Gabriela Regina Bellafiore breathed life into me and I wasn’t going to lose her.
I had mere months with her and I wanted a lifetime.
I wanted now and forever.
It wasn’t going to be easy to eradicate the memories of today. But I would be her pillar, standing beside her as she built herself back up stronger than ever. We were going to heal from this.
Footsteps clicked against the linoleum flooring.
My head snapped up in the direction of the newcomer.
Enzo lowered himself into the chair beside me, extending a cup of black coffee in my direction. “Here. You look like you need this.”
“Thank you,” I rasped, taking it. “What did the doctors say?”
It had been over an hour since they took her in. I wasn’t immediate family. Therefore, the only people allowed near her were Enzo and Lucia.
He crossed his arms over his chest and reclined back. “They said she most likely fainted from exhaustion and dehydration. She’s stable now. Her vitals are looking good and they did some bloodwork. None of her cuts are deep enough to require stitches and her bruising will take time to heal. She doesn’t appear to have a concussion, which is good news. They want to monitor her for a bit longer.” He cleared his throat. “She fell asleep after the doctor left. You can go wait in her room if you’d like. Lucia and I will be heading to the cafeteria for a bit.”
All the nervous energy tangled up inside of me slowly evaporated with my next exhale. “Good.” I sagged in my chair, tears of relief stinging my eyes. I fought them back. “I’m glad to hear she’s going to be okay.”
I also appreciated them wanting to give me some privacy with Gabriela. I would head over to her shortly.
The empty waiting room was quiet, the only sound a wall-mounted clock ticking. I sipped my coffee, unsure what more to say to him.
Enzo appeared to mull over his next words. “Hunter?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you. For helping save Gabriela. Not once, but twice.” Sincerity rang in his statement. “If you hadn’t gotten there in time…I-I don’t…Can’t imagine.” He stopped to collect his thoughts, sighing. “You gave her a chance to win her battle and she made it through because of you. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“Like I said the first time, you don’t have to thank me for this, sir. I would do anything to ensure her safety.”
He glanced at the floor, his head hanging between his shoulders. “I’m beginning to see that.”
I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable. “I know I’m probably not the man you would have picked for your daughter, but I want you to know that I love Gabriela with every fiber of my being. She’s it for me. If I have to spend the rest of my life to earn your blessing—to prove myself to you—I will—”
“You don’t have to prove yourself to me, Hunter,” he interrupted. “You already have. It’s no secret that I can be overprotective of my daughter, but she’s the most important person in our lives. We want her to be happy and protected. You’ve shown up for her in ways that no one else ever has. Now it’s clear to me that you are the perfect person for her.Youare the man I would pick for my daughter.”
In this period of darkness, I found an ounce of elation in Enzo’s sentiment. “Thank you,” I managed to choke out. “I appreciate it.”
In an unexpected fatherly gesture, he ran his hand over my hair. “Don’t worry. Everything will be okay now, son.”
Son.
Warmth sprang inside of me like a watered seed finally bursting free.
We exchanged a smile.
Then I got up, went to the designated room, and waited for the love of my life to wake up.
CHAPTER 52
Wherever you go, I will always follow
Gabriela
My eyes fluttered open to a peaceful stillness.
