Chapter 23 #3
I frowned and countered, “Then why are you lying there with a gunshot wound and a head injury?”
A flash of anger crossed her features, and I instantly regretted my reaction.
What was wrong with me?
“I’m so sorry, Layana,” I blurted, rushing to her side with desperate urgency. “I’m incredibly frustrated. I can’t believe this has happened, and all I want is to take you home, lay you in our bed, and keep you safe forever.”
Slowly, the flames in her gaze softened, replaced by a forgiving smile illuminating the dim room like the first rays of dawn. As I cupped her cheek tenderly, I leaned in and brushed my lips against hers, a kiss filled with both apology and promise.
“Are you always going to be so overprotective, darling?” she teased, despite the lingering shadows of the day.
I nodded, fully aware of my nature.
“Yes, absolutely,” I affirmed. “It comes hand in hand with my love—a complete package deal.”
Her gaze locked with mine, deep and earnest.
“I understand that, my love,” she murmured, her irises sparkling with both affection and fierce resolve. “But please, believe me when I say that if you ever try to keep me confined like a caged bird, you’ll unleash the wild tiger within me.”
My eyes widened in startled surprise at her fierce declaration.
“I hope you know that’s not what I—” I began, wanting desperately to defuse the charged air around us.
“Hello!” the doctor cheerfully announced as he entered the room, his presence slicing through our quiet conversation like a sudden gust of wind.
I slowly turned to face him, bracing myself for the weight of his impending news. My heart raced in anticipation, and my muscles tensed as I prepared for a stern lecture or some grave revelation.
Instead of any preamble directed at me, he moved purposefully toward Laya.
His eyes scanned every detail as he examined the neatly wrapped bandages covering her wounds.
At the same time, his skilled fingers explored the array of tubes accompanying the rhythmic beeps from the machine connected to her frail body.
I took a sharp breath, praying for calm. This harbinger of dread tested every ounce of my patience. He reached the end of the bed, grabbed her chart with methodical efficiency, and quickly scribbled a few notes before finally lifting his gaze to meet Laya’s eyes.
“Mrs. Galanis, may I have your permission to discuss your medical condition openly in front of your husband and sister?” he asked, maintaining a professional demeanor that conveyed the seriousness of the subject.
Laya’s eyes widened as she gave a timid nod before saying, “O-of course, yes.”
“Excellent, thank you,” he replied, his attention once again focused solely on her as though we were mere spectators of an intimate, life-altering conversation.
Cali and I exchanged nervous glances, our unspoken understanding suggesting the seriousness of the matter about to be revealed.
“We conduct a complete blood screening on all of our patients before preparing them for surgery,” he began, each word measured and deliberate.
Laya furrowed her brows in confusion as she nodded, her eyes reflecting a mix of worry and perplexity.
“Your results revealed something unexpected that we need to discuss. Fortunately, the bullet only pierced your shoulder. We conducted precise, localized imaging on that area, ensuring the necessary surgical intervention was targeted and successful. We’re confident that we’ve eliminated all imminent threats, so further surgery isn’t necessary. ”
Every sentence out of his mouth added to the already palpable tension in the room. Each of us held our breath in quiet suspense as we awaited his next revelation.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly as this gloomy harbinger of fate savored each prolonged moment.
Was my wife teetering on the brink of death? What was the astonishing secret that had been uncovered? I felt an uncontrollable urge to shake him, to jolt him into revealing the truth more quickly.
Internally, my fists clenched as I urged my agitated body and the enigmatic Dr. Doom to end the delay and reveal the truth without hesitation.
“Mrs. Galanis, were you aware that you’re pregnant?” he finally asked, his tone matter-of-fact yet holding an undercurrent of genuine astonishment.
In an instant, the room fell silent. My heart skipped a beat and then seemed to stop entirely. It was as if the deep, unyielding void of this revelation consumed time.
“Pregnant?” Laya’s surprise was as evident as mine.
“I take it from your reaction that the news is as unexpected for you as it is for your husband?” he pressed.
I shook my head, struggling to draw in life-giving breath.
“We-uh-we weren’t planning on conceiving,” Laya stammered, her face growing pale.
“Oh, you were using birth control?” the doctor pressed further, his curiosity unwavering. “May I ask what method?”
I almost laughed out loud. The absurdity of it all overwhelmed me. We had never once discussed any plan or precaution regarding birth control. My mind spun, realizing we resembled a couple of reckless, passionate teenagers, indulging in wild abandon as if invincible and untouchable.
I shook my head slowly. “We weren’t trying to avoid it, any more than we were trying to make it happen.”
“I see,” he replied with a knowing nod. “Now that you know, I’ll schedule an appointment with our best obstetrician immediately. Rest assured, everything appears very healthy so far—the baby is unharmed.”
“Thank you.” The relief and wonder on her face were beyond beautiful.
As the doctor departed, I recalled the nurse’s remark about his ironic luck—a bearer of fortuitous tidings amidst despair.
When my gaze met Laya’s, an unspoken connection sparked a wave of unexpected joy within me.
“Are we really going to have a baby?” I breathed, my thoughts swirling with a mix of disbelief and affection.
“I suppose we are,” she breathed, tears of fear and elation welling in her eyes. “How do you feel about it?”
“How do I feel?” I echoed, my heart overflowing with both fierce love and spine-tingling terror.
The idea of having a tiny being to nurture and protect with every ounce of passion alongside my beautiful wife terrified and thrilled me beyond measure.
“I’m utterly shocked but overjoyed,” I confessed, a bittersweet smile tugging at my lips.
“Me too,” she sobbed, her tears mapping the story of our lives on her cheeks.
“Why are you so shocked by this? I’m not.” Cali threw her hands up in the air, her exasperation comical. “It’s like living with rabbits that mate day and night. I'm amazed it took this long for it to happen.”
I shrugged my shoulders, glancing in Laya’s direction, and smirked. “She’s not wrong.”
The door swung open at that moment, and the mood immediately shifted. Avra and Vik rushed into the room, worry etched on their faces. They suddenly stopped as they took in the scene of our happiness.
“I’m all right!” Laya declared briskly, a spark of reassurance. “And I’m pregnant!”
Avra’s eyes lit up with delight while Vik’s jaw dropped.
Avra rushed forward and hugged Laya, conveying volumes of sisterly love and shared happiness.
As I watched them revel in the joy of our discovery, a deep happiness surged through me, a feeling I hadn’t experienced since Mama and Cora passed away.
We hadn’t expected our family to expand so quickly.
Yet, in that electrifying moment, I vowed to dedicate my life to protecting everyone we loved—Laya, our unborn child, and all those who were part of our unconventional world.
In the embrace of shadow and passion, I’d found my sanctuary.
This was no ordinary love—our union was forged in darkness and tempered by desire.
As the night deepened, I resolved to be the steadfast guardian of our fierce and tempestuous bond.
This love illuminated even the bleakest corners of our twisted, beautiful existence.
Are you ready to see Calista regain her strength and meet the man who heals her heart as he seeks vengeance against those who have hurt her?
Grab POWER , the conclusion of the Sisters of Wrath Series.
The Vitalis Sisters will claim it all and serve their enemies on a platter for all to enjoy.