31. Chapter Thirty-One—Rome #2
My feet stay rooted to the spot as I watch him shuffle away towards the wards, turning the corner and disappearing out of my sight, not once looking back.
It takes me a heartbeat or two to make my legs move in the opposite direction, carrying me back to Carlotta’s private room and to the two most important people in my world.
I push the door open with my elbow, both of my hands full with takeaway coffee cups, the incessant sound of machines beeping greeting my ears once more.
“Come on, Lottie. Please. Please, wake up.”
The pain in Cassiel’s voice makes my heart clench violently.
With his forehead resting on the bed side Carlotta’s hip, his hand still gripping hers, he doesn’t see me until I touch his shoulder.
“Here.”
He peers up at me with the same set of bloodshot eyes I’m sporting—a mixture of lack of sleep and worry. Taking the coffee cup, he takes a small sip and then stares at me while I round the hospital bed and seat myself on Carlotta’s other side.
I take a drink for myself, the hot caffeine burning its way down my throat and settling in my empty stomach in a way which will have my nerves standing on edge even more so than usual. But I can’t stand the idea of eating; I’m sure to vomit my insides up. Again.
Across Carlotta’s still body, I catch Cass’s eye. He wants to say something to me, I can see it in the way he clenches his jaw.
“What?”
He shakes his head, sealing his lips.
I peer down at Carlotta’s other hand, the one lying down by her side and I wish, God, I wish more than anything, that I had the balls to intertwine my warm fingers with hers the way Cassiel is doing. I starve for her touch, for the sound of her voice…
But I don’t reach out and touch her.
I can’t.
“Just tell me, bambino,” I sigh, meeting his eyes once more.
I feel exhausted right down to my bones, but the guilt keeps me awake.
It keeps me from shutting my eyes and sleeping.
It keeps me from doing anything but sitting, paralyzed, waiting for Carlotta to open her eyes and scream at the sight of me sitting at her bedside.
“If—When she wakes,” he swallows, throat bobbing. “I want you to tell her the truth. Because if you don’t… if you don’t, I will.”
I see the taught lines of him coated with apprehension, tightly strung, waiting for my response. Cassiel and I rarely fight about anything. We’re a team, the two of us against the world. But right now, I can see he thinks I’m going to bite back. He thinks I’m going to push him and say no.
“Okay,” I say instead. I see the moment he realizes what I’ve said, surprise morphing into pure relief written all over his handsome face. “When Carlotta wakes, I’ll tell her everything.”
7:33 p.m.
The exact time will forever be ingrained in my memory, as will the scratchy sound of Carlotta’s voice when she calls Cassiel’s name on waking for the first time in three days.
“I’m here, Princess. I’m here,” he murmurs, tightening his grip on her hand and using his free hand to cup her face.
Carlotta’s eyes dart all over the place, seeing everything and nothing all at once. “It’s okay, I’m here,” Cass repeats. “There’s no need to be scared.”
“W-water.”
With shaking hands I don’t bother to hide, I grab the pitcher from the side, fill up a paper cup and press it to Carlotta’s bottom lip. She watches me, eyes wide, but doesn’t protest when I slip my palm beneath her head and the thin hospital pillow to support the tilt of her neck.
When the cup is dry, I gently ease her back down, tucking myself into her side so I’m not towering above her.
“Do you remember what happened, Princess?” Cass asks.
I remain silent, but my eyes never leave Carlotta’s as she stares at me intently.
“I—” She licks her lips. “Yeah, I… my shoulder and my hip… they fucking kill.”
“Do you want some more pain meds?” Cass begins to hover, hands flittering about, unsure where to touch first or what to do. “The nurse said we can press this button, and it’ll release more—”
“No,” Carlotta hisses between her front teeth. “Help me sit up, please.”
Cass does as she asks, plumping the pillow behind her.
“I was shot at.”
I nod, the two bullets in my pocket feeling like they weigh a ton each.
“We’re gonna find them, Princess. Don’t you worry. Rome and I are gonna rip their hearts from their bodies and their heads from their shoulders and maybe next time they’ll think about harming what’s ours.”
Carlotta bobs her head, but her eyes are on mine not Cassiel’s.
“I’m starving, is there any chance of some food?”
I jab my thumb into the HELP button beside her head and not a second later a timid looking nurse appears.
“Is everything alright, Mr. Folonari?”
“Could we have some food bought up?”
“Sure. I won’t be a minute.”
It’s a testament to how afraid the staff members are of me and Cassiel, when a tray of slightly toasted bread and butter and a cup of fruit appears within minutes, gently placed on Carlotta’s lap.
“Thank you,” she murmurs wholeheartedly to the nurse, already ripping up a piece of buttered bread and popping it into her mouth.
“Not a problem, just press the button if you need anything else. The doctor was called into an emergency this afternoon, so he’ll be around first thing tomorrow morning to check in on you, Mrs—”
“Thank you,” Cass effectively cuts her off, showcasing his boyish grin.
The nurse scurries away, shutting the door and leaving Carlotta, myself and Cassiel alone once more.
After days of not eating, I’m surprised by how much Carlotta actually manages to stomach, although it takes her much longer than usual to finish.
“All finished, Princess?”
She shoves the now empty plastic tray away, patting her full stomach. “Mhm. Could I have some more water?”
I pour her another, handing it over for her to drink on her own this time, while Cassiel spoons a mouthful of leftover vanilla sponge between his lips.
“So… are we going to talk about it?”
I raise a brow at Carlotta’s tone. Her voice may be shaky and scratchy with lack of use, but she doesn’t back down.
“Talk about what?” I say carefully, watching her.
“Well,” she smooths over the edge of the thin blanket with her palms as she speaks. “The last time I saw you, I scratched the shit out of your face and told you I hated you.”
I resist the urge to touch my cheek where a thin scar still resides.
“That you did.”
“So, what are you doing here, Rome?”
“I’m here to apologize.”
It’s Carlotta’s turn to raise a brow. “And?”
“And…” I risk a glance at Cassiel. “To tell you the truth.”
“The truth?”
“Yes. Do you… remember me, Carlotta?”
She screws up her pretty face in confusion. “Remember you? Why should I remember you?”
I raise a brow and stare at her. “Don’t you recall the sight of your betrothed?”
The End.
To be continued…