Page 92 of Broken Vows

“She’s wounded,” Dominic calls out as he crouches by her side where she’s half-hidden by the barrels and machinery. “But she’s breathing,” he says. “We need to get her medical attention, pronto.”

Already he’s pulled out his phone to make a call.

“Fuck,” Matteo hisses, but doesn’t lower his gun. “Burley, Carla is out stone cold, too. Get on with it.”

I’m swooped up in Benedict’s arms and watch as Burley carefully gathers Carla in a gentle hold. It’s only once Benedict has lowered me into the car seat that I realize I might never see my husband alive again.

48

GIGI

I’m shattered. I just left Stephano. And that after he told me he loves me.

He let me go.

He forced me to leave because he was going to flip, and he didn’t want me to watch him potentially die. The mere thought makes me want to break free and run back to him, but I can’t. Benedict made sure to carry me, still bound and gagged, into a dead-end road that was empty. He helps me into a back passenger seat of and SUV that’s parked right outside the warehouse’s garage door. Nobody is going to notice what’s happening here.

I glance to where Burley has carefully propped Carla up next to me and is now holding her head. She moans, but doesn’t open her eyes as he straps her in.

“There’s no blood, and she’s coming to,” he says as he flicks his gaze to mine. “Both good signs.”

Benedict holds my gaze for a long second. “Don’t run back inside, Gigi. Any distraction can cost him.”

I nod. He cuts the ties binding my legs and wrists. I’ve never felt this helpless in my life. I’m free, but I can’t run to the man I love. I can’t protect him. I couldn’t even protect my sister.

My body trembles without my restraints, and I struggle to get a grip on the duct tape covering my mouth. I rip it off in batches that burn my sensitive skin. I must give Stephano the space he needs, but I can still be there for my sister.

“Carla, sweetheart.”

I reach for her hand, my heart in my throat, but she’s still out of it. I meet Benedict’s gaze as he leans in on that side, but everything is blurry with the tears in my eyes.

“Concussion at a minimum,” Burley says as he cuts her ties.

“She could lose the baby.”

“I know,” Benedict says. “The doctors will do their best.”

“You know about the baby?”

“It’s going to be okay.” Benedict gets into the front passenger’s seat. “We’re going to the clinic immediately.”

“See you on the other side,” Burley says as he closes Carla’s door.

As we drive off, panic flares in my chest. Stephano said those words to me too.

“What do you guys mean?” I ask as I lean forward to touch Benedict’s shoulder. “See you on the other side?”

He turns to look at me. “See you in Hell? But we aim for at home at the after-party.”

Oh, God.

Those words are their final goodbye in case they get killed. A light way of saying so many things.We’re in this together. I’ve got your back as I know you have mine. We’ll make it. And if we don’t, we’ll catch up in Hell. I’ll find you there, and we’ll carry on as normal.Remember, I love you.

I’ve left my tormented angel behind to fight his own demons. I close my eyes and weep, praying Stephano will come home.

Benedict makes several calls as we head out of the industrial harbor area and back into the city. One call is to Luca. I can’t make out what’s happening from his one-way, one-word conversation with his brother, and when he rings off, the tension radiates off him.

“How bad is it?” I venture to ask. I’d hate for her to be dead. This unknown woman who was as much Franco’s hostage as we were.

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