Page 94 of Dearly Betrayed

The stars, so bright and beautiful, but not as perfect as my wife.

Chapter42

Fallon

I’m sick. My body’s sick. I can’t stop pacing back and forth across the hospital waiting room. Casey’s there with me, looking exhausted and haggard.

“Come sit down, sweetie. There’s nothing we can do right now. The best doctors in the country are in there right now.”

“This is my worst nightmare.”

“I know, honey, I know.”

“I just got him back.” I stare at Casey, tears streaming down my face. “I lost him, and I got him back, and now?—”

“You won’t lose him again. Jayson’s a fighter.”

“I know, but?—”

“Listen to me.” Casey struggles to her feet. Guilt pangs at me as she limps over and pulls me into her arms, hugging me tight. “He’s going to be okay. He’s a Costa brother, and they’re all indestructible.”

“I can’t lose him,” I whisper, struggling to keep myself from breaking apart.

Casey guides me back to the chairs and I sit down at her side, leaning on her shoulder. Costa men come and go, some of them speaking to me, all of them looking horrified. Zach apologizes profusely, begs me to forgive him, and I can barely do more than stare stupidly. Casey chases them all away.

An hour passes. Then another. Adler appears and sits on the other side of his wife, saying nothing. They share a tender moment, and I can see the real pain in the Don’s eyes.

Fuck him. I hope he suffers.

Another hour passes before the doctor appears. He’s a middle-aged man, dark skin, graying, thinning hair. “Mrs. Costa?” he asks, looking at me.

“Yes,” I say, sitting up straight. “Is Jayson okay?”

The doctor lets out a long breath and nods. “He’s going to be okay.”

I crumple and don’t hear what he says next. The relief is so painful I feel like I might throw up. It takes a few minutes before I calm down, and by then the doctor’s already gone.

Adler fills me in. “He got shot three times. Once in the vest. That saved his life. The other two hit him in the hip and in the guts. The doctors were cleaning his insides up to prevent infection, which is what took so long, but he’ll be okay.”

“Can I see him?”

“Soon,” Adler says. He stares at me for a long moment before dropping down to one knee. “Fallon. I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to hear that right now.”

“I understand you’re going to blame me. From what I hear, Jayson saved Zach’s life and took those bullets instead.”

“My stupid husband. He couldn’t help himself.”

“Your brave husband,” Adler gently corrects. He puts a hand on my shoulder. “Welcome to the family, Fallon. I’m sorry it happened under these circumstances.”

I break down into sobs, half in relief and half in pain.

* * *

Jayson grinsat me from the bed. “Hey, baby. Why do you look stressed?”

“Don’t joke right now.” I hug him tight, peppering his face with kisses.

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