Lucius

I had just come from the meeting with the King. Still I couldn’t wrap my head around what I heard in his office. My friend, my sister had tried to kill herself. The loss of her hellern had broken her ways I never seen. She loves Baldassare so deeply, she lost a part of herself the moment he was killed and went unto the fade. I was broken over the loss of my best friend and brother. I still could wrap my mind around him actually being gone. I couldn’t lose Bitty too. She was my family, to lose her would just be to much.

As walked to back to where I left Bitty. I looked and she was gone. My heart banged against my chest. Fuck! Where the hell did she go? I wasn’t gone that long. I needed to find her, to make sure that she was ok, well as ok as she was going to be right now. Turning on my heels, I walked as fast I could. As I walked I looked through every room that I thought that she might be in. But she wasn’t there. The longer it took to find her, the more worried I became. Not even ten minutes from the meeting with the King, and I was failing to watch over her. If she did something stupid I was going to shake her or whoop her. I didn’t know which. But, I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her. Fuck no! Not on my watch.

Cursing as I walked out of the last room, I saw a tiny blur run down the stairs and to the front doors. Only one person was that small, it was Bitty. Yelling out to her, “Bitty!” She didn’t even turn around to look at me. Fuck! I bolted off after her. She was a fast for a little thing and carry a young. But, I wasn’t about to let her out of my site. Rushing out of the doors, I followed her. My long legs tore up the distance, though she still kept at a good distance from me. She was running from something. Though I knew that she wouldn’t say what. But I had good idea what it was. It tore at my heart. I knew there was nothing that I could to stop her pain, but I was always be there for her.

Seeing her stop and sink to the ground. I slowed myself, stopping at a nearby tree. As I silent guard I leaned on the tree. Giving her time alone, but also to give her the time that she needed. It broke my heart to see her rock back and forth. Baldassare, had been such apart of Bitty. Hell, Bitty was a big part of Baldassare. He found her, and she brought him so much joy and light into his life. It changed him in ways I never thought possible. Crossing my arms across my chest. I didn’t know how to bring her back. I hoped to Scribe that she would fight her way back to us. Because she might not know it. But we needed her as much as she needed us. I hoped that I could make her see that, one way or another.

I watched her not moving, she stayed there for hours. I didn’t care how long she stayed there. I would wait here for her. Looking up to the sky, it started to turn a light grey. I knew that morning was coming, and it would be coming up fast. Pushing off the tree, walking over to Bitty. She didn’t even notice me approach her. “Come on little sister, let’s get you home.” Bending down I picked her up in my arms. She was so light in my arms. She curled into my arms, laying her head on my chest. I walked her back to the mansion, laying my head on top of hers.

Walking out of the forest, across the courtyard and up the steps of the mansion. Heading inside with her in my arms. I making my way to her bed chambers. Some looked at us as we passed them. I didn’t say a word to them. My main focus is Bitty. Stepping into the room, and to the bathroom. She hadn’t changed her clothes, blood of Baldassare still soaked them. Her face and hands was still covered in his blood. Sitting her down on the counter, I went over and started a bath. All she did was stare, not saying a word. I turned on the water, letting it heat and fill the tub. Turning back to her. “Let’s get you cleaned up little sister.” I set about undressing her. Nothing sexual about his, no I was taking care of her. She needed that right now. Everything else could wait, while I took care of her.

She was like a zombie, a few times she looked up to me. I saw nothing of the female I met years ago. Smartass, fun loving and smart. She was just a shell of what she once was. Once I had her undressed, the tub was full. I checked the temp, not wanting it to hot for her. I turned and picked her up from the counter. I placed her in the tub, grabbing the soap and washcloth. I started to wash her. Her knees pulled up to her chest. As I washed her back, arms, legs and hair. Lifting her face to mine. Her eyes flickering to mine, as I washed the blood off her face. “I’m here little sister.” Still silent, I washed the rest of her. The water tinted red from all the I washed off. Unplugging the tub I picked her up. Setting her down for a moment, grabbing a towel, I starting to dry her off. Once done I wrapped her up and carried her back into the room. Setting her down on the bed. Getting undergarments and one of Baldassare’s shirts, I dressed her. Picking up a blanket I wrapped her up, picking her up in my arms once again.

Wrath:

Despite the fact that I’ve had plenty to occupy my mind over the last 24 hours or so, I couldn’t get my run-in with Bitty out of my mind. She had been dead set on going out and getting herself killed, all in the name of revenge. I got it, I did. Been there, bought the t-shirt, wore it out… I just couldn’t have her go through that. Not to mention, if she had gone out that door, we never would have seen her again. She wouldn’t have made it alone. I needed to make sure she was taken care of. I knew Mary and Rhage would be keeping a good eye on her, but she needed someone her own age, a colleague, someone close, someone she could depend on, someone she could confide in. I still don’t think she’s told anyone about that young. I’m sure some of the males around have scented it. That’s not the same as coming out and announcing it to the world.

So, here I was, at the end of a very long day, waiting on Lucius. He was a Brother and Baldassare’s best mate, which made him family and basically a brother to Bitty. I was hoping he wouldn’t have any problems with sticking close to her, and making sure she stays out of trouble. I didn’t need someone that was going to report back to me, keep me informed of every move she made. I needed someone that would know every move she made and keep her safe. Don’t get me wrong, I expected to be kept informed if there was something to be concerned about. I just didn’t need to know all her deepest secrets. Privacy was important to me, therefore I was sympathetic to others own privacy. @Guilty_Torment

Lucius:

Having tracked down Bitty, though it wasn’t hard to find her. After the years of knowing her, and learning of her through Baldassare. She was like a little sister to me. One that I would fight to protect with my very own life. I stood as silent guard, she didn’t know that I watched her. I didn’t know how to go to her at the moment, as I watched. The loss had changed her, changed her ways I never thought I would see. She didn’t smile, all the light had been taken from her eyes. Hell, she didn’t even shine, the light she use to carry with her was no longer there. It broke my heart for her. I didn’t know what I was going to do. How was going to be there for her? I had to find away, she was after all my sister.

As I stood there watching for a few moments. I had things I needed to do. She was safe, at least for now,I took a bit comfort of that. I had a meeting with the King himself. Scribe knew what he needed. I had to be honest, I feared what he was going to tell me. Pushing away from the wall I had leaned against. Bitty didn’t know that was there, she was in her own world at the moment. Walking out of the room, I made my way to Wrath’s office. The closer that I got, the more nervous that I got. My shitkickers hit the stairs, each step becoming closer. On the last step I turned to down the hall to go to his office door.

I stood there for what felt like forever, raising my hand to the door,knocking to announce myself. Stepping into Wrath’s office. I wouldn’t lie, my heart was beating out of chest. Clearing my throat, my voice deep. “You wanted to see?” I hoped and prayed it was nothing bad, that I was about to hear.

Wrath:

Feeling Whiskey’s head pop off my lap, just as I heard the thud of a pair of shitkickers hit the stairs, I knew Lucius was on his way. Both he and Baldassare were newer members of the Brotherhood, yet they had proved their worth many times over. I was confident in my decision that he was the one for this job.

As I heard Lucius’ knuckles wrap on the jamb, I waved a hand, inviting him to have a seat. “Please, shut the door behind you.” The subject of this meeting being a sensitive one, I didn’t want passersby to overhear. No one needed to know just how concerned I was about Bitty. No one had known about her desire to go out the other night, pretty much on a suicide mission, and they didn’t need to know. I had told only one person of her transgression, Mary. I thought it pertinent that someone in her immediate family, as well as someone with a psychology background, knew about what happened. It was hard for Mary to hear, and I was breaking a bit of trust Bitty had in me by telling her, but this was about Bitty’s life, and her life was more important than the trust I would have to earn back. @Guilty_Torment

Lucius:

Nodding my head I shut the door behind me, swallowing the lump in my throat. This wasn’t good, it had to be something bad for him to want the door the closed. I knew that it couldn’t have been Bitty, I just left her. Though you never could tell when it came to her. Walking over I sat down on one of the couches, I never liked the damn things. I felt like I would break them just by sitting in them. Resting my forearms on my knees, lacing my fingers together.

I didn’t know what to say, not wanting to hear that we lost even more. But I wouldn’t be called here just for that. There was something else going on. I hated to be kept on the edge like this. However, knowing is just as bad. I didn’t show emotions on the outside. Fuck the inside, was a fucking war zone.

Clearing my throat, did I want to ask? I was going to find out sooner rather than later. “Whats up?”

Wrath:

There were times when I enjoyed dragging out my requests, for the sheer joy in knowing the other person was squirming. Tonight would have been a perfect opportunity to do that, if it were not for the immediate nature of my request. So, hearing the trepidation in Lucius’ voice, I got right to it. “I need to ask you to do something for me, and it may go against the trust someone has in you, but at the moment, it’s her life I am more concerned about.” I paused for only a second before continuing. “The night of the mission, I caught Bitty trying to sneak out. She was headed out to get revenge for Baldassare’s death by taking out as many of them as she could. However, she knew and I knew she wouldn’t have come back. She was basically headed for a suicide mission and I’m afraid she might try something like that again. What I need from you is to keep an eye on her. Now, I don’t need a detailed report of everything she does, but I do need /you/ to know every move she makes and keep her safe. If you find her doing something detrimental to her health, or to the health of that young she is carrying,” I knew that wouldn’t be a surprise to Lucius. She had not gone public with the information, but it was hard for us males to mistake that scent, “I want to know immediately. I’ve picked you for your relationship with Baldassare and Bitty, and for that, I am sure you are the right male for the job. Now, all I need from you is a ‘Yes, Sire.’ and we’re good. Any questions?” @Guilty_Torment

Lucius:

I wasn’t ready for what I heard from Wrath. Coming in here thinking that someone else had lost their life, to this fucking war. But, never in my life would I have thought it would have been this. That Bitty tried to kill herself. She knew that Baldassare wouldn’t have wanted her to do that. I squeezed my hands together so tight, the knuckles started to turn white. Didn’t she know how much that would have killed Baldassare to know? This was not Bitty, this was not my sister, my friend. She wouldn’t do this. However, losing her hellern has broken her. I’d be damn if we lost her too, and the young that she carried. Wanting to shake some kind of sense into her. That would only make her even more closed off then she already is.

For my promise and for Wrath asking me, I was going to do this. There was no way in hell I wouldn’t, I was doing it already. Thankful that there was someone else that worried about her and wanted her safe. “Its a trust I’m willing to break for her and the young, and for a promise made to my brother. Yes, Sire I will do this.” I wouldn’t speak a word of this to anyone. There were a million of questions running through my mind. But, I only ask one. “Does anyone else know that she did this?” If Rhage even got a hint of what Bitty had done, he would flip. But fuck if I was going to lose Bitty and her young too.

Wrath:

I waited as Lucius took in all the information I had given. It wasn’t every day you were told that one of your closest friends had conspired to take their own life. As soon as I heard the answer I was looking for, a sense of calm washed over me. That would be one thing less thing, in a long list of things, I would have to worry about… and trust me, that list could wrap around the manse twice, at this point.

Shaking my head at Lucius’ question, I replied, “I have only told one other person, Mary. I felt it was important for her family to know, and Mary, being a therapist, has experience with talking to people in need of listening. I also thought it best to leave it up to Mary as to whether or not she wanted to tell Rhage. That is no longer my call. I did let Mary know I was going to speak to you. So, she is aware of our understanding. If you need her for anything, you have only to ask. Aside from Mary, I would ask you to keep this conversation to yourself. No one else needs to know Bitty’s business.” Pausing for a second, making sure I have gone over everything I needed to with Lucius. Once I’m satisfied that I have, I ask, “That will be all for now. Do you have any other questions for me?” @Guilty_Torment

Lucius:

Just hearing that Mary knew. That brought my some comfort. Though I knew how much wouldn’t want anyone to know what she had almost done. I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. That wasn’t our Bitty. She was in a dark place. One I hoped that we could all bring her out of, before it was to late. We couldn’t lose Bitty or the young that she carried. I could feel the weight of my promise weighing my shoulders down. However, I wouldn’t let that stop me. I wouldn’t fail, not Bitty, not Baldassare and not Wrath. Nothing was going to stop me, not while there was breath left in my body.

Shaking my head, “No, Sire. I won’t say a word to anyone about this, most of all Bitty.” That wouldn’t end well, as far as I concerned. I was taking this with me to the fade. “I have no questions, Sire.” Nodding my head I stood and made my way to the door. Stopping just as my fingers wrapped around the knob. Keeping my back to Wrath, “I won’t fail…” Gripping the knob a little tighter than what was needed. Not turning the knob, “May I go?” The need to make sure Bitty was okay filled me. Just for my own peace of mind.

Wrath:

“Good.” I replied and nodded in response to Lucius’ consent that he wouldn’t tell anyone. I didn’t need any of this to get out. No one needed to know about what Bitty had attempted to do, nor did anyone need to know of Lucius’ and mine agreement. We were a family here at the manse and there wasn’t much sacred amongst us Brothers, however, this was definitely one of those things that did not need to be publicized.

Wrath:

Despite the fact that I’ve had plenty to occupy my mind over the last 24 hours or so, I couldn’t get my run-in with Bitty out of my mind. She had been dead set on going out and getting herself killed, all in the name of revenge. I got it, I did. Been there, bought the t-shirt, wore it out… I just couldn’t have her go through that. Not to mention, if she had gone out that door, we never would have seen her again. She wouldn’t have made it alone. I needed to make sure she was taken care of. I knew Mary and Rhage would be keeping a good eye on her, but she needed someone her own age, a colleague, someone close, someone she could depend on, someone she could confide in. I still don’t think she’s told anyone about that young. I’m sure some of the males around have scented it. That’s not the same as coming out and announcing it to the world.

So, here I was, at the end of a very long day, waiting on Lucius. He was a Brother and Baldassare’s best mate, which made him family and basically a brother to Bitty. I was hoping he wouldn’t have any problems with sticking close to her, and making sure she stays out of trouble. I didn’t need someone that was going to report back to me, keep me informed of every move she made. I needed someone that would know every move she made and keep her safe. Don’t get me wrong, I expected to be kept informed if there was something to be concerned about. I just didn’t need to know all her deepest secrets. Privacy was important to me, therefore I was sympathetic to others own privacy. @Guilty_Torment

Lucius:

Having tracked down Bitty, though it wasn’t hard to find her. After the years of knowing her, and learning of her through Baldassare. She was like a little sister to me. One that I would fight to protect with my very own life. I stood as silent guard, she didn’t know that I watched her. I didn’t know how to go to her at the moment, as I watched. The loss had changed her, changed her ways I never thought I would see. She didn’t smile, all the light had been taken from her eyes. Hell, she didn’t even shine, the light she use to carry with her was no longer there. It broke my heart for her. I didn’t know what I was going to do. How was going to be there for her? I had to find away, she was after all my sister.

As I stood there watching for a few moments. I had things I needed to do. She was safe, at least for now,I took a bit comfort of that. I had a meeting with the King himself. Scribe knew what he needed. I had to be honest, I feared what he was going to tell me. Pushing away from the wall I had leaned against. Bitty didn’t know that was there, she was in her own world at the moment. Walking out of the room, I made my way to Wrath’s office. The closer that I got, the more nervous that I got. My shitkickers hit the stairs, each step becoming closer. On the last step I turned to down the hall to go to his office door.

I stood there for what felt like forever, raising my hand to the door,knocking to announce myself. Stepping into Wrath’s office. I wouldn’t lie, my heart was beating out of chest. Clearing my throat, my voice deep. “You wanted to see?” I hoped and prayed it was nothing bad, that I was about to hear.

Wrath:

Feeling Whiskey’s head pop off my lap, just as I heard the thud of a pair of shitkickers hit the stairs, I knew Lucius was on his way. Both he and Baldassare were newer members of the Brotherhood, yet they had proved their worth many times over. I was confident in my decision that he was the one for this job.

As I heard Lucius’ knuckles wrap on the jamb, I waved a hand, inviting him to have a seat. “Please, shut the door behind you.” The subject of this meeting being a sensitive one, I didn’t want passersby to overhear. No one needed to know just how concerned I was about Bitty. No one had known about her desire to go out the other night, pretty much on a suicide mission, and they didn’t need to know. I had told only one person of her transgression, Mary. I thought it pertinent that someone in her immediate family, as well as someone with a psychology background, knew about what happened. It was hard for Mary to hear, and I was breaking a bit of trust Bitty had in me by telling her, but this was about Bitty’s life, and her life was more important than the trust I would have to earn back. @Guilty_Torment

Lucius:

Nodding my head I shut the door behind me, swallowing the lump in my throat. This wasn’t good, it had to be something bad for him to want the door the closed. I knew that it couldn’t have been Bitty, I just left her. Though you never could tell when it came to her. Walking over I sat down on one of the couches, I never liked the damn things. I felt like I would break them just by sitting in them. Resting my forearms on my knees, lacing my fingers together.

I didn’t know what to say, not wanting to hear that we lost even more. But I wouldn’t be called here just for that. There was something else going on. I hated to be kept on the edge like this. However, knowing is just as bad. I didn’t show emotions on the outside. Fuck the inside, was a fucking war zone.

Clearing my throat, did I want to ask? I was going to find out sooner rather than later. “Whats up?”

Wrath:

There were times when I enjoyed dragging out my requests, for the sheer joy in knowing the other person was squirming. Tonight would have been a perfect opportunity to do that, if it were not for the immediate nature of my request. So, hearing the trepidation in Lucius’ voice, I got right to it. “I need to ask you to do something for me, and it may go against the trust someone has in you, but at the moment, it’s her life I am more concerned about.” I paused for only a second before continuing. “The night of the mission, I caught Bitty trying to sneak out. She was headed out to get revenge for Baldassare’s death by taking out as many of them as she could. However, she knew and I knew she wouldn’t have come back. She was basically headed for a suicide mission and I’m afraid she might try something like that again. What I need from you is to keep an eye on her. Now, I don’t need a detailed report of everything she does, but I do need /you/ to know every move she makes and keep her safe. If you find her doing something detrimental to her health, or to the health of that young she is carrying,” I knew that wouldn’t be a surprise to Lucius. She had not gone public with the information, but it was hard for us males to mistake that scent, “I want to know immediately. I’ve picked you for your relationship with Baldassare and Bitty, and for that, I am sure you are the right male for the job. Now, all I need from you is a ‘Yes, Sire.’ and we’re good. Any questions?” @Guilty_Torment

Lucius:

I wasn’t ready for what I heard from Wrath. Coming in here thinking that someone else had lost their life, to this fucking war. But, never in my life would I have thought it would have been this. That Bitty tried to kill herself. She knew that Baldassare wouldn’t have wanted her to do that. I squeezed my hands together so tight, the knuckles started to turn white. Didn’t she know how much that would have killed Baldassare to know? This was not Bitty, this was not my sister, my friend. She wouldn’t do this. However, losing her hellern has broken her. I’d be damn if we lost her too, and the young that she carried. Wanting to shake some kind of sense into her. That would only make her even more closed off then she already is.

For my promise and for Wrath asking me, I was going to do this. There was no way in hell I wouldn’t, I was doing it already. Thankful that there was someone else that worried about her and wanted her safe. “Its a trust I’m willing to break for her and the young, and for a promise made to my brother. Yes, Sire I will do this.” I wouldn’t speak a word of this to anyone. There were a million of questions running through my mind. But, I only ask one. “Does anyone else know that she did this?” If Rhage even got a hint of what Bitty had done, he would flip. But fuck if I was going to lose Bitty and her young too.

Wrath:

I waited as Lucius took in all the information I had given. It wasn’t every day you were told that one of your closest friends had conspired to take their own life. As soon as I heard the answer I was looking for, a sense of calm washed over me. That would be one thing less thing, in a long list of things, I would have to worry about… and trust me, that list could wrap around the manse twice, at this point.

Shaking my head at Lucius’ question, I replied, “I have only told one other person, Mary. I felt it was important for her family to know, and Mary, being a therapist, has experience with talking to people in need of listening. I also thought it best to leave it up to Mary as to whether or not she wanted to tell Rhage. That is no longer my call. I did let Mary know I was going to speak to you. So, she is aware of our understanding. If you need her for anything, you have only to ask. Aside from Mary, I would ask you to keep this conversation to yourself. No one else needs to know Bitty’s business.” Pausing for a second, making sure I have gone over everything I needed to with Lucius. Once I’m satisfied that I have, I ask, “That will be all for now. Do you have any other questions for me?” @Guilty_Torment

Lucius:

Just hearing that Mary knew. That brought my some comfort. Though I knew how much wouldn’t want anyone to know what she had almost done. I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. That wasn’t our Bitty. She was in a dark place. One I hoped that we could all bring her out of, before it was to late. We couldn’t lose Bitty or the young that she carried. I could feel the weight of my promise weighing my shoulders down. However, I wouldn’t let that stop me. I wouldn’t fail, not Bitty, not Baldassare and not Wrath. Nothing was going to stop me, not while there was breath left in my body.

Shaking my head, “No, Sire. I won’t say a word to anyone about this, most of all Bitty.” That wouldn’t end well, as far as I concerned. I was taking this with me to the fade. “I have no questions, Sire.” Nodding my head I stood and made my way to the door. Stopping just as my fingers wrapped around the knob. Keeping my back to Wrath, “I won’t fail…” Gripping the knob a little tighter than what was needed. Not turning the knob, “May I go?” The need to make sure Bitty was okay filled me. Just for my own peace of mind.

Wrath:

“Good.” I replied and nodded in response to Lucius’ consent that he wouldn’t tell anyone. I didn’t need any of this to get out. No one needed to know about what Bitty had attempted to do, nor did anyone need to know of Lucius’ and mine agreement. We were a family here at the manse and there wasn’t much sacred amongst us Brothers, however, this was definitely one of those things that did not need to be publicized.

Her cries echo in my head as I sit here in the silence. It shattered me to hear her mournful cries. I knew how much they loved each other, I saw it the night Baldassare came to me and told me of meeting her. The look on his face was one that I never seen before, and I’ve known him most of his life. And now? I was sitting beside him as he lay out on a bed in front of me. I couldn’t believe it, even though I watched it with own eyes, held his hand as he passed into the fade.

Looking down at my hands, dry blood caked underneath my nails, blood stained my hands. His blood. No matter how much I tried to wash away the stains, they still lingered. I flexed my fists, “I’m sorry, man.” There was nothing that I could have done to stop it. I wish I could have, god how I wished. He did this to save me, and he was the one that paid the price not me. Shaking my head, hair falling into my eyes.

It was all fresh in my mind, though how any one forget it was beyond me. There was nothing that could make me unsee that horror.

Feeling his back pressed to mine, we were surrounded by lessers. Everyone was trying to rescue Lyric. That is what we were here for. But it was nothing like anything we had thought it would be. My daggers were at the ready, two of the lessers stood in front of me. There was no one to come and help us. Two more lessers were facing off with Baldassare. We were in deep shit. My honey brown eyes, scanned the area for another brother, fuck anyone would have been nice. But, they were all busy. Fuck! Looking over my shoulder. They weren’t going to stand there forever. “Now!” Breaking apart from each other. We went after them. My blades danced in a graceful but deadly dance. One of these fuckers was hard enough to take down on their own, two was almost a death sentence. I don’t know how long we both fought the bastards. But, it felt like time was endless. But we weren’t going to win this fight.

“Baldassare! Run!” Kicking the two that were on me, giving us enough time to get away from them. Baldassare was right behind me, out shit kickers pounding the floor. Running around the corner and down the hall. Baldassare followed right behind me. Leaning up against the wall. We didn’t have much time. If I had knew what I had known now. I would never stepped into that room.

Their smell hit my nose. I didn’t see him charging up on me. Before I could do anything Baldassare jumped in front of me. It was still couldn’t believe me eyes. The way that he fought off that bastard. By the time that recovered from the shock, it was to late. I watched in horror as the lesser stabbed Baldassare in the chest. My eyes going wide, I roared. “Baldassare!!” Rushing to him as his body fell into back into me. I caught him, I didn’t know if he was going to make it. But I had to fucking try to get him help. Pulling out my daggers, I charged at the lesser, calling out for V, Rhage, Parry. Anybody that could hear me. Hell I didn’t know if they had made it out or not. I fought for as long as I could, rage the only thing that driving me. All I saw was red. Pouring all my hate, rage and pain into my fighting.

But it wouldn’t last wrong, I was beat all to hell. I don’t know who was behind me. “Lucius! We have to leave now!” That was the only thing that I heard. The lesser for some unknown reason backed off. My daggers gripped tight in my hands, eyes trained on him. If the fucker was going to play, I was going to be fucking ready. Backing away from the fucker and out of the room. Turning I followed everyone back. Sending up prayers to anyone that would listen, that Baldassare would pull through this. But even I knew it didn’t look good. Fuck! I didn’t know how I was going to tell Bitty.

We got only a little bit further. They were loading others. They had to lay Baldassare on the ground. I came up beside him. Whatever weapon was used was taking out of his chest. I grabbed his hand in mine. “Hang on man. We’re going to get you out of here.” He had to know he wouldn’t last long. Coughing, blood spilled from his mouth. His voice a horse whisper, I didn’t hear him at first. Leaning down to his lips, placing my ear close so I could hear. “Keep...your...promise.” My whole body tensed at his words. “Tell..” His breathing ragged. “I..love..her..” He was gone.