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“Always,” he challenged with heat behind his words. “I may not be there physically, but I’m always watching you.”
“Because you’re a psychopath. Not because you care about me.”
He studied my face for a moment. Then he shook his head and stormed across the room toward his father.
I stayed with Bastian and Damian.
“He’ll calm down.” Bastian slid his arm behind my back and pulled me into his chest. “He’s upset, too, baby.”
Damian tapped his fingers on my hipbone, and I melted into his warm embrace. “Marcello is indestructible. Even the Devil himself couldn’t kill him.”
“I hope so,” I muttered.
“He’s right.” Bastian forced one of his adorable smirks that made the dimple in his cheek pop. “Marcello is like a real-life GI Joe. He can withstand just about anything.”
I laughed at his reference because I often thought of Marcello as my hero. Whenever I needed him, he was always there to save the day.
I laid my head on Bastian’s chest, drinking in his delicious scent. Tears spilled from my eyes and onto his shirt. He massaged my scalp, so gentle and loving.
“I need him,” I choked out with tears streaming down my cheeks. “He can’t die… He promised me before he left the studio that he would be careful… He said he would come back for me.”
“It’s okay.” Bastian cradled the back of my head. “Just let it out. I got you, Cherry.”
“Luca doesn’t get it,” I whispered. “He doesn’t understand why I need Marcello.”
“He’s under a lot of pressure… and you still haven’t accepted his proposal.”
Before I could respond, the monitors screeched at the opposite end of the room. We drifted toward the operating table. The Devil’s Knights gathered about ten feet away from the plastic curtain, watching my grandfather operate.
I gulped down my fear, knowing this could be it. Every second was precious at this point. I thought of our final moments together, right before Marcello left his mother’s studio to defend this castle on the sea.
I couldn’t lose him.
I needed Marcello.
Bastian led me by the hand toward the curtain. My head pounded right at the base of my skull, blurring my vision. The room spun in front of me into a mess of colors and sounds. That constant beeping reminded me of what little time Marcello had left.
My grandfather shouted at someone, his words muffled.
Why can’t I hear him?
His voice sounded so far away.
Five, four, three, two, one…
Just breathe, Alex.
We stopped beside Luca, who looked at me out of the corner of his eye. I clutched my chest to make the pain stop. The sobs ripped from my throat and stung my lips.
“He’s dying,” I whispered. “It’s all my fault…” I lowered my head and focused on breathing, attempting to control the swirl of emotions tearing through my insides. “It should have been me.”
“Breathe.” Luca ran his fingers up my arm in a soothing motion. “Just breathe, baby. We got you.”
Bastian stood beside me, his hand on my hip to steady me as Luca grabbed my arm. Pressing my thumbs to my eyelids, I forced back the tears and let them comfort me.
I needed them.
“Marcello will pull through,” Luca assured me.
