Ana
“I’m sorry.”
Killian’s head snaps up at the sound of my small voice. His eyes are bloodshot and tired, but they widen as he registers what I’ve just said.
Bewildered, he blinks. “What do you possibly have to be sorry for, Ana?”
“I murdered your father, Killian. Right in front of you. I had to do it, I know you know that, but I’m still sorry you had to see it.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to do it myself,” he shoots back firmly. “I can’t believe I didn’t notice his fixation on you. You look so much like your mother, but I thought he was properly besotted by Vivian. He hid it well, too well.”
I try not to smile at the comparison to my mum. Everyone has always said we look just alike, which made my adoption a bit of an inside joke between the two of us. It was pure coincidence that we’re both a mix of European and Chinese heritage. We have no biological connection to be found, and yet she looked like my mother in every sense of the word.
“You couldn’t have known,” I tell Killian kindly. “I didn’t even know, and it was me he was obsessed with. I don’t understand it either.”
Eyeing the tube coming out of his arm, I try not to frown. “Are you starting to feel better?”
Killian and Armani are both hooked up to IV bags, trying to hydrate and flush the remaining sedatives out of their systems. Armani’s lip is pretty purple from trying to fight the guards, and his ribs are black and blue, but he’s mostly just exhausted.
Killian is in fine shape, thankfully. Cassio made sure to force him to get his heart looked at, just in case. I guess Bron wanted him docile, but was careful not to overdo it. He really did want to dispose of my husband and friends, and then whisk the two of us away to London. How could he ever think that would be okay? That we would just accept it?
Killian didn’t need to say it, but I knew he would have found a way to kill his father for what he did to Cole—for what he did to all of us. Killian nearly died himself, and Bron’s actions broke me in ways that might have ended my own life if I didn’t have Cassio to keep me afloat.
And my mother… he may not have lifted a finger to kill her, but his antics led to her murder all the same.
“I’m getting there,” he replies, forcing a smile. “I had Cole cremated a little while ago. I didn’t know how to tell you, or if you wanted to hear about it. But since this mess has finally been resolved, I thought you should know I took care of it. He didn’t want to be buried to become worm food, he wanted his ashes to be thrown into the ocean. Ashes to ashes to earth, or whatever.”
Smiling sadly, I nod. “I knew you would know what to do.”
“Gerard called,” Cassio says, joining us. “Sirius is fine, he’s taking him to the vet for you just to be safe, but he’s walking around fine.”
“Thank goodness,” I breathe out, relieved.
I would be so gutted if I lost him. I was hesitant about having a pet, and I really didn’t like knowing that Sirius would probably jump in front of a bullet for me. But I’ve really come to love having him around. He’s my little cuddle bug.
“Colton is probably going to be in surgery for a while,” Cassio continues. “We can go home, if you want to clean up and take a moment to yourself.”
A shower sounds great, especially after having to touch Bron, but there’s no way I’m leaving here until I know my friend is okay.
My face screws up at the suggestion, and he laughs softly. “I thought not. Agnes will bring some clothes to change into and grab our phones. She heard about you being taken and has been at the apartment ever since.”
At the mention of changing, I flush, looking down at my silky pajama set. Being kidnapped in the middle of the night was not ideal. I’d started to sleep with my hair tie knife, but not with a bra, go figure.
“Good idea,” I tell him, biting my lip. “Some shoes would be nice, too.”
The hospital socks Cassio found for me are better than being barefoot, but they still feel weird to walk in.
“I couldn’t agree more,” he says, nodding to his matching bright blue grippy socks. “These aren’t exactly to my taste.”
Hiding a smile, I lift a shoulder. “I think they look very dashing.”
“I am not going to get used to that any time soon,” Killian sighs, looking between the two of us. “Do you two always flirt with each other?”
“Yes,” Armani answers from his nearby seat. “Yes, they do. Wait until you walk in on them mauling each other in the kitchen.”
“Mate,” Killian groans, rubbing a hand down his face.
Cassio just smirks. “She’s my wife, I won’t apologize.”
“We were just kissing,” I grumble, folding my arms. Noticing Armani’s tired eyes, sympathy grows stronger in my chest. “Come here, you. You need to lie down.”
Armani shakes his head. “I won’t put my face anywhere near a hospital seat, disinfected or not.”
Rolling my eyes, I sit on the end of the long padded bench-like chair, motioning over my lap. “Rest here, and I’ll play with your hair.”
His eyes light up like I’ve just offered him a big fat check. Within seconds, he’s maneuvering his big body, head landing on my thigh. He barely fits on his side with his knees tucked up, but he heaves out an exhausted sigh that lets me know it’s not as uncomfortable as it may look.
My fingers sink into his long brown hair. It’s somehow disheveled and still silky smooth. When I look up, I find Cassio watching us with a soft smile, not a trace of jealousy in sight. He knows he has nothing to worry about—especially when it comes to his own brother.
Though, this is the closest Armani and I have ever been. Most of our friendship is far less physical than the one he shares with Colton, or the one Jade shares with Ivan. Armani and I have hugged a handful of times, and given each other playful nudges here and there. But for the most part, our friendship is a mental connection. We make each other laugh, and we spend time together. It’s effortless.
And right now, he doesn’t know if his best friend in the whole world is going to make it out of surgery—after getting shot protecting me. The least I can do is offer him the small comfort of running my fingers through his hair while he rests his head in my lap. I’ve seen Colton do the same thing to calm him on more than one stressful day.
It feels almost motherly, but I suppose sisterly would be the more accurate term. The Morettis really do feel like family, and I feel protective of them, even the ones I don’t know very well. I mean, most of them dropped everything in the middle of the night to come find us.
Leon and Emilio are with their families, and Matteo stayed behind to be with Jade, Dmitri, Ivan and the twins. But Dante, Apollo, Elio, Remo, and Nico all came running, backed by a whole crew of Moretti soldiers. Corresponding with Remo about Cassio’s trackers was the smartest thing I’ve ever done. He’s usually up late at night coding for fun as it is, and as soon as he got wind that the penthouse had been broken into, he acted.
He may be the quietest Moretti, but he’s one of them all the same.
A couple hours later, the drop in adrenaline and lack of a full night’s sleep is starting to get to me. Agnes has come and gone, so my feet are cozy in my slippers, and my leggings and jumper are a much welcomed upgrade from the previous skimpy pajama situation. She also came bearing phones and pastries, which livened some spirits around the waiting room.
We’re on a different floor of the same facility Killian was in, separate from the general public but not as hidden as before. Doc is helping with Colton’s case from what I know, but like Killian, he needs professional surgeons too. It’s a bit of a confusing collaborative effort, but Dante is handling everything, so I’m confident what needs to be done is being done.
I’m considering asking Armani for a turn lying on him, or just using Cassio’s shoulder to rest my head, when yelling jolts me wide awake.
“What do you mean he’s still in surgery? It’s been hours!”
All around me, Moretti men sit up straighter.
“I want to see him, right now.”
“Sir, you can’t see him while he’s being operated on—”
“He’s my fucking son—”
Oh God, Colton’s family.
“Dustin,” Armani calls out, trying to wave him over. “Over here.”
I look down the hall, finding Winona, Dustin, and a man that must be Levi Wyatt. Winona looks distressed, and worried, but her husband looks like he’s going to blow his top at some poor nurse.
Dustin winces as his father snaps his gaze toward our group, rubbing the back of his neck like he’s severely uncomfortable. I’m sure he’s just as worried for his brother as his parents are for their son. But he also knows that confronting hospital staff isn’t going to help Colton.
“How are you all just sitting around here?” Levi demands, throwing his arms out. “Why isn’t he fixed yet? Why aren’t you doing anything!”
“You need to calm down,” Apollo barks.
“Calm down?” Levi Wyatt rages. “My son is half fucking dead, and you think I need to calm down?”
“Levi—” Winona tries, but it’s like he doesn’t hear her at all.
Spinning from Apollo to Armani, he points an accusatory finger at him and shouts, “This is your fucking fault. If you didn’t keep dragging him into trouble, this never would have happened!”
Winona gasps. “Now, you know that’s not fair—”
“Dad,” Dustin attempts, but it’s no use.
“I told him getting involved with your family was a death sentence, and look at where we are now—”
“Colton made his choice,” Armani states firmly, interrupting the man’s tirade. Despite having a busted lip and bruised ribs, he doesn’t let Levi intimidate him. “He wanted to protect his friend—an innocent woman. He did something honorable, something you should be proud of.”
The argument isn’t coming to a solution anytime soon, and my stomach churns at the fury in Levi’s eyes.
“Like you know so much about what he wants—”
“He’d want you to get out of his best friend’s face,” Nico snaps, cutting into the older cowboy’s rant. He hasn’t spoken much since arriving here, but apparently he’s decided now is the time to step in. “He’d be embarrassed by your little display.”
“What the fuck would you know about him?” Levi shouts furiously. “You want nothing to do with him for years, and suddenly you have something to say?”
“This isn’t helping,” I finally burst out, standing from my seat and looking at Winona with a pleading glance. “I’m so sorry that Colton got hurt trying to save me, but it happened and yelling isn’t going to make him heal.”
The man stares at me, eyes hot with rage.
“Colton loves this family, and being angry with us for something none of us could control won’t help him heal. It’ll only make him upset when he wakes up.”
My rationale only seems to piss him off more. “Who the fuck do you think you are? You’ve known my son for a couple of months and you think you can speak for him?”
Levi takes a step in my direction, and I brace for my husband to jump in, knowing he won’t stand for even the barest hint of a threat.
But it isn’t Cassio who stops the man in his tracks. The body in front of me is wider and more seasoned. It’s the figure of someone who could strike fear in the heart of Lucifer himself. Dante Moretti steps between me and Colton’s dad, a lethal silence echoing around him.
“Speak to my daughter again, and your son won’t be the only one on the operating table,” he threatens, voice raspy and cold. “I’ve let you yell at my kin because I know what it is to be a father whose child is in danger, but my girls are off-limits. Zero fucking exceptions. Do you understand?”
When Levi doesn’t immediately respond, Dante takes a threatening step forward and asks again.
“Do. You. Understand?”
“He understands,” Winona answers, gritting the words, but not at Dante, at her husband.
“See that he does,” Dad commands, continuing to stand in front of me until she pulls Levi away.
“Sorry about him,” Dustin mutters, looking embarrassed.
“S’fine,” Armani says, clapping him on the back. “Colton will be fine and he’ll cool down.”
From his mouth to God’s ears.
Not even five minutes later, Doc finds us with good news.
Colton lost a bunch of blood, and his stomach needed to be repaired carefully, but he’s out of surgery and his vitals are good. He’ll need to stay at the hospital for a few days at least, maybe a week.
He’s okay.
Colton isn’t dying.
No one else is dying.
Breathing better than I have in hours, I throw myself into Cassio’s arms, hugging him tight. We decide to let Armani and Colton’s family see him today, and we’ll come back once he’s more awake and aware.
“You can stay with us,” Cassio tells his family as we all get ready to leave. “If you’d rather rest before heading back home.”
“We’re good,” Dad answers, smiling. “We’ll be seeing you both soon, anyway. Won’t we?”
Apollo arches a brow. “You planning to move back now?”
“Yes,” I answer before Cassio can. “If you’ll have us.”
I miss Jade, and I want to be with the rest of the Morettis, even if I’ll miss some parts of the city.
Dante nods happily. “You’re always welcome home, Ana.”
