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“Elio arrived home, and you spoke to Jade.”
I bite my lip, wondering if he’s mad that I told his sister-in-law about the conversation Teagan told me and Nell about the day we found out she was to be married. She’d overheard a conversation that included threats to kill someone. She’d never seen the men before, but she knew she’d been caught overhearing. That interaction left her shaky as hell. It left a mark on her.
“The car almost ran her over when she was dress shopping, the poisoning at the wedding, and last night… They were all hits on Teagan, Portia, not us. Her. When we found that out, we raced to her, but she had hit a dark point in her life.”
“Dario, what aren’t you telling me?” I can feel the words clinging to the air. I know what he’s going to say, but I can’t believe it. She was okay yesterday. I saw her last night. Sure, she was angry, but she wasn’t in her darkness. I’ve seen when it comes for people. I’ve lived on the streets long enough to see how bad depression can hit someone.
“She tried to kill herself. Had we not returned to the house when we did, she would have died. She needs you, Portia,” he says thickly.
Tears fall down my face. I can’t stop them. The pain I feel is something that has my knees buckling. I can’t stand any longer. I sink to the floor, my body bucking with the weight of the pain that rocks through me. “I’m on my way,” I whisper, unable to talk above that.
“Be safe, baby. I’ll see you soon.”
I end the call, unable to move as sobs wrack through my body. Oh, my girl. My poor girl.
It takes me a while to be able to get off the floor. I’m not shocked in the slightest to see Lorenzo waiting for me outside my apartment.
“Dario’s ordered me to bring you to Teagan. He wants to ensure you’re okay.”
I have a feeling some of the men know something happened between us, but they aren’t coming out and saying it outright. I don’t care right now. My main focus is on Teagan and trying to figure out how I can help her. I should have noticed that she wasn’t okay. I failed her. I was supposed to protect her, and I failed.
The drive to the Gallo house takes a while, and my heart pounds wildly as each second passes. I’m scared that she’ll be gone before I can see her. I can’t lose another sister. I’ve lost one already. Losing Teagan will kill me.
I walk into the house, and the quietness is unsettling. I spot Dario, who nods toward the bedroom. I don’t make small talk or even say hello to anyone. Jade, Rocco, and Dario are sitting on the sofa almost as if they’re waiting for something to happen.
“Mia amata,” Elio says, and I pause at the door to listen. He’s holding her gently as he rocks her in his arms. Seeing how tender he is with her hurts my heart. How did we all miss how vulnerable she was, how she wasn’t coping? The trauma Tee has been through is more than enough to bury someone. She’s lived through so much pain and suffering. I’m in awe of how well she’s managed to live her life without letting it take her over.
“I would like you to do something. The doctor who came to help you last night, she found someone for you to speak with. I’d like it if you’d give them a chance; just have a talk with them and see if they can help you?” he continues, and those words strike a chord with me. He does care about her. I just wish he had shown it before now.
“No,” she whispers. “Please no.” Her voice is so tortured, I find it hard to breathe. God, the pain she’s in has my tears falling once again.
“Please, Tee. I know you’re suffering. I wasn’t here to help you last night.” Something I’ll never forgive myself for. I should have been here for her in her darkest time. “But I can see how much pain you were in. I’m begging you, please, just have one conversation with them?” I plead with her as I sit down on the bed beside her. I need to be close to her. I need to see that she’s breathing with my own eyes.
“No,” she whispers, shaking her head.
“Teagan, please,” I plead once again, my throat closing with emotion.
“Stop it!” she screams, and my heart shatters at the horrified sound she makes. I’ve never heard something so raw and painful before.
I reach for her hand. “Look at me.” I demand, needing her to see me. “I’ve lost one sister. I don’t want to lose another.” I’m a bitch. I know I am. I’m not being fair to her, but it’s the only thing I can think of to get through to her. “Please, just one conversation.”
“I-I don’t think,” she stutters. “I don’t think anyone can help.”
Holy fuck. My girl is in so much pain.
“But I will try. I’ll try anything. I don’t want to feel this darkness anymore.”
I grip her hand tighter, unable to speak right now. What can I say to her? She’s suffering and there’s nothing I can do to help but be here for her. I’m not leaving until I know she’s okay. I can’t lose her. I love Teagan like a sister. I can’t lose her.
“Portia,” Jade says softly as I take a seat a few hours later. “I think it’s time I let you in on a few things.”
I stare at the woman who saved my girl from the basement of the clubhouse. “That would be good, because I have a lot of questions. Like how does a woman see another at her lowest and allow her brother-in-law to treat her with such loathing?” I can’t wrap my head around that. I don’t understand it.
“I didn’t know what Elio was doing.”
“Bullshit,” I fire back. I’m not scared of these people. I’d go to Hell and back for Teagan. Hell, I’d have done the same for Dario. I was falling so hard for him, but to find out that this is partly down to him, that he was the mastermind behind using her for revenge… it’s enough for that love to die. That was something I found out when Jade told me what had gone down after I arrived and saw how broken my best friend is.
“Excuse you?” she says, raising her brow.
