Page 104 of Third Degree

“Now, what are we going to do about Angelo?” Ricardo’s tone shifted, his mind already strategizing our next move. “How do we make him sever ties?”

“It’s simple,” I asserted confidently. “He nearly killed his own daughter. Once he realizes that, he’ll have no choice but to concede. Despite being a monstrous man, there’s a twisted part of him that doesn’t want his daughter dead. He believes he was acting in her best interest, in his warped reality.”

Ricardo nodded, acknowledging the truth in my words.

“I’ll pay him a visit as soon as Gianna is stable. In the meantime, let’s ensure her name doesn’t leak out as one of the victims. We don’t want him getting wind of it before I deliver the surprise.”

“You got it, Elio. Let’s make this our final act of defiance against the Ricci family,” Ricardo declared, a hint of amusement to his tone.

I mustered a small chuckle, appreciating the shared sentiment. With that, we ended the call, and I hurried back into the hospital, settling back into the waiting room, where anxiety gnawed at my insides while I awaited the doctor’s update.

33

Gianna

Beep.

Beep.

I was so tired. My arm felt heavy. I couldn’t see anything. I was stuck in a world of darkness. My choice to live was gone. Elio was gone. No one could find Chelsea.

It was so dark and cold in this place. So cold. It reminded me of the time when the man had taken me. It was so familiar.

“Please, Papa, save me,” I begged, but I wasn’t sure if the words were actually coming from my mouth.

Bile threatened to rise in my throat.

Help. Me.

“Open your eyes, Gianna.” I heard someone say.

I tried so hard to obey, but they stung. So much pain shot through my shoulder, and that was when I remembered seeing my cousin Rina.

“Rina?” I tried to use my voice to say it aloud, but I realized that nothing was coming out.

I was dead. No one found me when I was trying to hide from Carlo, and I was dead.

There was no more Elio. Our life had just started and yet the darkness had taken me down too soon. I was finally kidnapped by the monster in my room. He took me.

Suddenly, I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. A warm, soothing hand.

“Stay strong for him,” a soft, familiar voice urged, though its owner remained unknown.

“Hello?” Lost in a black abyss, I strained to comprehend. The soothing touch persisted, dulling the pain coursing from my shoulder.

The voice repeated, “For Elio.”

In that moment, I understood. I had to return to him. His touch, his words—I craved them.

I had to celebrate more birthdays with him. I had to garden with him. Our time had always been cut short. We were always running against a clock. Not this time. There was no clock because I was coming back. I had to go back. As soon as I finished taking the rest I needed… I would go back.

34

Elio

It had been twenty-four hours since Gianna was out of surgery, and she had not woken up yet. There were moments when her body kept twitching, but aside from that, nothing.

The nurse came in and checked Gianna’s vitals. “You should go get some rest,” she assured me.

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