“I’m not obligated to tell you anything, but please, listen to me. He is strong and fought his way through the surgery. If he has something to live for, which I believe he does, then I think he’ll be back to himself in no time.” Her hand takes mine, closing around it as I grip onto the photo. “Stay here as long as you wish. I’ll be back to check on him in a little bit.”
I nod, and she leaves.
In my solidarity, I gaze at the photo. I will fight to feel that overwhelming amount of happiness again. That sense of happiness that feels like I’m going to burst if I feel any more, but at the same time, I’m willing more of it to hit me because I know it’s the best feeling in the entire world.
I stand again, more forcing myself than anything, and go back to my place by the window. When I sense someone beside me I half expect the nurse from before, but I’m shocked to see Enzo approaching me.
“I thought you might need a change of clothes,” Enzo comments as he steps beside me, a bag in hand. He drops it the moment he sees my lip begin to tremble and wraps his arms around me just as my walls crash and burn and all my vulnerabilities run riot for all to see. “Hey, he’s okay.”
Again, I’m given that litany – he’s okay. I want to scream that he’s not because being laid up half dead in a hospital bed is not my definition of being okay. My very own indestructible Detective Maverick was put on a pedestal too high for him to maintain. I allowed myself to believe he would never be hurt – mentally or physically – but I was wrong. Zane is only human – like myself, like Enzo, like my father. Whatever perception I have of anyone in my life, we are all only humans. Each can be taken from me in a swift heartbeat.
Zane is verification of that.
“Sorry,” I sniffle as I pull away from my brother. “I didn’t mean to just leave the house.”
“Maybe not, but I understood it completely.” He reaches out, wiping the pad of his left thumb across my cheek to smear away the tears. “I’m worried about you, Amelia. How is this ever going to end happily?”
“I don’t know,” I reply miserably. “I haven’t thought it through to the end game, just the run up.” I take a deep breath. “How do I ever get him out of this?”
Enzo shrugs and looks into the room before sighing heavily. “We could look into faking his death while you work your plan that Papà knows about. You know how Carlo works; he could have an entirely new life for Zane in a matter of months.” He reaches up again, placing his knuckles to my chin to force me to look at him. “A new identity for you both to go and live.”
“But then I lose you,” I respond with the cold, solemn truth.
“We didn’t lose Bruno when he did it,” Enzo counters strongly, dropping his hand and giving me a grin. “And he’s living a pretty charmed life, if you ask me.” He shrugs once more and just keeps offering me the same little smirk. “Just think of the opportunities at your disposal. Just because Papà and Gio have no clue what Carlo is capable of, doesn’t mean we do.”
“It’s not so easy to cut a loss and run,” I argue, defying him on this matter. I can’t just drop my family and restart.
“Well, we’ll deal with that all on another date.” Looking into the room, I can tell Enzo wants to say something, but his expression becomes oppressed by shock. “Someone’s awake,” Enzo points out and looks back to me.
I say nothing, leaving my brother’s side to break hospital protocol by going to Zane’s side. I rush straight in, tears fucking betraying me in this moment of elation, and take his hand in mine. I feel him look at me, gripping my hand back as he does so.
“It’s so good to see you awake,” I whisper, wiping my face clear of tears.
“I thought you wanted me dead?” he murmurs sarcastically. He licks at his dry lips, his eyes closing drowsily as he strives to move a little without erupting too much pain in his tender abdomen. When I see him failing, I place my hand on him to still his movements, and he quickly obeys, opening his eyes to look at me.
“The thought of you dead kills me,” I whisper and wrapped in my litany is my rawest truth. My end goal may have always been to kill him, regardless, but now that I had the thought of him dead, I know it’s all about playing the devil against himself.
“Hail Mary,” he whispers softly, gripping my hand tighter my hand. “I’ve found my miracle.”
I laugh, my eyes watering. “You’re high.”
“And you’re beautiful,” he remarks back, and everything feels right between us. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Nothing,” I speak softly, leaning in to kiss him. “Now, get some rest.”
His grasp dramatically changes, clenching onto me desperately. “Don’t leave me.” His eyes widen, looking at me with utter hopelessness that my heart weakens at the sight of it marring his beautiful face. “Please.”
“Shh,” I coo, trying to calm him. “I’m not leaving you. Not now, not ever.”
“It was only you I wanted here,” he remarks dryly. “And you’re here.”