31. Rafe
Chapter 31
Rafe
I lean forward in the chair, my eyes fixed on Dante's prone form. Only the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor in this sterile hospital room reminds me that my brother is with us, and fighting.
Antiseptic permeates the air. It's so overpowering that I can’t smell the scent from the vase of flowers on the bedside table.
The harsh lighting casts an unnatural pallor over his face, making the bruises and cuts stand out against his sickly pale skin. But it's not the bruises and cuts that nearly killed him.
Tubes and wires snake around Dante's body, connecting him to various machines that hum and blink. But it's the large bandage that covers his stomach where the bullet was removed that makes my breath hitch.
They say he was lucky, but he's still in a coma. Right now, I can't agree,
Cade's hand is warm in mine, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my skin. His presence is a comfort. I squeeze his hand as I glance at him, seeing my exhaustion mirrored in the dark circles under his eyes.
We've been here for over a week, waiting for any sign that Dante is coming back to us since they removed his medication to induce the coma. The doctors are optimistic, but each hour that passes without change feels like an eternity.
A nurse enters, checking Dante's vitals before she offers us a sympathetic smile, then leaves; the door closing softly behind her.
"I can't stand this," I say, pushing out my chair and standing. Pacing the floor. Up and down the private room, glancing at my father who waits in the corridor with Amara beside him while he takes calls.
He wraps an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him before he presses a tender kiss on the poor girl's temple.
Dominic de Luca is proving himself to be a resilient man. So many things have happened in his life in the past few months that I'm surprised how he holds it together.
"Rafe." Cade's voice is low. "I saw his eyelids move."
I twist from my father.
Suddenly, there's a change in the rhythm of the beeping.
I rush to Dante's side.
My heart racing as I lean closer to Dante to watch his face for any sign of movement.
"Come on Dante," Cade says, taking my hand and gripping it. "Open your eyes. A little bullet can't keep you down."
Dante's eyelids flutter, then slowly open. His gaze is unfocused at first, confusion clear as he takes in his surroundings. Then his eyes lock onto mine, recognition dawning.
He reaches up and drags the tube from his throat, coughing violently for air of his own.
"Rafe." His voice sounds scratchy in his throat.
I press the buzzer for a doctor.
"Where's Lia?" The words are barely more than a whisper, his voice hoarse from disuse, but the desperation clear.
Relief floods through me at the sound of his voice, that it feels like my lungs have opened and I can finally breathe properly again.
"Glad to see you're back with us," Cade says before rushing out of the room to tell my father.
"She's okay, Dante," I assure him, squeezing his hand.
"I want to see her." His eyes stare at me like he doesn't believe me. "Where is she?"
"I'm here, baby. I was talking to Amara after my appointment." Lia strolls into the room. Happy tears in her eyes and a massive smile appearing on her face as she rushes toward him. "Welcome back. I knew a bullet wouldn't take you down."
He breathes a massive sigh of relief. "I thought."
"You saved my life when you dove in front of me and pushed me out of the way. I was knocked out when my head hit the floor, but Dominic and Antonio killed Lucia before she had the chance to pull the trigger again."
“I’ll always put my life before yours,” Dante says.
“What if she killed you?” Lia's voice raises.
“Then I’ll take a bullet for you,” Cade says. “Have you not realized we’ll all take a bullet for you?”
Tears roll down her cheeks when she realizes how much we love her and not just the babies.
“I don’t want any of you to die. Our babies need their dads and our babies need more brothers and sisters.”
My brave brother smiles before his eyes widen as he slowly roams his eyes down from her eyes and to her stomach. "And tell me about the babies. Are they okay?"
She groans. "Do you know what your brother and Cade are like? They make me have an ultrasound every single day to make sure there are no lasting effects."
I stare at her, one eyebrow arched, waiting.
Her hands splay on her hips. "They are fine, and getting so used to the wand massaging over my belly that I think it sends them to sleep." One hand moves to hold the growing bump at the bottom. "They'll be spoiled before I give birth to them."
Dante smiles at her, but grabs my hand. "Thanks Bro."
"She's ours too." I turn to Lia. She looks so tired after hardly sleeping a wink since Dante was shot.
Her hair is in a messy bun, her face devoid of make-up, but she is still sexy as fuck. I'd never believe I would feel the way I do for a woman, but I love her as much as I love Cade. I pat my knee.
Her eyes narrow. "I'm not a puppy."
I can't help but laugh as Lia tries to maintain her tough exterior. She pretends she hates being cuddled and protected.
It's endearing, really, how she forgets we knew her before she became the woman she is now.
"Come here," I growl playfully, reaching for her.
Lia rolls her eyes, but I can see the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You're making those sounds again," she chides, before turning to Dante."Tell them they can touch me. I need sex, but they wouldn't touch me while you were in a coma, and my hormones have gone crazy. I just need something more than my fingers."
My breath catches and I freeze, waiting for Dante's reaction.
"You're her husband too. You don’t have to wait for my agreement. Lia’s in charge. It’s her body. And…" His voice is croaky, still dry from his weakened state, "I can see how much you both care for her."
His response floors me.
Cade smiles at me, overhearing the conversation as he walks back into the room.
The magnitude of this moment isn't lost on me. Dante, who was once so possessive of Lia, now will share her. It's a testament to how much we've all grown, how much we've been through together.
Without hesitation, I grab Lia's hand and pull her onto my lap, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. "Care isn't strong enough," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "We both love her."
Lia turns to me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Do you?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course I do." I hold her gaze. "And Cade can speak for himself, but I know he feels the same, too." He gives me a smile when I glance at him.
"We want you, Lia. And everything you can give to us and us to you."
A smile breaks across her face as she wipes away a stray tear. "I love you too," she says, and my heart swells.
Dante's impatient voice interrupts the moment. "Now get me outta here," he grumbles, shifting uncomfortably in the hospital bed.
As if on cue, the door swings open, and a doctor walks in carrying a clipboard, his face a mask of professional detachment. It wouldn't surprise me if he’s shaking inside after seeing my father outside the room.
"Mr. De Luca," he begins. "You're not quite ready to be discharged yet. After a few days of observation, we may clear you to leave the hospital. Providing afterward, you rest at home."
"I'm fine." Dante groans in frustration.
"What's a few days? You're awake." Relief is written in Lia's eyes. We all know how close we came to losing him.
As the doctor goes over Dante's recovery plan, Dominic opens the door and strides inside the room.
His presence still commands attention, but his eyes, normally sharp and calculating, soften slightly as they land on Dante. He moves to the other side of the bed, opposite from where I'm sitting.
Lia quickly slides off my lap, moving to stand next to Amara. The tension in the room ratchets up a notch as we all wait for Dominic to speak.
He places a hand on Dante's shoulder, his voice low but firm when he finally breaks the silence. "You did good, son. Taking that bullet... It shows what kind of man you are."
Dominic's gaze sweeps across the room, lingering on Lia for a moment before returning to Dante. "But now it's time to heal. You're no good to anyone if you push yourself too hard, too fast. The family needs you at full strength."
"And the Syndicate," Dante adds.
"Fuck the Syndicate. Right now, family is all that matters." He leans in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper, but in the quiet room, we can all hear him clearly. "And Lia needs you. The bullet was meant for her, and it might not be the last."
"Thanks for the pep talk, Dad," Dante deadpans. But I smile at the easy conversation, despite the subject choice.
"You need to be around to kill every fucker who tries to take her from you."
"I know." Dante relents.
Straightening up, Dominic addresses the doctor, his tone determined. "My son will stay as long as necessary. You'll give him the best care possible. Understood?"
The doctor nods quickly, clearly intimidated.
"Antonio is visiting you later." Dominic turns back to Dante, his expression softening once more. "Rest, heal, and come back stronger. The family is secure for now. Your job is to get well."
With that, he gives Dante's shoulder a last squeeze, pauses, looking at all of us. "Family is everything," he says, his gaze taking in not just Dante and me, but Lia, Amara, and Cade as well. "Take care of each other."
With the weight of his words hanging in the air, it's clear that things are changing.