Valentina.
“Matteo!”
The scream ripped from my throat, raw and primal, echoing off the walls. My hands trembled as I pressed them harder against the gaping wound on his neck. Blood seeped between my fingers, warm and sticky, staining my skin and my soul.
“No, no, no,” I choked out, my voice cracking as I leaned over him. “Matteo, stay with me. Please, stay with me.”
His face was getting paler with every second that passed, his chest rising and falling in those shallow, uneven rhythms.
I pressed harder against the wound, ignoring the way my hands shook, ignoring the tears streaming down my face. “You’re not leaving me,” I whispered fiercely. “Do you hear me? You’re not allowed to leave me!”
“Somebody, help!”
Anybody.
Isabella stood near the edge of the room, arms crossed and face unreadable. Her lips twisted into that maddening, faint smirk as Luca’s… there had to be his… men darted around her, their boots pounding against the floor.
The moment the faint wail of sirens broke through the silence, I watched them run like rats abandoning a sinking ship.
“Cowards,” I spat under my breath, my voice trembling with fury. I shot my sister a venomous glare. “You’re just going to stand there? After everything your lover did, you’re just going to leave?”
Isabella tilted her head, her expression cool and detached. “There’s nothing I can do for him, Valentina. Goodbye.”
“Don’t you dare!” I screamed after her, my voice echoing through the room.
But Isabella was already backing away, disappearing into the shadows alongside the others.
The sirens grew louder, their piercing wails cutting through the thick tension. A new wave of fear passed through me as I turned back to Matteo. His breathing had grown shallower, each rasping gasp sending fresh panic through my chest.
“Help is coming,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Just hold on, Matteo. Please.”
My head snapped up as the door burst open, a flood of figures rushing into the room. Lorenzo’s men were the first, guns drawn and faces grim.
Did he have an arsenal of them?
They scanned the room, their eyes landing on Luca’s lifeless body before turning to the blood-soaked mess around them.
Then came the others. Valerie… it had been so long since I saw her, her face pale with worry, and Ethan, whose eyes flickered between the carnage and us. Behind them, the unmistakable uniforms of the police added to the chaotic scene.
“Get away from him!” A gruff voice barked as one of Lorenzo’s men rushed toward me.
“No!” I screamed, my arms wrapping protectively around Matteo’s limp body. I glared up at the man, scrunching up my face. “You’re not taking him! He needs me!”
“Valentina,” Lorenzo’s voice cut through the chaos, firm but not unkind.
When had he gotten here?
He took a step forward, eyes softening as he took me in. “We need to move him. The medics are on their way, but if we don’t…”
He was right, of course.
I knew I had to, but I just couldn’t.
So I yelled with my hoarse voice. “I said no!” I slapped the man’s hand as he tried to reach for Mattwo. “You’re not taking him from me!”
“Valentina, stop!” Valerie’s voice was gentle but firm as she knelt beside me. She placed a steadying hand on my shoulder, her grip grounding me in place. “They’re trying to help him.”
That was it.
My resolve cracked, a sob escaping nylon lips as I turned back to Matteo. “He’s dying,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I can’t lose him, Valerie. I can’t.”
Valerie wrapped her arms around me, pulling me close. “I know,” she murmured, stroking my hair. “But you have to let them help. He needs you to be strong right now.”
The medics arrived then, their presence a whirlwind of motion and urgency. They worked quickly, assessing Matteo’s condition as they prepared to move him.
I clung to him until the last possible moment, my fingers brushing against his as they lifted him onto a stretcher. “I’m coming with you,” I said to them, my voice shaking.
The medics nodded, and I followed closely as they wheeled him out. The night air was cold and sharp, the flashing lights of the ambulance casting everything in harsh relief.
I climbed inside, my hand never leaving Matteo’s as he was wheeled in.
But my heart sank as another stretcher emerged from the building, carrying a body draped in a white sheet.
Mom.
Unshed tears stung my eyes, blurring my vision as I watched them load the body into the other vehicle. My knees felt weak, but Valerie was there, her presence a steadying force as she guided me toward the ambulance.
“She’s gone,” I whispered with a barely audible tone.
Valerie nodded, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I know,” she said softly.
I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that I pulled the trigger that ended her life.
The ride to hospital was a blur, a haze of flashing lights and frantic voices. I sat beside Matteo, my head bowed and my hands trembling as I held onto him. Valerie sat beside me, silent but present, her hand resting gently on my knee.
When we arrived, the hospital staff swarmed the ambulance, talking amongst themselves as they pulled Matteo inside. I followed, my heart thundering as I watched them wheel him away.
Almost there.
I didn’t see her until she stopped directly in front of me. A nurse.
“You can’t go in there.” She said.
Why?
I had to.
“I have to,” I protested, my voice cracking with each word. “I have to be with him.”
“They’re doing everything they can,” the nurse assured me. “But you need to stay here.”
I felt my legs give out, but Valerie caught me, guiding me to a nearby chair.
“It’s going to be okay,” Valerie said softly, stroking my hair as I rested my head on her thighs.
There was nothing I could do but let the tears fall, my body shaking with silent sobs. The weight of the night pressed down on me, suffocating and relentless.
“He can’t die.”
Valerie’s hand stilled for a moment before continuing its soothing motion. “He’s not going to die,” she said. “He’s strong, Valentina. He’ll fight.”
I closed my eyes, the exhaustion of everything finally catching up with me. I didn’t know if I believed Valerie’s words, but for now, I clung to them like a lifeline.
One could only hope.