*Bianca*
My whole soul and body felt empty as I stared at the wall of dark screens in front of . Ti didn’t an anything now. I might have been in front of this wall for hours and I wouldn’t have known. I didn’t think I was capable of feeling anything anymore.
All of our surveillance caras shut off when the building finally collapsed. Since then, I gripped the phone in my hand, refusing to move, terrified of getting a call that would report my fiance as gone from this world, far away from and his unborn child.
My brain seed to be shutting down, unable to even begin to process what had happened. I hadn’t even gotten a glimpse of Leo or Darion ever since Darion went in after Leo. Fear twisted my chest as I imagined the worst. My eyes were wide open, staring at nothing as my mind started to spiral downward at an alarming rate.
I could hear it all too clearly now as I squeezed my eyes shut and ducked my head, trying in vain to suppress my emotions. The phone would ring and after picking it up, a low, solemn voice would inform that Leo didn’t make it. The voice would continue on and further explain that my child would just have to grow up fatherless in this cruel, twisted world.
“Bianca.”
I looked up and turned my head to look at my best friend. When did she get here?
I shifted to avert my gaze, no longer able to keep it trained on her. Amara’s gaze was too compassionate as she squeezed my shoulder. I couldn’t stand it.
I was only vaguely aware of Franky there as well. After the screens had all shut down, he finally lowered himself into a nearby chair. I wasn’t sure if it was from the shock of what just occurred or because he was still recovering from his injuries as well but he was as white as a sheet.
“Bianca. You’re shaking.”
I looked back up at Amara and found that she was right. I was trembling as I sat in that chair.
Amara furrowed her eyebrows with worry and without any hesitation, she bent slightly so that she could throw her arms around , squeezing tightly to her.
The warmth and the kind gesture were too much and it was at that mont that I released everything. Tears gushed from my eyes and sobs wracked my whole body as I buried my face in Amara’s chest.
Ever since Leo was captured days ago, I didn’t let myself feel. I imdiately busied myself, refusing to let fear and anguish control . Leo was stronger than that. He would have done anything to make sure that I made it ho. I had to be willing to do the sa for him or else I couldn’t call myself even a half-decent fiancee.
Amara stroked my back and shushed . She didn’t say anything, just continued to hold and I could feel that she was afraid to say that things were going to be okay because it wasn’t sothing that she could promise .
I appreciated her trying to comfort but it was almost making the whole situation worse. The way she was rubbing my back and holding tightly just reminded of the way Leo used to try and console . I longed for his gentle embraces and his firm foundation.
“I’m here,” Amara said, moving her hands to rub my upper arms now.
I jumped when I felt another hand on my back. I looked up at Franky through my tears. Even with my blurred vision, I could see the compassion and sympathy on his face.
That only made sob harder because his reaction implied I needed the pity.
I was completely inconsolable, no matter how much Amara and Franky did for . Franky went to get a hot beverage since I was still shaking even though I wasn’t the slightest bit cold. I imagined he just needed sothing to occupy his mind as well.
“You might be going into shock, Bianca,” Amara said urgently. As she was saying this, she tried to push a bagel into my clammy hands. “You need to eat sothing. It’s been hours since you last ate.”
I didn’t bother ntioning that I hadn’t eaten or slept in over twenty-four hours. It wouldn’t have helped anything and it didn’t matter either way.
I just held the bagel listlessly, feeling my stomach twist. I put a hand on my slightly swollen belly, knowing I had to eat for the baby. I had just opened my mouth when we heard the unmistakable wailing of a siren.
Amara and I shared a wide-eyed glance. I jumped up from my chair and the two of us burst through the door and down the hallway just in ti to see the first ambulance arrive in front of the compound.
My heart was pounding wildly as we ran to et the vehicle. In no ti at all, several more piled onto the long driveway. I watched as our n stepped out. Well, many of them limped out, aided by dical professionals that we had on the inside.
The once peaceful compound was now exploding with activity as our n were everywhere, getting treated for their various injuries. It relieved slightly to see that so many of our mbers made it back alive. There were so faces missing though, I realized. We didn’t get by without so losses.
I noticed Taylor sitting on a nearby bench getting his wounds treated. I breathed a sigh of relief. It looked like his injuries weren’t too serious.
I looked around wildly, taking note of each man present. Leo was nowhere in sight. My breathing quickened. I couldn’t bring myself to ask about him, terrified of the answer that I would get if I did.
I would just wait. Hopefully, my fiance would arrive soon.
Minutes ticked by and lted into hours and there was still no sign of Leo or Darion. I tried to keep busy like I was good at doing, rushing around and fetching dical supplies for people. I aided so of the dical workers, bandaging up wounds and handing out refreshnts to the n.
Soon, there was nothing left for to do. It was clear that things were starting to wind down. The sun was just about the set, golden hour setting in.
My heart lurched. It was going to get dark soon and there was still no sign of Leo.
Numbly, I walked away from the chaos and out into the parking lot. I needed to be alone because I could feel myself starting to unravel.
Leo really wasn’t coming back.
I gritted my teeth hard as the first of many sobs started. My body shook and I wrapped my arms around myself.
“Bianca!”
I sucked in a sharp breath, recognizing that deep, warm voice imdiately. I started to hyperventilate, unable to believe what I was hearing.
I turned slowly, as if I was in a dream and if I moved too quickly, this miraculous mont would disappear.
“Leo,” I breathed out, my eyes imdiately filling with fresh tears.
It took a long mont to realize this wasn’t a hallucination and that Leo really was standing in front of , being heavily supported by Darion. My fiance looked beat-up, his clothes torn, blood dripping from various wounds. His face was scratched and bruised but he was smiling widely, his eyes sparkling as they settled on .
He was alive.
A sob tore through my throat as I sprinted over to his side, throwing my arms around him. He stepped away from Darion so that he could fold into his arms, imdiately engulfing in his strong embrace.
My senses were overwheld as I buried my face in his chest, crying loudly. He was already shushing gently, murmuring softly. “Shh, it’s alright now, my love,” he said. “I’m here. We’re together. We’ll always be together. I love you so much.”
His words were blissful music to my ears, everything I could have ever hoped for and more.
When my cries finally died down, I lifted my head to look at Darion, who was watching us with his hands in his pockets. He looked like he had just treaded through hell as well, with blood all over his clothes and bruises along his jaw and side of his face.
“Thank you for bringing him ho to ,” I told him sincerely.
Darion shrugged, still the cocky kid even after all of the turmoil. “I told you that I would, didn’t I?” he said and I was shocked that he actually sounded a little embarrassed. Then, he smirked, looking pleased with himself. “We almost didn’t make it out of the building in ti before it completely collapsed. I was able to make sure we all got out at the last second though.”
“That sounds insane,” I said, shaking my head in amazent. “Thank you so much for what you did. I’ll never forget it.”
Darion nodded. “Andre will never trouble you again,” he said seriously. “We made sure of that by capturing his ass.”
I smirked at his use of words, a reminder of just how young he was. It was hard to believe that we were about the sa age.
I was relieved to hear that Andre had been captured but if I was being completely honest, I was just glad that it was finally all over. I giggled when Leo placed several feather-light kisses all over my face.
He grinned down at and pride glimred in his eyes. “I hear you were quite the spitfire,” he said, squeezing my hip affectionately. “You had Andre’s panties in a twist with all the havoc you’ve been reigning down on him. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Before I could respond, he lowered his lips to mine in a searing kiss that had my whole body heating up. Tears pricked my eyes once again as emotion slamd into . I wasn’t sure if I would ever get to feel his firm lips on mine ever again.
I was imdiately lost in the kiss, tiny sparks going over my skin as we connected. He really was my fuel, the one thing that kept moving forward in life. I was never letting him go ever again.
I was breathless when we finally pulled apart. “I couldn’t let you go off and die before we even got married,” I told him.
Leo chuckled, a deep resonating sound that I could feel in my core. His voice was low as he lowered his mouth to my ear. “I’ll make it well worth your while,” he promised.
My eyes widened when he pulled sothing out of his pocket and let it hang in front of my face. A single tear dripped down my cheek when I realized that it was my locket. He gently turned around so that he could fasten it back around my neck. I sighed contentedly as it rested just above my heart where it belonged.
Leo kissed my locket before he pressed his mouth to mine once more to seal his vow.
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