Page 50 of Dark Desire

“Okay.” He pulled a chair beside the bed and helped me sit.

“Your husband suffered a stab wound to the left side of his throat. The blade penetrated his esophagus just below his eardrum. He was lucky in the fact it didn’t damage his ear. Unfortunately, it’s why we've inserted the vent where we did. Mrs. Anastasi, Vincenzo lost copious amounts of blood, restricting the oxygen to his brain. Right now, he’s in a coma—but the reality of him waking up is low.”

“Is he brain dead?”

“No—but his brain activity is lower than we want it to be.”

“What does that mean?”

“Essentially, your husband could have brain damage. Right now, the vent is the only thing keeping him stable.”

“Fine. Then we wait.”

He blew out a breath. “Do you understand that could be hours or it could be years?”

I closed my eyes and swallowed. “Yes. I understand.”

I listened as the doctor spoke to Massimo. I didn’t care what he thought. I knew Vincenzo would do everything in his power to come back to me, so I'd wait.

“Riley,” Massimo called out to me. I could hear it in his tone that he thought I should say goodbye, but I wasn’t going to.

“I’m not leaving him, Massimo. So, don’t ask me.”

“I know you want to be here with him but think about your health. Your baby's health. This stress can’t be good for you or them.”

“You know what can’t be good for them?” He cocked an eyebrow at me. “Having no daddy. Leave me alone. I’m not going anywhere. Not until he walks out of here with me on his own two feet or in a body bag.”

Massimo squeezed my shoulder. “I’ll see if they can bring in another bed. You don’t need to be sleeping in that chair in your condition.”

The door snapping shut made me jump. I tugged his hand into mine and squeezed. “Baby, please wake up. I don’t want to do this alone.” I tugged his palm against my stomach. “We need you. I need you. We haven’t even had a chance at happiness. This can’t be the way our story ends. Come back to me, Vin.”

The creaking of the door irritated me. I didn’t want to be bothered by anyone. “What?” I snapped.

“Sorry, Riley. I just need to ask you a few questions.” Looking up, I rolled my eyes when I saw it was Jackson. “Why are you here, Jackson?”

Massimo crowded in behind him. “You need to leave.”

“Look. I don’t want to be here anymore than you want me here, but I need to ask some questions.”

“It’s okay, Massimo. Go ahead, ask your questions and then get the fuck out.”

Jackson nodded. “Does this mean anything to you?” He held up a card with some sort of emblem drawn on it.

“Fuck.” Massimo whispered as he ran his hand down his face. “That’s Dmitri Ivanov’s calling card.”

“That’s what I thought. Riley.” Jackson took a step forward, but Massimo put his hand out, stopping him. “I think you’re in danger.”

“You think? My husband is lying in a hospital bed, clinging to life. I killed Dmitri Ivanov’s twin brother. This is not a coincidence, Jackson. When are you going to realize this is all connected?”

“I…” He stammered. “Look. I get it, Riley. I don’t think you’re guilty of manslaughter. I would have gladly put a bullet in Dmitri’s head, too. But you screwed up and killed an innocent man.”

“Get out.” I turned back to Vincenzo’s still form.

“Riley.”

“I. Said. Get. out.”

Massimo pushed him from the room, leaving me alone with Vincenzo again. “It’s time you left.”

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