“I’m listening now.”

Patrick pauses, seeming to truly take into account Dad’s provide. Igor notices and growls. “The hell you pondering, O’Leary? The lady is married to me now.”

Patrick tilts his head within the Russian’s course however retains his eyes educated on my dad. “Not till that license is filed, she isn’t. What did you bear in mind, Dante?”

“Marry Rose to Michael. Make their son reliable and inheritor to each of our households.”

“And your seat?”

Dad clenches his jaw; the ache on his face is obvious as day, and I do know he’s going to say sure.

However earlier than Dad can give up, Igor rushes ahead, the metal blade of a knife in his hand catching within the fluorescent lights.

Time slows as a couple of issues occur abruptly.

Rose lets out a scream as Igor plunges the knife into her aspect.I shout and push ahead, determined to get to her aspect.Blood immediately stains her white costume. Patrick subconsciously releases her, and he or she falls to the bottom, her arms clenching her aspect the place blood seeps by way of her fingers like water by way of paper.

Patrick swings his gun at Igor and fires. The Russian stumbles backward, knocking right into a desk holding dozens of ceremonial candles. It crashes to the bottom, and flames ignite the lace curtains, climbing excessive to the ceiling in mere seconds.

A second gunshot rings by way of the air, and a physique falls close to me, however I can’t inform who it’s. I focus solely on Rose, who lies just a few toes earlier than me. I attain out for her. She sees me and tries to succeed in me too. Tears cascade in twin currents down her face as she mouths my identify.

The perimeters of my imaginative and prescient are fading to black.

God, I actually do love her. I need the possibility to inform her that day by day, if given the possibility, however there’s no redemption for me. No miracle to bestow on me. My depraved life has come to an in depth. My darkish decisions have all the time led up to now. I’m simply pleased that, for a second, I used to be blessed to know an angel and be cherished by her.

“Mia piccola rosa,” I whisper on an exhale. I like you, Rose.

My soul feels at peace. Even my demons fall silent as a heaviness I’ve by no means recognized falls over me, stealing my breath. Darkness swoops in, dragging me down, and I do know no extra.

34

Rose

One week later

“He seems to be like Aiden did as a child,” Grace admires her nephew in her arms.

I peer at Liam’s sleeping face and smile, seeing the resemblance to our little brother. “I used to be pondering the identical factor the opposite day. Till he opens his eyes, that’s.”

That’s when he seems to be like his dad.

My sister’s hand lands on my knee. She squeezes it gently. “Michael’s going to be okay.”

It’s been one week because the marriage ceremony and fireplace on the church. One week since Michael was positioned in a medically induced coma from issues of the gunshot wound my father gave him. However he’s alive. One thing everybody jogs my memory of a number of instances a day as a result of it’s one thing I want to listen to usually.

I lean again within the hospital chair and swallow again the painful groan when my stitches pull on my aspect. If Grace sees it, she’ll go tattle to Gabriella, who will then inform my physician, and I refuse to spend a day longer than crucial on this mattress.

Seems, Igor did extra injury than a easy stab wound. He nicked one in every of my ovaries, and whereas the medical doctors fought laborious to put it aside, they have been compelled to take away it. I’m coming to phrases with the information that I solely have one ovary now. It should make conceiving sooner or later harder however not unattainable.

If I nonetheless have a future with Michael, that’s.

Grace eyes me, noticing my stiff motion. “Rose—”

I frown. “Don’t even take into consideration telling Gabriella. Immediately is the primary day I’ve been in a position to stroll alone to the rattling lavatory.”

Grace holds her arms up in give up. “Positive. Simply don’t come crying to me if you pop a sew from pushing your self too laborious, too quick.”

“I gained’t as a result of…I gained’t,” I reply childishly, incomes a watch roll from my huge sister. I attain out, take her hand, and squeeze it. “I’m so glad you’re right here.”

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