Chapter 38
I stand by the window of the private clinic room, watching Lu sleep.
The steady rise and fall of her chest is the only thing keeping me sane right now.
The doctor said she'll be fine. The bullet went clean through her upper arm, missing bone and major arteries.
She lost some tissue, but that's something they can fix later with reconstructive surgery.
Right now, all that matters is that she's alive.
My hands still feel sticky with her blood, though I've washed them three times. The memory of her pale face in the SUV keeps flashing through my mind. How close I came to losing her.
I move closer to the bed, careful not to make noise. They gave her something for the pain after stitching her up, and she fell asleep almost immediately. Her face is peaceful now, the lines of pain smoothed away. Her wedding dress is gone, replaced by a hospital gown.
I reach out, hesitating before gently taking her hand. Her skin is warm against mine, her pulse steady under my fingers.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I ignore it. The world outside this room can wait.
Lu stirs slightly, her brow furrowing before smoothing out again. I wonder what she's dreaming about. I hope it's something peaceful. She deserves some peace after everything.
The bandage on her arm is stark white against her skin. Twenty-seven stitches to close the wound. I counted each one as the doctor worked, each stitch a reminder of how I failed to protect her. And how she put herself in front of me to take a bullet that was supposed to kill me.
I think about what she told me in the SUV. How she left to protect me, how she lied to Damiano to keep me safe. No one's ever put me first like that. No one's ever thought I was worth saving.
"You're wrong about that, Lu," I whisper, careful not to wake her. "I'm not worth it."
But even as I say the words, I know I'd do the same for her. I'd walk through fire, take a bullet, face down her entire family if it meant keeping her safe. And that terrifies me more than anything I've faced in combat.
Because love like this makes you vulnerable. It gives the world a target, a way to hurt you that no body armor can protect against.
I've spent my life avoiding that kind of vulnerability. Building walls, keeping people at a distance.
Then Lu happened.
I brush a strand of hair from her face, my touch feather-light. Her skin is warm, slightly flushed from the medication.
"I'm not leaving you again," I promise her sleeping form. "Not ever."
I don't know what happens next. Damiano will be coming for me. The Sartoris too, after what happened to Bruno and Riccardo. We're caught in the middle of a war that's just beginning.
But right now, in this quiet room with Lu's hand in mine, none of that seems to matter. We'll figure it out. Together.
I settle deeper into the chair, keeping her hand in mine. I'll be here when she wakes up. I'll be here as long as she needs me.
The door opens behind me. Pure instinct takes over. My gun is in my hand and aimed before I even register who's entering.
Enzo stands in the doorway with Sienna slightly behind him. He raises an eyebrow at my weapon, then laughs softly.
"Easy, soldier. We're on the same side." His voice is low, mindful of Lu sleeping.
I lower my gun but don't holster it. Not yet. "Are we?"
Enzo steps into the room, Sienna following close behind. Her eyes immediately go to Lu, concern etched across her face.
"How is she?" Enzo asks, moving closer to the bed.
"Twenty-seven stitches. Through and through wound, missed the bone and major arteries." I recite the facts like a mission report. "Doctor says she'll recover fully with time and physical therapy."
Sienna reaches out, gently touching Lu's uninjured arm. "Thank God."
Enzo nods, relief visible in the slight drop of his shoulders. "She's strong. Always has been."
"What's happening out there?" I ask, finally holstering my weapon. "It's been hours and no one's told me anything."
Enzo's face darkens. "Riccardo Sartori is dead as you saw."
"And Bruno?"
"In a coma. Bullet lodged near his spine. Doctors aren't sure if he'll wake up." Enzo runs a hand through his hair. "Ava's a widow now, and Pietro Sartori has stepped up as acting Don until Bruno recovers."
"Or if Bruno dies, Pietro remains Don," Sienna adds quietly.
"The good news is that the Sartoris can't claim we orchestrated this," Enzo continues. "The bad news is that Pietro is unpredictable. Always has been. He's nothing like Bruno or Riccardo. I would prefer Lorenzo take the title even though he is the youngest one. "
"What does that mean for us?" I ask, my eyes drifting back to Lu.
"It means he'll ask for a lot to not start a vendetta against both the Ferettis and the Volkovs." Enzo's voice is grim. "He's opportunistic. Always has been. And now he has leverage."
"What kind of leverage?"
"The kind that comes with two dead or dying family members and a wedding that turned into a bloodbath." Enzo's eyes narrow. "He'll want compensation. Territory, maybe. Business concessions for sure."
Sienna speaks up, her voice soft but firm. "Damiano's already arranging a meeting with him for tomorrow."
I'm still processing Enzo's words when the door opens once again. Zoe and Damiano enter, their faces grim.
Damiano's eyes lock on me standing next to Lu's bed, my hand still holding hers. Before I can react, he crosses the room.
"This is for touching my little sister," he growls.
His fist connects with my jaw, the impact snapping my head to the side. I taste blood but don't move to defend myself. Part of me knows I deserve this.
I straighten, meeting his eyes. "Feel better?"
Damiano's hands clench at his sides, knuckles white. "Not even close."
Zoe steps between us, placing a gentle hand on Damiano's chest. "That's enough. This isn't helping Lu."
"He took advantage of her," Damiano says, his voice deadly quiet. "After everything she's been through."
I wipe blood from my lip. "That's not what happened."
"No?" Damiano takes another step toward me, and I can see he's barely containing his rage. "You were her security, Hayes. She trusted you to protect her, not seduce her."
"I love her," I say simply.
The room goes silent. Enzo shifts uncomfortably while Sienna watches with wide eyes. Zoe's expression softens slightly.
I drift through layers of consciousness. Voices penetrate the fog. Angry, tense voices that pull me reluctantly toward wakefulness.
My eyelids feel impossibly heavy as I force them open. The harsh hospital lights make me wince as the room slowly comes into focus.
The first thing I see is Daniel's face, blood trickling from his split lip. Damiano stands before him, fist clenched, breathing hard with barely contained rage.
"Daniel?" My voice comes out as a raspy whisper, but it's enough to freeze everyone in the room.
Five pairs of eyes turn to me. Daniel's filled with relief, Damiano's with fury, and Enzo, Sienna, and Zoe watching with varying degrees of concern.
"What happened?" I try to sit up, but pain shoots through my arm, making me gasp.
"Don't move," Daniel says, immediately stepping toward me.
Damiano blocks his path.
"Stop it," I manage, stronger this time. "Both of you."
The medication makes everything slightly hazy, but I remember enough—the cathedral, Bruno falling, the gun aimed at Daniel, throwing myself between them, the explosion of pain in my arm.
"Did you hit him?" I ask Damiano, though the answer is obvious from Daniel's bloodied lip.
Damiano doesn't deny it. "He deserved worse."
"No." I shake my head, wincing at the movement. "No, he didn't."
Damiano's jaw tightens. "Lu, you don't understand?—"
"I understand perfectly." I cut him off, summoning what little strength I have. "I'm the one who asked him to help me. I'm the one who made the choice."
Daniel's eyes meet mine, and I see the protest forming on his lips. He's going to contradict me, take the blame himself.
"Everyone out," I say before he can speak. "Except Damiano."
No one moves at first.
"Please," I add, softer now. "I need to talk to my brother alone."
Zoe touches Damiano's arm gently. "We'll be right outside."
Enzo hesitates, looking between Damiano and Daniel with concern. "Are you sure?"
I nod, my eyes finding Daniel's. "It's okay."
Daniel holds my gaze for a long moment before giving a slight nod. He follows Enzo and Sienna toward the door, but pauses at the threshold, looking back at me.
After they leave, the room falls silent except for the steady beep of monitors. Damiano stands at the foot of my bed, his expression unreadable.
"Come here," I say, patting the edge of the bed with my good hand.
Damiano approaches cautiously, as if afraid he might hurt me. He sits gingerly on the edge of the mattress, his eyes scanning my face, my bandaged arm.
"How bad is it?" he asks, his voice rough with emotion.
"Twenty-seven stitches, apparently." I attempt a smile. "But I'll live."
Damiano runs a hand over his face. "You could have died, Lu. If that bullet had been a few inches to the left..."
"But it wasn't." I reach for his hand, squeezing it weakly. "I'm still here."
"Because of him." It's not a question, and I can hear the conflict in Damiano's voice.
"Yes," I admit.
Damiano's eyes darken. "Taking you away, crosses lines?—"
"I love him," I interrupt, the words falling between us like stones in still water.
Damiano goes silent, his expression shifting from anger to something more complicated—hurt, confusion, and beneath it all, fear.
"I know you're angry," I continue. "I know you feel betrayed. But Daniel isn't the enemy here."
"He was your security, Lu. He was supposed to protect you, not?—"
"He did protect me. He is protecting me." I tighten my grip on his hand. "And I need you to listen to me now, really listen."
Damiano's face hardens as he looks away from me.
"I never wanted this for you," he says finally, his voice low. "I never wanted you to choose someone as damaged as Daniel, or me or anyone else like in this family."
I can't help the bitter laugh that escapes my lips. "And what exactly was your alternative? Marrying me off to Bruno Sartori? Another criminal? How is that any different?"
"It's different because—" Damiano starts, then stops himself, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Because what?" I press.
"Because I trusted him!" Damiano's voice rises, his eyes flashing with anger. "I trusted him with your protection, and the whole time, you two were laughing behind my back."
This time, my laugh is genuine despite the pain it causes in my arm.
"What's so funny?" he demands.
"You," I say, shaking my head. "You're such a grumpy baby sometimes. We weren't laughing behind your back, Damiano. Nothing happened between us until after the casino attack."
Damiano's eyebrows shoot up in disbelief.
"It's true," I insist. "Daniel was nothing but professional until then.
It wasn't until we were locked in that panic room together that something changed.
" I pause, remembering. "He helped me through a panic attack.
That's when I realised that he was by my side since what happened.
He was standing there supporting me without shouting it out loud. "
Damiano's expression softens slightly, but doubt still lingers in his eyes.
"I'm not making excuses," I continue. "But I need you to understand that this isn't some reckless decision or rebellion. What I feel for Daniel is real."
Damiano sighs heavily, the anger seeming to drain from him. He takes my hand, his touch gentler than I expected.
"I want you to be happy, Lu. That's all I've ever wanted." His voice breaks slightly. "After what happened to you... I just need to know you're sure about this. About him."
I meet my brother's gaze steadily, feeling a certainty I haven't experienced in years.
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," I tell him. "Daniel makes me feel safe, not because he can protect me physically, but because with him, I don't have to pretend. I don't have to be strong all the time. I can just be me."
Damiano studies my face for a long moment, searching for any sign of doubt.
"I love him," I say simply. "And he loves me."