Page 57 of Isle of Beauty

I don’t have words to express my gratitude to my brother so I simply embrace him again, holding onto him a little longer this time. I try to convey everything I never said. He taps my back firmly before he lets me go.

“Show me the way,”I tell the nurse.

When I enter Lana’s room, the heart monitor beeps a haunting tune in the otherwise silent space. The lights are off save for a cold side lamp illuminating my fiancée’s bruised face. Even with tubes in her nose and an IV drip stuck in her arm, she has the power to bring me to my knees.

I approach slowly and take her in, then move a lock of hair from her face with the tip of my fingers. Her skin is cool to my touch and I turn around to locate an extra blanket and lay it over her. Even if it’s August, it feels like she could wither away in a shiver.

A soft moan escapes her before beautiful green eyes settle on me. “Lisandru, ” her voice croaks.

“Don’t talk, baby. Save your breath for yourself.” I swallow hard, hanging on by a fucking thread. She needs me to be strong right now even if she’d never admit it. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere now that I’ve found you.”

My promise is an echo of the one I made just a few days ago in the garden of the Moretti Mansion. I intend to keep it, come what may. I’ll be the instrument of her vengeance if she’ll let me.

I caress her cheek softly. “Sleep, mo cara. You’re safe.”

“Stop fussing over me, I’m fine.”

If I wasn’t so relieved Lana is up and sassing her family, I’d burst out laughing.

Strongest person indeed.

Her scowl is firmly in place, and she seems to be ready to tear the IV from her arm. She’s been in and out of sleep for three days, giving me time to bond with her sister Marie, who insisted on sleeping in the room with me as well as her mother who’s been hovering the entire time.

It’s Day Five of Lana’s hospital stay and anxiety is crawling up her skin. I can see it clearly in her jittery movements and insistence that she needs to go home.

“I don’t need all that shit. Can I sign the discharge papers now? I have places to be, shit to do. Dad, call the Hospital Director, tell him I’m going home.”

“You just survived an attack on your life, figliola. Let the doctor do her job and listen for once in your life.”

“Yes, Lana, for fuck’s sake, can you let us take care of you for once in your life instead of trying to be in five places at once? You’re a strong bitch but you’re not invincible.” Giulia’s voice is light but her face is set in a sombre expression I’ve never seen before. She wrings her fingers constantly and keeps herself occupied with extra pillows and drinks and food for everyone. Giulia’s been killing herself trying to find who’s responsible, staying awake with too many coffees in her system. I’m not sure who she’s trying to fool but I let it go because all that matters is my warrior wife.

Relief flows through my blood and the corner of my lips lifts up as I take her in this morning. She dressed herself which is a huge success when the nurses had to do it for her the past four days. She refused my help and I couldn’t blame her; she said she didn’t want me to see her beaten body but I don’t believe her. She’s never been capable of lying well to me. She just didn’t want to be vulnerable in front of me. This lack of trust between us ends today.

She looks up at me when I lean at the door frame, coffee in hand, and her eyes light up. She makes a grabby hand gesture and everyone laughs.

“Double shot, no sugar, no milk, just how you like it.” I say while handing her the cup and pressing a kiss to her brow. She takes a sip and makes a little contented sigh that goes straight to my cock. Her eyes are bright and cheeks tainted in a flush. She knows exactly how she affects me.

“Miss Moretti, you’re not supposed to have caffeine,” the doctor reprimands her with a half-smile. Lana doesn’t retort, which shows how shaken she is. She usually never misses an opportunity to have the last word. “The results of your last scan are in. You’re healing nicely but a punctured lung can take up to eight weeks to recover. The most important thing is that you rest while keeping a very moderate level of physical activity.” She looks at me pointedly and Lisa and Marie giggle at that, making me smile. “You want to avoid a sudden change in air pressure so no honeymoon until I clear you for travels, yeah? I’ll book you in for a follow-up in six weeks. Do you have any questions?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Alright, I’ll prepare the papers to let you go home. I should be back in two hours with a nurse. Your family has assured me you’ll be taken care of and I count on each and everyone of them.”

Lana offers a small nod, another indication she’s more tired than she lets on. I’ve noticed in the past couple of weeks how little help she asks for, determined to do everything by herself. But I’m here now. I’ll be the support she can always count on, even when she doesn’t want to. She’s getting the care she deserves whether she wants it or not. How I was able to plan anything against her makes me sick to my stomach.

Her mother kisses her on the forehead before leaving and everyone follows with their goodbyes. “We’ll see you soon, narcisu.”

Her father is the last one to leave, embracing me so suddenly I’m frozen in place. Until I soften into his arms and let him. “Take care of my baby,” he whispers in my ears before leaving without a second look.

I drag a chair to her bedside to sit and take her hand in mine. I know the anger will come later as well as the need to avenge her and find who did this to her. But right now, I just need to feel her skin. I can’t look away from her deep green eyes. If I blink, she might fade.

“Stop looking at me like that,” her voice is but a whisper, anguish seeping into every word.

“I can’t, mo cara.” I bring my lips to her scraped knuckles in the barest touch, worshipping my new God.“I was so scared.”

She swallows thickly but doesn’t speak then closes her eyes and rests her head on the pillow, looking like she’s holding tears in. I wait patiently for her to tell me what she’s feeling, what’s going on in her brain. I’ve pushed her before, but I need her to come to me, to open up and trust me.

I give her space and I’m rewarded by some of the best words I’ve ever heard.

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