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“Oh my god,” I whisper. My hands start shaking. “Theo?”
“Let’s get out of here. The police will surely arrive soon. That much gunshot? They’re bound to.” Theo grabs my shaking hand, and together, we run out of the church.
We make it make to Marco’s house within minutes. Theo starts throwing clothes into a suitcase for us.
I hurry into the bathroom, get out of my blood-soaked wedding dress, then take a fast shower.
I’m trying to be quick, but once I step out of the shower, I stumble to my knees. My vision is filled with blackness. I can’t even breath properly. It feels like a giant weight is sitting on my chest.
Theo finds me like that, and he runs to my side and scoops me into his arms. “Cecilia?”
“I can’t breathe.”
“Are you hurt?”
I shake my head. “I don’t … I don’t think so.”
“Ok.” He rocks me in his arms. “I think you’re having a panic attack. I know what those are like. You’ve seen me have one—remember?”
All those weeks ago at our big family dinner. Luca dropped a plate on the ground, and Theo seemed to have a reaction. I didn’t understand then. But I think I understand now.
“What … what do I do?”
“Just let it ride out,” he murmurs into my ear. “Let it ride out. I got you. I know how scary these can feel. Almost like you’re dying. But you’re not. You’re alive, and you’re here with me.”
Theo holds me until my breathing gets back under control. And even then, he still continues to hold me.
“Why did you have a panic attack?” I ask him.
“I was in the Army, as you know. Bad memories. Loud sounds can bring them back.”
“But you didn’t have a panic attack in the church.”
He tightens his arms around me. “That was because I couldn’t. I knew I needed to save you. I didn’t have time to think or feel. I reacted. But I know what it’s like to be in scary situations. I know how debilitating they can be.”
I cling to him. “Do they ever get easier to deal with?”
“That’s hard to say. The memories remain. I don’t think it ever leaves you.”
“God,” I whisper, curling into Theo’s side. “I saw that woman die today. One second, she was congratulating us, and the next, she … she was on the ground next to me. Dead.”
“I know. Salvatore is still trying to hurt us from beyond the grave. It’s not fair that innocents have to die because of it.”
“I know we need to get out of here,” I say. “But … I can’t move.”
“I got you, Cecilia. I’ll always protect you. From everyone.”
We remain on the bathroom floor a lot longer than we should, but finally, I manage to get up. Theo helps me get dressed because I’m still shaking.
My phone rings. “Oh no,” I whisper, staring at it on the bedside table. “My phone. I never got rid of it. You don’t think they tracked us, do you?”
Theo scrubs a hand across his face. “Damnit! I completely forgot. In the craziness of everything, I forgot to tell you to get rid of your phone.”
“It’s my mom,” I say, picking it up. “Should I answer?”
“Honestly, probably not. But it’s too late now. If Salvatore’s men know we’re here, then Antonio does, too. He’s on his way.”
I answer the phone. “Mom?”
