Chapter 60
The second it came to a halt, I leapt from the car, Lorenzo at my heels, sprinting through the connecting door to the house. A gut wrenching scream pierced the air, causing my heart to come to a stand still.
Bella!
Fear flowed through my veins as I crashed through the kitchen, leaving a path of destruction in my wake.
The distance from the kitchen to the foyer was short but it felt like it took years to reach her.
As the door crashed against the wall, I watched in horror as Bella’s bloodied and broken form tumbled to the bottom of the stairs.
Dread filled me as I spotted the blood between her legs and the slash across her stomach.
“Red, Gino, grab her!” Lorenzo ordered, I hadn’t even noticed them appear as they sprinted up the stairs grabbing my mum tightly. “Arturo, hospital. NOW!”
Lorenzo’s voice sounded warbled as my body froze and I caught my mother’s gaze. There was no remorse, no guilt, nothing… just a calm peacefulness that almost looked like joy. I was looking at a damn stranger.
“You two go, we’ll deal with her. You good with that, A?” Emmet asked, appearing before us. The moment he put his hand to my shoulder my body jolted like I had been hit with a thousand vaults.
“Get her out my fuckin’ sight.” I demanded, pulling myself out of my shock and sprinting over to scoop Bella into my arms. Blood soaked into my clothes as her head fell against my chest, unresponsive.
My body began to shake. “Open them eyes for me, my love.” I whispered, clutching her close.
“Lorenzo,” I screamed, tears of fear and anger piercing my vision “she ain’t openin’ her eyes. ”
“She will,” he said, gripping my shoulder and turning me around. “I know it and deep down, so do you.”
As Lorenzo guided me toward the garage, I glanced towards my mother once more. “You are dead to me!” I snapped.
“You were dead to me a long time ago,” she laughed. I shuddered as though she had struck me. The lilting voice, once smoothed with love that had brought me so much comfort as a child was now shrouded in cold English preciseness. “I hope you suffer.”
In her hateful tone, I heard a voice I had not heard for many years.
Frank.
She had sided with the devil… There would be no return from here.
Locking the feelings about to overwhelm me in a fucking box, I belted towards the car and slid into the back without jostling Bella around too much.
Before I even had time to blink, Lorenzo was speeding up the driveway.
With shaking hands, I balled my jacket that I had thrown into the back this morning up and pressed it against her stomach, praying to anyone that would listen that it would be enough until we reached the hospital.
“How’s she doing, Arturo?” Lorenzo asked, glancing in the mirror.
“Lorenzo… there’s so much blood,” I said, my body shaking.
“We’re almost there,” He breathed, weaving through traffic. “Get out the fucking way!” He screamed, slamming his palm on the horn.
A dial tone rebounding throughout the car told me he was calling Ana. Glancing down I saw that Bella’s breathing had begun to slow, and no matter how much I spoke to her, begged her even… she didn’t respond.
“Please, my love.” Nothin’.
Shouldn’t have accepted your mum back into your life, should you?
Fuck off!
Face it, Arturo. People always die because of you.
Bella isn’t goin’ to die and neither is our baby.
Now do me a favour and fuck off.
When Lorenzo screeched the car to a grinding halt I had never felt more terrified. With Bella still cradled in my arms, I rushed out of the car and shoved my way into the Emergency Room.
“Help! Someone, help me, please!” I cried, the gasps of horror sounding out from anyone sat in the waiting room. Whatever happened next was a blur. Doctors and nurses took Bella from my arms and lay her on a stretcher.
“Sir, how far along is she?” I blinked as a nurse stepped in front of me.
“She’s seven and half months…” My voice trembled, threatening to break at any second. Over her shoulder, I faintly noticed them rushing Bella through some double doors. Cursing, I tried to follow.
“No… Sir, you have to wait here.” The nurse demanded as softly as she could. “You can’t go back there.
“But, she needs me. They need me!” I pleaded as she gripped my blood soaked arms.
“I’m sorry, Mr…?
“Ramos.”
“Mr Ramos… let us do our job. Okay?”
With that I stared as the double doors closed, taking away my lifelines.
I dropped to my knees and let out a howl of anger and devastation. Tears stung my eyes as I rubbed at them, Bella’s blood staining my face. A hand squeezing my shoulder brought me round.
“Arturo…” Lorenzo’s voice sounded strained.
“I can’t lose them, Lorenzo. I can’t.” I sobbed. “They’re the only good things I have.”
“You won’t lose them.” He crouched down beside me.
“You can’t promise that though, can ya?”
“No… But what I can promise you is my daughter is a fighter. You knew this better than I did.” That was true, I had.
“It’s my fault… They're here because of me.” I cried, slamming my fist to the floor.
“Don’t you dare fucking say that! What your mother did is on her, not you.”
“If I’d have got to her sooner, if I’d?—”
“Arturo, listen to me… We can sit here all day and talk about the what ifs, but it’s going to make no difference.
She’s in here because of your mother, not because of you.
Do you understand me?” I shuddered as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder.
“Come on, let’s go and sit down.” With a deep sigh, he heaved me off the floor and ushered me to the chairs in the corner.
The wait was excruciating. I needed to know if my family was okay. Why wasn’t someone talking to me?
“Where is she?” Ana asked, as she, Luca and Andre came running through the doors, fear and upset marring their faces.
“In surgery.” I answered before Lorenzo got the chance.
She flung her arms around me. I didn’t understand. Why was everyone worried for me? Why weren’t they angry? Lorenzo tapped my knee before leaving Ana and Luca with me so he could fill in some paperwork.
“Arturo, what happened?” Luca asked, his eyes searching mine for some kind of answer.
“My mum attacked Bella.” My breath trembled.. “I don’t understand what happened.”
“We’ll find out,” Ana soothed, squeezing my hand. “Our Bella is strong. She will survive this Arturo… Her and your little one.”
Red, Gino, Emmet and Nicolo weren’t far behind, as well as Danil and Jace.
“You didn’t all need to come,” Lorenzo said, shooting them a furious look.
“Don’t fucking start. Where else would we be?” Red frowned, patting Lorenzo’s shoulder.
“Have you heard anything?” Nicolo asked, pacing the corridor.
“No,” I growled, scrubbing at my face.
Danil gripped my shoulder, “What do you need?” he asked.
“Could you call Josh and Jay for me?”
“They’re already on their way.” Danil said, as I nodded back, unsure what else to say.
I began to pace the corridor. Watching those double doors seemed pointless. No fucker had been in or out since they had wheeled Isabella away.
Fuck! Hurry up…
Pa, I don’t know if you’re listenin’ to me or if this shit even fuckin’ works, but I need your help. I need Isabella and our lil’ one to be alright. Please, Pa.
“Mr Ramos?” I turned with my hands gripping the back of my head. The moment the nurse caught my eye she smiled. “Congratulations, you have a baby girl.” The words hit me like a sledgehammer.
I had a daughter? We had a daughter?
Thank you, Pa.
“How are they?” I asked, everyone’s eyes on the nurse.
“We’ve moved your daughter to the NICU.” I felt sick, my own mother had caused our baby to arrive earlier than planned.
“How is she?” Lorenzo asked. At the nurse’s frown he grumbled, “I’m Mr Ricci, the woman is my daughter.”
“We’re currently running tests on your granddaughter, Mr Ricci, to rule out any short or long term complications.” Lorenzo’s throat bobbed as I looked back at him. “We’ll keep you informed once we know mo?—”
“What about Isabella?” I managed through a hitched breath.
“Isabella is still in surgery. She lost a substantial amount of blood due to the wound across her stomach. The doctor will be out shortly to update you on her condition.”
“Thank you,” I sighed, wiping my hand across my face.
“Mr Ramos, would you like to see your daughter?” she asked, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
“I can see her?” I couldn’t hide the surprise in my voice.
“You can,” she nodded, eyeing my attire soaked in blood.
“Shit, I should go home and change first, shouldn’t I?” I asked.
“No need, we got you some things here man.” Josh called, running through the entrance with a pair of sweats and t-shirt.
“You’ve got some good friends and family here, Mr Ramos. Feel free to get changed in the bathroom down the corridor to your left. I’ll meet you down at the NICU in a few minutes,” she smiled, heading off through the doors.
“Cheers, Josh.” I mumbled, hugging him tight.
“Congrats on your baby, fella. They’ll get through this. Your woman’s a stubborn one, I’m sure your girl will be just the same,” he reassured me.
I turned to face Bella’s family. “You okay if I go down?”
“Go and see our granddaughter. We’ll wait for news on Bella.” Ana urged, holding onto Lorenzo’s arm. “Take a picture for us,” she smiled, trying to remain positive as she spoke.
“I will.”
A strange humming sensation rumbled through my chest as I stood beside the incubator my daughter was in.
My eyes stung as I watched her delicate chest rising and falling with help from the ventilator.
She had a head of dark hair just like mine, and a dainty button nose along with full lips just like Bella.
She was so beautiful, and she was ours. The sound of the heart monitor made my already fried nerves more frazzled.
I hated how fragile she looked. She was hooked up to so many tubes, it made me feel helpless. There was nothing I could do for her.
“You can touch her hand, if you like.” A nurse from the edge of the room informed me.
“I can?”
“Yeah, through there,” she pointed to the hole beside my little girl’s hand.
“I-I don’t want to hurt her.” The nerves must have been so fucking obvious as she smiled graciously and made her way over.
“Don’t worry, you won’t.” She guided my hand toward the opening, my breath hitching the second my finger came into contact with her soft, warm skin. “There you go. Now, I’ll be just outside if you need me.” I didn’t pay much attention as she left, I was too lost in staring at my girl.
Our girl…
“Hey princesa , it’s your dada.” I placed my finger inside her fist. She was so small, she must have weighed no more than three pounds. “You have no idea how much I love you.” I rested my head against the incubator, letting my tears fall. “Your mama will come soon. She’s a fighter just like you.”
What felt like minutes must have been hours when Ana’s soft voice caught my attention.
“Arturo?”
“Come in, Ana.”
“Oh, Arturo, she’s gorgeous.” She lowered herself in the chair beside mine. “As much as I see my daughter in her, she’s all you.” I chuckled. A delicate frown formed across her brow as she swallowed,“Did they give you any, uhm… updates?”
“Yeah, nurse said all bein’ well she’d be allowed home in around six weeks.” Ana nodded then took my hand.
“I came to tell you that Bella’s out of surgery and they’re pleased with how she’s doing.
” I clasped a hand to my eyes as relief flooded my veins.
Ana smiled when I looked back up. “They’re hopeful she’ll wake up soon.
” Both my girls were okay. We were all going to be okay.
“Do you want me to sit with our newest addition while you go sit with Bella?”
“Would you mind?”
“Of course not, send Lorenzo down when you see him though. He’s dying to meet this one and was gutted when I beat him to the elevator,” she giggled, her hand replacing mine in the incubator.
“I will. Thank you, Ana.”
My heart soared as I made my way upstairs, I couldn’t wait to be there when my woman opened those pretty blue eyes.
I only hoped she could forgive me.