24. Luca
Chapter 24
Luca
S omething I’ve never felt before.
Irina’s words were cemented into my brain since I heard them last night.
The dynamic between us was built on a thin line of denial and lies, and if she knew that I heard her admission, she would’ve done everything in her power to prove otherwise.
Because it was in Irina’s nature to push others away, even if it meant they’d hate her. She had a seed full of misery in her and I was determined to rip it out.
Patience was never my thing, but I was in it for the long haul for this girl.
And now that I knew Irina had grown a liking to me, I’d make sure it became as fervent as the feelings I carried for her.
My lips twitched in amusement. I knew my little rebel would come around.
If it weren’t for the circumstances we’d all found ourselves in, I would’ve relished in it more but there were too many questions and not enough answers.
“We’re taking him home today.” Roman came to stand beside me, his attention resting on Nico’s unconscious body.
I had already known that piece of information, only because I’d asked the nurse when Irina would be discharged.
“How long do they think he’ll be in a coma for?”
The thought of the little shit never waking up again and berating us on our informal speech gutted me.
If he didn’t wake up, it would wreck Irina, and I didn’t think she’d recover from that.
Wake up, Nico. Just wake up.
“Doctor said only time will tell,” Roman answered, his voice low and detached.
I faced him, assessing his disheveled appearance; overgrown beard, bloodshot eyes, and the same clothes he’d been in since the morning we’d brought them into the hospital.
That was three days ago.
“Have you slept yet?”
When he ignored me and proceeded to stare through the clear glass as if that would miraculously wake Nico up, I grabbed ahold of his shoulder.
“Roman, you need to sleep. You’re no good for anyone like this. Not Aurora, not Nico and definitely not the little one who’s coming any-day now.”
When he tilted his head to hold my gaze, a flash of hurt but most of all betrayal lined his features. “You know who isn’t good for anyone ? The one who put us in this fucking predicament in the first place.”
My chest burned, torn between my own predicaments. “She had nothing to do with what happened.”
“Maybe not. But it doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s fighting for his life right now.”
“He went after her on his own.”
“Because he cares!” He pressed the heels of his palms against his eyes. “He always fucking cares too much.”
This whole situation was fucked, and I didn’t even know where to begin in fixing it. Roman thought I was disloyal, Nico was in a coma, and Irina’s mental health was a black abyss.
“We all care,” I said sternly. “ Irina cares. Have you even seen her?” My blood ran cold every time the image of her lifeless body appeared in my mind—not that it ever left. “No, you haven’t because if you did, you’d know she’s suffering as much as her brother is.”
“I’m not some heartless fucker, Luca,” he snapped. “Irina should be so lucky I even agreed for Aurora to visit her.”
I scoffed, shaking my head at his pettiness. “With all the power you have, you’d never be able to break those two apart. They’re like sisters.”
Roman opened the door to Nico’s room. “And we were like brothers but look where that got us.”
As he shut the door, I stood dumbfounded, staring at the empty space.
I knew Roman felt betrayed by me because I chose Irina but if he were in the same position as me, he would have chosen Aurora too, regardless of the repercussions .
He had chosen Aurora, and it was fucking hypocritical of him.
But the truth was that my brother was hurting, and it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with Nico. That was his son in every way, and no DNA test could ever change that.
With a heavy heart, I entered Irina’s room.
She was awake, her gaze unfocused as she peered through the window.
“I want to see Nico. Has he woken up yet?”
I sat down on the bed beside her and shook my head.
Her throat worked as she swallowed, and it pained me to see her plagued by her own torturous thoughts.
Life had drained her these past few days, and it was evident in her hollow and sunken face. Bones protruding and haunting blue eyes.
I interlinked my hand with hers, noting the irony of her cut hand and my torn one. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t gone out for a quick killing spree to release the built-up anger and tension inside of me.
“You’ll both be discharged today.”
Subconsciously she reached for her patched eye before she curled her hand into a fist and put it down.
Her cheeks bloomed with color when she caught me staring at her, and it might’ve warmed my chest if it weren’t for the displeasure crossing her face.
“Don’t be embarrassed, Irina. Never with me. ”
“I’m not.” Her defenses were up again as she let go of my hand, turning away from me.
I pulled her hand back, leaning into her. “Don’t hide from me either.”
Her eyes narrowed in distaste as she sneered at me. “Or what?”
“Or I’ll find you in whatever hell you’ve imprisoned yourself to and drag you out.”
I’d heard her full conversation with Aurora. I knew she believed she wasn’t worthy of love. That she didn’t deserve my love.
That word was underwhelming for what I felt for Irina.
What I felt for her was a compelling force that deprived me of my ability to breathe when she wasn’t near. It was an unbearable ache in my chest when I couldn’t endure her pain, so she didn’t have to. A longing so potent that she’d taken my heart alongside her own and the day that hers stopped beating, mine would too.
A sorrow filled furrow formed between her brows. “You don’t even know me.”
“I know that you’re sorry for what you said to me.”
Her mouth parted in surprise as she searched my eyes, multiple emotions flashing in hers.
“You’re damaged, Irina.” I lifted her hand, keeping my gaze locked on hers as I placed a kiss on a cut marring her porcelain skin. “But so am I. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.”
“I am,” she whispered, her fingers flexing until she caressed my cheek with tenderness. “I am sorry. ”
Her touch was warm, power at the palms of her hands to tame me.
“Let’s get you out of here, yeah?”
Her expression turned to uncertainty as she asked. “Can I have my phone first? The nurse said she’d bring in my belongings, but she hasn’t.”
When I didn’t make a move to give her what she wanted, her face fell. “Luca?”
I stood away from her. “I can’t do that, sweetheart.”
“What do you mean you can’t?”
“Exactly as I said.” I held her phone up before placing it back into my pocket. “You won’t be getting your phone back.”
“Have you lost your mind?” She scrambled to get up and winced at the same time I stepped forward. Fuck. “If my father doesn’t hear from me, he’ll come here, and we’ll have an even bigger problem. War!”
My jaw flexed watching her in discomfort. “Let him.” I gritted out. “Nurse!”
Seconds later, multiple nurses rushed in and immediately held Irina down.
I’d suspected she’d be difficult and when status and money carried in your name, no one ever denied you.
“Get off me!” She writhed against the bed, eyes blazing as she stared at me with pure hatred. Long gone was the tenderness from earlier, replaced by betrayal.
“Sir.” The nurse holding the syringe waited for my approval.
I knew by doing this I was jeopardizing the small amount of trust she’d put in me, but when I’d said I was never letting her go, I meant it .
“Put her down.”
“Luca!” The strain in her voice chipped at my soul but it had to be this way. “I hate. . . hate you,” she mumbled as her eyes blinked close.
As long as I had her, I didn’t give a damn about a war.