Page 21 of Don't Break My Heart
Reef’s hand clutches mine so tightly it feels like he’s cutting off the circulation. He stops me from moving forward. “He’s going to pull through, you know how strong he is.”
I nod, not able to form a sentence. He has to pull through. I need him. Reef leads me to a seat and sits beside me, his hand still clutching mine.
Onyx hands me a bottle of water. “Drink it,” he demands, his face serious. Right now, I can see he’s battling his own demons.
I take the water from him and throw it back. I don’t have the strength to argue with him today. He looks pleased when I do and settles back into a vintage-looking lounger, scrubbing a hand over his face. He looks so stressed it makes a pain form in my chest.
I glance up at Romeo. He’s staring out the window, looking out over his brother’s estate. He’s been so quiet since they got here, and I know this is killing him just as much as it is me. Even though he doesn’t say as much, he and his brother have been reconnecting, and I can see what it means to him. I saw the way he tried to protect him in that fucking alleyway. He would have died for him.
Doctor Bellini, a friend of the family according to Romeo, walks into the room, with Valentine trailing closely behind, and I scramble to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest so hard I can hear it.
“He’s going to live. I was able to remove the bullet lodged in his side. Fortunately, it missed all major organs. He’s getting a transfusion now to replace the blood he lost. He’ll need plenty of rest and time to heal, but he should make a full recovery.” He talks mostly to Romeo who has joined my side.
“Thank you,” I gasp, feeling like I can breathe for the first time since we pulled up at this place on that fucking bike.
Romeo pats the doctor on the back. “We appreciate your help.”
“Can I see him?” I ask almost desperately.
“Only family,” Valentine snips, like I’m the shit that he walked in on his shoes.
“I’m his wife,” I snap back, ready to fly across the room and fight him on this. He might blame me for what happened to his brother, but I wasn’t the asshole who shot him.
“Of course, Mrs. Moretti. Orlando’s conscious, but the drugs will have him a little drowsy for a while.” Doctor Bellini stands aside so I can go through.
I can feel Romeo right beside me. As I walk into the room, he laces his hand with mine. I suck in a breath when I see my poor Orlando lying in the oversized bed looking so pale and fragile. There are pillows stacked up behind his head, plush blankets tucked around him. The only parts of him visible are his face and arms, and a bag of blood hooked up to the right one makes my stomach twist. There was so much blood. The residue is still under my nails even though I tried as hard as I could to scrub it off. The only other time I have seen blood like that was when Onyx shot him and I thought he was dead. But somehow, he’s survived two near-death experiences. He’s like a cat with nine lives, and thank God he is. I take up his other hand, squeezing it firmly.
“Who did this?” I ask no one in particular. But someone has to pay, I’m going to make sure of it.
“Valentine thinks the bullet was meant for you,” Romeo mutters, staring at his brother, sadness overwhelming his features. I can see he agrees. “He reckons Dante Conti is behind it.”
He took a bullet for me, this is why his fucking brother thinks this is my fault. I take a seat to Orlando’s side, kissing the back of his hand softly.
A pained groan escapes Orlando’s lips as he rolls onto his side, facing me. His eyes slowly open. He blinks a few times and looks over both me and Romeo.
Relief washes over me, the doctor’s words settling in. He’s going to live. I squeeze his hand a little tighter.
He squeezes back even though it holds no strength. His lips try to turn up at the sides in a half smile, and I can see it’s the best he canmuster. “She told me she loves me.” His voice is groggy as hell, but his words are clear enough to make out. He’s talking to Romeo.
I glance back to Romeo and then back to Orlando. What the fuck? Those are his first words when his life has just been saved. “I thought you were dying. I would have said anything to keep you alive,” I snip back, not ready to admit to anything.
His lips twitch up at the sides, and I can see even that causes him pain. “Because you love me.” His eyes lock with mine, a warmth in them I didn’t expect in his fragile state. But he looks at me like I’m the moon and sun and everything in between. It’s jarring but only because I know I’m looking back at him just the same.
“Oh my God.” I roll my eyes, knowing how ridiculous this is right now. Is he trying to get one up on his brother? It sure looks like it.
Romeo shakes his head, clearly amused by his brother’s antics. “So, I need to take a bullet for you, is that all it takes, doll face?”
I smirk back at him. “You know I love you too.” I roll my eyes again and shake my head. This is not how I imagined having this conversation with either of them. But there is no denying it. Even if it took me thinking I would lose one of them to admit it. They have both crawled under my skin so deeply I know there is no getting rid of them, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Fucking Romeo grins from ear to ear as soon as I say it. “Didn’t even have to take a bullet, Brother.” He laughs casually. Moving toward me, he drops a kiss on my lips. “I knew it all along, doll face. I was just waiting for you to come around and realize you loved me just as much as I did you.”
I sigh heavily, feeling overwhelmed. Because I can’t deal with all the emotions or the way Romeo is looking at me, I hop up and move around to the other side of the bed Orlando is lying in and slip inbeside him. “Doctor Bellini said you need to rest,” I say in my best mothering voice.
He pulls me in closer to his good side, and I kiss his forehead before snuggling right in. Thank fuck he’s alive.
“I’ll leave you two alone to get some sleep. Me and the boys have a little work to do anyway.” The twins share a look, one I don’t like, and then Romeo is gone, closing the door behind him with a click.
“Get some sleep, Orlando,” I mutter when I can feel him staring at me.
