I start to climb and slip, scraping my hands. But I don’t give up. I reach a limb that hovers over the wall. I climb onto the wall, looking down the other side. It’s possible I’m going to break something getting off here, but what choice do I have?
I turn on my stomach and lower myself over until I’m hanging by my hands down the other side. Finally, I let go and land hard on the ground. The shock of it jolts up my legs, but nothing is broken, thank God.
The Dante estate is miles away, but I know these streets, so putting one foot in front of the other, I start walking. Each step sends fresh waves of pain through my side. I bunch up my shirtto press over the wound. It doesn’t stop the bleeding entirely, but hopefully, it slows it.
I hear a car coming and immediately step off the road to hide in the foliage, the branches of the bushes scratching at my arms and face. When it passes, I wait until I’m sure they can’t see me in the rearview mirror and then begin walking again.
By the time I reach the outskirts of the Dante estate, my vision blurs. The wound at my side pulses. I've gone too long without proper food or water. But my baby… I can't fail now.
I force myself onward. The tall iron gates of the Dante estate materialize before me. Cameras track my approach, and I know guards are probably watching.
Do they recognize me? Will they even let me in? Or will Alessandro have ordered them to turn me away? Or worse, shoot me on sight.
I stumble up to the intercom, leaving bloody fingerprints on the button I press.
"Please," I rasp. "I need to see Don Dante."
“Who is this?”
“Mrs. Dante… Isabella Dante.”
There’s a pause and then, "We have strict orders about the Vitale family. No exceptions."
I press my forehead against the call box. My legs threaten to give out beneath me. But I won’t give up. Not after everything I've endured. Not when I'm so close.
"Please," I beg. "My brother is planning an attack on the mansion."
"Step away from the gate, Mrs. Dante." The voice hardens.
"I need to see Alessandro!" Desperation gives me one final surge of strength. "They're going to kill him!"
"Ma'am, if you don't leave the property?—"
"Then shoot me!" I cry out. "If Alessandro won't see me, then put a bullet in my head right here, because I'm already dead."
The world tilts, the edges of my vision darkening. I slide down to my knees, strength finally abandoning me. I guess it all ends here.
The gate buzzes, then slowly begins to slide open. Two guards rush toward me, weapons drawn.
“Before you kill me…” I start, wanting Alessandro to know about the baby. To give him a chance to want it.
“We’re not going to kill you, Mrs. Dante.”
I try to stand, to show them I can walk on my own power, but my body refuses to obey.
They lift me under each shoulder and drag me to the house.
This is it. My only chance to save Alessandro and our baby.
32
ALESSANDRO
I'm in my office when I get a call from security. "Sir, Isabella Vitale is at the gates. We’ve told her to go, but… well, she doesn’t look good.”
My first instinct is to tell him to send her away. The betrayal still burns like acid. But what do they mean, she doesn’t look good?
"Bring her in. Search her first and watch for any sign that it’s an ambush.”
