Page 146 of Arturo's Temptation

“I saved her, Ty, just like I promised.” I cradled his body into my chest, shielding him best I could against the smoke, before rushing back down toward the remaining slither of exit.

The second I burst through the flames with Tyler in my arms, Red's face filled my vision. Bella was still in Lorenzo’s arms, and he must have noticed the sheer worry and panic on my face as he carefully lifted her into the car.

“Arturo, put Tyler in my car. Red will get him to the hospital. You’ll drive me and Bella.” I did as Lorenzo ordered, laying Tyler carefully in the back seat, taking one last look at him before I closed the door.

“Thank you for saving my son, A.” Red slapped his palm on my back, the pain taking my breath away.

“Let’s get them to hospital. Then we’ll talk,” I nodded, rushing to the Jeep.

I stared blanklyout the window of the waiting room, ignoring what was going on around me. Every minute, and every hour rolled into one… And the pain in my chest was becoming fucking excruciating.

“Arturo?” Lorenzo said calmly, “They’re both going to be fine.” The sound of a door opening made me look up to see Red making his way back inside. At my questioning stare he shook his head. I cursed under my breath and sat back down, leaning my elbows against my knees.

“A? I can’t thank you enough for charging into that fire the way you did.” Red squeezed my shoulder. I shook my head. I didn’t need his thanks. His son and Bella were both in here because of me and my stupid training exercise idea.

“Don’t thank me. They’re in ‘ere because of me.” I jumped back to my feet and shoved my hands in my pockets, ignoring how the room had begun to spun.

“What happened?” Lorenzo asked, Ana appearing at his side, her fingers linking with his.

“Someone breached the area. I had the perimeter covered from every angle. There were men posted at every 100 metres. Everything was clear. We were all set to go and then… two of my men didn’t check in. I was only gone from her side for a minute. Maybe a minute and a half before I realised something was wrong.”

“I don’t understand, why didn’t she just run?” Ana frowned.

“Because I had her blindfolded,” Lorenzo’s eyebrows drew together as I explained. “I wanted her to sense us without being able to see us. I knew she was capable but when Kingsley got to where she was, she was no longer there. Someone had taken her, with the intent of leaving her in that burnin’ fuckin’ house!” Anger boiled in my veins as visions of Bella laying lifeless and Tyler falling through the floorboards embedded in my memory. “I swear to you, I had my team checkin’ that perimeter all fuckin’ mornin’! We were all set to go.”

“What happened wasn’t your fault,” Red murmured. He seemed awfully calm considering his own son was in surgery. “Lorenzo knows you would have taken all the needed precautions.”

“I told him to stay outside,” a lump lodged in my throat. “But he wouldn’t listen. He ran into that house just as fast as I did. He’s in here because of me.”

“Arturo, listen to me, my son is in here because he’s stubborn and he didn’t want to listen to someone with a hell of a lot more experience,” I sagged down into the chair beside Red as he tried his best to comfort me. Wasn’t that what I should have been doing? But waiting to hear about Bella was eating me alive. It felt as though I couldn’t breathe, like I was drowning and I had no more fight left to give.

“Mr and Mrs Ricci?” An older nurse entered the waiting room, her hands housing a clipboard. Thin rimmed glasses sat on the end of her nose and she wore a soft, friendly smile. There was something warm about this woman, something that filled me with hope that the woman I loved was okay.

“Yes.” Lorenzo turned to give her his full attention.

“Your daughter is doing very well considering how much smoke she inhaled. But we’ll be keeping her overnight for observation, just to be on the safe side.” she smiled and reliefflooded through me. “She’s very lucky she was pulled out of there in time, any longer and this conversation may have taken a different direction.” Lorenzo slapped my shoulder, reality hitting each and every one of us.

“When can we see her?” Anastacia smiled hopefully.

“She’s asleep at the moment. You may sit with her, but only two at a time.” The nurse turned curtly to Lorenzo. “She may want some home comforts for this evening, if you want to bring some for her.”

“I will do, thank you.” Lorenzo smiled.

“Do you have any news on the boy they brought in with her?” Red asked, his face paling rapidly.

“He’s still in surgery. Once we know more the doctor will come and find you.” She patted his arm, a gesture I wasn’t sure was a good or bad.

“Right, you go and sit with our girl and I’ll head home to get her something more comfortable to sleep in.” Lorenzo wrapped his arms around Ana as she allowed the tears she’d been holding in to fall. “Hey, less of the tears, our daughter is fine!” He pecked the top of her head, as her eyes met mine. With a sniffle, Ana left Lorenzo’s embrace to pull me into hers.

“Thank you for saving our girl.” she smiled.

“Always.” I replied.

46

After a visitfrom the sweet faced nurse, I sagged back against the pillows and winced. My head was throbbing, especially at the temple area. My fingers ran across the butterfly stitches that had been placed over whatever wound was beneath and my throat felt tight and scratchy. I had no clue where I was the moment I woke up or what had happened. It was all blurry. But after everything had been explained to me, my brain stood still in shock.

How am I going to deal with all of this?

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