My senses were slowly coming back on. My sons were holding on, Mariano repeating my name in a hush, Matteo as silent as a tear, but the impact was gut wrenching.
“Brando. Look at me. Brando.”
Something cool—something beside a tear—touched my face. A wet washcloth.
“Scar—” I had to stop, clear my throat. “Scar.”
“Open your eyes, man. Then we’ll talk.”
Seeing her—the moment came back to me as if I’d just been in it. My wife standing outside. Looking toward the woods. Spinning on her heel. The fear on her face. Her eyes. Adrenaline surged up in me, making me rise.
“Hold on,” Mitch said, steadying me. “Get a—!”
I turned my face to the side and retched, barely missing Matteo. The sudden movement seemed to jar the contents of my stomach loose, and as it all came forward, my head spun in vicious circles.
“Mi—” I could hardly speak, my words jumbled. I could hardly remember what I needed to say. Somehow, they came to me, as though they were on reserve. “I. Need. To. Get. Up. He—my wife.”
“Yeah, we know,” he said, not without sympathy. “The sheriff is pulling up now.”
“Mamma.” Mia sniffed. “I want my mamma.”
I blinked, and the world finally came into view. It was as if the force of the object had trapped me in a tight space, and then with wakefulness, the world expanded so I had a panoramic view. Three of our children were huddled next to each other. Mia held each of her brother’s hands. Each child looked at me expectantly.
I went to stand but was waylaid by my own equilibrium. I fell to my knees and Mia gasped, coming over to help me. I waved her away, not wanting to hurt her if I tried again and fell. This time Mitch and Everett stepped up to help me, and with their support, I got to my feet.
“Take it easy, man,” Mitch said. “Let us help.”
“Where is my wife,” I said, each word almost punctuated, as they sat me on a chair at the kitchen table. If someone told me that the bastard had killed my wife and ran, I’d make sure he was dead before I left this world.
“Nemours took her,” Everett said. “He left a note pinned to your chest.”
A breath hissed out of my mouth when Mitch touched the back of my head. He whistled and then, a moment later, passed out on the floor. Silvio pulled him to the side, slapped him a couple of times until he started to moan, and then he came over to gaze at the back of my head.
“The note,” I said. The words were coming more easily now. “Tell me.”
Lifting my hand to my chest, I felt it. The puncture wound.
“Long story short.” Everett sighed. “He is going to make her suffer for her sins. You will suffer knowing she is.”
He spun on his heel and his fist went through the wall. “My daughter!” he roared.
At that moment, Scarlett’s mother came through the door, the sheriff on her heels. In the distance sirens wailed.
Before I could say the words, she answered, holding the children close. “Marciano is with Lola and Eunice. He’s safe and hidden.”
“Take my children,” I said. “I want them all together.”
“Papà!”
Mia dislodged herself from her grandmother’s hold, slamming into me so hard that my head went dark again.
“Mia,” I whispered against her hair. “Take care of your brothers. Listen to me.”
“I knew! I knew something was wrong,Papà!”
“I know you did, my heart.” I kissed her. “Go now. Go withBabica.”
She held on to me as hard as she could, and then she sniffed and lifted her chin—her mamma to the bone. Turning, she took her brothers by each of their hands and followed her grandmother out. Two guards stood by the door, waiting.
