ALEX
Pops did what he could to treat Luca before a Medevac helicopter flew him to the nearest hospital, where I waited with the Knights surrounding me.
Drake sat on my right, with my legs resting on his thighs.
He rubbed my feet to take my mind off everything.
But even his skilled hands could not make me forget about my husband getting shot at our wedding.
Finn and Luca were in surgery. It felt like hours had passed as I sat in my wedding dress, stained with Luca’s blood. The doctors expected Finn to make a full recovery after surgery. According to my grandfather, his injuries were not as severe as Luca’s.
Arlo was dead. Most of our guests bled out on the ballroom floor.
Some of the Mafia families lost men. The Carver had a bullet in his skull, though some of his men were lucky and got away in time.
Marcello had assured me they wouldn’t return to exact revenge for their boss.
He said men in their world were only loyal to those who paid them, and since his uncle was no longer breathing, we didn't have to worry.
Pops waited across the room from us, still dressed in his tuxedo, his hands and shirt matted with dried blood. He’d tried to stop the bleeding to give Luca a better chance of survival. My grandmother was the only member of a Founding family not in attendance. Good riddance. No one would miss Blair.
I sat on Marcello’s lap, clutched his bicep, and held him dearly.
He hugged me against his chest and cradled the back of my head with his big hand.
When Marcello was in surgery, Luca held me and told me everything would be okay.
Today, it was Marcello’s turn to console me while we waited to find out if Luca would live.
I couldn’t imagine a world where Luca didn’t exist. I had run away from him for years, desperate to escape my family legacy. But now, I would have given anything, even my own life, to see him one more time. To kiss his full lips and tell him I love him.
You can’t kill the Devil, baby.
I replayed Luca’s words dozens of times, telling myself there was some truth to his statement.
Though I knew Luca was never really the Devil.
He was just a broken boy who grew into a dangerous man who used violence and fear to shield himself from others.
To insulate himself so no one could hurt him.
We all looked like we had gone to Hell and back again.
Sonny was on my left, tapping his fingers on his thigh as if counting down the seconds.
He looked the worst of the Knights, his usually styled blond hair messy and falling onto his forehead.
Cole and the Marshall boys sat across from us with their father.
All the Cormacs, Battles, and Marshalls waited in silence.
We had the room to ourselves, the silence in the air stirring more nerves in my belly.
The hospital staff knew my family well. Apart from Aiden, all the men in my family had been surgeons at Beacon Memorial Hospital.
Because of our connections, they overlooked the fact that everyone was beaten up and covered in blood.
It looked like we had attended the Red Wedding from Game of Thrones and somehow lived to tell about it.
“I got you,” Marcello whispered in my ear. “It will be okay.”
I glanced up at him with tears in my eyes. He looked tired, his usually sad eyes hooded. Marcello was trying to hold it together for me.
“You lost your father and possibly your brother in one day.” I lay my head on his arm. “How are you doing, Marcello?”
“I’m fine,” he said without hesitation. “Don’t worry about me.”
I sat up and hooked my arm around his neck. “I will always worry about you.”
“Don’t,” he shot back. “You have enough things to think about at the moment. My dad died with honor. He died protecting us.”
“Protecting me.”
“You are family, Alex.” His knuckles grazed my cheek, and I leaned into his hand. “I would have done the same. So would Luca. All of us would have died to save you.”
“And look where Luca ended up.” I sighed. “If he doesn’t make it… I can’t even…”
“Turn off your brain,” he ordered. “Try to relax.”
“Impossible.” I sighed. “We barely said I do before Luca got shot. I’m pregnant. This baby needs a father.”
He rubbed his hand over my stomach. “I will take care of you and this baby, no matter what happens to Luca.”
“He has to live,” I croaked. “This baby needs him. You, me, the Knights, we all need him. I just went through this with you. I can’t…” I sobbed so hard my stomach hurt. “Marcello, I can’t do this again.”
“You can.” His fingers wove through my hair in a soothing motion. “You’re stronger than you think, Alex.”
“How did your uncle get onto the estate without setting off any alarms?”
“He grew up at the Salvatore Estate.” Marcello frowned as he looked into my eyes. “Only Salvatores know about the secret passages.”
“And me.”
He held me like a child and kissed my forehead. “You’re a Salvatore now.”
“Claudio and his men used the passages?”
Marcello nodded. “The same one you used to leave the estate.”
“I thought there were alarms in the Catacombs.”
“If you know how to disarm them, you can sneak through the house with no one knowing.”
“I think it’s time to seal the doors,” I said with authority. “We can’t risk this happening again, not with a baby on the way.”
“Agreed. I’ll work on it when we get home.”
“Mrs. Salvatore,” a male voice boomed.
I slid off Marcello’s lap and rushed to the doctor, dressed in green scrubs. “I’m Mrs. Salvatore.”
“Your husband pulled through,” the doctor said, and my relief rolled down my arms. “Luca’s heart stopped for thirty seconds, but we revived him. He’s still in recovery.”
“Can I see him?”
“When he wakes up, yes.”
Pops appeared on my right, Marcello on my left.
The doctor acknowledged Pops with a nod. “How are you, Chief?”
My grandfather was the Chief of Surgery before retiring from the hospital to become CEO of Wellington Pharmaceuticals.
“I’ve been better,” Pops said.
I spun around to face the Knights. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I looked at the men who risked their lives to save mine.
“Thank you,” I said to no one in particular.
Without a word, Marcello took my hand and kissed my skin.
Then, he moved out of the way, allowing each knight to do the same.
After they finished, I stood between them and smiled.
Surrounded by my Knights, I felt safe and protected.
Knowing I had these men at my command provided me immense comfort, especially at a time like this one.
I pressed my hand to Marcello’s cheek, allowing the silence to wrap around us.
We stared at each other briefly before I moved to Sonny, Drake, Cole, Damian, Bastian, and Callum.
I saved Aiden for last, repeating the same motion before I threw my arms around his neck.
He lifted me off the floor, hugging me so hard he crushed my chest against his.
After I released Aiden from my death grip, Kali pulled me into her arms. “How about we get you cleaned up before you see Luca? It’s still your wedding day. A bride should look her best on her special day.”
A few hours later, a nurse entered the waiting room and gestured for Marcello and me to follow her to Luca’s room.
The rest of the Knights had to wait since they limited us to two visitors at a time.
Marcello held my hand as we followed the nurse down the endless hallway.
My heart raced with each step we took toward Luca’s hospital room.
I stopped in the entryway, my mouth wide at the sight of Luca hooked up to beeping monitors. It reminded me of when Marcello got shot. The constant sounds of his life dangling by a thread.
“Why are the monitors beeping?” I asked the nurse.
“That’s normal,” she said with a sweet smile.
“Is he going to survive?”
“He’s not out of the woods yet, but his doctor is optimistic he will fully recover.” She cupped my shoulder. “Whenever you’re ready, you can see him.”
“Thank you,” Marcello said to the nurse, who nodded, then walked down the hallway opposite.
He tapped my back, helping me inch my way into the room. I took slow, deliberate steps, my pulse pounding as I looked at my sleeping husband. His eyes were closed, his chest rising and falling. I released a deep breath.
I stood at his bedside and leaned down to brush the black hair off his forehead. “I’m here, Luca.”
Marcello slid his hands to my shoulders. I leaned against his chest, and he hooked his arms around me. It felt like an eternity until Luca’s monitors made a different sound. A minute later, his eyes fluttered.
I slipped out of Marcello’s grasp and leaned over the bed. Luca opened one eye and looked up at me. A rare smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“Don’t look so surprised,” he muttered. “You can’t kill the Devil, baby.”
I sat on the edge of the bed and stroked my fingers down his arm. “You scared the shit out of me, Luca. You may think you’re invincible, but you’re a man, not the Devil.”
He glanced at Marcello, both eyes now open. “Dad is dead?”
Marcello nodded. “Wellington tried to resuscitate him. He died quickly.”
Luca groaned, then moved his hand to my stomach. “My dad used to say that with new life comes death. This baby, our wedding, he got everything he wanted. His death had a purpose. He didn’t die in vain.”
“He died with honor,” Marcello added, his voice deep and smooth.
I rolled onto my side and curled into him, seeking his warmth. “Are you okay? Does it hurt?”
Luca drew a breath from between his teeth. “Yes. But nothing I can’t handle.” He raised his hand, eyes on Marcello. “Come closer.” Marcello moved toward the bed, and Luca continued, “Now that Dad is gone, you’ll have to accept your place in the family. I need you by my side.”
“I like where I am,” Marcello countered.
“I know. But we will need you around more.” Luca gestured at me and rubbed his hand over my belly. “I don’t know if this baby is mine. Either way, the child needs a family. We need you, Marcello.”
Marcello sat in the chair beside Luca’s bed, deep in thought. A few minutes passed before he spoke again.
“Okay,” he agreed. “I’m not going anywhere.”