Page 80 of Condemned By Pain
Salvario
Bruno’s loud barks snap Antonio’s and my attention toward the door. The next second, he bursts into the dining room, running straight for me.
He claws at my thigh desperately.
I’m on my feet in an instant. He bolts toward the door, then back to me.
Bruno is panicking. That means only one thing.
I sprint after him upstairs. Antonio follows. My heart is already in my throat at the thought of something happening to her.
We race into my wing.
She’s lying on the floor.
My mind goes blank, but my body moves on instinct. I rush to her and turn her over. Her face is white as paper. She’s struggling to breathe.
“Epin—epine—phri…” she rasps.
Antonio reaches the hallway.
I shout, “There’s a red box in the third drawer of the left cabinet in my study. Bring it here!”
He nods and rushes into the study.
I snap my attention back to her. Her eyes are wide, unseeing. She’s clutching my shirt, heaving.
Fear ravages me from the inside. The scene starts overlapping with the memory from twenty-five years ago.
I shove it down.
She won’t die. Everything is under control.I tell myself.I have her medicine.
I scoop her up and rush into my room, settling on the bed with her in my arms, rubbing her back.
“Keep breathing, Princess.”
“I—can’t.”
“Antonio is bringing your medicine. Everything will be fine.”
She claws at my chest.
“I’m dying.” Only a faint sound escapes her lips. Her face is turning blue.
“Antonio!” I roar.
My hands start shaking.
“Nothing will happen. Keep breathing.” I’m ordering her, commanding her to live.
Bruno howls and storms around the room—running out, then back again. He sniffs at her before bolting out again. He’s in the same state I am—losing his mind. If anything happens to this woman, neither of us will survive. She’s our fucking life.
Finally, Antonio arrives. He flips the box open on the bed and fills the syringe.
“Inject it in her thigh,” I force out.
I lift her dress. Antonio administers the injection.
