**Chapter 2: Fractured Alliances**

The doctor's hands moved swiftly as he worked to stabilize Sam's injuries. The sound of beeping machines and the smell of antiseptic filled the air, a stark contrast to the chaos of the previous night. Valerie's eyes never left Sam's face, her expression a mixture of concern and determination. As the doctor worked, Tommy and Paulie stood by, their faces etched with worry. The adrenaline of their narrow escape had worn off, replaced by a growing sense of unease. They knew that Morello's men would not give up easily, and the armored car was just the beginning. The doctor finally finished his assessment, his expression grim. "He's going to be okay, but he's going to need some time to recover. I've got to get him into surgery, and even then, there's no guarantee." Valerie's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with calculations. They couldn't afford to have Sam out of commission for long. They had to get out of there, and fast. "Doc, we need to get him moved. Can we make him transportable?" The doctor hesitated, his eyes flicking to Tommy and Paulie before returning to Valerie. "I can stabilize him, but I need to get him into a proper hospital. We can't keep him here." Tommy stepped forward, his voice firm. "We can't take him to a hospital, doc. Morello's got connections everywhere. We'll have to find somewhere else." The doctor nodded, his expression understanding. "I know a place. I've got a friend who's a doctor, and he's got a clinic in an old warehouse on the outskirts of town. We can get Sam there, but we'll have to be careful." As the doctor worked to stabilize Sam, Valerie's mind turned to their next move. They needed to regroup, reassess, and plan their next step. But for now, they had to focus on getting Sam to safety. Paulie, ever the optimist, spoke up, his voice filled with reassurance. "Hey, we'll get through this, guys. We've been in tougher spots before." Tommy shot him a look, his expression skeptical. "You think this is just another job, Paulie? This is personal. Morello's got a personal stake in taking us down." Valerie's eyes locked onto Tommy's, her expression steady. "We're in this together, guys. We'll get through it, as long as we've got each other's backs." As they carefully loaded Sam into the back of a waiting van, Valerie couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being watched. She scanned the surrounding area, her eyes narrowing as she spotted a pair of headlights in the distance. The van pulled away, its tires screeching as it sped off into the night. Valerie's eyes never left the rearview mirror, her heart pounding with anticipation. They were far from safe, and the night was still young.