CHAPTERFORTY-EIGHT
“Cara.”Someone lifted her head.
She wanted to tell them to stop, to leave her alone. After the bursts of pain, the coolness of the stone felt good. Now she was being held against something as immovable as the stone floor, but it was hot. Too hot!
“Hold still, baby. You’re going to be okay. I’m here. Just be still.” Wes’s voice sounded weird, like he was trying not to cry.
Cara wanted to ask him what was wrong, but her throat felt raw. She whimpered when the fingers on her cheek explored her injured jaw, and she heard a sharp indrawn breath.
There were other sounds, thumps and groans, but her head was too cloudy to make sense of it.
“I’m sorry, baby.” Wes’s voice was quiet, and then he yelled. “Where the fuck is the ambulance?”
Cara heard Declan then. His voice sounded strange, too, like he was short of breath. “She’s strong. It will take more than this coward…” Declan crouched next to her. “Hang in there, Car-Bear. It’s over now.”
Cara struggled to keep her eyes open, but the fog was thickening again.
I’ll answer them in a minute. I just need to close my eyes for a second.
“Don’t let her fall asleep. She needs to stay conscious.” That was definitely Declan. So bossy.
“I’m awake,” Cara tried to say, but it came out as a whisper from her ravaged throat.
“Don’t talk,” Wes said.
“Colin?” Cara looked up into the faces of the two men leaning over her. A savage satisfied look came over Declan.
“He’s not going anywhere.”
Her eyes lifted to Wes’s. “It was him. The whole time. The flowers, the messages, all of it.” She didn’t mention the computer, but she could see that Wes understood.
A flurry of movement stirred behind them, and then Wes and Declan were being moved away while two Italian EMS workers examined her.
Cara protested when another two appeared with a stretcher.
“It’s not for you,” Declan declared grimly. For the first time, Cara looked to where Colin lay bloody and unmoving on the floor and then at her brother’s split knuckles.
“Dec?”
“Leave it.” His face was implacable. “I’ll talk to the police, explain the situation, and then I’ll call his family. They need to understand why it won’t be in their best interest to get him out of this.” He turned his dark eyes to Wes. “Do not leave her side. For any reason.”
Wes nodded and then gave her a faint smile. “Never.”
Declan pulled one arriving officer to the side. Cara didn’t know what he said, but when the officer came to her side, he assured her that the Polizia would take her statement later that day at the villa.
“Can you walk?” Wes asked, his face a mask of concern.
Cara took a ginger step. Her ribs and hip were sore from where Colin threw her to the stone floor, but she didn’t think her injuries were serious. From the throbbing now making itself known in her face, Cara didn’t want to think about what she looked like. She gave Wes a reassuring smile and tried not to wince when he put his arm around her waist to help her.
To Cara’s dismay, upon exiting the wine cellar, there was a handful of guests lingering, drawn by the excitement. Another scandal for Caralina Bloom! At least it didn’t look as if anyone had pulled their phones out to film.
Cara was suddenly exhausted and grateful for Wes’s arm holding her up. Her mother ran to her, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Your face!”
Cara reached up, feeling every eye in the place on her.
Alessandro observing her distress, loudly announced to the curious onlookers that wine was being served in the garden. He motioned for a few of his staff to help herd the guests away, as Cara, supported by Wes and followed by her mother, made her way to the stairs.
