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“When?” Shots were about to be fired and he wanted me out of the line of fire.
“Don’t worry. I can see you. I will know when you’re safe. Just stay at ground level.”
“Okay.”
I took a deep breath, I said a short prayer and I rolled down on the floor all the way to the line in the back. Leonardo gawked at me with big eyes, catching on to what I was doing, but it was one second too late. Hell got unleashed outside the cabin.
What sounded like seventy rounds of ammunition were fired and the wood walls gave in right away. I couldn’t see the bullets flying but I could hear them hitting the floor like metal rain. I wasn’t in danger. They were aiming high, above waist level. Somehow, I found the courage to take a peek and I saw Leonardo being decimated by bullets. They hit him so hard, his body didn’t collapse for a full minute because the force of the bullets that kept coming physically held him up. When they were done and silence fell over us, you could see through Leonardo, that’s how many holes he had in him.
I wanted to move, to run outside, but I couldn’t. It was like someone took my legs. I sat there, shaking like a dog that was forgotten in the rain, until Garon stormed through the door and came to me. He was the one who pulled me up and gave me the strength to get back to reality. When my vision focused on his face, I could finally breath again.
“Garon.”
“You’re okay.” He hugged me so tight, I couldn’t breathe right. “Everything is alright.”
“You found me so fast.” I clung to his body like it was my only life line… and it was. He was the very heart in me, keeping me alive even when Leonardo dragged me into hell.
“Panini went crazy and we figured something wasn’t right. I have eyes everywhere in the city, I knew I would find you I just hoped…” he choked and put his nose in my hair, inhaling hard, “I begged God to lead me to you in time.”
“He did. He did!” I kept saying. “He wanted…” I choked on a sob, “the baby. He wanted to…”
“He’s gone and I won’t let anyone ever hurt you again.”
“The baby is fine.”
“Oh.”
“He wanted to hurt the baby, but it’s fine. Nothing happened.”
“Yeah, I…” Garon cleared his throat, “in this moment, I care more about you than the baby.”
“Me?” My voice was shaking.
He put his hand on my stomach and kept it there for a moment.
“I love this child, I swear on my life I do. I’m counting the days until I get to meet our daughter, Pina.” He swallowed hard. “But I don’t want any of it if it isn’t with you. The thought of losing you had ripped the soul away from my being. All I care right now is thatyouare fine. Nothing else matters.”
“Garon?”
“Yes?”
“I’ll marry you.” I put my hands around his neck and held him tight. “If you’ll still have me, I’ll be your wife.”
He let his head fall to the side and kissed me slowly. I didn’t feel lust or hunger, just love. He showered me in love.
“You already are. We may not have the ring or the papers, but God knows you’re my wife and I’m your husband. I love you, Pina. If you ever leave me, my heart will crack in a million pieces, so promise me you won’t.”
“Never. Not in this life or the next one.”
He helped me up and we walked away from what was left of Leonardo’s body together, holding hands, our souls united into one. The image outside was underwhelming. Garon brought an army of men, all armed, all looking like they were ready to kill for me, and they did.
Salvatore and Garon’s brothers were in the first line. Their guns were still smoking and they were charged with anger that reflected in their eyes. My heart swelled in my chest to see them all together, the most powerful family in Italy and I was part of it. Garon was part of it.
I exhaled and all the torment I’d felt was forgotten like nothing had ever happened because I had nothing to be afraid. The love of my life loved me back and our family would go through fire to protect us. Our baby was going to be fine because even when the evil came to play, this family survived.Always.
Garon’s brothers came around me and hugged me, asking if I was alright and if I needed anything. Their gentile care touched me and when everyone came down from the adrenaline rush, I told them to take me home. The day was over. The worst had passed.
EPILOGUE
