Mafia Heir’s Broken Vows (Rosewood Hall Broken Vows)

24. Serafina

SERAFINA

T he world is suspended in a fragile stillness, broken only by the soft patter of rain against the shattered windows and the distant popping of gunfire. I cradle Leo against me, his small frame trembling, his face buried in my chest as though he could shut out the horrors he had just seen. His tiny hands grip my shirt like a lifeline. I can barely feel my own limbs, numb from fear, exhaustion, and the icy chill that has seeped into my bones.

Alessandro kneels in front of us, his breath labored, his entire frame tense. Blood seeps through the fabric of his shirt, darkening the material, and spreading like a stain on the floor beneath him.

"You're hurt." My voice trembles as I point to the blood soaking his side.

He dismisses it with a slight shake of his head, the corners of his mouth tightening. "It doesn't matter. You're safe. I'm fine."

But it's not fine. Seeing him like this—bleeding, staggering, barely holding himself up—it's unbearable. He risked everything to save us. How can he think his life is worth less than ours?

Tears blur my vision, and I blink them away, forcing myself to stay calm. I reach out, my hand trembling as I press it gently to the wound at his side. My fingertips come away warm and slick with blood. He flinches at the touch but doesn't pull away. Gritting his teeth, he hisses out a breath.

"We need to stop the bleeding," I murmur, panic rising. I look around us, desperate to find anything that might help, but there's nothing in this desolate place.

Alessandro's hand closes over mine, firm but gentle. He shakes his head.

"Later," he breathes. "Right now, we need to get out of here."

Leo is dead weight in my arms, and I put him down beside me. Alessandro's sharp gaze softens as he looks at us both, though pain is visible in his expression as he doubles over again.

"We can't leave if you can't stand. Let me help you."

"Leo, you hold on to Mommy. Like this." I guide his small fingers around the pocket of my jeans. "You don't let go, no matter what. We're going to run away from here—like a race. Okay?" He nods, his little hand gripping tightly. It's a trick we've used before in crowded shops, and he understands. He trusts me.

I force Alessandro's arm around my shoulders, feeling his full weight lean heavily against me. Supporting him as best I can, we leave the office, searching for a way out. I feel the tremors running through him—the sheer effort it takes for him to stay upright is draining him.

He grimaces with each step but refuses to slow down. His blood stains my shirt, warm and damp against my skin, but I hold him tighter, willing him to stay strong.

"I should've killed him sooner," Alessandro mutters through gritted teeth, bitterness lacing every syllable.

"You did what you had to do," I reply softly, glancing up at him. "You saved us. That's all that matters."

His grip on my shoulder tightens slightly. "Not fast enough."

I stop abruptly, forcing him to turn and face me. His dark eyes burn with frustration and guilt, a storm raging within him.

"Stop it," I snap, my voice firmer than I thought possible. "You came for us. You fought for us. Don't you dare believe for one second that wasn't enough."

For a moment, he says nothing, his breathing harsh in the too-quiet house. Then something flickers in his eyes—vulnerability. A crack in the armor he always wears.

His breathing slows. He doesn't argue. Instead, his gaze drops to Leo, whose small hand reaches toward him with surprising certainty. Alessandro lowers himself slowly, wincing with every movement, and pulls Leo into his arms.

"You're so brave, little man," he murmurs, his voice soft, breaking slightly. "I'm going to make sure no one ever scares you again."

Leo clings to him, his tiny arms wrapping tightly around Alessandro's neck. And for the first time since he learned the truth, Alessandro lets the walls fall. He holds our son fully, without reservation—just a father protecting what's most precious to him.

Leaving the ruined compound feels like we're walking through a graveyard. Smoke and dust linger in the air, mingling with the iron tang of blood. Leo clings to the pocket of my jeans, his small hand gripping tightly, his steps matching mine as I support Alessandro. His wide eyes start to dart around, and I catch the way they linger too long on the motionless bodies scattered across the floor. My heart clenches, and I crouch slightly, turning my face to his.

"Leo," I say gently, but firmly, "look at me, sweetheart. Only at me, okay? Keep holding on to Mommy and don't look around."

His wide, tearful eyes lock onto mine, and he nods, his little chin trembling. "Okay, Mommy," he whispers, gripping my jeans tighter as he stares determinedly at the back of my leg. I give him a quick smile before standing back up, my focus returning to Alessandro.

Alessandro leans heavily on me, his steps growing slower with each passing moment. His breathing is labored, and his weight presses against me more than ever. He's losing too much blood, and I can feel his body trembling with the effort to keep moving—but he doesn't say a word.

Suddenly, Enzo appears at the end of the corridor, his silhouette backlit by the dim glow of the emergency lights. Relief flashes across his face when he spots us. He moves quickly, closing the distance in long strides, his boots echoing against the cold floor.

"Boss!" he says, his voice a harsh whisper. "We need to move—Marco's men are regrouping."

Alessandro grits his teeth, his jaw tight with determination. "Get Serafina and Leo out first."

I shake my head sharply, my voice firm. "No. We leave together." I glance down at Leo, his hand clutching my jeans, his little face focused solely on my leg like I asked him to. Then I look back at Alessandro. "We're not splitting up."

Enzo hesitates, his eyes darting between Alessandro and me, torn between his loyalty to his boss and my refusal to back down. Alessandro's dark eyes meet mine, the weight of his exhaustion clear, but he nods grimly, conceding to my demand. "Lead the way," he orders Enzo.

We move cautiously through the compound, every shadow a potential threat, every corner a possible ambush. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat a deafening reminder of how close we are to danger. Alessandro's grip on my shoulder tightens with every step, his strength fading, but he presses on. Leo's small footsteps patter behind me, his focus staying where I asked him to keep it.

When we finally step out into the rain, the cold water lashes against my skin, mixing with the wind and sending chills straight to my bones. The world outside feels too quiet, the storm masking the danger that could still be lurking. I glance at Alessandro—soaked, pale, but unbroken. He meets my gaze with a determination that burns through his pain.

"Almost there," Enzo murmurs, gesturing toward the waiting truck hidden in the shadows of the tree line. The rain makes it hard to see clearly, but I can feel the tension in the air—none of us are safe yet.

I shift my weight, tightening my grip on Alessandro as his steps falter. "Come on, we're almost there," I urge him, my voice soft but firm. Behind me, Leo tugs at my jeans, his small voice breaking the silence.

"Mommy, is he going to be okay?"

I glance down at him, forcing a smile I don't feel. "He's going to be fine, baby. We all are. Just stay close, okay?"

Leo nods, his little hand gripping my jeans even tighter as we move toward the waiting vehicle. Enzo keeps a sharp eye on our surroundings, his body tense like a coiled spring, ready to react at the slightest hint of danger.

As we reach the truck, Alessandro straightens slightly, pulling some of his weight off me, his hand gripping my arm firmly. Despite the rain soaking his clothes and the blood still seeping through his shirt, his voice is steady. "Let's go."

The back of the truck is cramped and cold, the metallic floor vibrating beneath us with every bump in the road. Alessandro slumps against the metal wall, his head falling back as his breath comes in ragged gasps. His shirt is soaked with blood, the deep crimson spreading like an ominous shadow. I tear a strip from the hem of my shirt, my hands trembling as I press it hard against the wound in his side.

He hisses in pain, his hand covering mine. "Serafina, stop. You don't have to do this."

"Hold still," I snap, my voice sharper than intended. Fear is making me frantic, and my hands are unsteady. "Let me take care of you."

His grip on my hand tightens, his dark eyes meeting mine. "I'm here," he says, his voice low and steady despite the pain. "I'm not going anywhere. You have to believe me."

Tears spill over before I can stop them. I lean in, pressing my forehead gently to his. "You scared me," I whisper, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. "I thought I was going to lose you."

He brushes his fingers lightly across my cheek, wiping away the tears. His touch is warm and comforting despite the agony he's enduring. "You won't," he murmurs, his voice thick with conviction. "Not now. Not ever." Even in this moment—surrounded by the wreckage of violence and the echoes of what we've just survived—I know he means it. But reality looms over us like a storm cloud. His father, Isabella, and the men loyal to Marco will want revenge… we're not safe yet.

For now, all I want is to get home. To hold Leo close and pretend, just for a moment, that none of this ever happened. But the blood soaking into the makeshift bandage and the strain in Alessandro's voice are harsh reminders that pretending won't be enough.

Enzo's voice cuts through the tension. "We're transferring him to the SUV," he announces, opening the truck door as rain splashes in. "He'll be more comfortable there, and the doctor's already on his way to the house. He'll meet us when we get there."

Carefully, Enzo helps Alessandro from the truck to the waiting vehicle. Alessandro groans, his weight leaning heavily on Enzo, but he doesn't complain. I hover close, watching every step with my heart in my throat.

"Keep pressure on the wound," Enzo instructs as he helps Alessandro settle into the back seat, reclining him slightly to ease his pain. "We're driving fast, so make sure the kid is buckled in tight."

I nod, clicking the seatbelt around Leo's small frame. He looks at me with wide, scared eyes, but I force a smile. "We're okay, sweetheart. Just keep your seatbelt on and stay still, okay?"

Leo nods silently, gripping the edge of his seat with small, trembling hands. I buckle myself in as Enzo slides into the driver's seat, his movements quick and efficient.

The engine roars to life, and the SUV lurches forward, tires skidding slightly on the wet road before finding traction. Rain lashes against the windows, the sound almost drowning out Alessandro's labored breathing beside me.

I keep my hand pressed firmly to the wound in his side, feeling the heat of his blood seeping through the fabric. He's pale, too pale, and his eyelids flutter like he's fighting to stay conscious.

"Stay with me," I whisper, leaning closer. "We're almost home."

His hand reaches for mine, weak but steady, his fingers lacing through mine. "I'll always stay with you," he murmurs, his voice barely audible over the hum of the engine and the pounding rain.

I squeeze his hand tightly, refusing to let go. "You'd better."