I glance over to where the woman in question is curled up, sobbing out Rocco’s name in sporadic intervals.
A few months ago, I would have sneered at her weakness, as my mother is now, but I can almost feel her heart being torn apart every second that building continues to blaze and no one emerges to end her greatest fear.
I can’t even imagine what it must be like to lose the person you love.
I don’t want to think about how close I might be to finding out.
“That harlot has the heir to the Guild growing inside of her,” Mother growls out. “What do you suppose will happen when it’s grown? They’ll take you to dinner and pardon you pleasantly?”
“We could have peace!” I cry out.
“There is no such thing, you ignorant little bitch. You suck that man’s cock, and suddenly, your head is filled with these naive little notions of tranquility and happiness? That’s not how the world works, Isabella. I taught you better than that.”
I want to scream at her, to fly at her and tear the words from her mouth.
But then there’s an almighty groan.
We all turn toward the building.
The fire lights up the night, casting an orange glow over everything.
Teo is in there, somewhere behind that wall of flame and smoke. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. He hasn’t come out.
My breath hitches as each floor buckles, collapsing into the one beneath it.
I blink, and then…
It’s gone. The entire house lies in an inferno of ruin. There’s nothing left.
My heart is pounding so hard it hurts. I stagger forward, barely aware of my own movement, my feet carrying me toward the building, my mind screaming that I have to get to him and pull him out.
But the flames only grow fiercer, a searing barrier of heat pushing me back, taunting me with the finality of what’s happening.
“No—Teo!” His name rips out of me, raw and broken, swallowed up by the roar of the fire.
I try to move forward again, but an arm catches me around the waist once again, dragging me back. Leon. Always there to catch me.
His face is tight, his grip like iron as he holds me back. I twist, fighting, clawing against him, desperate to get to the burning shell of the house. I barely recognize the sound that comes out of me. It’s a guttural, agonized cry.
“Isabella, stop! It’s too late!” Leon’s voice cuts through the haze, sharp and pained. “You can’t go in there—it’s over!”
I twist harder, rage and grief blurring my vision, making me wild, out of control.
“Let go of me!” I scream, my voice breaking. “He’s in there! He’s in there, and he’s… he’s…” I can’t even say the words.
The reality feels like glass in my throat, cutting every time I try to breathe.
He’s gone.
The realization slams into me with the force of a blow. My legs go weak, and I would collapse if it weren’t for Leon holding me up. I sink against him, sobs choking me, as Leon’s grip tightens, but it’s as if I’m barely aware of him anymore.
“You loved him,” he murmurs, his voice softer, something between anger and grief.
His words sink in, but they barely register. I close my eyes, my chest heaving as the truth tumbles out, spilling past the grief, past the pain.
“Yes,” I whisper. “Yes, I loved him. I love him.”
The words, never spoken aloud, tremble with that terrible truth. They hang in the air, heavy and final.
