Page 65 of Beautiful Vows

As the helicopter banks sharply, I wish I had never asked.

The helicopter blades whip through the humid air as we land on the helipad of the private clinic tucked into the Gold Coast hinterland hills. Through the window, I glimpse the breathtaking ocean vista stretching out before us.

As soon as the door opens, nurses and doctors rush over, wheeling a gurney. Dominic hovers protectively near Rafe, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Be careful with my son," he warns gruffly. "He might have broken bones."

"You go home and get Amara an ice cream so Milly can go on her date," Dante says. "I'll call you once I know anything."

Dominic grumbles.

"We're all going to be sitting around and waiting. Rafe's alive. That's all that matters," Dante pushes.

Dominic stares at Rafe and sighs. "I can wait with him." He turns to Dante. "You and Lia should go home. The helicopter can take you."

"You go. We're staying," I say.

"I'll send a car for you," Dominic says as he heads back to the helicopter with Dante.

"Thanks everyone," Dante says. "I owe you."

"That's what we do," Antonio says. "That's why the Syndicate works."

"When you're not killing each other," Mateo grunts.

Dante stares at Mateo for a moment before turning away.

He takes my hand, lifts it to his mouth, and kisses my palm. "We'll need to keep an eye out for Mateo," he says as the helicopter door slams shut and the blades start to whirl.

"I agree," I say as we follow Rafe as he's wheeled into the clinic, while we take a seat in the waiting area.

Half an hour later, Dante fidgets restlessly beside me. He stands, pacing back and forth, while running a hand through his disheveled hair.

His expression tense as we wait in agonizing silence, and hope for good news about Rafe's condition.

Finally, the doctor emerges and a nurse wheels Rafe into the waiting room. The doctor clears his throat. "Rafe has two broken ribs, a broken nose, and will need stitches above and below his eye," he reports, consulting his clipboard. "The bruising will take weeks to heal fully."

Dante blows out a frustrated breath, clenching his fists, but Rafe just grins roguishly from the wheelchair, wincing. "I'm over being this handsome."

I smile faintly, squeezing his hand.

Dante smirks. "Can you give him a new nose so we look different?"

"Don't touch my nose. It's fucking perfect," Rafe gasps, clutching his ribs.

Dante lifts an eyebrow mockingly. "Have you looked in a mirror? It looks like it's started a journey to Perth but forgot to tell your face."

"Dante," I hiss, shooting him a warning glance. "You're not making things better."

The doctor frowns, shaking his head. "And I'd like to keep him here for observation overnight, at least."

"No chance, doc," Rafe counters, sitting up with a wince and grimace. "I've got important business to attend to back home with a beautiful woman." He catches my eye with a wink, smirking. "Her husbands need some time alone with her."

"Rafe," I murmur, cheeks flushing as I glance away in embarrassment. But then I roll my eyes, unable to stop the smile creeping on my face a little despite the circumstances. Because only Rafe could lighten the mood, even when he looks like he'd been on the losing end of a boxing match.

Chapter 22

Cade

The gentle lapping of waves drifts in through the open window, mingling with the intoxicating scent of vanilla wafting from the candles flickering on the nightstands. I lie on one side of Rafe while Lia occupies the other, our bodies bracketing his injured form.