“Alessio,” she said my name, repeating it. “Alessio. Alessio.”
“Sì, it’s me. Alessio.” I put her in the front passenger’s seat, then ran to the driver’s side. “Aaron, how are you doing?” I asked, driving off.
Gia didn’t appear well, but she turned back to look at Aaron. “Oh my God!” she screamed. “He’s dead! Aaron is dead.”
He groaned, “Not me, Dino.”
Gia’s hands shook violently as she turned back on her chair and sobbed.
I couldn’t keep my eyes on her, needing to get us out of the orange grove and to safety. I was just glad to have her with me, again.
Aaron was correct. Dino was dead. I’d heard the gunshots. They’d caught up to him and blown out the back window, hitting him in the head. By the time I’d gotten close enough, the other car was gone, and Dino was slumped over the steering wheel.
Regretfully, I’d mistakenly shot Aaron in the shoulder. He’d spooked me and my gun went off. I helped him into the backseat, removed Dino from the front seat and put him in the trunk on top of Gia’s shopping bags, and we got the hell out of there.
No question there would be others coming for me, but I still didn’t know who these fuckers were after me.
Finally, out of the trees and onto the road, I reached my hand out to touch Gia. She’d fallen quiet minutes ago. “We’ll be home soon, Dolcezza.” Calling her sweetness seemed like the perfect pet name. “Did you hear me?”
She didn’t respond.
I reached for her face, patted it gently but she was unresponsive. “Cristo!” I slammed my foot on the gas pedal. She must have passed out from the whole ordeal.
What a fucking night. The worst I’d had in a long time. But what worried me the most was if Giovanna regretted marrying me. I would do anything to make it up to her. To make her feel safe with her new family and safe with me.
“Are you still with me, Aaron?”
A low grunt came from the back. Good enough for me. He’d heard me and responded. I glanced at Gia again. I was certain she would be okay. Having the fright of her life had been too much for her, and for that, I would never forgive myself for putting her in such a dangerous situation.
“Nothing will keep you down, my friend. Just keep fighting,” I told Aaron.
When we arrived at Remotti Estates, I’d blared on the horn, signaling an emergency. Soldiers ran out their bunkhouses, the stables, and the main house like an army of fire ants and met me.
“Take Aaron inside. He’s been shot.” I barked several orders as I took Gia out of the car and carried her inside. She didn’t stir or open her eyes.
“What happened?” My father appeared and when he saw me, his eyes bulged. “You’re hurt!”
“It’s just a cut on my eyebrow. The blood is dry. Gia passed out.” I imagined I looked worse than I was because my cut had opened back up and I hadn’t been able to keep the napkin on it. Itook the stairs two at a time. “Aaron needs immediate care. Dino is in the trunk.” I stopped and made eye contact with my papà.
“È morto?” he asked.
“Sì, he’s dead,” I confirmed.
“Mio Dio.” He made the sign of the cross. “Dear God.”
“Get Marta so she can help me with Giovanna.” I continued onto Gia’s suite and pressed my lips against her head.
“Sì.”
Entering her room, I flicked the light switch with my elbow and placed her gently on the bed. Now that I could see her in the light, I examined her body. Her beautiful dress was shredded and her coat had mud on it from the damp dirt. Her legs were covered in cuts and bruises, and the bottom of her feet were far worse.
I covered my face with my hands and wept. “My beautiful wife. This should not have happened to you. I failed to protect you.” My shoulders shook as I sobbed.
I would find the fuckers who killed Dino and destroyed Gia’s innocence.
“Signore, let me take care of her.” Marta patted the back of my shoulder. “I clean her up. Okay?”
“Sì. I’ll be back. Don’t leave her alone.”
