Page 35 of Fatal Love

“I don’t understand what you’re telling me.” He fisted his hair with his free hand. “I thought you had guards on everyone.”

Celestina and Carmela stood, crowding closer to listen. We needed to know what was happening, but Antonio only paced the floor.

“No. I don’t give a fuck, Massimo. We’re coming home tonight. Fuck that, Brother. I will not wait around here in Italy while he’s missing.”

My breath caught in my chest at his admission. Someone was missing and I prayed it wasn’t Vincenzo. Not this soon after being released from the hospital. I listened as Antonio discussed our departure plans with Massimo, knowing we would go back regardless of the dangers. He shoved the phone in his pocket and covered his face with his hands.

“Antonio?” I stepped closer and wrapped my arm around his body. “Who is it? Is it Vincenzo?”

I was completely caught off guard by the look of torment when he finally turned toward me. “No.” His eyes cut to his sisters before coming back to meet mine. “It’s Michael." His voice cracked. "Ivanov has him.”

My ears seemed to go deaf as my body collapsed to the ground. Antonio was there, pulling me into his arms as the sob ripped from my lips. “No!” I cried out. “You’re wrong. He can’t have him. He can’t.” My body shuddered from the emotion pouring out of me.

Antonio carried me through the kitchen and perched us both on the couch. “Rachel. Look at me.” His fingers pressed beneath my chin. I was being selfish. When I glanced into his eyes, his own pain mirrored mine. The whites of his eyes were red and filled with unspent tears. “We’re going home and we’re going to bring him back.”

“How do you know? How—” I gasped, searching for the words.

“How do they know?” I nodded, unable to speak. “Massimo won’t tell me what he has, but something was sent to him confirming Ivanov took Michael.”

“He’s going to kill him.”

“Shhh.” Antonio pulled me against his body. “We can’t think like that.”

But I could hear it in his voice. He didn’t believe the words either. He knew the ruthless nature of Dmitri Ivanov firsthand. Had it not been for their friends in Chile, Antonio would be dead, and we wouldn’t be sitting here.

“Antonio.” Carmela stood before us. “I called the pilot. He’s fueling the plane now. Come on, get up. Celestina and I will take you to the hangar.”

Antonio nodded and stood, lifting me into his arms. “I can walk.”

“No, I need you close to me right now. Let me do this.”

I nodded, snuggling into his arms. I needed him, too. Because I was barely hanging on by a thread, and I knew at any moment, I'd shatter into a thousand pieces. Looking into his eyes, I knew he wasn’t too far behind me from falling apart as well.

We boarded the plane forty minutes after getting the call. Eleven hours in the sky would feel like torture—making my stomach roll with unease. Sensing my discomfort, Antonio eased me into a seat. "Sit down, Rach." We'd been in the air for a little over five hours, which meant six more to go. I hated this—hated every part of not already being home to wait for news.

He plopped down across from me and fastened his belt. "Massimo told me Michaels guard was found dead near his car. Apparently they nabbed him right there in the fucking parking lot." I hiccupped a sob, trying to hold it in for Antonio's sake. "I don't know if I can survive this Rachel. Michael is my world and without him, I'll be half a man."

"You still have me." I blinked the tears from my eyes. "I love you, Antonio. That won’t change if—" I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

"If he's dead?" Antonio narrowed his eyes at me. "Don't think it. You hear me Rachel. Don't you ever say it again." Antonio undid his seatbelt and stormed toward the tiny bedroom in the back.

I knew he was running high on emotions, but his callous response hurt me deep. I curled in on myself and let the emotions run rampant. All I could think was that this was going to be the thing that ruined what Antonio and I had together. And that thought made me feel so guilty—how selfish was it to be thinking of my own heart when Michael was out there… being tortured or worse, dead.

"Rachel?" Antonio's squatted down beside me. "I'm so fucking sorry." He broke, his eye red with emotion as he cried. "I love you and how I just acted, I—"

I slid from my perch and wrapped my arms around him. "I don't want to lose you too, Antonio. I can't survive it if I lose the both of you."

He wrapped his arms around me and lifted us from the ground. "I just need to hold you."

He carried me to the rear of the plan and laid us down in the bed. His arms wrapped around me, holding so tight against him, I felt his heart beating against my back. The silence and sound of our ragged breathing somehow lulled us to sleep. This was going to test everything about our new relationship.

I just hoped it survived the carnage we'd be facing.

Nineteen

Antonio

Rachel and I managed to rest for an hour, but eventually climbed from the private bedroom and say wordlessly until we landed. What could we say to each other? We both loved Michael and knew the outcome was likely going to leave us equally devastated. Ivanov was not the type of man to negotiate. He'd taken Michael to prove a point. Massimo suspected he was trying to bait me into losing my shit. And truth be told, I was close.

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