Page 69 of Bianchi

Pushing into the room, we move further into the space, keeping our wits about us. Just because it looks like everyone’s down doesn’t mean they are.

Angelo walks in from the other side of the room. Two of his team drag in an older guy with a bullet wound in his leg. Dragging a chair into the middle of the room, he indicates for the man to be seated. I move forward, popping a brow in question as I reach them.

“We found him trying to hide in one of the rooms. He tried to run.”

Now that I’m closer, I can see this guy isn’t Russian. My radio chirps and Massimo’s voice fills my ears, cutting off my question to Angelo on why he’s still alive.

“Rome, I’ve got her.” He pauses, and I can hear the hesitation. “She’s… she’s not looking good.”

I’m moving in the direction I know he would have entered, even as I question, “Where are you?”

My scalp prickles and a tightness in my chest twists and tugs with every step I take. It feels like an eternity before I pull open the door and see Massimo standing at the end of a long corridor. A metal door to his left is propped open, and as I get closer, he moves to stand on the threshold and my eyes bounce around the features of his face. He opens his mouth to speak before he thinks better of it.

“Is she still alive?” I rasp.

His body is blocking the room so I can’t see in. He rests a hand on my shoulder, but I shrug it away, my teeth grinding. Massimo meets my gaze, his words soft and his tone sounding more mature than I’ve ever heard him. “She’s alive, Rome. But she’s in really bad shape.” I push him out of the way, clutching onto the doorframe to keep myself upright when my eyes land on her.

All that matters is that she’s alive.

She’s propped on the edge of the cot, with one of Massimo’s men crouched down in front of her, wrapping a cloth around her thigh. On the floor is a blood-soaked sheet. Her right cheek is puffy, and her eye swollen shut. Dried blood covers her face and the T-shirt she left wearing five days ago. Every inch of exposed skin has evidence of her ordeal covering it. I want to burn the world to the ground just so I try to give her some semblance of justice.

There’s a pounding in my ears and I dig my fingers into the metal of the doorjamb to keep myself from doing something I shouldn’t. I clear my throat and Massimo’s guy stands, his eyes widening a fraction when they meet mine. He moves to the side and Aurora lifts her chin. It trembles and even from the other side of the room, I can see the tears welling in her eyes.

She’s unsteady when she stands and I push the strap around my body, dropping my gun onto my back as I move further into the room. She limps toward me, landing against my chest with a soft thud that causes her to hiss. I wrap my arms around her, careful not to squeeze her as tightly as I want to before I gently place kisses on the top of her head. My hand soothes up and down her back and I breathe in the scent of her hair, the smell reminding me of the torment she’s been through.

All because of me.

Pushing out of my arms, she steps back, a look of surprise on her beautiful but bruised face. She rolls her eyes before shaking her head. Muttering to herself, she asks, “What am I doing?” Her brows furrow and a harsh look takes over her features. “You left me here to die.”

I reach for her, but she takes another step back.

“Mia amato, I’m here now.”

The corners of her mouth lift in a disbelieving smile and she scoffs. “And that makes it all better?”

Ignoring her question, I hold my arm out and take a step forward. “Let’s get you to Doc and then we can talk.”

She shifts her weight off her injured leg. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”

I’m vaguely aware of Massimo’s man hurrying from the room when I say, “Just let me get you taken care of. I’ll spend the rest of my life righting my wrong, Aurora. I promise you that.” My tone is low and cajoling when I continue, “Come, I’ll help you. You won’t make it more than a few steps on your own, bellissima.”

I hold out my hand, and she stares at it for the longest time before reluctantly slipping her own into it. Some of the tension leaves my body at that small sign of acquiescence. I know the fight to keep her isn’t over yet, but whatever she wants, I’ll give it to her.

Even if it means losing her?

Chapter 45

Aurora

Romeo wraps his arm around my waist and I lean into him for support, while trying to keep as much of my body away from him as possible. His clean scent is like a balm to my aching heart, but it’s one I need to resist. If these past few days have taught me anything, it’s that my priorities have changed and I need to figure out my future. The one I wasn’t sure I’d get.

The one without him in it.

The thought has a sharp sting forming at the back of my throat, and I press my lips together as I force it away. I’ve cried enough over the past couple of days to last me a lifetime. Wallowing in my self-pity hasn’t gotten me very far and now that I have a second chance at life, I’m going to grab it with both hands.

Romeo moves us across the room slowly and when we reach the door, my eyes meet Massimo’s before I avert them to the floor. Something suspiciously close to sympathy shines in the depths. Of all the people here, I don’t want or need him to care about me. In fact, the sooner I can get away from both of these men, the better.

Massimo straightens and addresses Romeo, “Angelo said that the guy they’ve got is claiming to be Aurora’s uncle and that he was taken by the Russians too.”

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