Chapter 129. Hope Returns

Vincenzo POV

The world ends when Riccardo’s body goes still.

For a second… a horrible, impossible second… none of us breathe.

Then Elena’s scream tears through the warehouse.

It isn’t human. It’s raw, broken, animal.

“No—no, no….RICCARDO!” she sobs, thrashing against the chair as blood soaks the concrete beneath him. “Please! Please wake up! Don’t leave me! Don’t you dare leave me!”

Nico drops to his knees beside him, hands shaking as he presses against Riccardo’s chest like he can force his heart to beat again.

“Breathe, brother,” Nico chokes. “Come on… come on… don’t do this…I still have so much arguments and fights to do with you. Please, open your eyes!”

Tears stream freely down Nico’s face…..hot, helpless tears he doesn’t bother to hide.

I don’t realize I’m crying until my vision blurs completely.

My hands are covered in Riccardo’s blood.

My brother’s blood. Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. My brothe