Page 49 of The Prices We Pay
“I’m coming, Charlie. I’ll be right there!”
I’m still not getting any closer. Fuck! Why am I not getting closer?
“Dante! Dante! Dante!” Each time Charlie calls out my name, his voice grows more and more strained until it doesn’t even sound like him anymore. Panic sets in at the realization that I mightnot be able to save him. That I might not be able to save any of them.
The sound of a door slamming open echos from behind, and not more than a second later, I feel someone grip my arm. I whirl around them in a flash, wrap my hand around their throat, and pin them to the floor. The man claws at my arm as my grip grows tighter.
“Dante!” someone yells my name. It’s not Charlie this time, but the voice sounds familiar. I want to see who it is, but I have to figure out how these men knew we were going to be here. I need to figure out how they trapped us. But the harder I try to focus on the man in front of me, the louder the man calling my name becomes.
Suddenly, I’m being ripped away from the enemy beneath me and am being thrown to the ground. There’s one man putting me in a headlock and two others holding down my arms. I thrash in their hold as another climbs on top of me. It’s only when I feel two soft hands cup my face that I realize something isn’t right.
No one here has hands this soft. No one here has a touch this gentle. No oneherewould hold me like this.
“Dante…” my name is spoken softer now. It’s not a cry for help or a command to stop.
It’s a plea.
“Dante. Come back.”
Come back?
“Come back to me. You’re okay. We’re okay. Come back.”
My eyes blink rapidly as I try to make sense of what’s happening. I can feel the men who are holding me down relax their hold as my thrashing ceases.
“Dante…”
The sounds of war fade away, and the smell of gunpowder transforms into that of jasmine. The darkness of the abandoned building morphs into fluorescent lights as my mind finally starts to register where I am. I feel a tickle at my neck, and as I turn to see what it is, I realize it’s locks of black hair draping over me. My vision clears as I follow the dark hair up to a familiar face.
Josephine.
Why is she on top of me?
Almost immediately, I see the beginnings of a bruise forming around her neck.
Who the fuck put their hand on her?
Rapidly, I check my surroundings only to find Sebastian to my left, Enzo to my right, and Luca sprawled out on the ground beneath me. Each of them panting for breath.
Why are we all on the floor?
All at once, everything makes sense.
“Fuck.” I reach up to touch Joe’s neck but stop when all of the guys flinch at my movement. Joe holds out her hand, signaling for none of them to move. Slowly, I touch the bruise on her neck with the tips of my fingers. “I’m so sorry, Amore Mia. I—I didn’t know what I was doing. The balloon popped… and I—I” I sigh in frustration and anger. “I thought you were someone else. I would never hurt you on purpose.”
“I know you wouldn’t,” she answers. Her eyes fill with tears. “I’m okay. You’re okay. Nobody is in danger.”
“Your neck…”
“It’s just a bruise. I’ll be okay.” She looks at Seb, Luca, and Enz before looking back at me. “You want to try to get up?”
“Yes.”
Joe climbs off of me, stands, and holds out her hand for me to grab. And if they hadn’t already tackled me to the floor, the thought of herliterallyholding out her hand to help me after I just tried to strangle her would be enough to bring me to my fucking knees.
Knowing she doesn’t really have the strength to haul my giant ass off the floor, I grab her hand while hoisting myself up. Turning around, I watch as my best friends right themselves. “Are you guys okay?”
“We’re fine, D,” Luca answers. “Vita Mia”—he looks over my shoulder at Joe—“do you need a doctor?”
