“Get off me,” I scream as I shrug them off. “Don’t touch me.”
“Get the fuck off her,” I hear growled deep but clear.
My heart soars at the sound. Alessio.
“Unless you want to lose them, take your fucking hands off my woman.”
I’m released, almost as though I’ve burned them. I stumble forward but manage to reach out and grab hold of the wall.
Within seconds, Alessio’s in front of me, his hands gentle as he frames my face.
“Mama,” he murmurs, his eyes burning with pain and anger. “Please, baby, I need you to get back into that bed and let them take care of you.”
I shake my head. “Anthony,” I croak. “I have to find him.”
“I’m going to,” he promises me.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper. “I tried to stop them, but I wasn’t strong enough.”
He rests his forehead against mine. “You did good, Mama. You tried your hardest. You protected him with everything you have. Now it’s my turn to do the same for you both.”
Hearing his words and knowing he doesn’t blame me for our son's disappearance, I crash into his body, the pain taking over and consuming me. My sobs wrack through my body. “They took him.”
I’m lifted into his arms. I’m safe when I’m with Ales. I know that no matter what, he’ll protect me. He carries me back to the room and I close my eyes. The pain is too much. I can feel my body start to sink again, but I fight it. I need to fight it.
“Are you okay?” he asks once I’m lying down on the bed again. The nurses and doctors start to put the tubes back into my arms. “This shouldn’t have happened, baby. I promise you, this will never happen again.”
It was everything I never wanted. Everything I was afraid of happening. Never in a million years did I think their enemies would take my son.
“I just want Anthony back,” I croak. “He’s going to be so scared.”
Ales nods, his eyes closed as he brushes my hair from my face. The doctors and nurses move away from me, asking that I please stay in bed.
“She will,” he assures them, before turning back to me. “I’m going to find him,” he promises me. “I’ll not stop until our son is in our arms.”
I nod, believing he’ll do everything in his power to do so.
“I fucking love you, Gabriella,” he tells me, and the sincerity in his voice has tears springing to my eyes once again. “I’ve never loved anyone but you.”
I swallow hard. “I love you too. The only one.” I could never give anyone what I give to Alessio. He’s my everything. “Be safe, and find our boy.”
He presses a chaste kiss against my lips. “I will. I’m going to call your dad, then I’m going to get our boy.”
I smile at him, glad that he’s not staying, although I can see the war in him. He wants to be here with me, but he needs to be out with his brothers and men, finding our son.
I watch as he exits my room, and the fear and pain come back in full force. Alessio beats them back for me, but without him, I’m a scared wreck.
The abyss is calling me again.
This time, I don’t fight it. Alessio is doing what I’m unable to, and that’s all I can ask.
“Hey.” I hear the soft Irish-American accent. “That’s it, open those eyes for me, Gabriella.”
I turn my head toward the sound and open my eye. The left is still having trouble opening.
“Makenna,” I sigh, glad she’s okay but confused as to why she’s here.
“Fuck, Gabby, I’m so sorry,” she tells me.