The Last Breath

Aria’s POV

“Your husband is dying” Dante whispered “And in a few seconds you will be joining him”

The gun pressed against my temple across the chapel, Massimo lay on the cold stone floor, one hand clamped over his chest. Blood spread beneath his fingers, staining his white shirt crimson his eyes were half open, but he was no longer looking at me “Massimo!” I screamed

Dante tightened his grip around my arm “He cannot hear you Aria and even if he could, he would be powerless to help”

I struggled against him, but the man behind me twisted my arms until pain shot through my shoulders “Let her go” Alessandro ordered

My father stood several feet away, his expression unreadable he had brought me into this nightmare, knowing exactly what Dante intended. He had watched Massimo fall without making a move to help him for the first time in my life, I looked at my father and saw a stranger Dante laughed “You still think you can give orders here Alessandro? You delivered your daughter to me you have fulfilled your purpose”

“I did what was necessary to settle our debts”

“Your debts?” I repeated, staring at him “You used me to get to Massimo”

Alessandro's jaw tightened “You were never supposed to become so attached to him”

The words hurt more than I expected, but I refused to let him see it “You arranged everything” I said “The information I gave you about Massimo's family, the attack on his father all of it”

“I gave Dante what he needed”

“And you let me marry the man whose family you helped destroy?”

My father looked away that silence was my answer Dante moved closer to Massimo, dragging me with him “Your father and I have waited years for this moment Massimo's father took everything from my family. His death was only the beginning I wanted his son to suffer the same way I did”

“You murdered innocent people for revenge”

“Innocent?” Dante scoffed “There are no innocent people in our world, Aria. Only people who haven't paid for their sins yet”

He crouched beside Massimo and kicked the gun away from his hand Massimo didn't move a terrible thought entered my mind. What if he was already dead?

I forced myself to look for signs of life. His chest rose, barely. One breath. Then another he was alive for now “Please” I said turning toward Dante “Whatever happened between your family and his, finish it with me let him get medical attention”

Dante studied me with amusement “You would sacrifice yourself for him?”

“Yes”

The answer came without hesitation his smile disappeared “Then perhaps I should make you watch him die first”

He raised his weapon toward Massimo I moved before I could think. Throwing my weight backward, I drove my heel into the shin of the man holding me. His grip loosened just enough for me to wrench one arm free I struck his face with my elbow and stumbled away as he cursed the gunshot deafened me I dropped to the floor for one unbearable second, I believed Dante had shot Massimo again but when I looked up I saw a bullet hole in the wooden pew beside him Dante had missed or someone had distracted him. I scrambled toward Massimo, but Alessandro seized my wrist “Stop this” he hissed

“Get your hands off me”

I struck him across the face he released me, more from surprise than pain I reached Massimo and dropped beside him his skin was pale, and blood coated my fingers when I pressed my hand against his wound “Massimo open your eyes”

His eyelids fluttered “Aria?”

His voice was so faint I almost missed it “I'm here you need to stay awake”

He tried to lift his head but the movement made him grimace “Get away from me” he rasped

“No”

“Dante”

“I know”

His gaze found mine even in his weakened state, he tried to push me behind him I caught his hand “Stop trying to protect me when you can barely breathe”

A faint, pained smile touched his lips “Old habit”

“Then break it”

His fingers closed around mine for a moment, the chapel disappeared there was only the man who had trusted me when he had every reason not to the man I had nearly lost because of secrets that were never mine alone to carry. Then Dante grabbed the back of my dress and dragged me away Massimo tried to rise he collapsed with a groan “Touch her again” he said his voice barely audible “and I'll kill you”

Dante looked delighted “You're in no position to threaten anyone”

He struck Massimo across the face with the butt of his gun I screamed and lunged forward, but two men caught me “Enough” Alessandro shouted “You wanted revenge on Massimo you have it. Don't involve her any further”

Dante turned slowly toward him “You're suddenly concerned about your daughter?”

“She has nothing to do with your family feud”

“You made sure she did when you used her to get close to Massimo”

My father fell silent Dante stepped toward him “You promised me access to the Livoti family, information about their movements and a way to destroy Massimo from the inside. You delivered all three but you forgot one thing”

“What?”

“You were supposed to make sure your daughter remained useful”

Alessandro's expression hardened “Our agreement never included killing her”

“Then you should have read the fine print”

Dante raised his gun toward my father I didn't think I grabbed a heavy brass candleholder from the floor and hurled it at Dante's arm the shot went wild, striking a pillar Alessandro threw himself behind a pew Dante swore and turned on me, his expression twisted with rage “You ungrateful little”

He lunged I ducked beneath his arm and ran toward the chapel doors I made it three steps before one of his men caught my hair and pulled me backward.

I kicked, scratched, and fought until he slammed me against the wall Dante approached, rubbing his injured arm

“You really should have stayed where I put you”

“Go to hell”

He struck me across the face my vision blurred, but I kept my eyes on Massimo. He had rolled onto his side, struggling to breathe every instinct told me to reach him, yet I was surrounded by armed men then a sound came from outside three sharp gunshots everyone froze Dante's men exchanged uncertain glances. Another burst of gunfire followed, closer this time, accompanied by shouting Dante grabbed me and pressed his gun against my ribs “Who else knows we're here?” he demanded

I said nothing he shoved me toward the doorway and used me as a shield while he peered into the darkness beyond the chapel a man stumbled inside, clutching his abdomen “Boss” he gasped “We've been surrounded”

“By whom?”

“I don't know they came through the eastern entrance our men are falling back”

Dante shoved him aside “Then hold them off”

“We can't”

The man collapsed Dante's face changed for the first time that night, uncertainty replaced his confidence.

I took advantage of his distraction and stamped hard on his foot he loosened his grip I twisted away, but before I could run, he caught the back of my dress and pulled me against him “Move again and I'll put a bullet through your spine”

I went still a figure appeared in the doorway, silhouetted against the headlights outside “Let her go” a familiar voice commanded

Kelvin Massimo's brother stood with a gun in each hand his black suit streaked with dust several armed men moved behind him, spreading through the chapel Dante laughed bitterly “The missing prince finally arrives”

Kelvin's gaze shifted to Massimo something in his expression broke “Massimo?”

He started forward but Dante pressed his gun against my head “One more step and she dies”

Kelvin stopped “Let her go Dante this is between you and us”

“It has always been between us” Dante pulled me closer “Your father destroyed my family your brother inherited his empire and now both of you will watch everything you love disappear”

“Then take me instead” Kelvin said

Dante considered him for a moment “You would die for your brother?”

“I'd do worse”

A strange silence settled over the chapel Dante's eyes narrowed, as if he had just remembered something “Interesting” he murmured “You really don't know, do you?”

Kelvin tightened his grip on his guns “Know what?”

Dante leaned close to my ear “Ask your brother who gave me the location of your father's safe house the night he died”

Kelvin's face drained of colour “No” he whispered

Dante smiled “Yes one of your own blood helped me find him”

I looked at Kelvin, then at Massimo who lay motionless on the floor Dante raised his weapon toward Kelvin “Go ahead” he said “Ask him who betrayed your father”

Kelvin's gun slowly lowered and then he looked directly at Massimo and said “Because if what Dante is saying is true, the man who killed our father is standing right here”