“Oohh, good idea!” Kieran excitedly pulled Logan down the hallway to the villa’s living room where they found Adam. “Hi Adam, I’m Kieran and this is my mate Logan who is Zane’s brother,” said Kieran. Then, when Slate and Dakota strolled in, he added, “And this is Slate and his mate Dakota who’s also Zane’s brother. He was the one who found out you were in the dungeon. Why were you locked up?”
Unable to keep up with Kieran’s rapid-fire speech, Adam looked helplessly at Zane and said, “Uhhh, is there some place I can take a shower?”
“Sure,” replied Zane. Turning to Slate, he asked, “Which bathroom should he use and do you think Gio would mind if we borrow a shirt and a pair of pants for him since his are about to fall off?”
“I got this,” Slate said. “Why don’t you go see your mate, Zane?” Then reaching out his hand to Adam, he said, “Hi Adam, I’m Slate. If you follow me and Dakota, we’ll get you fixed up quicktime.”
Leaving Slate to sort out Adam’s needs, Zane headed for the bedroom Mrs. Rossi was in. Opening the door quietly, he entered, smiling at David who was hugging his mother as tears of joy trickled down their faces. Reluctant to interrupt their reunion, Zane stayed back, nodding at Colton, who then joined him.
Anticipating his brother’s question, Colton said, softly, “She’ll make a full recovery, physically. Mentally? Can’t say for sure but it wouldn’t hurt if Kieran spends some time with her and does his magic.”
“I’ll ask Kieran to do that,” said Zane. “I brought another patient back for you. He was in the convent’s dungeon…not sure for how long…but long enough for him to be a bag of skin and bones. He’s taking a shower right now.”
“Ian and I can check him over after he’s finished,” Colton said.
“Great. When can Mrs. Rossi travel?”
“Now, as long as she doesn’t walk; she still has the drug in her system so Ian’s worried she could lose her balance and take a nasty fall.”
“That’s not a problem. I’ll carry her,” Zane said.
After Zane’s scent reached him, David turned his head and, smiling at his mate. “Love, come meet my mother.”
“Go ahead,” Colton said, “I’m going to find our other patient.”
Joining David at his mother’s bedside, Zane smiled at her. “Hello Mrs. Rossi, I’m Zane.”
“Call me Sofia, please. My David told me you are his Fated Mate?”
“I am, and very lucky the Fates gave him to me,” Zane said.
“Not true, love,” countered David, “I’m the lucky one!”
“I would say you’re both very lucky and well suited for each other,” Sofia said with a smile. “My son tells me I have you to thank for rescuing me.”
“Actually, it was a group rescue. My brothers and their mates were also part of it, Zane mumbled, a bit embarrassed by her gratitude.
“Of course,” Sofia replied, “I owe them my thanks too.”
“Mama, how are you feeling now? Are you hungry?” asked David.
“Ian, can Sofia eat something?” asked Zane.
“Some broth is okay, but nothing else until the drug is totally out of her system. Otherwise, she might have some stomach discomfort,” Ian replied.
“Do you want some broth, Mama?” asked David.
“S?, that sounds wonderful,” Sofia answered.
“I’ll get it, babe,” Zane offered.
“Thanks, love,” David said gratefully, watching his mate leave.
Sofia’s eyes examined her son’s face. “You love him very much,s??”
“S?, Mama, more than I ever thought I could,” David said, his eyes glowing with love. “You were right about Fated Mates. Zane is my everything…kind, loving, gentle, understanding, protective…I could go on forever. If I had to go through everything again in order to have him as my Fated Mate, I would Mama. I know that sounds dumb…”
“Hush, my darling, it is as it should be.”
