Chapter 26 Luca
Waiting in the foyer of the mansion I used to call my home is surreal.
It doesn’t feel that way anymore. The comfort has turned to toxicity, and every inch of me screams to leave, to go back to where my real home is—to the men who saved me.
Blowing out a breath, I try to force the anxiety away from me.
Everything is so fucked up, and I can’t figure out a way to resolve it.
The door opens and Dr. Ranlen strolls inside, her signature high heels hitting the tiled floor with precision strikes.
For a moment, I just stare at her. She seems to have aged years, despite only seeing her a few months ago.
Her white coat is as pristine as ever, and those kind gray eyes belies a sharpness that others too often overlook.
Of course, her razor-edged tongue puts us all in our place, and there’s a damn good reason not to fuck with her.
I’m fairly certain the only two people who have ever earned her smile, outside of her family, have been Allesandro and Lio.
And it’s that I’m pinning my hopes on right now.
“I don’t have much time,” she says in a clipped tone, before studying me carefully. “You look better. Doc, as always, has done a great job.”
“At least, some people recognize my genius,” Doc grumbles as he joins us.
I smother a smile at his grumpy attitude.
I’ve become immune to it, but I almost fall over at the wide smile Dr. Ranlen gives him.
It appears there are three people who have earned her respect.
I’d be shocked if I didn’t know Doc was a damn good doctor as well.
“Of course. How is the patient?” Dr. Ranlen’s smile slips immediately when Doc shakes his head.
“Poor still. I’ve had to ban his uncle from visiting. Although, at least when his uncle is there, he has a reaction. Unfortunately, it’s only agitation. I’m not sure what to make of him anymore. I thought perhaps he’d snap out of it, but he’s so…docile.”
“I looked over the medication regimen you’re giving him.
It’s in order, although I’m slightly surprised he’s willing to take them.
He’s always been against medications, and mental health medications?
I’m shocked he’ll take those.” Dr. Ranlen purses her lips as she cocks her head, unasked questions right there.
“He fought it, at first, but now, he just takes them. To be honest, I could probably give him anything and he wouldn’t care. It’s…are we sure he shouldn’t just be put down? It seems a slight waste, but at the same time, he’s not up to running a Family, even if he was allowed to keep one.”
I shake my head. “No. We’re not putting him down.”
“Despite what he did, do you really think he should live?” Dr. Ranlen raises an eyebrow, although her tone is controlled.
Sighing, I wave her concern away. “Yes. Did he fuck up? Absolutely. And I made him pay for it—the same as he would have done to any of us Boys. But, he is more than the sum of his sins. We all have blood on our hands. We’ve all been in the trenches and made calls we have to live with.
“What he did was despicable—I’m not arguing against that.
However, I’ve known him the longest. I remember the boy I grew up with.
The one who had so many ideas, who smiled and laughed.
And I remember how his father twisted him into a mold that never should have happened.
Nobody can fight against the physical and mental torture he went through.
Hell, the fact he lived through it is a testament to who he is.
You may look at him and see his wrongs, but I see his rights. ”
Doc snorts, and even Dr. Ranlen looks unimpressed as she wrinkles her nose. Coughing lightly, she gently says, “We all may have blood, but he broke something that should have been cherished. Given his reaction, I’m not sure he can come back from that.”
“I understand where you’re coming from. But, please, listen.
I wanted you both to hear me out, as I have to make my own appeal to the Council and I know they’ll also ask for both of your expertise.
” I draw in a deep breath, prepared to beg for my best friend’s life.
“Despite what his father did, he never snuffed out all of the boy I knew. If he had, the cruelty you’ve all witnessed would have been so much worse.
Allesandro did not have to forgive me, and he certainly didn’t need to give me the keys to finding myself.
Not only would he have not saved Marcus, there’s no way he would have been able to forgive him and ensure that Marcus kept Keegan. Then to entrust a child to them…
“I saw the impact Emilio had on Allesandro, and I got to see my friend come back to life. Hell, by most rights, Allesandro should have killed you, Dr. Ranlen. You certainly didn’t betray him, but the person you vouched for did. Yet, all he cared about was making sure you were alright.
“None of us know what he went through with the kidnapping. But, what we all know is that Allesandro was taught control. That he has to be the one in control to survive.
“He came back to a family in turmoil, from what I’ve heard.
Both Cristian and him had been replaced, family ties were shifting, and he saw his love falling for someone else.
Fuck. Even I would struggle in that instance.
Again, we can all agree that what he did was wrong, fucked up, and damn well evil.
He is not, though. Not at the core. My best friend is still there, and I’m begging you.
Please. Help me get him back. Don’t let him go. ”
Dr. Ranlen takes a deep breath as she exchanges a loaded glance with Doc.
With a pained expression—whether due to her decision or the reminder of her own fuck up, I don’t know—she waves us forward.
“Very well. I’ll speak with him and try to keep an open mind.
However, my recommendation will be based on that and not childhood memories. ”
With a wince, I nod and mentally say a prayer, despite not believing in any type of god.
If Allesandro is going to live, he needs a miracle.
And these two doctors are only the first part of getting him one.
Still, I’d like to leave here knowing he has a chance, and that I didn’t destroy the one thing I had left of this family.
The one person who, despite all the fuck ups, is still the one I could count on.
That’s what I need them to see, and I know, deep down, he’s still with us.
If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t have been so easily destroyed.
The guilt of doing it eats at me. I knew he was broken—I just had no clue how deep those cracks were.
Not until the bonds holding him together were fully ground into dust. All I can hope is that he rises from the ashes and learns to soar.
It took me a long time to do it myself, but if I can, I have to believe my friend is able to as well.
For me. For the family. And for his Boy, because while Lio may not need him anymore, I have a feeling the only way Allesandro will find his life again is through the man who shouldn’t give him mercy.
Fuck. Maybe it’s more than a miracle we all need…