Page 195 of The Devil's Fire

“Damiano…” I let out a pained cry and Damiano abruptly stopped running.

“Shit…” Luca whispered.

I looked at Damiano in horror when I felt it. His expression mirrored mine. I looked down, seeing large streams of blood flowing down my shaking legs.

“No…” Damiano breathed out in a whisper.

Tears silently made their way down my face as he closed the distance between us. He pulled me tightly into his body, his arms around me as if he was trying to shield me.

My eyes closed, and darkness enveloped me, releasing me from the torment of my reality, and leaving behind a heart shattered into irreparable pieces.

sixty-three

Damiano

I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she lay on the hospital bed. Needles were injected into her arms, while her forehead, legs, and feet were all bandaged. Her feet were badly cut up from running through the woods barefoot. Her entire body was bruised and slowly showed discoloration.

She looked almost… lifeless.

“When will she wake up?” I asked Ellie while she changed Althaia’s blood-soaked bandages.

“It’s hard to tell. Her body shut down and is trying its best to recover after experiencing extensive trauma. And with the blood loss, too, I wouldn’t be surprised if she needed another day or two.” Ellie sighed, and I gave a short nod.

I couldn’t help but look down at Ellie’s small baby bump and then glance at Althaia’s flat stomach. My chest tightened at the sight. I averted my eyes and looked out the window, trying to shut down from feeling anything at the moment.

But fucking hell, it was hitting hard.

I was happy for Antonio and his wife. Still, the universe was laughing in my face by doing this to me. I knew I was being punished for every sin I had committed; punishing me for every single life I had killed and taken pleasure in doing so.

I was being punished through the one I loved, and the universe took away our baby.

“There’s something else I need to discuss with you.” Ellie said carefully. “I’ll need to perform a dilation and curettage to remove the remains from the uterus.”

“Ellie.”

“Yes?”

“Get out.”

“Of course; however, it’s urgent to minimize the risk of infection and toxicity. I’ll be back in a bit.” Ellie closed the door behind her, and my gaze returned to Althaia.

I let out a breath as I slowly approached her, taking a seat beside her.

“What have I done to you?” I whispered as I cradled her in my arms. I promised to protect her, and I failed. “I’m sorry, baby, I’m so sorry.”

“I’ve brought you a change of clothes.” Arianna said as she walked in, carrying a garment bag with her. Ellie and Giovanni followed right after, his fist clenching as he looked at Althaia. He didn’t want to leave her side. The furthest he would go was right outside the door.

The entire area was heavily guarded with my armed men at every entrance. I couldn’t risk another surprise attack while Althaia was trying to recover.

“Damiano, you need to get some rest. It’s been two days.” Arianna sighed.

“I’m not leaving her.” I snapped. I refused to leave her. I felt like if I let her out of my sight, she would die.

“She’s going to wake up soon, and you won’t be of any help if you pass out from sleep deprivation.” She spoke softly.

“We’ll be here.” Giovanni assured me.

“Or at least take a shower. You don’t want her to freak out when she wakes up.” Arianna said, and after a while, I agreed.

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