Chapter 59
CEZAR
Why did everything always go to shit? I hated being in this godforsaken place. All I wanted were those moments with Lina—those rare, fragile seconds when the world finally shut up. But there I was, fucking it all up again. I had never seen her that angry. I deserved every bit of it.
She was right; I am too fucking obedient. I should’ve gone with her.
My phone wouldn’t stop ringing. I pulled it out, expecting Codrin, but seeing Dorin’s name instead made my stomach drop.
Why the fuck is he calling me?
Dorin’s tone was off the second I answered. Something was wrong. And it was her—had to be her. My gut tightened.
“What the hell is going on, Dorin?”
“Listen to me before you do anything stupid.”
“Dorin, what the fuck is happening?” I demanded, all my emotions intertwined within it.
“Lina’s been hurt—”
The world went red. My body moved without me. I wasn’t driving my car—I was in the passenger seat of my own mind. All I could think was, where would they take her when she was hurt?
That hospital, the one I ended up at. The details of driving there, entering the hospital doors—it was all a blur. Then there was Dorin, phone still in hand, knowing damn well I’d lose my mind.
I stormed down the hall toward Lina’s room, fueled by the primal need for her, ready to tear through the whole fucking building if I had to. Dorin grabbed me, trying to talk me down, his words lost in my rage.
Make it stop.
“Cezar, fuck man, listen to me. CEZAR!” The stinging slap jolted me back, snapping me out of the haze. If I hadn’t already been gone, that would’ve sent me over the edge.
I don’t take hits. Ever. Not willingly. Not from anyone.
Except her.
Dorin stepped back, cautious. I forced air into my lungs, regulating my breathing, and met his eyes.
“Dorin, please.”
“That’s why I told you to listen to everything I had to say before being stupid.” He rubbed his face, exhausted. “She’ll be fine. I wasn’t going to call because I assumed she wanted to tell you herself, but I knew if you couldn’t reach her, you’d burn the world down.”
My knees almost buckled.
“She’s sleeping. Probably will be for a while. She had minor surgery.”
As we entered her room, my composure wavered. Tears welled up, and I didn’t bother wiping them away. I went straight to her bed and collapsed beside it, taking her hand carefully, needing proof. Warm, soft—she was still here.
Hospitals. I fucking hated them. Every hallway stank of memories—my mother’s body, my brothers bleeding out, and now her.
What the fuck happened?
I lifted my head, my eyes watering. I didn’t need to ask. I knew exactly what she’d been after. And if I weren’t so goddamn obedient, I would’ve been there. She’d be fine. I could’ve protected her, given everything I have, even my life.
“This is all my fucking fault. Tell me everything, Dorin.”
He didn’t answer right away, then he finally sank into the chair and began.
“It wasn’t your fault. Shit went wrong. It doesn’t always go according to plan, and that’s what happened here.
She wasn’t the only one hurt. No one died, and her injury wasn’t as severe as it could’ve been.
Some of her guys took worse hits blocking her.
” Dorin took a breath, turning his body in the chair.
The loyalty she commanded was unreal. The way I felt toward her… what she was to me… it wasn’t like that for them. They followed her out of loyalty and belief in her and what she believed in. It reminded me of how the Crimson Rose Syndicate used to be.
Lina has every capacity to rule in this world, but I wish she wouldn’t. I wish she would just…
Run with me.
Dorin continued, “We were taking down one of your father’s human trafficking rings. It had gotten too big. When Lina went for one of the kids, gunfire broke out. And you know her—she threw herself over the kid, and our men threw themselves over her. It turned into a shit show.
“Even with vests, they don’t cover everything. Bullet went clean through the soft tissue of her arm. Missed anything vital. They cleaned it and stitched the damage. They want to keep her overnight for monitoring. Looked worse than it was.”
He exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his jaw.
“She finally passed out a bit ago, right after telling me to text you and not call you. Should have listened to her. She’ll be sore for a while. Not many restrictions, just limited movement in the arm, but nothing permanent.”
She lay there, so still, I despised it. Her face was peaceful, almost serene, and it fucking unnerved me. Even unconscious, she retained a delicate beauty, as if sculpted by the gods. Tenderly, I held her hand, my thumb tracing circles on her soft skin.
“I should’ve been there.” My forehead pressed to the back of her hand, breathing in the mix of her blood and the sterile chemicals of this place. I hated everything about this.
“Cezar, if you could’ve been, you would’ve,” Dorin’s voice softened. “This wasn’t anyone’s fault. Stop blaming yourself. And she is fine.”
“This time.”
Lina often called him a wise old man, and in these moments, that comforting presence was something I couldn’t deny appreciating.
He stood, squeezed my shoulder, and left. I knew he wouldn’t be back for a while—he was giving me time. Time to sit with the brutal truth that if anyone recognized her, if word spread, if my father’s men connected the dots…
It would be the start of a war.
I would always be on her side.
This damn phone, it was Codrin. “Hey…”
“Cezar…”
“I know he’s pissed—big shock—but I had to leave. I’ll be back later. Can you cover for me?”
“Yeah, already did. Father got distracted with everything that went down today. That’s actually why I called. Is she all right?”
Fuck, he knew it was her, so did that mean they did too? Codrin wasn’t dumb. Given who she was, her signature, and the things she meddled in, it made sense that he would know this was her doing—but would the others?
“Codrin, d-do they know?” I asked, a hint of panic edging into my voice.
“No, they don’t.” Relief struck my ribs so hard I nearly sagged against the bed rail.
“They’re trying to figure it out, but there aren’t any leads yet, so calm down.
I just wanted to check if she’s all right.
They weren’t even sure they hit the person grabbing the kids.
She brought a lot of manpower, which helped her stay off the radar.
Probably smart for her to lie low for a bit.
Father is losing his mind. It was one of his biggest operations, and Lina dismantled it in a single night.
She leveled it, Cezar. Got every kid out, too.
Darius was impressed—he’ll never admit it, but I could tell.
Not gonna lie,” he continued, taking a deep breath, “I was surprised you didn’t go with her, but last time you disobeyed Father… ”
“Yeah.” I turned back to Lina’s still form. “She’s amazing, isn’t she?”
As complicated as things were between us, I never doubted Codrin loved me. If he didn’t, he would’ve told our father about Lina a long time ago.
After what happened last time—after he finally saw the truth of who Father really was—things started to shift. Even with Darius. None of us agreed with what Viktor had turned all of this into, hiding behind the Crimson Rose Syndicate, but who were we to stop him?