Page 141 of Carnal

"P-Papà?" I say, blinking again.

"Come on, bro. You can do it," Massimo claims.

I try to keep my eyes open, but it's too hard. I begin to fall back asleep when I hear Dante.

He declares, "The doctor said he'll be in soon."

"He's trying to wake up," Gianni informs him.

Doctor?

What's he talking about?

The beeping continues. I rack my brain, trying to figure out what's happening and why I would need a doctor. Visions of Pina and me in the shower flood my mind. It shifts to me kneeling, proposing, and her accepting. Then, we're racing through New York on my motorcycle. A black van appears, and I'm sailing through the air.

My eyes fly open, and I try to sit up, but I can barely move.

Papà holds me down. "Stay still, Tristano."

My voice cracks. "Pina! Where is she?"

Papà's face hardens. He stays quiet.

Dread fills me. I glance at my brothers, swallowing down bile and asking a question that I think might be the cause of my death. "Is she dead?"

No one speaks. The expression on their faces creates new panic within me. My insides quiver and my eyes tear up. I stare at Dante and whisper, "She's dead?"

Papà answers, "We don't know."

I snap my face toward him, creating a sharp pain in my neck. I wince, confused and interrogating, "What do you mean, you don't know?"

Papà takes a deep breath then states, "Do you remember what happened?"

"A black van was following us. I'm assuming it was the Abruzzos. We got hit, and all I remember is flying through the air. Now, tell me where Pina is," I demand.

"They took her," Dante says.

My stomach violently flips. I reach for it, but my torso and shoulder erupt in shooting pain.

"Easy. You have broken ribs and a torn shoulder," Gianni asserts.

"What do you mean they took her?" I seethe through gritted teeth, closing my eyes to help contain the dizziness.

Papà answers, "As soon as she hit the ground, they picked her up and put her in one of the vans. Then they took off. Luca's gone through all the city cameras, but they disappeared somewhere in Brownsville."

More fear fills me. I declare, "That's one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in New York. Pina doesn't belong there."

Papà nods. "Yes. We're doing everything we can to find her."

I explode, "Then why are all of you here?"

"Easy," Papà repeats.

"Get out of here and find my fiancée," I order.

"Your fiancée?" Dante asks.

A knife cuts through my chest as I attempt to breathe. I lock eyes with him. "We've been together for months."

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