“Cease it!” I cry out, my physique shaking. “Cease it!”

“You’re defending him?” Luciano barks an offended snigger as blood pours over his palms. “He fucking offered you out. He doesn’t care about anybody however himself!”

“That’s… not…” Giovanni croaks out, however his phrases are reduce off when Luciano drives the knife again into his abdomen.

I scream and scream, however Luciano doesn’t cease. There’s an excessive amount of blood, an excessive amount of ache.

My imaginative and prescient blurs, and I succumb to the sinister darkness, greeting it like an extended misplaced buddy.

Luca

I’ve felt ache earlier than. I’ve felt loss like no different; my mom, my father. I didn’t suppose something might examine to that feeling. Not till 5 days in the past.

My entire world got here crashing down the second I noticed Sera’s deserted SUV. I’ve tried to compartmentalize, tried to stay level-headed, however when somebody you care about is taken from you, and also you’re on borrowed time to seek out them, there’s actually just one response.

I run my palms by my hair for the millionth time, watching the ripples within the pool because the rain falls. The raindrops bounce round me; on the patio, on the furnishings, on my pores and skin. It’s the primary time in months that we’ve had any rain and it’s simply one other punch within the intestine of how fucked up this example is. Not even the climate can include its unhappiness over what has occurred.

We had no alternative however to inform Sera’s father. Properly, it was Levi that informed him, and he’s been sporting a black eye ever since. It might have been worse, although. Don Bianchi had each proper to finish our lives for what we allowed to occur to his daughter. We had been supposed to guard her. The one cause he’s holding again from killing us now’s as a result of we made a rattling promise that we’d get his daughter again, and I’ll gladly take the punishment if we are able to’t ship on that promise. I do know I’m not the one one blaming myself for what occurred. We’re all harboring some type of guilt, wishing we had been there or shut sufficient to forestall this from occurring.

It’s nearly 4 within the morning, and sleep hasn’t come to me. I don’t care that I’m simply in my sweatpants, drenched from the rain as I stare into the gap and attempt to coax some thought of the place Sera may very well be. I’m previous the purpose of tiredness, regardless that I really feel like I’m operating on fumes. 5 days of regularly feeling like a free screw tends to ship you down a darkish path.

I’ve been there as soon as earlier than, when my father died. I reasoned my guilt with my anger and pushed my blame onto Sera. I misplaced myself in liquor and girls to cowl that truth I used to be hurting. However now… now I don’t have anybody guilty however myself. Now, I can’t even ponder disorientating myself as a result of how are you going to once you already really feel so desolate?

I’ve needed to sit and take heed to Raf drone on about GPS and VPNs. I don’t have a clue what he’s speaking about, which solely confirms simply how far out of the loop I’m.

The twins have searched all recognized locations with the assistance of The Vultures, and so they’ve returned with nothing. We’re all slowly breaking, and as every day passes, we’re rising an increasing number of determined.

We don’t know what Luciano has deliberate for Sera, and honestly, I don’t even need to give it some thought. All I do know is that she isn’t useless. He would have made a present about it by now as a result of as soon as a pacesetter dies, the Elders request an emergency assembly with all of the households to appoint a substitute. That hasn’t occurred but, and it’s the one silver lining I’m clinging onto.

“Luca,” Levi’s voice calls out by the torrential rain, simply as damaged and misplaced as I’m.

I don’t look again although, I simply concentrate on cascading water dousing the already full pool.

His arms wrap round my neck, pulling my soaked again in opposition to his chest, his legs framing both facet of mine. “You must get some sleep,” he whispers sweetly.

That’s the factor about Levi. I believed I used to be the stronger certainly one of us, however it appears my doubts and insecurities run deeper after I’m round him. I chalk it as much as the unusual dynamic we’ve been thrown into, however I do know it’s way more than that. I’m afraid; afraid of dropping him as effectively.

“I can’t,” I grunt again. “I can’t sleep figuring out she’s on the market, hurting.” I swallow previous the lump in my throat. I’m grateful for the rain that falls, mixing with the recent tears rolling down my cheeks. I’m additionally grateful that my again is dealing with Levi, so he can’t see how damaged I’m.

Levi has already seen me cry. However figuring out it hurts him simply as a lot as Sera’s disappearance does, means I attempt to conceal it to keep away from the guilt suffocating me.

“We’re going to get her again,” he replies with conviction, holding me tighter. The heat of his pores and skin soothes the coolness from the rain, however it doesn’t heat the death-like grip on my chest. “However you have to relaxation. And when she’s again, we are able to get our revenge.”

“This goes well beyond revenge now,” I murmur. “I’m going to tear the Verdis aside. I’m going to make them remorse ever touching her within the first place. This isn’t only for my father, however for her, too.”

Levi grips my chin, tilting my face sideways as he leans over my shoulder. “And I’ll be there with you, holding them down.” He presses a mushy, rain drenched kiss to my lips. “However we are able to’t harm folks whereas we’re hurting. We are able to’t save Sera if we don’t relaxation.”

I hate that Levi is correct. We’re no good to anybody exhausted and fragile, however sleep isn’t my buddy for the time being. And the ache digging deeper in my chest on the absence of our chief retains me unsleeping.

Urgent my brow to his, I enjoy his contact. We’ve been so distant this previous week, and I do know it hasn’t helped issues. I’ve pushed him away, however like a goddamn boomerang, the fool simply retains coming again. It ought to trouble me that he received’t go away me alone, however the reality is I’m glad. I don’t need to take into consideration dropping him, too, and that solely cements these ideas consuming away at me. The ideas I attempt to ignore, however they solely shout louder. My emotions for Sera are in equal measure to the best way I really feel about Levi. I’m falling for the asshole and there isn’t a single factor I can do about it.

“Why do it’s important to make sense?” I whisper, smiling weakly.

“As a result of certainly one of us has to,” he shrugs. “I do know you’re misplaced, I’m too. However I would like you, Luca. I would like you by my facet as a result of I can’t lead this crew to Sera with out you.”

My abdomen twists into knots, realizing how egocentric I’ve been. I’ve burdened myself with my very own guilt, whereas everybody else has been pushing by to seek out our chief. I’m not the one one hurting, however I’ve carried out fuck all to assist the state of affairs.

Disgrace pulls on the knots, unhappiness threading its manner by. “I’m sorry.”

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