~ Niamh ~
A terrified scream tore out of my throat the second Massimo's large body slumped and collapsed heavily onto the floor with a thud.
I rushed over to him, skidding against the marble floor as I dropped down right beside his motionless form.
My heart was hammering wildly as I looked down at his face, finding his eyes completely shut and his expression entirely blank.
Fear gripped my chest so tightly I could barely breathe, and I bent my upper body over him, placing my head directly onto his chest to check if his heart was still beating.
For a second, there was only silence, and then I felt it—a heavy, thumping pulse beneath his skin, but it was irregular, seeming to pause completely every three seconds before dragging itself to beat again.
"Massimo," I whispered, my voice trembling in the quiet space.
He didn't move. He didn't give any indication that he could hear me at all. I slowly raised my head and glanced over his features up close.
