Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 118245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 591(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 591(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
Gabriella was on her knees in the dirt, desperately clutching at a still burning wood beam.
Alfonso was pinned face down underneath it.
“Help me! Help me!” she cried out.
Benedict and I pushed her aside so we could each wrap our hands around the massive support beam. The sickening smell of burnt hair and scorched flesh made me gag and choke as I fought my body’s primal instinct to release my grip.
I opened my mouth in a silent yell, straining with my brother to lift the heavy beam off our friend.
Matteo yanked on Alfonso’s feet as soon as he was clear, pulling him from under it.
Gabriella turned him over. “Alfonso? Alfonso!”
Her hands frantically moved over his chest and face.
Ignoring the searing pain in my burnt hands, I bent down and shouldered Alfonso’s right arm as Benedict did the same on his left side. We dragged his unconscious body to a clearing upwind of the blaze.
The moment we laid him on the grass, Gabriella fell over him. “Alfonso! Open your eyes! Please, open your eyes!”
Her tears made dirty tracks down her cheeks through the soot.
Benedict and I exchanged a look as we stared down at Alfonso’s slack features.
Enzo returned with Dr. Pantona in his wake.
Benedict wrapped his arms around Gabriella’s middle and forced her away from him.
“Let me go! Let me go!” she shrieked, her arms straining to reach out to Alfonso.
Benedict held on firmly. “Give the doctor room, love.”
He turned her in his arms and clutched her to his chest.
I fell to my knees beside Alfonso and grabbed his hand in my injured one as Dr. Pantona pressed his fingers against his neck, searching for signs of life.
Tears blocked my vision and burned my previously heat-dried eyes as I tightened my grip on Alfonso’s hand. The scorching pain in my palm and fingers anchoring me. “Come on, old friend. Stop lazing around. There’s work still to be done.”
Shrill sirens and a truck's horn blast signaled the arrival of reinforcements. With the added manpower of the fire brigade, I knew the already waning fire would soon be under control.
Dr. Pantona leaned over Alfonso and pressed his ear to his chest.
Everything stopped.
All the chaos around us stilled.
It seemed as if even the flames froze in jagged spikes as they reached for the now darkened skies.
We all waited, holding our breaths, willing him to hear a heartbeat.
Leaning back, the doctor met my gaze and slowly shook his head.
Gabriella broke free of Benedict’s grasp as she threw herself over Alfonso’s lifeless body. “Nooooooo!”
Her heartbreaking sobs ripped my soul to shreds.
“Do something! Save him!”
Dr. Pantona tried to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Gabriella, he’s—”
She bared her teeth at him. “Don’t you say it. Don’t you dare fucking say it!”
Her palms gripped Alfonso’s face, before she raised her arm and slapped him. “Alfonso! Wake up! Don’t leave me! Wake up, damn you!”
Then her small hands curled into fists as she pounded on his chest, in a desperate attempt to get the heart she loved, the heart that was so strong and brave, so loving and loyal, to beat at least one more time. Her signature gold bangles rattling with each strike to his unresponsive chest.
“He’s not dead! He’s not dead! He’s not dead!” she raged through her sobs.
Her black hair was in a tangled disarray, whipping across her face as she turned her head, looking at us with wild eyes. “Help him! Please!”
My throat tightened, making words almost impossible as I reached over and placed my larger hands over her fists, stilling them. “He’s gone, Gabriella. Let him rest.”
She pulled her hands free and gripped her hair, throwing her head back and wailing before falling forward over his body, burying her face against his neck as she clutched at his shirt.
Benedict went down on his haunches and tried to pull her back. “Come away, love. We need to move him.”
She rounded on him. “Don’t you touch him!” She then cradled Alfonso’s head in her lap and bent over his body, holding him close as she rocked back and forth, sobbing.
Another cry pierced the air. Despite her advanced pregnancy, Milana came running toward us.
Before she reached Alfonso’s body, Cesare intercepted her, sweeping her up into his arms. Milana stretched out her arm over his shoulder as her face contorted with grief. “Alfonso! Nooo!”
Despite their relatively short acquaintance, I knew she’d shared a special bond with Alfonso.
This shock could endanger her already risky pregnancy.
I shared a look with Dr. Pantona, who nodded. “I’ll go to her. Then I’ll see to the other injuries.”
Dammit. My men. The winery. My responsibilities.
My head rose in time to see Sebastian taking control in that ruthlessly efficient, cold manner of his. He caught my gaze and nodded before raising his arm and shouting out more orders.
With that, my gaze returned to my old friend. Disbelief fighting reality.