Page 55

Chapter 55

Constantine

A violent pain filled my chest, shattering the lightweight feeling of peace that had surrounded me. I jolted forward, coughing up water.

“Constantine!”

“. . . he’s . . . oh my God!”

“Dad? Dad!”

Voices swirled around me, overlapping, jumbled. Words slipped in and out of my mind as I choked on the water still lodged in my lungs, my body sluggish to respond.

“Constantine.” Juliette. That was her. I was sure of it.

I turned my head, gasping for air. Sharp, ragged intakes as I tried to figure out where I was and what had happened. My body was still trembling.

I’d just been somewhere else. Far away from here. Much warmer, more colorful, and with so much light.

“Juliette,” I rasped, my throat raw from the water.

Hands were everywhere, trying to help me sit, but I couldn’t quite make out who was around me. Everything blurred together, my senses still lagging behind reality.

“You were dead,” someone whispered. “It’s a miracle.” Was that Izzy?

Izzy’s here? Why is she here?

“Dad.”

At my son’s voice, I fought to focus, pushing through the fog.

“I’m here,” I managed, searching blindly until I found his hand. I heard sobs of relief around me. “I’m here,” I repeated, trying to squeeze his fingers. “And I love you, too. I love you both.”

“You heard me?” he cried out. “But you were . . .?”

I was what? Someone helped me try to sit again, wrapping something around me. A dry shirt? Blanket?

I blinked against the harsh brightness, my vision struggling to adjust. Around me, people were crowded on the rocks, their faces still blurred at the edges of my awareness. Sirens wailed somewhere off in the distance. Not good.

“The countdown . . . time . . . how much left?” I mumbled, still half out of it.

“Emilia bought us some time with the police, but we need to get you out of here before they arrive. We have a Zodiac ready to take you to the yacht. It’s close by.”

Was that Hudson?

“Is everyone okay?” I forced out, only to collapse back, my body too weak to hold itself upright. “Did any of us die?”

“Just you, man. Just you.” Alessandro? “And don’t you ever do it again.”

I closed my eyes, still shaking. Pain tore through my chest and up my back.

Everything after that became hazy flashes of movement, voices drifting in and out, until I realized we were on the yacht, and I was in the bedroom below deck.

“Where are we going?” My voice was hoarse. My throat still sore.

“You’re going to the hospital.” Juliette was next to me on the bed, holding my hand. “You scared me.”

“You scared all of us,” Enzo muttered from somewhere in the room.

I blinked, shifting my gaze from the angel who saved me to track down my brother. The room was packed. Colin, Alessandro, Izzy, and Hudson were there, too.

“I missed that sniper,” Hudson said, shaking his head as Izzy clung to him. “I’m so fucking sorry he got you.”

“No,” I whispered, my voice still ragged. “I’m not.”

Hudson frowned. “What?”

“I got to see Bianca.”

At my remark, a heavy silence fell over the room.

Shock flashed across Enzo’s face. “What?”

I exhaled slowly, the memory forming so clearly in my mind it was as if she were right there with us. It was real. I knew it was. It had to be.

“Want to know what Heaven’s like?” Tears burned the corners of my eyes, one slipping down my cheek. “I didn’t go to Hell. Can ya believe that?”

A rough, breathless laugh broke from me, but my chest seized at the attempt, my lungs on fire. Even after everything, even after nearly dying, I was still trying to mask my emotions.

Enzo stepped closer, his arms slack at his sides. “You saw her?” His gaze locked on to mine as chills swept through me.

“I did.” I shifted my focus to Alessandro, Izzy, and then back to Enzo. “She’s good. Really good. At peace.”

I hadn’t wanted to leave her, but she made me. I refrained from sharing that detail, though.

Enzo cupped his mouth, eyes falling to the floor as he processed. Something told me he didn’t think I was crazy. That he believed me.

More tears fell as I gasped—not for air, but to stop the sob building in my throat.

“There was all this light. Color everywhere. Colors I’ve never seen here on earth.” The knot in my throat tightened. “Bianca was waiting for me, standing in a sundress as real as you are in front of me now. Not some floating something-or-other I’d have expected. I, uh, it was . . .” I didn’t know how to describe what I’d experienced since it was truly otherworldly. “She told me it wasn’t my time.” I shared a few more details I could remember, including Bianca’s message to share her love to everyone. “I was on the edge of Heaven, not at the gates of Hell. I was . . . forgiven.”

The sob I’d been trying to hold back finally broke free, and Juliette leaned in and brought her cheek to my chest, hugging me.

I let myself cry in front of everyone, and for once, I didn’t care. It was as freeing as that serenity I’d felt with my sister in Heaven.

“I heard your voices. I could see you trying to save me,” I said after a few quiet minutes had passed. “Your love for me. Reciting scripture. Your voices and love brought me back.”

Juliette lifted her head from my chest, crying.

At the sound of Colin’s cries, I searched him out and gestured for him to get on the bed with us.

The room cleared out, giving the three of us a moment alone as a family.

My family.

“Thank you for keeping your promise, Dad,” he whispered a few minutes later. His expression was still caught somewhere between relief and disbelief. “Lennon’s alive thanks to you. Even her brother and Daniel survived.” He shook his head, grimacing. “I guess everyone deserves a second chance.”

I reached for his face, dragging the back of my hand over his cheek. In that moment, he barely looked and sounded more than ten years old, his dark eyes full of innocence. “Those two can get their second chance in prison.”

A slow smile crossed his lips. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

I let my hand fall to my chest, resting it on the blanket.

Before I had a chance to say more, Alessandro burst into the room. “Callie’s having contractions. She’s heading to the hospital.”

I tried to sit, but Juliette pressed me back down.

“I don’t have time to get to our jet in Rome, so Sebastian’s lending me his. His plane’s closer to the safe house.”

Juliette asked him something about Callie’s contractions before offering reassurance. “You might have time to get there.”

Alessandro’s jaw tightened. “Callie’s not letting our baby come until I’m at her side. She’s stubborn.” He forced a smile. “Well, she’s going to do her damnedest.”

“If I can come back from the dead, you can make it to Nashville in time.” My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard. “You’ll get there. I have faith.”

Alessandro held my gaze for a moment before nodding. “We’re about to dock,” he said, his voice rough. His eyes glistened, like he was on the verge of tears. “You sure you’re gonna be okay?”

I turned my head toward Juliette. “I’m more than okay. Go, that’s an order.”

“Yeah, okay.” Alessandro hesitated only a second before turning for the door. “Love you, brother.”

He was gone before I had a chance to say it back.

“We’re turning into a bunch of softies, I swear,” I muttered. The laugh that followed sent pain lancing through my chest. “You went to town on those compressions, huh? Lucky you didn’t crack one of my ribs.” I smirked at her. “Thanks for saving me, by the way.”

Juliette wiped away a tear, smiling. “You never have to thank me for saving you.” She winked, and damn, I wanted to pull her into my arms and kiss her.

I just had to find the energy first. Maybe when we were alone.

“What were we talking about before he came in?” I asked Colin.

At some point, he and Juliette must have changed into dry clothes. I vaguely recalled them being soaking wet beside me on the rocks.

“Oh, um. Actually, I was about to ask you something.” Colin stood, pulling at the corner of his mouth like he was nervous. “Since we’re on this side of the world already, and I’m still suspended, I was wondering if we could make a pit stop in Ireland?” He glanced back and forth between us. “Lennon would like to visit her mom at rehab. Maybe even see her dad in prison. I don’t want her going without me.”

He watched us, waiting, the hope all too clear in his eyes.

“If it’s okay with your mom,” I said, “then it’s fine with me. We need to give Sebastian and the McGregors a ride back to Dublin anyway.”

“So, what you’re saying is that it’s meant to be.” Colin lifted his brows a few times.

I smirked. “What do you think?”

Juliette took hold of my hand. “I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland.” She smiled, then shooed him away. “Go give Lennon the good news and give your father and me a minute alone.”

“That I can do!” Colin grinned and pulled the door closed behind him.

I looped my arm around Juliette and patted her side, a silent request for her to get even closer. She hesitated before shifting onto my lap, carefully keeping her weight off my chest.

“I’m not hurting you, am I?” she murmured, brushing her lips over mine.

“Not at all.”

I kissed her back, but at my muffled groan, she started to pull away.

“Wait, you’re in pain.” She tried to move off me, but I stopped her.

“No, you’re not going anywhere, miss.”

She chuckled. “Are you . . .?” Sitting up slightly, her gaze dropped to my crotch. Her lips twitched. “. . . hard?”

“You know exactly what happens when you’re on top of me. What can I say?” I bent my arm, propping my head up to better see her. The most beautiful woman in the world. “Not even a near-death experience can stop me from being turned on by you.”

She leaned in again, kissing me, and I smiled against her mouth, warmth spreading through me. I’d never been happier. Never felt more at peace (well, on earth, at least).

“Now, what was that you were saying while I was, uh, outside my body?” I closed one eye. “Hmm. Something about love?” Now that I was myself again, I needed to hear those words. “Did you mean that?”

She arched a brow, but I caught how her lips tugged into a smile. “Did you mean it when you said it back?”

I cupped her face, ignoring the pain as I shifted upright. My voice was still hoarse, but this time, not from drowning. “If it were anyone else, this would all be impossible,” I admitted. “But it’s you , and time doesn’t matter.” I exhaled. “I love you, Juliette Carmichael. I love you so damn much.”

“Good.” Her voice wavered, and when a tear slipped free, I caught it with my thumb. “Because I love you, too, Constantine Costa.”

I tilted my head. “Mm. I kind of like how Colin said it. Effing Costa.”

Her laughter faded into a quiet sigh. “What are we going to do with that boy?”

I kissed her nose, then brought my mouth to hers. “I don’t know . . . but we’ll figure it out together.”