Chapter 247: They never would have left you

Denalii POV

I open my eyes slowly. I can feel someone holding my hand, is it still her?

My hand is cold now, I can't feel her warmth any more. Was she really here?

"River?" I ask trying to focus my eyes but they are really heavy.

"No sweetheart it's Lynn with the General's office I'm here to ask you some questions if you feel up to it?"

"Did you find them?" I ask, my throats to dry and scratchy.

She stands and walks over to a tray, when she comes back she helps me drink some water.

"Can you tell me what happened out there?"

I try to sit and look at her again "I asked you a question! Did they find them?"

"Sergeant Nunzio please try to be careful you just had surgery. Can you please describe the events leading up to the attack?"

"Are you fucking serious?! Quit avoiding my question DID YOU FIND THEM!" I yell at her.

She stands and straightens her skirt and opens the door and walks out.

Fuck this someone better tell me where they are at!! I'm pissed! I sit up still a little dizzy, I turn and get ready to stand "What the fuck!" I yell. "Where the fuck is my leg?" I hold my head for a minute, I feel sick to my stomach. Why can't I remember! We were at the old outpost and I was hiding then I heard a few shots then nothing. Tears slide down my face now. Are they dead? Why wouldn't she answer my fucking question?

I start pushing the call button over and over. No answer! I'm fuming now! I pick up the small vase by my bed and throw it at the door.

"WHERE ARE THEY!!!" I scream as loud as I can.

The door flys open, I look up and see Flame. My sister! The tears stream down heavy and fast now. We just look at each other for a minute then she runs to me. She grabs me hugging me so tight it's almost hard to breathe but I don't care.

She looks at me and wipes my tears "Fratello!"

I sob in her arms as she caress my head and back.

"Where are they?" I ask her, I know she won't lie to me.

She cups my face and kisses my head "We don't know yet. They weren't where you, Tokash and the other two were found. They have also found one more body DOA just a hour ago. It wasn't them." I kiss her cheek.

I look at my leg and tears fall again.

"It will be okay." She says holding my hand.

"Spencer did this. He got to me quick and put the tourniquets on, I would be dead if they didn't get me out. They could have got away if it wasn't for me holding them back. Fuck!" I drop my head again.

"Fratello. It's not your fault. They love you, they would never have left you." I nod my head as I cry.

"Sergeant Nunzio." A deep voice makes my head jerk up too fast and my head spins.

Flame helps my lay down.

"I'm Colonel Ludlow. You wanted a update?"

"Sorry for not standing sir." I say saluting him.

"At ease." Colonel Ludlow says, taking a seat next to my bed.

"Has there been any updates on my brothers?" I ask as Flames squeezes my hand.

"I'm afraid not. A few hours ago we found another shack similar to the one you were found in with the other three men. At this location we found the remains of Rokicki and the remains of a Arabic male who had his throat ripped out. Unfortunately we also found a severed hand with the fingers burnt off." He puts a hand on my shoulder as I look at my lap in shock.

"Their torturing them!" I say looking back over at him.

I hear Flame sniffle, I forgot she was still here holding my hand.

"There was a lot of blood in that room. We have DNA running samples of the recovered blood as well as a sample from the hand that was found."

"I need to get out there! Fuck!" I yell again.

"We're still hopeful at this time that they are all still alive."

"Tokash! Did you find his body?"

"Yes we did Sergeant. Can you please go over what you remember?"

I look at Flame and squeeze her hand tightly.

"Sister do you want to be here for this?" I ask her in Italian. She nods grabbing a tissue.

I take a few deep breaths I close my eyes and start telling him what happened.

"Don't remember what happened after I heard the shots." I say leaning back and squeezing my eyes tight.

"Thank you Sergeant Nunzio. We will update you when we have more information."

I salute him before he turns to leave. Flame wraps her arms around me.

"They will find them." She says.

"They're being tortured, even if they find them it might be to late. They will start removing identifying scars, marks or tattoos from their skin to make it harder to identify them if they are found." I hear my sister start to cry harder.

"River wants to see you Fratello." She says.

I shake my head.

"Why?" She asks me.

"I told him. I told him she's my Amorina then we blew up. The last real thing I said to my best friend was that I love his fiance. The last real thing he said to me before they took him was he loved me and it was my job to love her for both of us." The tears feel hot on my face as they're fall.

Flame is sobbing on the side of my bed.

"How can I face her now? How can I ever face her?"

"He loves you he wouldn't want you to push her out."

"Flame I'm broken and useless I'll never be good enough for her."

"That is up to her to decide not you. I just went through this with Ryder and lying to her caused me to have a break down. I will not lie to her again!"

"Sister."

"No if you don't want to see her then you tell her that. You are not useless and Ryder can help you. He understands what your going through so please let the people who love you help." She says then she kisses my head and walks out the door.

I lean back and close my eyes. After a while I hear the door open.

"I don't care if you want to see anyone. I'm here to see my friend who just through something awful so you can feel sorry for your self later." My heart beats so fast hearing her voice.

I open my eyes. She's so close to me I can almost touch her. I quickly throw the blankets over my stump of a leg.

She touches my hand as she moves the blankets away from my leg stump.

"River." I say as she touches it.