Eventually, Codrin stepped out. “Please tell me when he wakes up. I will handle Father.”
They really had no idea. Neither brother grasped the full horror of what their father had done to Cezar. The scars they’d never seen. The memories he tried to bury. And now, knowing Cezar would eventually have to go home to that man… I just wanted him safe. I wanted him to feel safe, and that wasn’t going to happen until Viktor took his last breath.
Chapter 29
CEZAR
Fuck, my body hurt so damn bad. My eyes wouldn’t open. Someone might’ve glued them shut. Wouldn’t shock me at this point. My senses crept back in pieces, enough for me to recognize the sterile stench of a hospital.
Amidst the haze, there was that voice—Lina’s voice, accompanied by Dorin’s. They were alive. Safe. I could almost die happy now.
I tried to cough and instantly regretted it, my head spinning, my ribs screaming. Every inch of me throbbed.
Lina’s touch was familiar and slowly brought me back to consciousness. I struggled to open my eyes, greeted by the sight of her expression filled with a sorrow I’d never seen before. Would she have mourned me if I died? Fuck, what a stupid thought.
“Why… don’t be sad.” I tried lifting my hand to wipe her tears, but pain shot through me hard enough that the attempt died halfway. Even so, it meant I was alive. And she was still here.
Dorin fetched water and adjusted my position on the bed, and the doctor was there too, probably saying something important. I couldn’t focus since I was fixated on Lina. Howcould I make her stop hurting? I knew I’d fucked up. I had to apologize.
I nodded occasionally to make it seem like I was listening—old habit from growing up with a father who punched first and questioned never. Eventually, the doctor left. Dorin too. His face looked grim in a way that sent a chill through me.
Had I really screwed things up that badly?
As soon as the door closed, I mustered all the strength I had to sit up straight. Lina paced the room like she was trying to outrun her own thoughts. I spoke as loudly as my battered chest would allow.
“I know,” I rasped, louder than I should’ve dared. “I’m sorry… I fucked up.”
The rest stayed trapped in my head, too heavy, too knotted to force past the fog. I should stay the hell away from her. She’d be better off without me. So why the fuck couldn’t I? Because I was a selfish, useless piece of shit, and I—
I never finished the thought.
She climbed onto the bed in one swift motion and curled against me. The pain was almost unbearable, but it was her. Not my father. Not a punishment. Not a fucking bullet—her. My Petal.
“Shut up, shut up, okay? Just stop,” she snapped. The words stung. I only wanted her to understand I hadn’t meant to mess things up. I’d only been trying to protect her.
“Cezar… please.” Her voice stricken, and she looked at me like she was breaking. “Stop apologizing for doing what you think is right.” Her eyes on mine. “You took it like such a good fucking boy. I’m sorry for leaving the way I did. Why is everything so fucking complicated?”
She pressed her head against me, unable to keep eye contact. My good arm lifted, fingers skimming through her locks withcare. “It doesn’t have to be,” I whispered, thumb touching the back of her neck.
“Cezar, I don’t—”
“Lina.” I tipped her chin with a weak hand. “Breathe, my Petal. It kills me to see you like this, but you’re sad because I got hurt, right?”
She gave a tiny nod. I pulled her closer, wincing at the movement. The pain flared, but having her pressed against me made it feel good. Fucked-up, I know. Then I passed out.
I woke up a day later, still drugged up but more myself. Lina hadn’t said much while I adjusted to being stuck in that hospital bed, and Dorin pacing the room didn’t help. The silence between us dragged until she finally asked what I wanted to eat.
Pasta sounded like heaven.
When she left to get it, Dorin wandered over to my bedside, awkward as hell—like he’d never been in a hospital room before.
“So, what’s up, man?” I prodded.
“Do you need anything, like water, or maybe your bed moved, or I don’t know anything?”
“Um, you already did all that,” I pointed out, blinking slowly as the meds made everything a little hazy. “So… ya know… what’s up, man?”
Dorin rubbed the back of his neck. “Cezar, why the fuck did you do that? You almost died.”
