They said he was born with a fire in his heart and a storm brewing in his soul. Yet he seemed to love those around him unconditionally.
Maybe that was why Launceston had been able to take so much from him.
Nathaniel Zampella took a knee on his sidewalk the young girl in the pink flowered dress ran down the steps and beelined in his direction. Nate’s hand lifted her into his arms before spinning her in a circle. Katie’s laugh made the smile on his face grow wider as leaned in to whisper in his ear.
“She looks beauty, daddy!"
As if on cue Gracie Mancini stepped out of the front door and onto their front porch. With Dominic on her hip, she paused a moment to reach down and lift the white dress off the ground.
"You know this is bad luck right? Us driving to the church together. You seeing me in this dress. It’s all bad luck.”
Nate took a step towards her holding his out for her to take as support.
“Good thing I stopped believing in bad luck when you came into my life.” He winked before pulling her and Dominic into his chest. He held them all a moment in his arms where they were safe and his family whole. He had never imagined this would be how his life turned out but suddenly here he was the happiest he could ever imagine.
Between the two of them, they had face trial and tribulation but had somehow managed to come out stronger together. Gracie had become Nate’s rock and he had become hers when all the baking in the world couldn’t mend her broken heart.
“We’re going to be late.” She laughed as she took a step back from him.
“Not that late, Angelo hasn’t called to yell at me yet.” He smirked before nodding towards the car. Katie was already there standing at her side. Her small feet bouncing along with the song from Beauty and The Beast that she was singing. Within moments, Gracie was singing along with her as she loaded them both into the car.
“Shit,” Gracie whispered softly under her breath. Low enough that only Nate had heard her as he climbed into the driver seat. “I forgot my purse."
"I’ll get it.” Nate leaned over the driver seat and pressed a kiss to Gracie’s lips. “And here I was worried about forgetting the rings.”
The unamused look on Gracie’s face caused Nate to laugh as he slipped out of the car and jogged up the cement driveway towards the front door. The Mancini loyalist let himself back into the house and up the stairs to his and Gracie’s room. A laugh passed his lips as his eyes set on the white clutch that lay on their bed. Taking it in his hands he started back towards the stairs. He had just reached the top when his cellphone started to ring.
“Angelo…I know.I know! We’re coming,” Nate assured as he hurried down the steps to the front door. He paused a moment. “I still haven’t told her that I paid off those guards to let Salvatore out to walk her down the aisle.”
At the sight of Nate coming towards the driveway, Gracie leaned over in the passenger seat to start the car. The explosion sent him flying backward. The in his hands falling to the ground as his head bounced off the pavement rendering him unconscious for a few minutes. Slowly he rose. head spinning. Blood coming from his ears.
There was glass, smoke, flames. Lots and lots of flames. As if he was watching from the outside it all started to piece itself together.
The realization sent Nathaniel to his feet and towards the car. Where there were no screams for help. The only screams that were heard were his own as he desperately tried to get inside the car. A strong hand gripped a hold of his shoulder and attempted to pull him backward. Nate fought against them as he tried to move back to the car. They were all inside.
All of them. They were inside the car and Nate had to get to them.
“There’s still a chance.” He cried in desperation as the sirens boomed down the street. His neighbor shook his head the words ‘they’re gone’ leaving his lips. Nathaniel shook his head turning quickly he punched the man in the face sending him to the ground before attempting to enter the car once more. He hadn’t seen the black SUV barreling past the emergency personnel. Hadn’t seen as it made an abrupt stop at the curb.
“Nathaniel,” It was the voice of Salvatore Mancini that had halted him in his steps causing his heart to skip a beat. The man was a father figure to him and he had let him down.
A firefighter pushed him out of the way as they quickly got to work. Nate stumbled towards Salvatore who hadn’t even needed to ask the question. The look of devastation on Nathaniel’s face was clear.
His daughter was in there.
“They’re gone.” Was all Nathaniel Zampella could muster as he walked past Salvatore Mancini. What was he expected to say? He was sorry? He had failed? They were both true, but he hadn’t felt any of those things in that moment. Nathaniel Zampella felt nothing. Angelo reached out to grab a hold of him but he roughly pulled away.
Salvatore Mancini had lost his daughter.
Nathaniel Zampella had lost his everything.
Launceston had taken everything from him.
theartofmadeline
titsay
2087
tangentwithtanner
