"Your Mom..."
"Mama worries. It's her job," he said, rolling his eyes. Dante's mother was a formidable woman that I had met when I was just 10 years old. There was no doubt I would be hearing from her soon.
"Thanks," I said, nodding towards Dante's injured leg.
"What are brothers for? Now do us both a favor and go and check on her.”
Chapter Thirty Five
Stefan
"Ugh," Mia groaned as the anaesthetic began to wear off.
I got up from the chair I was sitting in and moved closer to Mia. "Mia?"
"L... Luc?" she called. "Luc?" Mia sounded more panicked as she blinked her eyes open properly.
"It's Stef," I told me as I tried to understand why she would want Luc right now. For a few moments, Mia lay there and took in her surroundings before she tried to move and yelped in pain. "Mia! You need to be careful. Don't move. Do you remember what happened?"
She looked away from me and to her lap before slowly bringing her gaze back up. I sat on the edge of her bed. Less than 24 hours ago we had been at dinner and Mia had seemed carefree and now she laid in a bed looking broken. As I looked at her, Mia began to cry.
"Oh, Mia," I said and pulled her into a hug. I could feel her hands fist my shirt, keeping me close. "It's okay. You're okay. I promise you. You're okay."
I placed a kiss on top of her head, my heart breaking to see her in this state. Mia moved back, hands still balled in my clothing and face glistening with tears. "Where's Luc? Is he okay?"
"He's fine. He's with Lydia," I told her. "I assume they went to see Dante."
Mia paled. "Where's D?"
Taking in a deep breath, I braced myself. This should have been Luc's job, but my brother's priorities seemed to be muddled. "Dante was shot."
Mia took in a sharp breath and a new wave of tears started to fall.
"He's fine," I told her gently. "Surgery went well and he's in recovery."
"I need to see him," Mia said and pulled the covers off herself.
I placed a hand on top of hers and said, "He's in a better state than you. I'll get him to come and see you as soon and he's up and about, but you need to stay in bed and rest. Those stitches are going to come out if you shoot off everywhere."
Mia winced at the phrase and I cursed myself for using 'shoot'. "I'm sorry, that was an awful choice of words."
"It's fine," Mia said. It evidently was not as the tears spilt onto her cheeks.
I reached out and brushed them away before I asked, "What can I do?"
Mia bit her bottom lip and flinched as the scab popped and the wound started to bleed. "Ow." She took the tissues I offered her and dabbed at the cut. "I want to see Luc. Stef, will you get him for me?"
I wanted to say no. I wanted to ask her what she saw in Luc after everything she had just been through but instead, I nodded my head and smiled. "I won't be long. If you need anything just press the button and the nurse will be here."
Mia nodded and leaned back against the pillows, looking exhausted as I left the room. I found Luc in the waiting room, muttering to himself. When he caught sight of me, he got to his feet and walked towards me.
"Is she awake?" Luc asked.
"Yeah."
"I need to speak to her."
"Don't you think you've caused enough damage?" I spat out.
