All the while, I picture Ivan’s face and the warmth that had been in his features when he smiled down at his baby niece. There was so much hope in it, and now, my chest aches at the possibility of never seeing that again.
Chapter 25 - Ivan
We’ve all been in the hospital for some time now, but even in the wake of her exhaustion, Elena doesn’t let on that any of us have overstayed our welcome.
As a first-time mom, she’s soaking all of this in, and I’m glad. She has spent so long supporting everyone else, it’s about time she had something like this. Something of her own.
The hallway smells like antiseptic and the usual medical aroma I try to avoid as much as I can. I’ve never been one for hospitals, but for family, I’m willing to endure it.
Standing with Mikhail, Nikolai, and Sergey in one of the waiting areas near the nurses’ station, I’m half-listening as they talk about the latest Grimaldi movements, along with numbers and locations that have been traveling through our channels lately, but my mind is most preoccupied with her.
I’m still partially in Elena’s room, replaying the way Mila looked holding Talia. Despite all of her worries and hesitation, something so soft and genuine overcame her without having to say anything.
We’re still a long way off from experiencing that wonder for ourselves, but seeing her like that was enough to put vivid images in my head of Mila mothering our baby. Of holding our little one in the same way, but with a deeper connection.
Soon enough, I’ll bear witness to something so pure and so completely mine.
Then, the buzz of my phone in my pocket breaks my quiet reverie, once, then twice, before I fish it out. Irritation scurries through me at the interruption, half paying attention until I catch Mila’s name pop up on screen. My brows furrow.
She was only supposed to be in the washroom. Why would she be calling me?
Without hesitation, I accept it and raise the phone, taking a few steps away from my brothers. “Mila?”
I freeze as a masculine voice comes through. “Lukov.”
It only takes a beat for me to recognize exactly who it is, and at once, every sound around me dulls, fading into obscurity. My grip tightens on the phone.
“Where is she?” I ask flatly. “What do you want?”
“I want you to come alone,” Carlo replies, not mincing words. “Third floor, East wing.”
I barely even breathe as I absorb the information, tucking it away since Mila’s life quite literally depends on it.
He continues, filling the silence with false pleasantry, “I thought it would be nice to see your face when we take our dear sister back.”
Immediately, everything shrinks to this moment, vision tunneling as I stare at one point on the floor. While everything had gone quiet just moments ago, it’s like the volume has been cranked up at once, trying to fight to be heard over my heartbeat.
“Put her on,” I tell him, fingers feeling clumsier than they had.
Carlo just laughs. “No. I want you to see her just like this before we go. Don’t make us wait.”
Then, the line drops, and for what feels like an eternity, I keep the phone pressed against my ear.
Where I’m usually sturdy and sure, my hand shakes.
They have her…they have Mila.
After all this time I’ve spent convincing her that she is without a doubt safe with my family and me, they managed to throw all of that out by taking her. And at a hospital, on a day that’s supposed to be full of joy, no less.
It takes everything in my power not to be sick right here.
Barely restraining both the panic and rage inside me, I switch apps, finding the one I need as my fingers move on pure muscle memory alone. I find the right feeds, tapping between them before landing on the right one. Third floor, east wing. Scanning, I pause when I see three figures.
There they are. Carlo, Cesare, and Mila.
She’s between them in the restricted access area, with Cesare holding her firmly in place, glancing around a bit nervously. Carlo stands close enough to guard her, arms crossed.
And Mila…her eyes are wide and full of fear, seemingly well aware of what this means for her.
