Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
“What happened?” I ask. “How could that happen?”
Dante glances at the closed door. “They ambushed Sav’s men outside like fucki—” He clears his throat. “Like guerrilla fighters. Knifed them down. That’s why we didn’t hear anything.”
Just as I thought. “It was a well-planned attack.”
“He put considerable effort into it, using the element of surprise to his advantage.”
“Violating the rules to his advantage,” I say with loathing. “He knew Luigi’s men were unarmed.”
“The coward played dirty. We were sitting ducks.”
Of course. Our wedding was the perfect opportunity for him to strike.
Hatred and vengeance push up inside me. I open my heart and let those sentiments in. They not only become a part of me. They define me. As I embrace their darkness, a new person is born. I welcome her with open arms because it’s easier to operate when you have a purpose than when you’re helpless with paralyzing fear and devastating guilt.
“I want proof,” I say, my tone bitter.
Dante gives a tight nod. “I’ll find it.”
I grimace from the ache as I ease myself down the bed. “Good.”
“Can I get you anything?” he asks, his manner awkward. “Livy was here all the time. She went to the house to pack some clothes and essentials for you and the baby.” He points at a boutique bag on the nightstand. “In the meantime, I got you pj’s, a bath robe, and slippers from the gift shop downstairs in case you’d like to change out of that hospital gown. Livy helped me with the sizes. Hopefully, everything will fit.”
“I want to see my baby.”
“I’ll go get the nurse.”
As he turns away, I grab his wrist. “When Saverio comes out of surgery, put men in front of his room to watch the door. I want men on that floor twenty-four-seven.”
His expression is both troubled and resolved. He knows why it’s necessary. Like me, he’s worried. Raphael may send someone to finish the job he started.
There’s a knock on the door before Dante can reply. A tall man in scrubs opens it.
I let Dante go, an unspoken message passing between us when he gives me his agreement with a nod.
A wide, easy smile curves the man’s lips. “Ah. You’re awake, Ms. De Luca.” He comes forward. “I’m Dr. Loter, the chief surgeon who operated on your husband.”
I hold my breath, my heart pounding between my temples.
“Can we have a word in privacy?” Dr. Loter asks, glancing at Dante.
“He’s a family friend. I prefer that he stays.”
“Very well.” Despite the doctor’s smile, his tone is grim when he says, “I have an update for you.”
Chapter
Three
Saverio
* * *
I’m awake, but I wish to God I wasn’t.
My back is on fire and my brain is about to explode. The pressure in my head is relentless. It makes me want to drive a screwdriver through my skull to decompress. I can only open one eye. I pat my face, fingers probing. My fingertips brush over gauze taped over the right side. Despite the dimness of the ceiling bulb, the light hurts my retina.
“Mr. De Luca.”
The sound comes from my left. I turn my face that way. In my right ear, I hear nothing.
A slender man in a white overcoat steps up. “I’m Dr. Loter, the head of the surgical team who operated on you.”
“What’s wrong with me?”
“You’re a very lucky man, Mr. De Luca. Few people in your situation would be alive.”
“Anya.” I fight to sit up. “The baby.”
“You just came out of surgery.” The doctor pushes me down. “You have to stay calm.”
Calm isn’t in the cards. Not until I know she’s all right. She and the baby.
“Where’s my wife?”
“In a recovery room in the maternity wing.”
“The baby.”
“It’s a girl. She’s premature but healthy.”
I go still at that.
A girl.
A baby girl. Not a boy like I thought.
Fuck, Anya was right.
My insides twist together but not from the pain. Wonder, joy, elation, and a huge fucking heap of fear assault me. “I want to see them.”
“You’ve been in an explosion.”
“I know what happened to me,” I snap.
“You’re in the ICU. I have to make sure your vitals remain stable, and then we can arrange a visit with your wife.”
“What’s the damage?”
“Extensive.”
I remain quiet, appreciating his directness.
“You have twelve gunshot wounds. Eleven bullets barely missed several organs. Two were less than an inch from your heart. One lodged in your kidney. We couldn’t save it. CT scans revealed bilateral hemothorax and shrapnel in-situ between the pericardium and aortic arch as well as in the abdomen. A laparotomy showed a perforated stomach, gall bladder, and punctured liver. We managed to stop the internal hemorrhage with temporary liver packing. Gastric and gall bladder wall repairs were made. You suffer from second degree burn wounds on your shoulders and back. A shard of metal pierced the back of your right knee, resulting in a knee joint fracture and neurovascular damage. Intensive outpatient physiotherapy will be necessary. The right side of your face was severely hit. There’s ossicular damage to your right ear, which may result in permanent hearing loss. We had to remove the right eye.”