“No.” I step in front of Dan, hoping Angelos will listen to reason, but Angelos squeezes his eyes shut.
The crack of the gunshot splits the air.
Blind, searing pain rips through my abdomen. My breath rushes from my lungs like a tidal wave sucked out to sea. I stagger backwards, clutching my side beneath my breast. Warm liquid spills through my fingers. I look down at my red-stained hand. So much red.
The room tilts, everything spinning around me, voices muffle, but through the din, one voice stands out.
Angelos screams, his voice splintered with horror. “Mum!”
I barely hear Dan shouting, or the surrounding chaos. My legs buckle, but Dan catches me. I’m floating, a bright light shines through the window as if shining just for me, but I fight it for my son. And for Dan. For the life he promised.
“Mummy, I’m sorry.” My boy’s tears splash my cheeks.
I lift a trembling hand, cupping his wet face, my palm so weak I can hardly feel him. My breath is shallow. Every inhale is a battle.
“This isn’t your fault, son.” Dan’s voice cracks as if he’s speaking the words I long to say.
The world dims at the edges as I fade into the light.
“Rose. Stay with me, Rose.” Dan’s voice pulls me back like an anchor. His grey eyes, dull like unpolished steel submerged in water. Pressure under my ribs makes it difficult to breathe and I feel the pull to the light again where it was peaceful.
Dan’s voice roars over me, ragged with rage and fear. “Get a fucking ambulance.” He barks like a wounded animal. “If she dies—so do you!”
My chest rises and falls in painful heaves. I fight for every breath, dragging air into my lungs through sheer will alone. “Angel—” I can’t get his full name out. My voice is as thin as a petal.
“Mum,” Angelos sobs, shaking me.
I force my gaze to meet his, his beautiful face blurred by my fading sight. It’s hard to speak. I can barely breathe. So much chaos, but I hold my son’s gaze through his watery eyes. “Dan’s…” I say the words on each exhale. “Your…” My voice is a whisper now. “Father.” I’m slipping into that cold, quiet place.
No.
Not yet.
With everything I have left, I force the words out on a broken exhale before the darkness swallows me whole.
“Trust him.” The moment the words leave my lips, I’m weightless, falling into darkness, the present slipping through my fingers. Noise around me fades until it’s just echoes and I’m back there. Not now. Not again. But my mind drags me back to the first time my world fell apart.
Back in the shadows of the past…
Screams from downstairs pierce my ears as if they’re happening right now. Dan’s voice is gone, replaced by the alarms of memory as sirens wail, splitting the early morning silence.
I yank my dressing gown closed, and rush to the window.
Police cars race down the long drive of my family estate, lights flashing blue against the stone walls.
Panic crushes my chest. Dan. Where’s Dan? Have they found him? Are they arresting him? They don’t know he’s with me.
I run down the hall with bare feet.
Elio’s voice booms as I take the stairs. “Don’t touch anything!”
I freeze on the bottom step. "What’s going on?"
Mamma rushes to me, clutching me to her chest. "Thank God you’re safe."
But I twist away from her arms, my pulse thundering in my ears. Blood. So much blood. Only this time it’s not mine, but it might as well be if Dan’s dead, then so am I.
Blood smears the wall. A crimson trail leads me to the dining room.
