The two seemed to share some hidden message I wasn’t privy to.
“You and your brother are like sons to me. Your father is… he is like family. Tell him I said that.”
“Tell him yourself. Raphael, son of a bitch. Don’t you dare…” Luc wailed.
“I always liked that you called me Raphael. My mom used to hate when people shortened my name. You showed me respect always, and I appreciated it. Please take care of my little girl. She really loves you.”
“No. Boss, no. Don’t.” Luc cried.
“Dad, what are you doing?” I cried, catching his attention.
He looked back to me and smiled. “Amore mio, the rope can’t take the weight of the two of us. It can’t, not for the two of us. Listen to me sweet girl and climb up.”
As if on cue, we heard a crack. Dad held up his knife and smiled. A tear ran down his cheek.
“Dad, no!” I screamed. I knew just by looking at him what he meant to do. I knew it, but I didn’t want to accept it.
“Amelia Rossi, remember when I said I’d love you with my last breath? I meant it.”
With one slash, he cut through the rope above him and below my feet.
“Dad, noooo! Please take my hand. Papa!! Papa!”
Everything stilled around me, like time froze again. I watched horrified at what was happening.
Another slash severed the rope. It severed the rope with a snap, and Dad was falling away from me.
He looked up at me as he went down.
Falling away…
Falling… away.
Falling…
It happened so fast. It all happened so fast.
One minute he was there, and the next he was falling away from me.
My father…
He’d cut himself free from the rope to save me.
My screams echoed all around. Inside and outside of me.
Chapter 19
Amelia
* * *
“Amelia!” Luc cried.
I couldn’t look at him. I couldn’t look away from where Dad had fallen.
Although I couldn’t see where he landed, I didn’t want to look away. It felt like letting go. Letting go of him.
I couldn’t let go.
