulder Nd the pistol as he peered from the side of the carts.

——————-

After Isabella explained what was happening to John Wolfe he told her that they had officers en route.

Isabella was relieved to know that officers they could trust were en route. She could already hear the sirens from down the road. She hung up with John and heard the gunfire happening back towards were Frank was. She hated carrying a Tony Stark weapon, but she had no other choice. She tried to get to Frank but realized she wasn't going to be able to. All she could do was hide in a closet and wait for the police to arrive. She had the gun ready and aimed at the door though.

It was quickly apparent to Frank when the police finally showed up. The few gangbangers that were at the end of the hall were being fired at by the police who were moving up to engage them. Frank backed up and called out for Isabella. When he saw her he hurried up to her and handed her his weapon. “They can’t know I was involved...I’m still dead, remember?” He said and handed her his weapon. “I’m going to try and slip out, watch over them, and I’ll see you at the apartment,” He said then he kissed her once more before he started down the hall.