Page 36 of The Enforcer's Brat

RECOVERY AND REVELATIONS

The next few hours passed in a haze of fear and worried waiting. They'd managed to get Matteo to a private clinic that catered to their kind of clientele – no questions asked, cash only. Enzo paced the waiting room, his clothes still stained with Matteo's blood, as the doctors worked to save his lover's life.

Tony sat nearby, his usually jovial face lined with worry. "He's tough, kid," he said, trying to sound reassuring. "If anyone can pull through this, it's Matteo."

Enzo nodded numbly, unable to form words. The image of Matteo falling, of the life draining from his eyes, played on repeat in his mind. This was his fault. Matteo had taken that bullet for him, had put himself in harm's way to keep Enzo safe.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a doctor emerged. "Mr. Salvatore is stable," she announced. "The bullet missed any major organs, but he lost a lot of blood. He'll need time to recover, but he should make a full recovery."

Relief hit Enzo like a physical force, nearly bringing him to his knees. "Can I see him?" he asked, his voice hoarse from unshed tears.

The doctor nodded, leading him to a private room. Matteo lay in the bed, looking pale and smaller somehow without his usual commanding presence. But he was alive, his chest rising and falling steadily.

Enzo approached the bed on shaky legs, reaching out to take Matteo's hand. "I'm here," he whispered, bringing Matteo's knuckles to his lips. "I'm right here, baby. You're going to be okay."

To his surprise, Matteo's fingers twitched in his grip. Slowly, those steel-gray eyes fluttered open, focusing hazily on Enzo's face.

"Enzo," Matteo rasped, his voice weak but full of relief. "You're safe."

A sob escaped Enzo's throat. "Yeah, I'm safe. Thanks to you, you big idiot. What were you thinking, taking a bullet for me like that?"

A ghost of Matteo's usual smirk played at his lips. "My job," he murmured. "Protect... what's mine."

Enzo let out a watery laugh, leaning down to press his forehead to Matteo's. "I love you," he said fiercely. "God, Matteo, I love you so much. Please don't ever scare me like that again."

Matteo's free hand came up weakly to cup Enzo's cheek. "Love you too, baby," he whispered. "Always."

As Matteo drifted back to sleep, the painkillers taking effect, Enzo settled into the chair beside the bed. He wasn't going anywhere. Whatever came next, whatever fallout they had to deal with from the night's events, they would face it together.

The next few days were a whirlwind of activity. Don Ricci arrived, his face a storm of worry and barely contained rage. He embraced Enzo fiercely, then turned that penetrating gaze on Matteo's sleeping form.

"He saved my life," Enzo said quietly. "More than once. We wouldn't have uncovered the Moretti plot without him."

Don Ricci nodded, his expression softening slightly. "He's a good man," he acknowledged. "Loyal to a fault. You could do worse, son."

Enzo blinked, surprised by the tacit approval. "You... you know about us?"

His father snorted. "I'm not blind, Enzo. Just because I don't approve of everything you do doesn't mean I don't pay attention." He sighed, suddenly looking older and more tired than Enzo had ever seen him. "We'll talk more when this is all over. For now, focus on getting him better. The family owes him a debt."

As Don Ricci left to deal with the fallout from the attack, Enzo felt a weight lift from his shoulders. His father knew, and while he might not be thrilled, he wasn't outright rejecting Enzo's relationship with Matteo.

Over the next week, as Matteo slowly regained his strength, Enzo rarely left his side. He helped with everything from changing bandages to assisting with painful physical therapy exercises. Through it all, their bond deepened, forged in the crucible of shared danger and unwavering devotion.

One night, as they lay together in the hospital bed – against doctor's orders, but Enzo couldn't bring himself to care – Matteo turned to him with a serious expression.

"We need to talk about what happens next," he said, his voice still rough but growing stronger every day.

Enzo propped himself up on one elbow, studying Matteo's face. "What do you mean?"

Matteo sighed, reaching up to cup Enzo's cheek. "This life, baby. It's dangerous. You've seen that firsthand now. We need to decide if it's worth the risk."

Enzo felt his heart clench. "Are you... are you saying you want to leave? Give up on us?"

"No," Matteo said quickly, his grip on Enzo tightening. "Never. I'm saying we need to be smart about this. Maybe it's time to consider a different path. One that doesn't put us in the crosshairs every day."

Enzo was quiet for a moment, considering Matteo's words. The idea of leaving behind the only life he'd ever known was terrifying. But the thought of losing Matteo was infinitely worse.

"Okay," he said finally. "Let's do it. Let's find a way out. Together."

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