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The meeting house is in ruins. Crumpled to the ground. A few of Matteo’s men linger outside, tearing at the wood and stone, calling for Matteo.
I run to the nearest person I see. Carlo, who’s sitting on the ground, looking dazed.
“What happened?” I ask.
He blinks when he sees me. “Adelina.”
“What happened?”
“Matteo’s still in there. I managed to get out. We haven’t heard from him in a while.” He rubs a hand over his face, and his voice comes out choked. “I think he may be dead.”
My heart stops for one beat before resuming. “No,” I say immediately. “He can’t be. He’s not.” Matteo can’t be dead. Not after I’ve grown to care for him. Not after I’ve grown to love him.
I run to the rubble and start picking up pieces of the building and tossing them aside. Thankfully, as a dancer all my life, I have some strength. It’s still tough, though, and some pieces are impossible for me to lift.
“How did this happen?” I ask as Carlo comes over.
“It was a bomb. I heard the boom before everything exploded.”
“Who would want to blow up your meeting house?”
His gaze darkens. “I know one person. Enrico. It must have been. That slimy fuck. Matteo kicked him out, and he retaliated.”
“But Enrico isn’t smart enough to make a bomb,” another one of Matteo’s men says.
“True.” Carlo rubs his chin. “Then he must have had help.”
I hear a faint groan in the distance. I gasp. “Matteo?” I run over to the spot and start digging away at the rubble. His men join me.
Soon, a face is revealed as more of the building is pushed aside. It’s Matteo, lying there, looking hurt but alive.
“Matteo!” I reach down and cup his cheek.
“Adelina?” he asks groggily.
“Hurry, men!” Carlo calls. “Let’s get this off him.”
With everyone helping, it doesn’t take long to get Matteo out. Amazingly, he doesn’t have any broken bones. Only a few scrapes and bruises.
His men help him off the ground and away from the rubble.
“Are you all right?” I ask, kneeling next to him. I don’t care if my skirt gets dirty. Matteo means more to me than a piece of fabric.
“I’m fine. I hurt.” He coughs. “But I feel fine for the most part.”
“How are you not more hurt?” Carlo asks.
“I managed to dive behind the car before the bulk of the building fell down. It protected me. But then I was stuck beneath the entire building, losing air, fast.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Though, I have a serious kink in my neck.”
I laugh and throw my arms around his shoulders. “That’s nothing compared to what could have happened to you.” I pepper kisses across his face. “You’re alive.”
“If I’m not mistaken, you seem actually glad that I’m alive.”
“Of course, I am. You could have died, and I don’t want to lose you.” I don’t care that I’m pouring my heart out in front of all his men. I need to say these words. I’m ready to say them. “Matteo, I love—”
“You were supposed to die!” a voice shouts. I glance over and see one of Matteo’s men pointing a gun at him.
“Antonio?” Matteo asks.
