Page 96 of Fierce Hearts

"Mama," I said when she answered, switching to Italian. "It's started. Gray's been hurt."

"Where are you?" Her voice hitched with panic.

"The hospital. He's in surgery." I lowered my voice. "This was Ernesto or the Ferences, I'm sure of it."

"Are you hurt? The baby?"

"We're fine. Gray protected us." My voice caught. "I need you to contact Caterina. Tell her we're out of time. We need to do this."

"I will." My mother's voice hardened. "This ends now, Sofia. No one else will get hurt."

"Yes," I agreed, a cold resolve settling over me.

After ending the call, I made my way to the surgical waiting area and sank into a chair, finally allowing myself a moment to process what had happened. Gray had been stabbed protecting me. He'd told me he loved me while bleeding in my arms.

I looked down at my hands, still stained with his blood. This was the reality of the world I'd been born into—violence that touched everyone I loved.

I closed my eyes, exhaustion and fear washing over me in equal measure. Gray had to survive. Our child needed a father. I needed him.

The sound of hurried footsteps minutes later made me look up.

"Sof!" Lisa knelt down before me, taking in the blood on me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, someone attacked Gray," I said, feeling far too detached now.

"I'm sorry, Sof. Here, let's go get you cleaned up, sweetie."

I allowed Lisa to pull me up and lead me away, taking me past the nurse's station then into a washroom. She helped clean the blood from my hands, bagging my shirt and helping strip me down. Another nurse, Jasmine, knocked on the door and passed Lisa some hospital wear, which she helped me dress into.

"Hey, you're okay, and he's got the best care here, you know that," Lisa reassured me as I struggled to meet her gaze.

I can’t lose him.

She helped lead me out of the washroom and back to the waiting area, although my mind was in a haze now.

Frantic footsteps had me glancing up as Meredith rushed toward me, Leo close behind her.

"Sofia!" Meredith pulled me into a tight hug. "Are you okay? Gray?"

"I'm fine," I assured her, clinging to her familiar presence as Lisa stepped aside. "Gray… he's in surgery."

"Any news?" Leo demanded as he focused on Lisa.

"He just went in, they're operating on him. It happened right outside the hospital, which is the best place ultimately," Lisa answered.

"Will he be okay?!" Meredith snapped.

"Mer, they can't promise anything," I mumbled, and Meredith nodded, tears breaking free as she hugged me tight.

"He's going to be okay," she assured me, although I had a feeling it was for the both of us as we sunk into the seats.

"Please keep us updated," Leo said, and Lisa bobbed her head.

"If you need anything, anything at all, please ask," Lisa said as she touched my arm, offering me a small smile. It was the one thing we all hated about this job, how useless we could feel when things were out of our hands.

"I've set things in motion," I murmured as Leo knelt down before us both, placing a hand on Meredith's leg. "My mother is contacting Caterina. This ends sooner rather than later."

"Sofia—" Leo started, concern etched on his face.

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