Page 49 of Dark Consequences

“I’ll get the car,” Enzo says before he leaves out the front door.

Raphael kisses the side of my head and whispers, “You did amazing.”

“Thanks.” I’m exhausted, the rush of adrenaline fading quickly from my body.

Opening my eyes, I focus on Dominic’s broken body. It felt strangely therapeutic to care for someone innocent. Well, maybe not that innocent, considering what he does for a living, but Dominic’s only been kind to me during the few times we’ve exchanged words. Compared to Xiao and his men, Dominic and the others are saints.

“How could you let this happen to my son?” Leo accuses, directing his harsh question to his brother.

“I didn’t let anything happen,” Dante snaps.

“You sent him to look into that lead because you didn’t want to risk your sons. But you will happily risk mine.”

“That’s not true, Leo,” Dante urges. “You know that. Dominic is my nephew, and I love him like a son.”

“But he’s not your son. Is he?” Leo hisses, pushing away from his brother to pace along the wall.

Dante exhales hard and looks at Raphael. “When did you hear from Dominic last?”

“Early this morning. He sent a text that the lead was a dead end,” Raphael answers.

One glance at Dominic and anyone can tell the torture he received didn’t happen in a few short hours.

“It wasn’t Dominic who sent that text,” Dante concludes in a grim tone before he turns to Michael. “Can you trace where his phone has been?”

The eldest DiAngelo nods. “Yes.”

“When was the last time anyone spoke to Dominic or saw him in person?” Dante asks before looking at his brother. “Leo?”

The angry man pauses long enough to answer. “It’s been a few days.”

Michael and Raphael confirm the same, and that timeline aligns more with Dominic’s wounds.

I narrow my eyes when a thin trickle of blood leaks from Dominic’s nose and falls down his face. Maybe it’s a trick of the light causing me to see things, but either way, I step out of Raphael’s hold and approach the table.

And that’s when I watch it happen. Blood begins to pour heavier from his nose, his eyes, and his mouth. And then his entire body shakes and thrashes from the seizure his brain is suffering from due to the lack of blood.

Chaos falls over the room, but I know it’s too late. It’s like I’m back in that emergency room all those years ago, and all I see is Mr. Ruthledge.

“Help him!” Leo hollers, and I jump at the fury in his voice.

Raphael looks at me, and I meet his eyes with defeat and sorrow. He sees my answer and drops his head, reaching for Dominic’s hand to hold so he’s not alone.

Michael watches the exchange and, like his twin, grabs Dominic’s other hand.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you helping him?” Leo demands.

He pushes his nephews aside and gathers his son’s body to his chest. Dominic’s head flops, and his face grows paler by the second.

Bleeding out is a gruesome sight, but it’s actually quite peaceful. As the blood leaves the body, your mind shuts down as each of your organs fail, until finally, your heart slows to a final stop. I’ve heard it be compared to falling asleep after spending all day in the sun.

The blood slows, and I don’t need a heart monitor to know Dominic’s dead. A second later, when his father goes still and silent, I’m sure of it.

“I’m so sorry,” I say mournfully. “There was nothing more I could do.”

Leo slowly lowers his son’s body to the table and touches his face lovingly. His eyes meet mine, and the only thing I see is a fiery, intense hatred.

Before I even see it, before any of us sees it, he raises his hand and slaps me hard. Pain explodes across my face, and the taste of copper is instant on my tongue. I raise a hand to my lips and draw back to see bright red blood on my fingers.

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