Page 151 of Arturo's Temptation

“TYLER!” Sobs left my body as I collapsed to the floor, my heart shattering into uncountable pieces. “You said I’d never find out what it’d be like without you. You promised me!” Myhead throbbed as I screamed and screamed. The next thing I knew, people began flooding into the room and I vaguely felt arms hoisting me up. In slow motion, I watched Red clutch his baby boy to his chest and howl as his soul broke in two.

“Bella,” a voice uttered into my ear. “Bella look at me.” I shook as pain wracked my body.

He’s gone. He left me. She left me. Why do people keep leaving me?

“Bella, baby please. Talk to me. Shout. Scream. Do somethin’”

“Tyler!” I yelled to the ceiling, the pain becoming too much. All around the corridor my gut wrenching screams echoed against the walls. There was no end to the pain. No comfort that could bring me back from the edge and even in my distraught state I could feel Arturo shuddering against me as he held back his own pain. With a bump, I felt us sink to the floor. Over and over again his hands stroked my head trying to calm the sobs, but for once his presence did nothing to comfort me.

“Arturo,” came a familiar voice. “Give me my sister.” I shuddered as Luca’s face came into view.

“I don’t think so, mate.” Arturo was firm, protective.

“I get that you care for Bella but she’s my sister. It’s my turn to look after her now.” With that he crouched down and held his arms out to me.

Reluctantly, Arturo loosened his hold and let Luca lift me into his arms.

“Hey dinosis,” he whispered. I shuddered as he breathed his old nickname for me.

“Y-You haven’t called me that in a long time.” My voice was squeaky and full of hiccups.

“I know,” he held me tight and pressed his lips to my temple. Another wrack of sobs filled me as I fisted his jumper.

“I lost him, Luca… I lost another best friend.” I sobbed, each word crushing the one before. My eyes felt raw and stung from the salty tears.

“I know. But I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.” He rocked me back and forth, stroking my back.

I was chilledto the bone by the time the fierce, wracking sobs finally ended. Luca must have been stiff as hell but he made no complaint and no show of trying to move me. As I lifted my hand to rub my eyes I felt my father appear.

“What happened?” he asked, completely oblivious as he dropped my overnight bag.

Arturo rose to his feet as Gino and Nicolo approached.

“It’s Tyler,” Gino said. “He… didn’t make it.” Arturo placed his hand on my father’s shoulder.

“But they said he was fine, they said?—”

“Doc was wrong.” Red replied as he stepped out into the corridor. “My boy’s gone.” My heart squeezed as I took in his swollen, bloodshot eyes, his head hanging heavy and low. “Lorenzo, my boy’s gone.” He let out a wail as my father pulled him into his embrace. “It ain’t right,” he whispered, his voice strained with agonising pain. “He was supposed to outlive me, not the other way round.”

“I know, Red. I know.”

“What am I gonna do without him? How am I supposed to go on?” Fresh tears made tracks down my cheeks. Each word was heartbreaking. Red had always joked that we’d be taking care of them when they were old and wrinkled. This was his nightmare coming true and there was nothing any of us could do to stop it.

After a moment, Red made his way to me, dropping to the floor in front of us. He held out his arms and I couldn't scurry into them fast enough.

“Come here, kiddo.”

“I’m so sorry, Red.” I looked up into his glazed eyes, as he held me.

He rose off the floor with me in his arms, carrying me in the direction of my room. It reminded me of old times when I’d hurt myself and he was the one to make it better when my father wasn’t around. He placed me down on my bed, perching beside me for a moment.

“Red… What happened? I thought the doctor said the surgery went well…” Red wiped my tears before wiping his own.

“They, uhm…” his throat bobbed. “They just told us he had a bleed in the brain. There was no way they could have caught it. But it didn’t cause him to suffer… They said it would have felt like falling asleep.” I wrapped my arms around Red, comforting him, letting him know he wasn’t alone and never would be.

“Bells… you were the whole world to that boy. He adored you from the moment he could follow you around when you were just kids.” He stopped and looked to the ceiling. He blew out a breath and gripped a hand over his mouth. I waited till he got control of his emotions once more and pulled my knees to my chest. “Your dad. He’s my best friend. And I always said I’d take a bullet for him. You were that to my boy. And he went and proved that by running into that house. Now I don’t blame him. I’d have done the same. But, hell, I wish we’d gotten there sooner, you know? Stop him. Take his place. But… that wasn’t fate’s plan.”

“Arturo tried to stop him…” I whispered through my tears.

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