Page 34 of Savage Hearts

“Celestina, baby, can you hear me?” Pressing my fingers to her throat, I felt no pulse. “Goddamn it. What did she take?”

I tilted her head back and blew into her mouth, her chest rising and falling with each puff of air. As I started compressions on her chest, Alex dropped beside me.

“Let me help you.”

Massimo emerged from the bathroom. “Michael,” he held the bottle up. “How many oxy was there?” Massimo shakes the now empty container.

“Fuck, I don’t know, Massimo.” Michael ran his hand through his hair. “It’s been a long time since I’ve needed those. I think there were maybe six or seven pills left… I don’t know.” He fisted his locks in frustration as Antonio wrapped him in an embrace.

I continued to blow life into the woman I knew I couldn’t live without as Alex diligently pumped her chest.

“This is my fault. I should have told her weeks ago I didn’t blame her. Carmela has a mind of her own and would have snuck her out regardless of my protests. My guilt and anger aren’t Celestina’s fault—I should’ve told her that. It’s my own for not telling Carmela how I felt about her or how this wasn’t anyone’s fault by the man who took her.”

“Tell her that when she wakes up.”

Catarina dropped to her knees, holding a bag. “Move.” She shoved Alex out of the way. “Hold her head still for me.” I watched as she shoved something up her nose and depressed the plunger. “Please, baby sis… come back to us.”

“What did you give her?”

“Narcan. Hopefully, it’s not too late.”

Holding her head steady, I waited for what felt like an eternity when finally, her eyes popped open, and she gasped. I fell to my ass as her head turned frantically, confusion marring her features. Pulling her into my lap, I rocked her against my body.

“I’ve got you, baby. I’ve got you.”

The sound of thundering footsteps caused me to jerk my head up. A man dropped beside us, a medical bag hitting the ground.

“Lay her back.”

Shifting her in my arms, I moved so he could have access to look at her, but I wasn’t about to let her go.

“I’m not putting her down.”

“Fine. Celestina, honey, can you hear me?” He shined a pin light in her eyes, lifting each lid to inspect her pupils. “Do we know how many she took?” He looked at Massimo, who held out the empty bottle for him.

“Maybe 6 or 7.” Catarina’s eyes welled with tears. “I gave her the Narcan… but I don’t know if—”

“Catarina.” He cut her off. “I need you to go to my truck and grab the fluids on the passenger seat.” Turning toward me, he nodded down to her half-conscious frame. “Can you carry her upstairs to a bed? I need to get her hooked up to some equipment and start an IV.”

“Equipment?”

Michael stepped forward. “It’s a long story, Beckett, but we have everything here someone would need at a hospital, minus the big shit like a CT machine. I’ll go grab the monitors and get them upstairs.” He turned to Lorenzo and Filippo, who stood by like sentries. “Can you two help me get everything?”

“Yes… of course.” They followed him out of the room, leaving me to stand with Celestina in my hold.

“You can put her in the spare bedroom, where Michael slept when he first came home.”

“No. I’ll take her to our room. I’m not leaving her side.”

I climbed the steps, every member of the family hot on my feet. When we stepped into the living room, Sofia Bianchi stepped out of Miguel Angel's embrace.

“How is she?”

“Breathing”— was all I could muster as I turned the corner and moved up the steps to our room — “Where is my daughter?” I asked, stepping and seeing the bassinet, which reminded me of her absence.

“Rachel and the others have her, Beckett. She’s safe. Take care of my sister, and we will watch over Becks.” Massimo stood beside me, resting his hand on my back. “I had no idea she was battling this inside her. I failed her.”

“No… this is my fault. Had I not left her, she’d be here, and so would your sister. But I swear to you with all that I am, Massimo. You have my loyalty… and she has my heart.”

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