Page 6 of Broken Mafia Prince
“Okay,” I agree immediately.
“There’s a switchblade in my pocket. The seatbelt is mangled from the crash. You need to cut me out.”
Nodding, I move to reach into her pocket. That’s when I notice the shards of the windshield digging into her arms, blood dripping down.
“Don’t worry about my arm,” she says, voice strained. “Just cut me out.”
My hands tremble as I grab the switchblade, trying to cut through the thick strap. The dull blade barely makes a mark.
“It’s not working,” I say, my voice breaking. “Why isn’t it working?!”
The car groans again, and I hear the horrifying screech of metal. The car shifts, sliding backward. Mama screams, her eyes wide with terror.
When she looks at me again, there’s no fear, only sadness.
“You need to leave,” she insists. “You can’t save?—”
A gunshot rings through the air, cutting her off.
I spin around, heart pounding. Papa stands a distance away, gun in hand, a man on the ground. The man drops to his knees and then falls backward down the cliff.
“Papa!” I scream, running toward him. “You have to help! She’s stuck, and the car—it’s falling! There’s blood everywhere, I’m scared!”
Papa’s long legs cover the distance in seconds. He scoops me up into his arms, and I bury myself in him, a little bit comforted by his familiar scent.
“Where’s Val?” He drops me to the ground by the car, then kneels, drawing a wicked-looking blade from his boot.
“She is under her blanket, asleep,” I whisper, my throat tight. I want so badly to hear her voice now. I promise, I’m never going to tease her again.
Papa’s too busy trying to slice through the seatbelt. Mama murmurs a prayer, her face wet with tears.
The car groans again, rocks crumbling from the edge.
“Faster,amore mio.” Mama’s voice shakes, soft and full of fear.
Papa pulls at the seatbelt, his muscles straining. He’s almost through when the car shifts again, creaking like it’s about to break.
“You need to save Valentina—quickly. Get her out of the car. Now!” Mama screams at him.
“I’ll get you both out!” But his voice doesn’t sound sure. “I’ll?—”
There’s a terrible groan, and then a sickening crack splits the air. The car slides down the incline.
Time slows down. The SUV shakes, and the cliff’s edge gives way.
“No!” I whisper, stretching my hand toward the car, but it’s too far away. “No, no, no!”
“Giulia.” Mama’s voice is soft, like a lullaby. “I love you.”
Then the car tips, its black wheels losing their grip. Time freezes as it screeches against the rocks and falls off the cliff.
Papa grabs me, pulling us away from the edge just as the SUV plunges down. I try to push him away, crawling toward the cliff. I scream, my throat burning, but my voice is swallowed by the sound of waves crashing below.
Papa drops to his knees, his hands pressed to his face.
All my fear of heights fades away, swallowed by the horror of watching Mama and Val fall, Mama’s scream echoing in my ears.
My world breaks apart. Tears blur my sight, and the wind howls, carrying a song I’ll never hear again.
