Page 88 of The Bonventi Rise

It's Gio.

"Let me go!" I yell, trying to free myself from his iron grip. "Marco! I need to?—"

"You need to let them take him," Gio says, his voice firm but gentle. "The medics are his best option."

My entire body shuts down as I watch the paramedics wheel Marco away. His body is limp, his face so pale, and blood seeps through the hastily applied bandages on his chest. I can't tear my eyes away from the spreading stain.

"Marco," I whisper, my voice cracking. "Please, don't leave me," I say as they pass with him.

Gio's hand on my arm is the only thing keeping me upright as I focus on Marco disappearing into the ambulance.

"Let me go with him," I plead, trying to pull myself free from Gio's grip. "I need to be with him!"

"Alina, stop," Gio says, his voice low and firm in my ear. "You can't help him now. Let them work. I'll drive you."

"I'm not leaving him?—"

"Alina, you're barefoot and in shock. Let me take you."

I want to scream at him, to claw his eyes out for keeping me from Marco. But deep down, I know he's right. What could I do? Hold his hand while he bleeds out? The thought makes me sick.

The ambulance doors slam shut, and the siren screams to life. I watch it pull away in utter disbelief.

"He can't die, Gio," I sob, my knees finally giving out. Gio catches me before I hit the ground.

"He can't..."

My words dissolve into incoherent sobs. I cling to Gio's shirt, burying my face against his chest.

"Breathe, Alina. Just breathe," Gio says, his hand awkwardly patting my back. "Let's go."

As Gio walks to his car, Enzo and Livia approach. Livia is in tears and runs to hug me.

"I should have been here," I choke out. "If I'd been here, maybe..."

"You could have been hurt too. He wouldn't want that," Livia cuts me off, hugging me tightly. "You know he wouldn't."

"What do we do now?" I ask, my voice small and broken.

Enzo looks down at me. "We go to the hospital. We wait. And if you pray, now's a good time."

As we drive, the lights blur together, and I'm unable to focus. I feel so numb, like I'm detached from myself.

Gio's hands grip the steering wheel tightly, and I can see the worry in his eyes. Neither of us knows what to say.

He catches me looking at him.

"Marco's strong. He'll make it," he says, but I can hear the uncertainty in his voice. "He'll pull through all right."

I nod, crying. "I never got to tell him..." The words slip out before I can stop them.

"Tell him what?" Gio asks, looking at me.

My hand instinctively moves to my stomach, resting there for a moment before I catch myself. I open my mouth, but no words come out. How can I tell Gio when I couldn't even tell Marco?

"Alina," Gio presses gently. "Tell him what?"

I shake my head, tears blurring my vision again. "I can't," I choke out. "I can't say it. Not until, not until I know he's okay."