Page 52 of That Time I Accidentally Took Over the Mafia

But thank fucking God, I see the most beautiful sight I’ve ever beheld: Luca and Jax at the next bridge, standing by a massive black SUV. Luca removes his jacket, something slung over his shoulder, and climbs over the bridge’s railing. Holding on, he times himself to dive in just ahead of us.

“Luca.” It comes out like a garbled plea, but he hears me. Pain flashes across his face, and I see fear in his eyes. But I’m so fucking happy to see him and Jax. No matter what, I know they’ll get us out of this river.

“We’re going to make it,” I tell Enzo, hoping he knows he’s going to be fine and that we’ll all be together.

Tears blend with the water assaulting me, but I focus on Luca. His hard gaze locks onto mine, acting like a tether.

With his arms outstretched, Luca dives into the river. I feel his grip on me before he surfaces, and my heart splits in two with relief.

“I’ve got you.” Luca’s dark hair clings to his face, and he shakes his head to clear it so he can see. The weight of Enzo is dramatically lighter with Luca’s help. In seconds, he secures a harness around Enzo, letting go of me only briefly. Then he’s holding Enzo’s collar with one hand and wrapping his other arm tightly around my waist.

“Luca.” His name is all I can manage, my thoughts too scattered for more. It becomes my prayer.

“Jax will pull him up, okay?” he yells over the current.

“Don’t leave him!” Panic surges through me at the thought of losing Enzo. “We can’t leave him, Luca. He’s not waking up.” Tears stream down my face as the reality of our situation sinks in.

“I won’t leave either of you, Lenny.” His grip on me tightens, as if to prove his point.

Suddenly, the thick rope fixed to Enzo’s harness pulls taut, but we’re carried under the bridge before it catches, halting our movement in the current.

“There’s only one crank, so we’re going to have to climb,” he calls out as I watch Enzo being lifted from the water. His head lolls, his limbs are slack, and my heart shatters. “He’ll be okay. Just hold onto me, Lenny.”

He kicks hard, grabbing another rope secured to his own harness. Hand over fist, he pulls against the water. “Get on my back and hold on tight. No matter what, don’t let go, or I’m coming in after you.”

“Okay,” I manage, though I know he’s not looking for an answer.

Luca grabs the rope over and over, pulling us upward. “We’re almost there,” he huffs, his voice strained but determined.

I adjust my grip and look up just in time to see Jax hauling Enzo over the railing. Seeing him so vulnerable, so still, feels like a violation of the natural order of the universe.

Enzo is sturdy. An immovable pillar of resolve. Not this lifeless body being dragged from the river.

With a few more pulls, the top of the bridge is within reach. “Don’t let go yet, Len.”

“Okay.” My answer is weak, barely audible. The thought of Enzo dying is crushing me, like the river’s current still has a hold on my soul.

Luca braces his feet against a knot in the rope and reaches for the railing. His muscles strain, cords tightening as he lifts us higher. “Grab on now, baby. You can do it.”

I stretch my arms toward the railing, but my muscles feel like jelly, useless and weak. Gritting my teeth, I dig deep, grunting with effort as I pull myself upward. “Good girl, Lenny. Keep going. You’re almost there.”

Luca continues to support me, his hand steadying my back. Finally, I manage to hook my knee over the edge, and with one last push from Luca, I’m on the bridge.

I immediately turn back, reaching for Luca’s harness. My fingers fumble, but I don’t stop pulling, determined to help him climb. He moves quickly now, hand over hand, until he’s finally over the railing.

As soon as he’s on solid ground, Luca’s arm snakes around me, holding me tightly. We collapse against the railing, both of us trembling with exhaustion and adrenaline as Luca holds me upright.

But the moment of relief shatters when I see Enzo’s body lying still. Jax is over him, performing mouth-to-mouth.

My knees buckle, and I crumble to the ground. Luca catches me, his arms wrapping around me like a protective cocoon as we sink together. He holds me tightly against his chest, his long legs bracketing me like a shield.

“It’ll be okay, baby. It’ll be okay,” he murmurs, his voice low and soothing. But I can’t look away from Enzo. Not for a second.

Jax leans over Enzo, his face tight with concentration as he forces air into his lungs. Over and over. Desperation rolls off him in waves. My pulse pounds in my ears, each beat dragging on like an eternity.

Then, a miracle: Enzo’s chest jerks once, then again, more violently this time. I gasp, hope surging through me.

He’s breathing. It’s shallow and ragged, but it’s breathing.

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