Page 22 of Lust and Honor

I let out a short scream and collapse to the floor. The pain’s so intense, I can barely breathe. The boys all freeze in place, their fight forgotten, and Aurora throws herself onto my chest, sobbing.

Through gritted teeth, I turn to Gabriel, who’s standing there, stunned like the others.

“Go get your mom,” I manage to say.

He bolts for the door without hesitation, and moments later, Emily rushes in, already panicking.

The pain’s so bad tears keep spilling down my face. Seconds later, Diego and Nicholas, Emily’s bodyguards and the fathers of the other boys, burst into the room. When they realize they can’t move me an inch without triggering another scream, they call an ambulance.

Aurora’s in Emily’s arms the whole time, crying and flailing. Before the paramedics take me away, I cast a trembling glance at Emily, but she seems to know what I’m trying to say.

She takes my hand and squeezes it, her voice soft and reassuring. “Don’t worry about Aurora. I’ve got her.”

***

I’ve changed into the blue hospital gown, waiting for the nurse to take me to the operating room. My stomach’s in knots. What if I don’t make it out of there alive? The doctor reassured me it’s a low-risk procedure, but how can I be sure? All I can think about is my sweet, shy little girl. What would happen to her?

My phone buzzes, and I wipe away the annoying tears to answer. When I see my daughter’s face, a real smile pulls at my lips. “Hey, sweetie.”

She’s wearing a cream-colored dress, her hair neatly combed, looking like a little angel. The moment she sees me, she bursts into tears, and it breaks my heart. “Mama, where are you?”

“I’m at the hospital, sweetheart. Auntie Emily told you, right? Mama just needs to stay with the doctors for a little while so she can feel all better.”

Suddenly, a dog barks somewhere in the background, and Aurora instantly forgets she was crying.

Emily peeks into the frame, a playful glint in her eye. “Don’t worry about your girl. I’ve got this dog to keep the boys in line. Yours is the easy one.”

I give her a grateful smile. “I don’t know how to thank you, Mrs. Bruni.”

“With a quick recovery. And by saving me from my own kids.”

The way she says it makes me laugh under my breath.

Aurora looks back at the camera, this time practically bouncing with excitement. “I love you, Mama!”

Before I can respond, she’s off, chasing after the little white dog.

I watch her with love for a few moments before turning my attention to Emily. Swallowing hard, I voice the thought weighing on my mind. “Mrs. Bruni, I need to ask one more favor. If anything happens to me, please make sure Sister Maria takes Aurora. Her address and number are in the little notebook on my room’s desk.”

Emily gives me a reassuring look, tucks her thick black hair behind her ear, and tries to comfort me. “It’s a minor surgery to remove an ovarian cyst, Ava. You don’t need to start writing your will.”

“I just wanted to say it… just in case.”

“For your peace of mind, I promise I’ll do what you asked,” she says. “But I’m sure, and you should be too, that it won’t come to that.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, praying to God that it’s true.

She gives me a gentle nod. “You’ll need a few days of recovery after the surgery. I was going to hire a nurse to look after you at the hotel, but by the time Carlo runs a background check on them, your recovery will be over. So I worked it out with your doctor for you to stay at the hospital instead.”

She’s right. Carlo Bruni vets everyone personally. I was stuck on a month-long waiting list myself until he was convinced my past was clean and I had no ties to any criminals.

***

I’m pouring boiling water into a mug when the door opens and Emily walks in with a small bouquet of flowers. “Ava, I’m so glad to see you’re doing okay.”

I take the flowers, thank her, and set them on the table by the bed. “Would you like some tea?”

She settles into the chair beside the bed and smiles. “That would be lovely, thank you.”