“We’re on a helicopter, sweetheart. Dr. Middleton is going to check you over.”
“Go home,” she croaks.
“Yes, angel,” I say, stroking her cheek. “Then we’re going home.”
I step out of the way so Dr. Middleton can step in.
Seb and Marco hopped in this one with me while Avery and the other men remained behind to wait for the next helicopter. AJ and his men insisted they take care of the clean-up of the bloody and disastrous scene. They’ve got a doctor on the way to tend to the wounded Xander.
Dr. Middleton hooks Chiara up to an IV immediately to get some fluids into her, gently prodding her body to check if anything is broken.
“This bruising and swelling tells me she may have one or more cracked ribs,” he says as he lightly touches the area. Then he cleans her head wound and uses glue to close the gash before covering it with a clear medical adhesive.
Chiara groans in pain, and I squeeze her hand reassuringly.
“Before we administer any other pain relief, I just want to take some blood to make sure we know if there’s any drugs in her system. Are you okay to give me consent to do that?”
I nod.
“I’ll expedite the lab results as soon as we land.”
“Water,” Chiara groans out.
I grab some and put it to her lips, and once she’s had most of the bottle, she closes her eyes. Exhaustion takes her, and I close mine and exhale. It feels like my first full breath in months.
Our secret is out. Alessandro is dead. The case is in good hands with Sophia and my father who stepped in to cover me. I’m taking my wife home, battered and bruised, but thank God alive and in one piece. A strong hand lands on my shoulder. I look up to find Marco’s tired, grinning face.
“You get it now, brother.” It’s a statement, not a question.
“I do.”Life isn’t worth living without the one who puts the light in it.
“Well, I guess the eternal bachelor is officially the first one off the market,” pipes up Seb, before he returns to tapping away on his phone. “Luca is losing his mind about not knowing what’s going on. He’s threatening to charter a flight home.”
“Highly unnecessary,” I say.
“I know. I’m gonna video call him. I think he’s just having a hard time dealing with the fall-out of the shooting and the case against Arty.” He looks up as he connects. “But he can’t miss his pre-season commitments. He needs to focus on his career right now, needs the distraction to stop him from spiraling over Arabella disappearing on him—again.”
We all exchange a worried look. My little brother feels too hard. Would probably do him some good to adopt some of my asshole tendencies. Although I fear they’re rendered pointless in the face of love anyway. Perhaps he was the first of us to learn that lesson.
Luca answers, and we all take turns talking to him briefly to show proof of life. He was still insisting he come back, but we managed to convince him to use leave request for the wedding festivities. Begrudgingly, he agreed and made me promise that Chiara would video call him when she was feeling up to it.
“See you in likesix weeks for the wedding, bro,” says Marco, who has the last word.
“He looked rough,” observed Seb, who’s probably spent the most time with him over the last few months he’s been back.
“He’ll be okay,” says Marco. “Everything always has a way of working out.”
“Tell me again, when did you become a fucking beacon of light and love?” asks Seb.
“Therapy, bro.” Marco grins. “You should try it some time. Speaking of, make sure Chiara keeps going to her appointments. Especially after today. It’s going to bring up a whole lot of shit.”
I nod my acknowledgment.
“AJ is going to come and see her as soon as he can. He owes her an honest conversation.He’s kept your secret and today’s events off Gino’s radar for now.”
“How did he manage that? He’s literally akin to the Godfather. Don’t they know everything?” asks Seb.
Marco snickers. “He got the twins to take him to some tiny island that they want to put a resort and club on. It has no reception right now.”
