Aurora comes back with the honey and several bottles of water, setting them on the table in front of the couch. I bring the soaked sheets to her side, and she rips them into strips. It’s so odd these kind of things seem so common in their lives, but I’m not asking questions.
“Spread the honey across the burns and layer the wet cloths on top, it will help to prevent the spread of infection until Sanaa can get here. I have to go and get my laptop. I’ll be right back,” Breaker says, kissing his wife’s head and rushing out the front door.
“Bash,” Matteo groans, and I drop to his side.
“I’m here. You’re gonna be fine. I will kill Luca for this, I promise you that. He will die by my hand.” I vow, and he smirks.
“Yeah, that sounds good. But Bash, the dog…” Teo says, coughing harshly. Rory winces as she drapes the cloth strips over his chest.
“Don’t worry about him, Matteo. I know you did everything you could. Vanessa will understand that it was-” I say, but he shakes his head.
“Bash, the dog ran. He’s the one who alerted me to the fire. I was able to get out because he was pulling me out of bed. I tried to get to the front door, but the ceiling collapsed. That’s how I got this,” he says, gesturing towards his burns. “We were trapped. He pulled me through the house to the back door. When I kicked it open, he ran. He’s out there somewhere, Sebastian.”
“Jesus fucking Christ. Who would’ve thought Douglas was such a hero?” I reply, dragging a hand down my face. “We will find him. Just rest. Let us take care of you, too.”
“You have to drink this, Matteo. Burns cause dehydration very quickly, you have to drink way more than you think is necessary.” Rory tells him, holding a water bottle to his lips and helping him drink.
“Okay, I think I might’ve found her,” Breaker says, coming back into the apartment with his computer in one hand and a backpack in the other.
“Well, that was quick.” I reply.
“There are very few times that statement applied to me, but when it comes to my job, it’s accurate.” he says, and Rory snorts.
“Gross. You found her?” I ask, gesturing to his computer.
“Yeah, she must have her earbud on her. It’s pinging her location near the shipping docks outside of Charleston. Only about half an hour from here.” He replies as I retreat to the bedroom.
Grabbing my duffel bag from the closet, I unpack the small arsenal I have stored here. I never imagined a war breaking out from the apartment, but I’m always prepared for anything. Walking back into the kitchen, I set the bag on the island before shrugging into my suit jacket. This ends now. I won’t tiptoe around Luca any longer, he will die today.
“I’m coming with you,” Matteo says, attempting to sit up from his position on the couch.
“Easy there, killer. You’re not going anywhere,” Rory says, pushing his good shoulder back down. “He cannot go. These burns are way too severe. He won’t survive a gunshot or worse. Honestly, I’m not sure he would survive the car ride, Sebastian.”
“She’s right, Teo. You have to stay here. You have a doctor on the way?” I ask, and Breaker nods.
“The best doc I know. Tate was Navy, attached to our unit for years. Matteo is in expert hands. I can go with you, Seb,” he replies, and his wife tenses.
“I won’t ask this of you. You’ve done enough to help me, and I’m incredibly grateful. But this is my mess, I won’t ask you to risk your life.” I tell him, but he’s already packing his bag and checking his weapon.
“Good thing I’m not doing it for you. We love Vanessa, Sebastian. I won’t let you walk into some unknown situation if I could’ve helped save her. This is a family. It’s what we do.” He kisses Aurora, her hands clinging to his t-shirt desperately.
“Come back to me, Jason. I’m too young to be a widow.” she says, and he smirks.
“Yes, princess. I promise.” He gives her one last kiss on her temple before grabbing his bag and leaving the apartment.
“Please take care of him. I will reach out to Fortuna and send a team for extraction as soon as I can. They will transport him to the plane and back to Italy as soon as your doctor deems him stable to travel. Thank you, Rory.” I tell her, and she hugs me tightly.
“Bring my girl back.” She whispers, and I squeeze her tighter.
“I will.”
twenty-eight
“How couldyou do this to your own daughter?!” I scream at my parents, and my father sneers.
“How could we? How could you! You left us with nothing, Vanessa! You had a duty to this family, and you ran away so selfishly! And all this time, you’ve been fucking the don of one of the wealthiest families in the fucking world and you didn’t think for even a second to take care of your own family?” My father shouts, his tan skin turning red with anger.
“You are no fucking family of mine! You are the most disgusting people I’ve ever known, and I wish you were both fucking dead!” I yell back at him from the chair across from my sister, and he slaps me hard enough to make my ears ring.