Page 121 of When She Tempts (The Fallen)
“She bit him?”
“Yes. He tried to grab me in the greenhouse, but I managed to fight him off. I used the moves you taught me.”
“God, Mari. I’m so fucking proud of you.”
“After I left the greenhouse, I hid in Tommaso and Allegra’s bedroom, but Polo managed to break in. That’s when Sophia and I took him down.”
Warmth slips into his voice as he says, “That dog’s going on a diet of prime meat for the rest of her life.”
Sophia’s back and belly seem fine, so I move onto checking her legs. When I touch one of the front ones, she jerks it back and whimpers.
“I think one of her legs is hurt,” I tell Giorgio.
“I’ll ask Damiano to have a vet ready for when you land. He’s already called a doctor for you.”
“I’m fine,” I insist, giving Sophia a scratch behind her ear. She blinks at me with her big round eyes and then drops her head down to the ground. Her energy seems low, and worry swirls inside my gut.
“You’re in shock. You might have injuries you’re not even aware of,” Giorgio says. “You need to see a doctor.”
“I just want to see you. When will that be?” As the question leaves my mouth, I realize I don’t even know where the plane will take me.
“Tonight. I promise.”
A whirring sound reaches my ears, and I twist around, peering up at the sky through the windshield. “The plane’s here!”
“Stay in the car until it comes to a stop. Can you see the number written on the side?”
“Yes.”
“Read it to me.”
I squint. “N707AM.”
“That’s it. Okay, put the phone in your pocket and get yourself and Sophia ready to run. Tell me when you get on.”
Sophia barely perks up when I say her name, so I lift her out of the back seat and put her on my lap. “I’m going to have to carry you to the plane, girl,” I whisper to her, praying I’ll be able to make it all the way. She’s far from tiny.
When the plane comes to a stop, I jump out of the car and book it. The pilot manages to get the stairs down just as I reach them, and he takes Sophia off my hands.
As soon as I’m inside the cabin, I pull my phone out of my pocket and press it to my ear. “I made it,” I say breathlessly.
There’s a long silence.
“Gio?”
“ThankfuckingGod.” His voice shakes.
The raw anguish in those three words makes tears flood my eyes. Giorgio’s been holding that back this entire time, staying calm so that I wouldn’t freak out. “Mari, if anything happened to you, I would—” He makes a choked sound. “I’m so fucking glad you’re all right.”
The tears fall, dragging down my cheeks. “I got away. We did it.”
“No,youdid. Remember that.”
I sniff and catch a glimpse of the pilot gesturing at me. “I have to go. We’re about to take off.”
“I—” He blows out a breath. “I’ll see you soon.”
After I hang up the phone, I finally break down and weep. Adrenaline seeps out of my body, and with it goes all of my energy. The past hour took everything out of me. God, what the hell just happened? I can’t believe it. It feels like I watched a horror movie, like the events happened to someone other than me.
