Page 112 of Sins of the Son

Tripping over something the moment I crossed the threshold.

It was Milana’s motionless body.

I fell to my knees and clutched her to me, howling with rage and fear.

I cried out her name over and over again. She didn’t respond.

Pressing my ear to her chest, I couldn’t hear or feel a heartbeat.

I placed my hand to her face.

Her skin was cool to the touch.

Her usually pretty pink lips were tinged with blue.

Desperately holding onto her, I swept her into my arms and ran down the corridor to reach the fresh air. I was met by staff and security guards. I didn’t break my stride as I shouted at them to get an ambulance, then called out a description of the man who drew me away from Milana. “Find the bastard! No one gets off this property!”

I burst through the veranda doors in time to see Vito, Enzo, and my father sprinting across the fields toward me. In the far distance I could hear the wail of the ambulanza.

I dropped to my knees, laid Milana on the soft grass and started CPR after frantically searching for any signs of life as I leaned over her. “Come on, babygirl. Come on, baby. Please, Milana. Please, baby. Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me, baby. Come on, Milana. Breathe, carissima. Breathe for me, baby.”

Nothing.

She lay there. Motionless.

I pressed my ear to her chest then my fingers to her throat, but still couldn’t detect a heartbeat.

My father laid a hand on my shoulder. “Cesare….”

I knew what he was trying to say but refused to accept it.

I shrugged him off violently. “Back off. She’s not fucking dead.”

I returned my attention to Milana and started compressions again. “Come on, baby. Fight! Goddamn it. Fight!” I yelled.

The ambulanza careened onto the property, rolling over several bushes and potted plants. Two paramedici came flying out of the back of the ambulanza before it had even come to a full stop. One was carrying a black medical duffel bag. The other had an oxygen tank.

As they neared us, an agonizing scream pierced the air.

Amara ran headlong from the villa toward us. Papà caught her before she reached Milana’s motionless body. He could barely hold her back as she shrieked and despairingly stretched out her arms to try and reach her closest friend.

One of the paramedici tried to shove me out of the way. I let out a feral growl, refusing to budge. Enzo and Vito grabbed me under the arms and had to physically pull me from Milana’s body.

Enzo pleaded with me. “Let them do their job, brother! Let them try to save her!”

I opened my mouth and let out a roar of anguish, forced to helplessly stand by and watch the life drain away from the woman I loved.

Time seemed to stand still as the paramedici checked for a pulse.

No one said a word.

No one moved.

No one breathed.

The very birds seemed to fall silent as we waited.

He looked up at his partner and… nodded.

---