Chapter 58
Caterina
I’d been terrified more times in my life since meeting Harlow than I’d like to admit, but love did that to a person.
But now, seeing a flight medic and nurse work on Harlow while we flew to Presbyterian Hospital made my heart feel like stone.
If it wasn’t for the beating of the monitor, I would believe she was dead with how frail and broken she looked.
I never wanted to see her like this again, and I wouldn’t.
For the first time in years, a prayer slipped from my lips.
I knew Padre Nostro because of my mother and Moira.
My mother was Catholic and attempted to raise me as such, but it never worked.
Now here I was, praying to a god I didn’t believe in to save the woman I loved.
A true contradiction, but right now, I needed a miracle.
I held her hand as they worked diligently.
She was strong, but I knew she was tired of being so goddamn strong all the time.
For three weeks while I healed in my bed, hooked to wires and unconscious, she was being brutalized by that bastard.
When I woke up, it still took weeks to find her.
Harlow thought I was dead. The look in her eyes when she saw me, before she passed out, broke me.
It was one of fear, guilt, and joy. Joy because I was alive.
Fear and guilt because of her injuries. My wife was a warrior.
She was a fighter. One more fight and then we were done.
We were less than five minutes out from landing, and she coded.
I was useless, the crew was useless, and tensions were high.
When we landed, they rushed her out of the aircraft and immediately into the hospital.
I was still trying to catch my breath, and the pilot looked at me.
We met a few times in New York before when I went to Roman’s house.
He let me utilize his services here for the last couple of days while searching for this bunker. The nurse and medic were a bonus.
“She fought this long, Cat,” he reassured me. “She will keep fighting for you. Now go get your girl.”
It was going to be an agonizing wait knowing if she was still alive or not, but she fought to stay alive, I would fight the anger raging inside me.
I was Caterina Moretti, leader of the Moretti famiglia, soulless beast, and killer, but here in the year, I’d become Caterina Moretti. Wife. Lover. Savior.
My heart was being taken into surgery once again because of this life.
There was no one else I could leave the family to, but I was on the verge of finding a random family from Italy and leaving them everything.
I’d spent years surviving, fighting for vengeance, and living for my mother who was taken far too soon, dealing with a heartbroken father who neglected me without realizing it.
I never knew I needed Harlow, but now I couldn’t imagine living life without her by my side.
I must’ve fallen asleep because when a hand touched me. I went for my waistband, realizing I didn’t have my gun on me. Elizabeth’s face came into picture, and I instantly froze, grabbing her wrists. She was in distress for the last month since Harlow was taken.
“Sorry,” she smiled, wiping her eyes, “you would think I’d learn not to touch people who can blow my head off when they are sleeping.”
“I’m on edge still, I forgot where I was for a second. Is there an update?”
She frowned. “Not yet. She’s still in surgery. Did you really get him?”
“Yeah. The bastard is in my basement. At least he better be. I’m going to keep him alive long enough for Harlow to get the revenge she needs.”
She smiled wide, more tears spilling from her eyes. “You really did it.” She choked on a sob. “Harlow is finally free from him, and her mom is alive.”
“She doesn’t know that yet. I need her to wake up so she can know her mother is alive.”
“She will.”
The guilt and fear finally hit me like a ton of bricks. Everything she endured would be brought to light because of him, and I was useless. I failed her. “He raped her, Lizzy.” My voice broke. “I promised her I would protect her, and when she needed me the most, I was in a coma.”
She grabbed my hand, squeezing gently. “She has you this time. Is it going to set her back some? Yes. Harlow is strong. She loves you. She will need you, but she has an army behind her every step of the way.”
“That she does. I never thought I’d be able to fall in love with someone, and then came Harlow. I never knew my revenge on Vincenzo would bring me an angel.”
“She’s going to be okay.” I nodded. “I wanted to check on you, but let me know when Harlow wakes up. I’ll update her mother.”
“How is Marie?”
Elizabeth sighed. “As one would expect, getting away from a monster like Igor Orlov. She hardly slept, screaming from nightmares. She wants Harlow. I haven’t had the heart to tell her that she is in the hospital until I know for sure she is okay.
And the kids are terrified. From what Serena has gathered, Marie has sacrificed herself for her children.
She begged Igor to wait before hurting her children.
She’s been raped, beaten, tortured to keep him happy and away from the children. ”
“He is the next one to die. Is there an update on Natalya and the girl?”
“She hasn’t found her yet, but she’s dark.”
Aeila Petrov. Daughter of Anya Petrov and Igor Orlov.
There was so much pain and misery Vincenzo caused not only my family, but Roman’s too.
But at least he had the decency to look me in the face when he hurt my family.
He had the knife in Sergie Petrov’s back while he helped search for Anya and detour the police to a serial killer, while a grown man had a child in his bed.
“I’ll call him with an update soon. Get home. I’ll keep you updated.”
After Elizabeth left, I was once again alone with my thoughts.
I wasn’t sure how long Harlow would be in surgery.
She was in a horrid state when I found her, but she was alive.
That was the only thing I cared about right now.
I needed to stop lingering on the what if and focus on the future we had together.
A future I’d never thought about before.
I had everything planned for a new proposal.
There would be a time where I would sneak the ring off her finger and add another band to it, but I would take her to a romantic spot.
The sun would set and it would create a perfect glow.
It would be the two of us, and the world would vanish as I spilled my soul to the woman who stole my heart.
We would have a true wedding of her dreams, with her mother and grandmother there before a month-long honeymoon anywhere in the world.
A family.
Our daughter.
More children running around our house.
I never thought of myself as the type to have a house with a white picket fence and a family, but now I want as many children as Harlow would allow.
I wondered how Harlow would feel being a stay-at-home mother to all of our babies.
Serenity missed her. I knew we would adopt her eventually and she would be ours.
She was ours now, but legally we had to jump through hoops.
Another three hours passed before there was a knock. Emilia stepped inside, her mask already off her face. She gave me a soft smile, but she didn’t seem scared to tell me. “How is she?” I was going to rip the Band-Aid off.
“She was touch and go for a while. The bullet in her shoulder hit her subclavian artery, but it was lodged there, which saved her life. We had to remove her spleen and repair her colon from the damage the other two bullets caused. There is some swelling in her brain we are worried about, so we put her in a medically induced coma. When you do take her home, we will wean her off the drugs, but she will wake up when she is ready. It could be a few days, or it could be weeks. When she wakes up, no sex. No strenuous activity until she is fully healed,” she explained.
“We did a rape kit and it was positive, but I believe you already know that. We ran medication through her IV that should prevent a pregnancy, but if by chance she does get pregnant, you have choices.”
I winced at her words like she slapped me in the face, and she stepped back slightly. “When can she get tested? I already know her answer. She doesn’t want his baby.”
“Her blood can be tested in three weeks. Your home doctor can do it for you. I’m assuming you’re taking her home?”
“As soon as I know my doctor is able to stay at my home to monitor her. Until then, we will be here.”
She nodded. “She’s getting a room ready in the ICU. Because you are her wife, you can sit in with her, but no other visitors. Inform me when you are ready to leave, and I will lock her IVs.”
I nodded, giving her a grateful smile as she walked out of the room. A few moments later, another nurse came into the room and took me to Harlow’s ICU room.
Harlow looked peaceful, but her body gave away the trauma she endured in Vincenzo’s hands once again, bruising on her neck and jaw.
I was sure if I looked under her hospital gown, I’d find more.
There were so many wires and IVs coming from her, but the beating of the cardiac monitor told me she was alive.
I walked up to her and gently kissed her cheek.
My beautiful wife. I was ready for her to wake up so I could see her beautiful eyes and intoxicating smile.
Taking her hand in mine, I brought it to my lips.
Having her back felt surreal, but I knew it was a reality.
I had my queen back, and I would never let anyone ever hurt her again.
“I want you to wake up, but when you’re ready. Heal for me, bellissima.”