Page 102 of The Consequences of Love and Vengeance

CHAPTER TWENTY

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

What is that incessant sound? Whatever it is, it needs to stop now!

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Oh, dear God, someone make it stop.

But it doesn’t. It’s a continuous repeat of annoyance that’s echoing inside my head.

What the hell is it?

Making myself hone in on the noise, I realize exactly what that sound is. I’ve heard it plenty of times before when I’ve had to come to the hospital to interview victims and criminals.

“Baby, please wake up.”

Drago.He’s here, but where? His voice nicks at my heart. I’ve never heard him sound so distraught, if that’s even the right word for it. It’s more than agitated and crazy. He sounds a little desperate in the way he’s begging.

“Why isn’t she waking up?” His voice cracks. “It’s been hours dammit!”

Something, or someone, squeezes my hand in a tight grip, but I can’t seem to gather myself enough to respond.

What’s wrong with me?

“Mr. Acerbi, I wish I had a better answer for you. The only thing I can tell you is that she’ll wake up when she’s ready. Be patient. These things can take time.” The man’s voice is soft, patient—but lacking concern for D’s state of mind.

“Some doctor you are.”

That’s what I’m saying...

It’s with that thought that all of the events from before hit me at once, smacking me in the face.Gabriel.Shit, I want to cry and I’m not the crying type. That son of a bitch took him! And I didn’t protect him like I was supposed to. Some fucking parent I’ll be one day.

I let Drago’s son be taken by a ruthless drug lord that’s capable of just about anything, and just as unpredictable.

The pain that rips through the center of my chest hurts so badly, making me wish for darkness to overtake me again. I don’t want to face this. I don’t want to be the one that let them both down. Let myself down even.

I’d never forgive me if I were in his shoes.

“What the fuck is happening?” Drago demands, his voice taking on a panic I wouldn’t have thought possible with the strength he outwardly projects. “Why is the monitor making those sounds?”

“Her heart rate has increased. It’s accelerating rapidly.”

“Why? Do something!” D demands.

There is a fast, scraping sound to my right as if a chair was shoved backward.

I open my eyes, and I’m hit with a bright fluorescent light hanging above me, blinding me. I wince, squeezing my eyelids as tight as possible.

Trying again, I open them, only slower this time, blinking and allowing my sight to come into focus. It’s then I realize I’m lying in a hospital bed just as I thought when I first heard that telltale beeping noise of a heart monitor. Rolling my head to the left, strands of my hair pull, tearing from my scalp, but I need to find him.

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