Page 87 of The Devil's Secret

She glances up. “That she was lucky. Nothing major was punctured. The only bright side is that she can have more kids. I’m so grateful for that.” She bites the corner of her bottom lip. “If she couldn’t…”

I place a hand on her shoulder. “She’s going to come out of this. They both will.”

“I hope so,” she whispers, peering behind her for a second. “I hate seeing her this way.” Her eyes grow sad, and my heart, it grows sad with her.

“Is she up for visitors?”

“She’ll want to see you.” Her lips tighten with a smile, moving out of the doorway to give me space to walk inside. “I’ll be with Dante. Just get me when you’re done. I don’t want her to be alone while Dom is with the guys.”

“Okay.”

She starts toward the elevators while I tiptoe inside, shutting the door behind me, every step more wary than the last.

“Hey, Chiara. I hope it’s okay that I’m here.” I’m almost to the foot of the bed. She doesn’t look at me, her gaze still glued to the wall, her skin ashen, eyes so cold, I almost shiver. “I’m here for you. Mother to mother. You can talk to me if and when you’re ready.”

She snickers now, slowly turning to me. “I’m not a mother.” Her tone, it’s dead. “I was barely pregnant.”

She doesn’t mean it. I can practically feel the pain she’s hiding, like it’s there in the room with us.

I take a seat beside her. “There are no rules for this, Chiara. It’s okay to feel what you’re feeling. It’s okay to cry, to fall apart, to hate them. Just don’t bottle it up.” Gently, I set a palm across her arm. “If you do, it’s going to eat away at you until there’s nothing inside. Don’t give them that.”

She rips her eyes away from me, turning to the wall once more, her bottom lip jittering just slightly.

“I love you, Chiara. You’re like family to me. I hate that you’re hurting.”

Those large brown eyes disappear behind her eyelids as they drift shut.

I give her a little squeeze. “I’m going to be leaving in a little bit to confront Agnelo, but I wanted to see you before I did.”

That gets the fire going in her gaze, her elbows hitting the bed, helping to prop her up as she winces in pain.

“I wish I were there too, with Dom and you and everyone,” she tells me. “I’d fucking butcher him alive.”

“I believe you.” I grin widely.

A hint of a smile sets over her lips. “Be careful.”

“I’ll try.”

“And thank you for what you said. It meant a lot even though I didn’t show it. I’m kind of a bitch right now.”

“Well, bitch away. I’ve always enjoyed your bitchiness.”

“Oh, gee, thanks. I wasn’t that bad.”

“Sure you weren’t.” I roll my eyes playfully, getting to my feet, knowing Enzo and the rest of the team are waiting for me to go after the last Bianchi bastard still standing. I still have to see Robby one last time in case… My heartbeat thunders in my chest at the thought.

“Look who’s being a bitch now.” She pops a single brow, and I love to see that spunk back on her face.

“I learned from the best.”

“Well, then hurry back so I can teach you some more shit. If you die, I’m gonna be pissed.”

“That’s what Enzo said.” I break out in a hearty laugh.

“I knew he and I would eventually find something in common.”

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