46. Lennie
FORTY-SIX
LENNIE
I sat next to the hospital bed where Dante lay almost lifeless. He looked so pale under the fluorescent lights of the hospital room. By the time the ambulance had gotten him to the hospital, he had almost bled out.
Knowing that he was hurt just about killed me inside. I needed to be with him. Yes, I was still furious and hurt because of him, but that didn’t stop me from loving him.
The Elite Squad plus little Ryann were in the waiting area; the hospital only allowed two visitors in the room at the time.
My mind was still reeling from the fact he had a daughter.
Chief had explained to me when he’d arrived at the hospital with the little girl that Dante had a child and she’d been held captive which led to Dante being blackmailed into “working” for Sarah.
It had explained so much as to why he would have gone against his team and lied to me.
I wanted to tell him that I understood and that I forgave him, but I needed him to wake up first.
Buddha walked in, his expression somber.
“How is he?” he asked, stuffing his hands into his jean pockets.
I glanced at Dante. The only way I knew he was alive was the rise and fall of his chest and the heart monitor that kept beeping.
“Surgery went well, but we aren’t out of the woods just yet.”
Buddha nodded and scrubbed a hand down his face. Tears pooled in his eyes. “I was so fucking hard on him. I should have kept my cool and heard him out…”
I stood up from my plastic chair and walked over to Buddha, placing a hand on his arm. “We all have said and done things that we regret. But the important thing is that we are all here now in his time of need and showed up when it mattered most.”
Buddha nodded before walking over to the bed and placing a hand over Dante’s. “Z-man, you need to wake up so you can kick my ass for being a total jackhole.”
Moments later, Buddha left the room. One by one, each teammate came in, offering words of love and apologies. Dante was surrounded by a family made not through blood but through bond.