Of volume lineage

I spotted him below me. He was sinking fast, his blood spreading throughout the water like a cloud. His eyes were closed, face peaceful.

My legs kicked out furiously and pushed myself through the water. It was difficult, and my limbs cramped instantly. Only pure adrenaline allowed me to go deeper and deeper. Air and clarity began to disappear, and I knew I couldn’t last much longer.

He was sinking too fast–

Isabella, calm down, I told myself. You need to calm down.

My body didn’t listen.

Do not panic, do not freak out, I chanted to myself. You need to relax. You need to swim.

The hurricane of emotions that lived inside of me dimmed. Anxiety stilled tugged at me, but I felt sharper, calmer.

It was quite peaceful being under water. No sounds, no smell, nothing really to see. I felt like I was suspended in amniotic fluid, calm and weightless.

With a new push, I spread my arms, using wide movements to swim further into the dark depths. Some part of my mind tried to trick me into seeing a shark or squid, but I pushed past it. My husband was going to die and I needed to save him.

Giova

I stretched out, my fingers wiggling–

I clasped his shirt, wrenching him towards me. I almost sighed in relief but common sense kicked in.

Then the second issue arose. Giova

My chest was tight, aching for oxygen, but I kept going.

I wasn’t going to let him die.

The yacht came into view, a blur above me. Only the lights from the deck allowed me to spot it, and if I had blinked, I might’ve missed it. I gasped when I broke the surface and dragged Giova

You can’t give up now, I screamed at myself.

I dragged us towards the yacht, using strength I didn’t even know I had. The back of the yacht had a lower platform to help divers get in and out the water. This time it was being used by a soaked woman and her dying husband.

I pushed Giova

There was no time for pain. I needed Giova

“Giova

What was I meant to do? CPR? Or recovery position so he didn’t choke on any water? My brain was a frazzled mess but I pressed my hands to his chest, throwing all my weight into the thrusts. One, two, three, one, two three.

I put my ear to his lips. Still not breathing.

Panic clawed at my chest, but I shoved it down. I needed to think straight, to save Giova

“Wake up, Giova

He remained still.

“Please, oh God, please, Giova

No response.

I leaned into his ear, threatening him in his time of death. “If anyone is going to kill you, my love, it’s going to be me.” I pumped his chest again. “So you better wake up, because if you die on me, I’m not going to be happy.”

Beneath my fingertips, a flutter.

A pulse.

Giova

Lombardis had come to kill him, and the Lombardi spy had kept him alive.

I knew that things were about to change, that my alliances had shifted, but in that moment, listening to the heartbeat of the man I loved, I didn’t care.