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Rocco finally came jogging over. “I’m going to take the boat with Henry and our driver to see if I can help.”
I nodded. “Yes. Let’s go.”
He frowned and placed his hands on my shoulders. “You’re not coming. I want you to go back to the villa with Zane.”
I shook my head rapidly. “No way. If you’re going, I’m going.”
He took my hands. His gaze was tender but resolute. “If you come, I’d be worried about you, not helping out. I’ll be fine. I promise.” Even hearing him say the words he promised, I knew he couldn’t. He let go to leave, but I gripped his waist. My hands started to shake.
He lifted my hands and kissed their backs. “It’ll be fine, Bella.”
I grabbed him and kissed him hard on the lips.
When we parted, his eyes were warm, and his smile bright. He then winked at me and rushed away with Henry. It was all happening so fast, the rush into danger. What if the fire was out of control? What if he got hurt?
I felt like I’d just got him, and I wasn’t sure my heart would keep beating if something happened to him.
Could I lose him?
“Adelina, we have to go.”
I could hear Zane’s voice, but it sounded muffled, as if he was speaking through a thick blanket.
I knew I had to leave, but my feet were rooted to the shore. I just couldn’t bear if anything happened to Rocco.
“The boat won’t get close. The emergency crew is probably there already. Rocco only wants to help, but don’t worry. He won’t risk hurting himself.”
My head jerked, and a giggle rose in my throat. We both knew that it wasn’t Rocco, who saw danger and charged toward it.Heck, he charged into my grandparents’ house with a judge and married me before a funeral.He was romantic and frustratingly persistent. Once he decided on something, he went all in—something I admired in him but also feared. Rocco may not have found a limit yet, but one was out there.
My gaze fixated on the thick smoke still billowing from across the island.The fear of losing him gripped me like a vise.
“I don’t want to do this, Adelina, but Rocco told me if I need to carry you back, I can. I’d prefer you just come with me, Okay?” His threat snapped me out of my haze, and I glared over at him.
Zane was doing his job, and I would never risk putting him in a bad position. “Promise to give me updates, no matter how bad.”
“I promise,” Zane said without hesitation, and I liked him for that. We finally left the cafe to go to the curb, where another one of Rocco’s staff was waiting in a parked car.
“Sorry. Thank you for waiting,” I told him.
“No problem,” he told me.
Boom.
I jumped at the sound of an explosion, and turned back. I could see more fire and smoke.It must be worse from that loud noise. “We can’t leave—”
“Sorry, Adelina. I have to follow orders. Please trust me and try not to worry.”
But how could I not?
I walked with him back to the car, still turning to see what I could behind us as we drove as we had when we arrived on the island, but this route had more fruit trees and fragrant colorful flowers. Though it was beautiful, my heart was worried.He’ll be okay, Lina.When we got to the Marinis’ gate, the driver put in a code then drove in and parked. We walked together up to the first floor. There, he stopped and told me, “He’ll be fine. If you need me, just give me a call. All right?”
“Sure, thank you.”
I tried to distract myself by taking a quick shower and settling down in a zip-front tunic to read a mystery book from the library, but I couldn’t keep my mind off Rocco. An hour hadpassed and he still wasn’t here and I hadn’t heard from Zane.If he’s hurt, Rocco would tell me, right? If he could tell me….
I rang Zane’s number, but it went straight to voicemail.
Then, my phone buzzed with a call.