Page 132 of Empire of Seduction

Air couldn’t enter my body. My lungs refused to work because a rage-filled scream was trapped in my chest. How? Why? What was I supposed to do now?

“Maggie, amore.”

Vito’s hands lifted me up and he was pulling me to his chest. I couldn’t feel it, though. It was like it was happening to someone else. I was locked in the horror around me.

He tilted my face up, his eyes desperate as he regarded me. “Breathe, baby.” His hand rubbed my back. “Please, Maggie. Breathe for me.”

I shook my head. “I c-can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Try to breathe.”

I began to tremble. My eyes were on Vito, but I kept seeing the charred remains of the vines I’d cared for my whole life. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to focus on anything else.

“I’ve got you, angelo,” he whispered. “I will fix this.”

Fix it? I nearly laughed hysterically.

“Maggie, you’re here.”

My brother’s voice. I tore away from Vito and saw my sibling there, his haggard expression matching mine. I threw myself into Mikey’s arms and held onto him. He understood more than anyone what I was feeling. Another loss. Another death. Something else ripped from our hands.

I began sobbing.

“I tried to save them,” he whispered brokenly into my hair. “I’m so sorry, Mags.”

He let me cry on him, the heaving of his chest telling me he might be doing the same. Murmurs reached my ears, conversation nearby. I wiped my eyes and tried to pull myself together. A few feet away Vito was talking quietly to Tommaso, their heads bent together.

I grabbed Mikey’s arm. “I want to talk to the fire chief. I want to hear what happened.”

“It was arson.”

My body jolted, that news affecting me like a physical blow. “What?”

“Come on.” Mikey dragged a hand down his face. “Last I saw him, Chief Kincaid was down by the cottage. I’ll let him explain it.”

The two of us started walking, but we didn’t speak. What was there to say? Arson. Someone had lit our property on firepurposely. The universe had dumped so much on us the past fewyears. More than either of us deserved. Were we cursed? Who in the fuck would’ve done this?

“Maggie, wait.” Vito was right behind me. “Let me talk to the authorities for you.”

“I need to hear it for myself.” I barely recognized my deep and scratchy voice.

“Then I’ll come with you.”

I didn’t respond. My mind was stuck, a refrain ofwhat-the-fucklooping over and over in my brain. Arson. Someone did this. Someone burned my vines on purpose. Who? Why?

A group of firemen and other men were by the cottage. Some were picking through the half-burned structure, while the others were in discussion. Paloma and Massimo were huddled together with a few men I didn’t recognize. Were they Vito’s?

I couldn’t think about that now. I strode toward Chief Kincaid, whose son, Brett, had been in my graduating class. Chief Kincaid and his wife supplied Mikey and I with plenty of casseroles in the months following our parents’ deaths.

“Maggie, my dear.” Chief Kincaid broke free of his crowd and came toward me. “How are you holding up?” He gave me a brief hug.

“I can’t believe this. I’m shocked.”

Vito was there, extending his hand and introducing himself to Chief Kincaid. The fire chief nodded. “You were the one staying in the cottage?”

“Yes, I was.”

“What happened?” I croaked. “Mikey said it was arson.”

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