Chapter 26
Enzo
Gemma slumped onto her plate, her cheek squished against the half-eaten fish.
“Gemma?” I shook her, a jolt of worry engulfing me.
“Don’t bother, Enzo.” Carina sipped her wine with casual indifference, her focus centered ahead. “I poisoned her.”
The world swam, the air thinning in my lungs. I stared at my mother. This had to be a joke. “Poison?” The word scraped my throat.
I surged from my seat and laid her on the floor. Her skin clammy to the touch.
“Is she all right?” Lucio bolted out of his seat, rushing over.
“Gemma!” I patted her cheek, harder this time. “Wake up! Gemma, wake up!”
“Why are you surprised?” Carina refilled her wineglass. “You knew this was coming.”
“Are you insane!” I shouted. My fingers trembled as I searched for a pulse. Beating. Maybe the poison hadn’t quite taken hold. “Call an ambulance!”
Carina stood from the table, wineglass in hand. “No need, she’ll be fine.”
I whirled around, my breathing ragged. “What did you give her?”
“The same drug you slipped her the first night.” One shoulder lifted in a casual shrug. “Let her sleep it off. She’ll be fine by morning.”
I raked a hand through my hair, tempted to strangle my own mother. “You said you used poison.”
She rolled her eyes, utterly unrepentant. “As a warning, because next time will be poison unless you agree to the peace deal.”
“Not this again!” I roared, smacking my palm into the cold tiles.
“Yes, this again.” A muscle twitched Carina’s jaw.
She took a deep breath, her hand tightening around the wineglass.
“Have you forgotten your vow to me? Don’t you see, Enzo?
” Tears welled in Carina’s eyes, a dangerous, fevered glint in them.
“You’ve betrayed me, just like Lorenzo. You chose the daughter of my worst enemy over me!
” She snatched the wine bottle, hurling it against the wall.
An explosion of red liquid and shattered glass painted the wallpaper.
“Either I kill her, or De Luca will, but she won’t live in peace here at your side. ”
I scooped Gemma into my arms, her body limp and heavy. “Lucio, help me get her to the car. I’m driving her to the hospital.”
Carina pummeled her fist on the table. “I told you she’ll be fine. You have my word.”
I tightened my grip on Gemma. “Your word means nothing. I’m taking her.”
Lucio hurried after me, opening the car door. I lowered her into the back seat, jumped behind the wheel, and tore out of the estate.
In the emergency room, I cradled her in my arms. “Help me!” I shouted. A nurse rushed over. “I think she’s been poisoned. Per favore!”
Nurses wheeled a gurney to our side and I laid her onto the bed.
They disappeared down the hall. The distance ate me alive.
I plodded to the waiting area. The plastic chair was cold and hard beneath me, offering no solace.
Déjà vu slammed into me. I’d been sitting in this exact spot just a few weeks ago, when I’d first rushed her here.
Would this become our life? Me, rushing her to the hospital, again and again?
Half an hour later, a doctor met me in the foyer. “How is she?”
“We found no poison, but a powerful sedative. We’ll monitor her overnight.”
Relief crashed over me, so intense it made me sink back into my chair. “Thank you, doctor.”
Carina hadn’t lied this time, but I knew she’d keep her word, eventually.
How many near-misses would Gemma have to endure because of me?
First the De Lucas, now my own mother. She was in constant danger.
How could I be so selfish, thinking I could keep her safe?
Had I really forgotten who I was dealing with?
I should have known better. This vow was a chain I couldn’t break.
What I had to do—what I must do—made my heart clench.
I wiped a hand down my face and pulled out my phone.
“Enzo?” Lucio’s voice vibrated the phone, strained with worry. “How’s Gemma?”
I tweaked my nose bridge. “It’s not poison.” His harsh sigh echoed in my ear. “Thank God.”
“Lucio,” my throat clogged, my body physically preventing me from what I was about to do. “I have a favor to ask.”
◆◆◆
My eyes snapped open, and I straightened in the armchair, stiff muscles protesting.
Gemma blinked, her brows furrowed as she moved. “Enzo?” Her groggy voice sounded a tad raw.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. “Hey, how are you feeling?”
Her brows knit together, and she patted the hospital bed sheets. “I don’t understand. Why am I here?”
I encased her hand, my thumb tracing circles on her skin. “You were drugged last night, my mother…” I trailed off, not wanting to burden her with the details of what led Carina to pull such a stunt.
She sank back against the pillow. “She drugged me?”
“I poisoned her.” Carina’s words echoed in my mind. My grip tightened on her hand. Over my dead body. I stared at her, at the worry etched in her brow, those whisky eyes searching for answers. No more. I wouldn’t let anyone harm her. Not again.
A knock on the door interrupted our conversation, and Lucio entered, carrying a small duffel bag. He set it down without looking at me.
“Your car’s out front.” Lucio avoided my gaze and scratched at his neck, a nervous habit. “Ready when you are.”
He didn’t agree with my plan, begging me to reconsider. But what choice did I have?
He glanced at Gemma, his slight pout giving too much away. “I’m sorry about our mother. I hope you feel better.”
“Thanks, Lucio.” She smiled, the gesture strained. “I just feel... foggy.” She looked at me, her gaze searching once again. “What happened?”
I cleared my throat. “Lucio brought you some clean clothes. Why don’t you change? I’ll get the discharge papers sorted.” I gestured to the duffel bag on the bed.
She nodded slowly, still looking dazed.
As I rose, I caught Lucio’s eye. A silent message passed between us: Thank you. I owe you.
“Enzo…” Lucio caught up with me in the hallway.
“Stop.” I raised my hand. “Just stop… you’re not making this any easier.”
A nurse in scrubs passed us. “Excuse me, my wife needs help getting dressed.”
“Of course, Mr. Cammarata.” The nurse entered Gemma’s room.
Lucio shot me a pointed glare. “That’s right, Enzo. Your wife .”
My eyes fluttered close. Would I ever get used to not calling her that? Ignoring my brother, I went to the desk and asked for the discharge papers.
A few minutes later, the same nurse departed, arm linked with Gemma.
I finished signing her discharge papers and thanked the nurse who assisted her.
Lucio tossed and caught his car keys, his jaw set firm. “I’ll see you back at home, Enzo.” He passed Gemma one last fleeting look. “Take care, Gemma.”
She managed a weak wave, then winced as she hobbled to the exit.
I lifted a hand to stroke her hair, but dropped my arm by my side before making contact. “Are you feeling well enough to leave? I can talk to the doctor if not.”
She stifled a yawn, hooking my arm as we headed out of the exit. “No, I’m fine. Everything’s a bit hazy, but otherwise I’m good.”
“Just… promise me you’ll rest. And drink plenty of water, okay? I don’t want you getting dehydrated.” I helped zipped her jacket from the crisp morning air, and held her hand while she eased into the passenger seat.
“I’m sure you’ll see to it.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Now, get in the car and stop being such a worrywart.”
In normal circumstances, I’d laugh at her remark, but humor was hard to find now…
not when we were headed for disaster. We merged onto the main road, destined for the one place I dreaded most. Gemma meant more to me than anything, even my mother’s vengeance.
I’d do whatever was necessary to protect her.
She frowned out the window. “Where are we going? This isn’t the way to the estate.”
There was no easy way to say this. “We’re not heading back to the villa.”
She relaxed into her seat, a smile breaking out on her face for the first time since awakening. Probably the last smile I’d ever see of hers. “Oh, good. We deserve a break from Carina.”
My mouth opened to clarify, but I remained mute. For the next twenty minutes, I pretended her words held true, and we both journeyed far away from the mess disrupting our lives. Reality set in, however, when I parked in front of the airport and helped her out.
She frowned again at our stop.
I grabbed her suitcase and a yellow folder from the trunk.
She followed me around the car; her face stark white. “Enzo? Why are we here?” Her eyes widened at the suitcase I’d wheeled to her side.
I handed her a ticket, and she read the details. “Sydney?” Her mouth snapped open. “Am I going home?”
I tightened my jaw, ignoring the stinging in my nose. “You are.”
She scanned our surroundings. The shrill ring of an aeroplane soared above our heads. “But where’s your luggage?”
“I can’t come with you, Gemma.” My throat closed, and I bit my inner cheek. Withdrawing the paperwork from the enclosure, I flattened the form on the bonnet. “I need you to sign.”
She analyzed the legal paperwork and pelted me with an outraged stare. “Divorce papers? You want me to sign divorce papers?”
Passersby stared, their luggage wheels rattling on the pavement as they hurried past.
I extended the pen, keeping my hand steady by sheer force of will, but she smacked my arm away.
“Why are you doing this?”
Dismissing the urge to pull her close, I tilted my chin. “Don’t… don’t make this difficult,” I kept my voice steady and offered the pen again.
She whacked my hand away a second time. “Carina put you up to this, right?” She grabbed my face, forcing me to meet her eyes. “Don’t listen to her. Enzo, come with me. Come live with me in Australia.”
Carina would hunt us down no matter where we fled. My derisive grimace was reflex. “You don’t get it, do you?” She wouldn’t sign unless I shattered her, unless she believed I wanted this. “This…” I waved my hand between us. “Was all a game from the start.”