Chapter 32

Chapter Thirty-Two

Angelo

A burst of blinding white light assaulted my eyes, forcing me to shield them with my hand. As the light began to fade, a sudden surge of energy coursed through my body, like an electrical current that set every nerve ending ablaze. It was as if a dam had burst within me, unleashing a river of power that had been held back for far too long.

I gasped as the energy continued to build, filling me with a strength I hadn't felt in decades. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, and my skin tingled with the sheer potency of the magic flowing through my veins. It was exhilarating and overwhelming all at once, a heady rush of renewed vitality that left me breathless.

As the initial shock began to wear off, I could feel my senses becoming keener, my mind becoming clearer and sharper. The world around me seemed to come into better focus—colors were more vivid, sounds crisper. I felt alive in a way I hadn't in a long time, as if a veil had been lifted from my eyes, revealing the true depth and breadth of my power to me.

I clenched my fists, marveling at the raw energy that thrummed just beneath the surface of my skin. It was intoxicating, this feeling of strength and capability. With this renewed power, I knew I could face any challenge that lay ahead.

Even as I reveled in the rush of my restored abilities, a flicker of unease passed through me. Serenity had managed to heal the stone, but not completely. I knew that this was only a fraction of my true potential, and the thought of what I might be capable of at full strength both thrilled and terrified me.

Then I turned, and my world shattered into a million pieces.

I saw Serenity spasming in front of me before she crumpled on the floor, her body going unnaturally still. The realization that I had prioritized restoring the Aeternum Stone's power over her well-being hit me like a sledgehammer and tears welled up in my eyes as I rushed to her side.

Her outstretched hand still clutched the Aeternum Stone in a deathly grip. I gathered her limp form into my arms, cradling her against my chest. "Serenity," I choked out, the word sticking in my throat as a wave of anguish crashed over me, so intense that it stole the breath from my lungs and sent my world spinning off its axis. My body trembled, and a searing pain cut into my chest, as if my heart were being ripped from my ribcage. "Serenity! What have I done?"

Crimson rivulets trickled down her nose, cheeks, and throat, the evidence of my selfishness painting her porcelain skin. For so long, I had only cared about what was best for me and my family.

Until I met her.

I clutched her tighter, my fingers digging into her unmoving flesh as if I could somehow return her to consciousness. "No, no, no," I mumbled, my voice breaking on each word. "Please, Serenity, don't leave me. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

My vision blurred as I gently rocked her back and forth, not from tears but from shock. Each shudder that coursed through me was like a silent sob, the gravity of my actions hitting me as harshly as a gale force wind. The stark realization that I had extinguished the one true light in my dark world through my own selfishness was nauseating. She had brought me hope and brightness, and now, all was shadow and guilt, her light snuffed out. And it was all my fault.

I shook her gently, desperately searching for any sign of life. "Can you hear me?" I pleaded, my heart shattering more with each passing second of silence.

Her eyes remained closed, her lashes dark on her too-pale cheeks. With trembling fingers, I pried the stone from her grasp. It pulsed in my palm, alive once more, its power restored just enough to keep my enemies at bay…for now. As I gazed down at Serenity's lifeless form, I realized the price I had paid was far too steep. I had killed the woman who had stolen my heart. The woman I loved .

I blinked at that thought. Love? Did I truly love this woman? I had never known love except for what I felt for my family. This…this was different…more powerful. Yes. I did love her. And my actions had killed her.

Tears stung my eyes. The head of the Santi family was about to break down into sobs. That hadn't happened since the plague years.

Scooping her up in my arms, I kicked open the office door, ready to face whatever lay outside. Voices echoed from downstairs, but I didn't care if they belonged to the police, King Nico, even to Dracula himself. In that moment, Serenity was my sole concern. I bellowed at the top of my lungs, my voice raw with desperation. "Elena!!!"

I carried Serenity's unconscious form to our bed and gently lowered her onto the mattress. With each passing moment, my heart cracked further, until it threatened to shatter into a million pieces.

"Elena," I screamed again, my voice hoarse.

Hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing louder. After what felt like an eternity to me, Elena burst into the room. Her eyes were still red from crying and her face pale from fright. She stumbled into my bedroom and came to an abrupt halt. "Angelo, mon Dieu ! Whatever has happened?"

Her face was accusatory as her eyes bored into me, as if she believed I had intentionally harmed Serenity.

"She touched…" I paused, fighting past the constriction in my throat. "She touched the Aeternum Stone." My hands curled into fists at my side. "I didn't know...I had no idea it wo uld do this to her."

Elena clasped my arm, offering me momentary comfort before approaching Serenity. She rested her palm on Serenity's sleek forehead, her brow furrowed in deep concentration, and closed her eyes. After a few tense seconds, she opened them again and let out a sigh of relief as she glanced over her shoulder at me. " Dieu merci , she's alive."

The words hit me like a thunderbolt, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. My heart stuttered in my chest, and it felt as if the ground had suddenly shifted beneath my feet as a dizzying rush of emotions—relief, joy, disbelief—surged through me.

"Alive?" I whispered, my voice hoarse and trembling. "Are you sure?"

I stumbled forward, my legs unsteady as I closed the distance between Serenity and myself. I sank to my knees beside her, my hands shaking as I reached toward her face, almost afraid that she would vanish like a mirage if I dared to touch her.

But she was no mirage. She was real, solid and warm beneath my fingertips. I could feel the faintest flutter of a pulse, hear the soft whisper of her breath against my skin. Tears sprang to my eyes as a wave of relief so powerful that it nearly knocked me off my feet crashed over me.

"Serenity," I breathed, my voice cracking with emotion. "You're alive. I thought I'd lost you."

I gathered her into my arms, cradling her against my chest, the most precious thing in the world. The warmth of her body against mine, the steady beat of her heart, were both miracles I hadn't dared to hope for.

I buried my face in her hair, inhaling its sweet scent, letting it fill my lungs and chase away the lingering shadows of despair. She was alive, and with that knowledge, I felt a flicker of hope reignite within me, a tiny flame that had nearly been extinguished in the depths of my anguish.

In all the time she had known me, Elena had never seen me break down. I had always been the strong one, the pillar of strength that everyone relied upon. Now, as I stood before her, my walls crumbled.

The shock in Elena's eyes as she beheld the raw, unguarded emotion in my features gradually melted away, replaced by a deep, unwavering compassion. "She'll survive, Angelo. I feel it. But she needs time to heal." Her gaze darted toward the door, and she whispered, "You need to go downstairs. The police are here."

I wiped the tears from my face with the back of my hand, struggling to regain my composure. "Forget them," I muttered, the words escaping my lips in a harsh whisper. "I don't care about them." Rage surged through me as I thought about the police taking me away from Serenity just when I'd almost lost her. My hands clenched into fists, and I could feel the tension radiating from my body. I knew that in this state, talking to the police would be a terrible idea.

Elena grasped my arms, her fingers digging into my skin as she tried to ground me. "You are the head of the Santi family, Angelo. It is your duty. Go talk with them." Her gaze softened as she glanced toward Serenity's unconscious form. "I will take care of her. But there's something you should know before you go down there. When she touched the stone, it restored Crescent Manor."

My brows furrowed in confusion. "What? "

"Go and see for yourself, Angelo. Fortunately, it happened before the police arrived, but I fear it may not have escaped prying eyes entirely."

A change in her tone made my blood run cold. "Who else is down there?" I demanded, the words rushing from my lips in a harsh, guttural rasp. My body was tense, every muscle coiled tight like a guitar string ready to snap as I leaned forward, my face mere inches from hers.

Elena hesitated, but the flash of anger in my eyes compelled her to answer. "Costin Tarus and Keir Rankin," she whispered.

I moved swiftly toward the bedroom door, my mind already racing with the possibilities of what might be lying ahead. Serenity was in a weakened state, and I couldn't risk her coming down and losing control of her power again. If she did so, it might be the death of her.

"Lock the door behind me," I instructed, my tone leaving no room for argument. "Don't open it to anyone but me, you understand?"

" Oui, monsieur ," Elena replied, watching me go, her voice trembling slightly.

The moment the door was shut and I heard the lock click into place, I bolted down the stairs, my feet carrying me faster than they ever had before as I prepared to face whatever challenges awaited me below.

I slowed my pace again as I approached the main hall, the sound of voices growing louder with each step. One of them belonged to Keir Rankin; I would have to fight the urge to wrap my hands around his throat when I saw him. His presence here felt far too convenient. I also couldn't help but wonder how Costin had found out about the whole situation so quickly.

As I drew closer, I spotted a tall, thin man interviewing my sister and Lorenzo. Before I could take another step, Enzo grabbed my arm, pulling me aside.

His hard gaze bore into mine as he leaned in close, his voice low and urgent. "We've had news from Simon about Joy. It's not good."

I nodded solemnly, my heart sinking. If Joy had been sold or killed, it would devastate Serenity.

Steeling myself, I approached the scene with Enzo at my side.

The tall man turned to face us, and I immediately recognized him as Chester Flanagan, DuPont's partner. "Well, well, the man of the hour himself finally makes an appearance," he drawled, his tone dripping with disdain. "What took you so long, Santi? I thought the death of a girl you once had a relationship with would be more important to you."

"Flanagan." I narrowed my eyes, meeting his gaze with forced politeness. "I came as soon as I heard."

"A likely story," he countered, his lips curling into a sneer. "You sure you haven't been busy covering up evidence while we've been investigating the poor girl's death?"

I didn't bother responding to his ludicrous accusation. Instead, my gaze drifted surreptitiously to Tarus and Rankin, who stood off to the side, their eyes fixed on me. They were dissecting my every move, hunting for cracks in my armor. If what Elena had hinted was true, and they had witnessed the house's restoration, I knew I would have to tread carefully. The pristine windows, unblemished walls, and perfectly arranged furniture would undoubtedly raise questions I was neither prepared for nor able to answer. My chest tightened—a brief but telling fault line in my composure.

Enzo drew the attention from me and onto himself. "How did the girl die?" His tone was a perfect blend of curiosity and concern.

Flanagan's gaze flicked to Enzo, a hint of annoyance flashing in his eyes. "Ah, yes. Santi's right-hand man. I suspect she was drained like the three other girls, but we won't know for sure until the coroner does an autopsy." He turned to both of us and waved his pen over his open notebook. "Tell me, where were you two between three and five this morning?"

I met his eyes, my expression carefully neutral. "I was in bed asleep."

"Do you have any witnesses who can corroborate that?" Flanagan pressed, his eyes glinting.

I gazed at him calmly. The last thing I wanted to do was bring Serenity into this scenario. "No."

Flanagan's attention shifted to Enzo. "I assume you were asleep as well."

Enzo shrugged, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Oh, like a baby, officer."

Lorenzo stepped forward, his posture straight and his voice clear. "I was on duty, sir, and I didn't see anyone come onto the grounds with the girl at that time."

"So you say ," the detective muttered, his skepticism evident. His piercing gaze returned to me, his next words laced with suspicion. "The other issue is that my partner, Detective DuPont, seems to have disappeared. But I take it you wouldn't know anything about that, either."

I could see the gears turning in Flanagan's mind as he fished for information, trying to provoke a reaction that would implicate me or my men. Let him fish. I was too experienced to fall for such tactics, and my men were too well-trained to crack under pressure. We all stood our ground, our expressions revealing nothing.

"No, we don't," I said, my gaze steady as I met the detective's eyes. I stood tall. "Do you honestly believe I would be stupid enough to leave a dead body that I had anything to do with on my own doorstep?" I raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk curving the corner of my mouth. "Have you ever known the Santi family to be so careless with evidence?"

"There's always a first time," Flanagan mumbled, sneering. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to allow us to search your home for any evidence related to the case?"

I could feel Costin's gaze boring into me, his eyes practically burning a hole through my skull. Legally, of course, I could refuse until he came back with a warrant; but doing so would only cast more suspicion on me and my family. I was confident they wouldn't be able to find the detective and his son in a million years; the hidden door was so well-concealed that they could stare directly at it without ever realizing its existence.

Serenity's situation was a different matter entirely, but I was sure that Elena would have her in bed resting and out of sight by now. The sooner I could get the police out of here, the better. Dealing with a search warrant and the added scrutiny one entailed would only complicate things.

I spread my hands and forced a smile to my face, meeting the detective's gaze head-on. "By all means, Detective Flanagan. Search my home. I have nothing to hide."

The detective shook his head in disbelief, clearly taken aback by my unexpected cooperation.

I also didn't miss the flash of surprise that crossed Costin's and Rankin's faces, nor the slight widening of Lorenzo's and Enzo's eyes. But there was a method to my madness, a carefully calculated reason behind my apparent compliance. And my men knew better than to doubt Angelo Santi's decisions, even if they didn't fully understand them in the moment.