A click of a tongue drew my attention to the still opened door. My mom and Mateo stood side by side, both with tears down their cheeks, but with looks of amusement. "You go missing, you die, I bury you, and here you are trying to breakout out of a hospital for a girl?" My mom asked, her brows raised.
I huffed a laugh, "It's not just a girl. It's Bec."
My mom took a deep, steadying breath. I closed the distance between us and wrapped her in my arms. She held me tightly,her frame shaking in my arms as she cried softly into my shoulder. "Don't you ever do that to us again. My heart can't take it." She leaned back and rested her palms on my cheeks, "You can't leave me." Her voice was just above a whisper as she looked over my face, "Whatever happened to you, we'll fix it, okay? We'll fix you."
Tears sprang into my own eyes, "Will you help me get out of here? I need to get to Bec. I need her, Mama."
She nodded and squared her shoulders as she looked around the room at my sisters and I. "Mateo," she glanced over her shoulder at him quickly, "take Livia and pull the car around out front. Bella and Aria, find your brother shoes. Bianca and Luna? Distract those detectives for us." She commanded to each one of us. Finally, she took my hand in hers, "Let's get you to your girl. You cannot let Bec get away. She's far too good for you."
Chapter Thirty-Three
BEC
“Rome,” I murmured to myself as I stared in disbelief.
I couldn’t believe he was real, that he was alive. We had buried him. Held a funeral. Began the grieving process. Yet here he was, standing in front of me. He was dressed in a hospital gown and scrub bottoms. His hair was longer than I had ever seen, brushing his neck and shoulders, and he had scruff along his jawline. He was smaller than I remembered, his shoulders not as wide, and his cheekbones more pronounced.
Rome looked like he had been dragged through hell and back.
At first glance, he didn’t resemble the man I remembered… but then he smirked. That same goddamn smirk that made me want to throttle him and kiss him at the same time.
“Rome,” I whispered, scared my words would make him disappear. That this all would turn out to be a dream and I would wake up in his bed… alone… again.
Rome took a step forward, and then another. I finally broke free of Will’s arms and closed the distance between us, needing to feel him. To prove to my spiraling mind that he was truly here.
I stopped in front of him and stared into his dark eyes. “Is this real?”
Rome nodded. I slowly lifted my hand and rested the palm against his cheek. He leaned into the touch, his hand covering mine. “Yeah, sweetheart, it’s real.”
His breath fanned my face. I could feel the rumble of his words. A sob tore through me, and I collapsed into his arms, holding him desperately.
“You were dead,” I cried. “I don’t understand.”
Rome held me tight against his chest, his warm body protecting me once again. “I never left you. I was here. Not even death could keep me away.”
My cheek was pressed against his chest, and I listened to his heart. That heart that loved everyone around him so truly and so deeply. It was beating steadily in his chest. It had never stopped. I couldn’t let go, I wouldn’t let go.
“Bec,” Rome mumbled into my hair, but I didn’t move. He laughed lightly, “I need you to let go for one second, okay?”
I hugged him tighter but finally obliged, stepping away. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“Never.” He looked over his shoulder and motioned. Bella came to my side, putting her hand in mine. “I’ll be right back. I promise.”
In my shock at seeing Rome, I hadn’t noticed his whole family was here. I looked between them all in surprise. Livia let out a teary laugh, “We couldn’t let him out of our sight either. I can’t believe…”
“He’s alive,” Aria finished for her.
Rome nodded to Will, who stared at him, perplexed. It seemed we were all in a state of shock seeing Rome alive.
Rome turned to my father, who had made his way over to our little group. My father seemed the most surprised out of all of us. “You’re alive.”
Rome rolled his eyes and outright punched my dad in the jaw. “You shot me. It hurt like a bitch.”
My dad stumbled back, rubbing his jaw from the impact. That would definitely bruise later. “I know I deserved that.”
Rome stared at him, confused, and then turned to me, “When did he grow a conscience?"
A teary laugh fell from my lips, “It’s a new development.”
