Page 122 of Ruthless Vengeance
It’s a sense of normalcy I never thought I would crave, but when death comes knocking, it makes you open your eyes to what’s important.
And my family is the most important thing to me.
Eventually, one of the nurses rounds on Andre and informs us that he needs to rest, though one family member is allowed to stay with him.
I look over at Lila.
She’s trying to play it cool as she sits beside Andre in the bed, but the truth is written all over her face. She’s completely exhausted,but I also know she would much rather sleep in the hospital on some old cot by Andre’s side then go back home.
I catch her eye and nod.
“He’s going to want you by his side more than any of us.”
Lila hesitates, guilt flickering in her expression as she glances at Rosa, Holly, Clara, and even Zoe, who has now taken Holly’s place in the stroller.
I smile at her. “I’ve got them. Take your time.”
Lila’s shoulders drop as she mouths a thank you.
“Come on, you lot, time to go home.” I usher everyone out of the room before turning my attention back to my brother. “If I come back in a few hours to find you dead, I will personally bankroll every doctor in this hospital until they find a way to bring you back to life just so I can kill you again, you hear me?”
The nurse looks wide-eyed at me, but Andre only laughs.
“Noted.”
“Good. Now, get some rest, you lazy fucker, and leave the running of the business to me.”
“Same rules apply to you, Marco. Don’t fuck it up, or I’ll kill you.”
“They love each other really,” Lila chimes in when the nurse looks like she’s seconds away from calling for security.
The rideback to Westchester is mostly quiet.
Zoe sleeps peacefully in her car seat with her little face turned toward the window and her lips parted as she snores softly.
Clara sits next to her, her head leaning back against the headrest. Her eyes are closed, but I know she’s not asleep. I can tell that her body’s running on pure adrenaline by the way her fingers twitch every time I take a turn too sharply.
Rosa is in the back row with Holly, humming some soft tune under her breath as she tries to get the toddler to sleep.
The whole car feels like it’s exhaling. The danger has finally passed, but no one’s ready to believe it just yet.
I’m not sure we will until Andre is home and fully recovered.
When we pull into the estate and I kill the engine, no one moves right away.
Clara finally turns her head and looks at me, her face pale with exhaustion.
“You sure you’re okay doing all this alone tonight?” Her voice scratches.
I nod. “Of course. Lila needs to be with Andre, and you need rest. We all do.”
Clara studies me for a beat, then reaches across the console and squeezes my hand. “I love you.”
“I love you too. More than anything.”
By the time I get everyone inside, it’s early afternoon, though it feels like the middle of the night from how tired I am.
I help Clara settle Zoe into her crib while Rosa takes Holly to her room. The quiet of the house is comforting, though I know the day is far from over.
