CHAPTER XLV
“ N ico!” Gigi’s voice sent a surge of panic slicing through my chest.
“FUCK!” I leaped forward, sliding onto my stomach to the edge of the hole. I grabbed her forearm, fighting with every ounce of strength to prevent her from falling in. My other hand clutched a post, searching for more leverage.
Pain radiated through my body, but I clung to her, refusing to let go. “I’ve got you, baby. Put both hands on my arm!” I shouted as I battled against the fire in my leg.
“Hold on, please!” I grunted, trying to pull her up, but Massimo kicked me in the side.
“Kill two birds with one stone,” he cackled like a maniac.
Gigi’s eyes were wide with fear as she struggled to hold onto me.
“Baby, stop moving,” I pleaded.
“Nico!” she gasped. “I can’t?—!”
“I won’t let you go!”
With every pull, I felt the sharp bite of pain from the wound in my leg, but Gigi, my heart and soul, was my priority. I would save her no matter what it took.
Behind me, Massimo continued to laugh. “Now this is a show! How about we make it more interesting.”
I turned slightly to catch him approaching me. He held a knife in his hand, twirling in between his fingers.
“Fuck.” My heart thundered as Gigi’s weight tugged me down. I turn my attention back to Gigi to see tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Nico,” she cried.
Suddenly, I felt a sting in my side; he’d stabbed me.
“Now let’s see how much longer you can hold her up.” The fucker leaned against the conveyor, watching this like it was some goddam movie.
“It’s okay, baby,” I managed to reassure her through my growing fear.
“Nico. I’m slipping. Let me go,” she whispered.
“Fuck no!” I pulled harder, desperation clawing at me.
“Nico.”
With every ounce of willpower, I tugged harder, ignoring the searing pain in my side, but I couldn’t ignore that I was getting weaker.
“Nico. It’s okay,” she cried.
I shook my head, refusing to give up on her. “Don’t talk like that. I’m going to get you out,” I grunted, still pulling upward.
“Nico.” Her soft tone broke something in me. “It’s okay. Let go. I love you.”
Tears sprung to my eyes. “No, baby. If you go, I go.”
She managed a smile full of love that melted the icy grip of fear around my heart.
My angel entered my life without warning. Our gazes locked onto one another; she was everything I ever needed. And I was not going to watch her die.
With the last bit of my strength, I yanked on her arms upward with a roar.
Half her body was teetering on the edge. I lifted her up until she was safe on the ground.
“Nico, watch out!” she screamed, and my eyes darted upward to see her uncle charging at me with a knife.
As he drew closer, I kicked him between his legs. He doubled over, the blade slipping from his grasp.
I curled my fingers into a tight grip, fueled by a burning rage, and wrapped my hands around his throat.
Reaching for the blade laying nearby, I plunged it into his gut. He gasped, his eyes bulging as he frantically tried to free himself. I leaned close to his ear. “The shows over,” I hissed.
I drove the knife into his stomach, not once, but several times, until his screams of agony were silenced. No mercy was shown as I hurled him over edge and into the hole.
My strength waned, and I faltered and collapsed to the ground, pressing my hands on my side as blood seeped through my clothing.
“Oh, god,” Gigi cried, and my heart tightened.
“Nico,” she rasped, kneeling beside me. “Oh, god, Nico.” Her eyes glistened with tears.
“Get out of here,” I choked out, desperation leaking into my voice. I didn’t want her to see me die.
She shook her head defiantly.
“Gigi,” I warned, but it came out like a plea.
“I’m not leaving you,” she whispered, her gaze dropping to my legs where blood stained through my jeans. She covered her mouth when her eyes landed on my side. “You’re hurt!”
She pulled off her sweater and pressed it against my side, applying pressure to the wound and making me wince.
“Gigi, look at me,” I begged.
When she met my gaze, her tears continued to pour like a waterfall.
“I love you so fucking much,” I said.
“Shh, don’t talk.” The tremble in her shoulders mirrored my fear of leaving her behind.
“Don’t say it. You’re going to live,” she said repeatedly.
I gripped her wrist, my fingers wrapping around her delicate skin. “You need to leave. Now.”
“No.” Gigi’s voice was laced with fear. “You need help.”
I locked my gaze onto hers, desperation clawing at my insides. “I don’t want you to—” I started to cough.
She shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I won’t leave you here. I can’t. You’re not going to die.”
“Gigi,” I warned.
“I’m not fucking leaving you! You go, I go, remember?”
My frustrating little Angel.
She leaned in, burying her face in my neck, her tears soaking my skin. I summoned every ounce of strength I had left to pull her close.
“I love you so much,” she stammered. “Please don’t leave me.”
The distant wail of sirens filled the air; help was on the way.
“You’re going to be okay,” she reassured me, though doubt gnawed at my mind as I felt my life slipping away.
I kept my eyes locked on her beautiful face, now ghostly and faint. “Baby,” I rasped. “Are you feeling okay?”
She raised a trembling hand to her forehead. “I don’t know…everything’s spinning,” she whispered.
The wail of sirens drew closer.
I shut my eyes and swallowed a lump of relief.
And then, in a heart-stopping moment, her eyes rolled back, and she slumped over, landing on my chest.
“No,” I cried. “Gigi, baby, wake up.” My voice faltered as I attempted to conserve my energy, but my heartbeat began to slow down.
I fought against the darkness creeping in, driven by my love.
For her.
For us.