Page 107 of Blue in the Deep Blue Sea

“They’re just idiots caught at the wrong time,” Bianchi said with a weary breath. “I parted ways with Henry, and I don’t give two shits whether his son lives or dies.”

Lorenzo rushed inside, breathing hard, cigarette smoke still clinging to him as he shouted,

“Moretti’s here.”??Bianchi stood, rising to his feet. Luca stepped beside him, but before leaving, he looked back at me. He tilted his head, then subtly motioned towards the stairs.

I followed his gaze, then watched them leave.

The door slammed shut.

“Baby, look at me,” Oliver said.

His shoulders shifted, and within seconds his hands were free.

I nodded and copied him. The rope slipped down, falling away from my wrists.

“I saw the ladder on the side of the lighthouse,” I whispered.

“I know,” he whispered back, standing up and guiding me towards the stairs leading up. “We have to climb. There’s a door at the top that leads outside.”

He turned to me, cupping my cheeks.

“Whatever happens, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Then he pressed a kiss to my forehead.

I hurried as fast as my limp would let me up the narrow metal stairs. Oliver stayed close behind, steadying me with one hand and holding mine with the other until we reached the top.

It took barely two minutes.

The top of the lighthouse opened into a circular metal platform overlooking everything below. The great glass lantern above us was lit, its beam sweeping across the sea. To the right was a heavy metal door with a wheel-shaped handle.

Oliver didn’t hesitate. He grabbed it, turned the wheel, and shoved the door open.

He climbed out first, carefully lowering himself before gripping the metal frame with one hand and reaching back for me with the other.

I took it.

He pulled me through, keeping me close as we began climbing down.

Hanging against the side of the lighthouse, we could hear the voices below. They were talking about us, blaming Oliver and me for everything.

Moretti didn’t even blink before he put a bullet between Bianchi’s eyes.

Lorenzo and Gianni dropped to their knees beside him, pleading for their lives. As much as it hurt to see Gianni like that, all I wanted was to get off this island with Oliver.

I tried to ignore the commotion as we climbed lower, but my eyes kept searching for Gianni. He was my brother after all. Even if he couldn’t be saved.

A couple of Moretti’s men walked over to him and Lorenzo.

One of them drew a blade.

When I saw the knife pressed beneath Gianni’s throat, then the sudden spray of blood, I froze.

My whole body shook. My hands flew to my mouth, trying to hold back the sobs.

“No,” I whispered. “No… no, no.”

“Blue.” Oliver pulled me into him. “Baby, we have to go.”