Chapter 181 ACCEPTANCE.
~~LUCIANO.
“She is sleeping again," I said, running my hand through my hair as I looked down at Raina. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, her face pale against the white pillow. The room felt too quiet, as if the air itself were holding its breath. I turned to Alessia and Viktor, who stood by the door, their faces tight with the same worry gnawing at me.
“I’m worried, Luciano,” Alessia breathed out, her voice soft but edged with fear. She crossed her arms over her chest, like she was trying to hold herself together.
I nodded, letting out a slow breath. “Me too.”
The words hung heavy. How could I not be? Raina had just woken from that nightmare of a dream, fighting the truth like it was a monster she could chase away. And now, she was out again, lost in sleep that I hoped was peaceful this time. But deep down, I knew the pain waited for her when she opened her eyes.
“Do you think we should call the doctor to check on her again?” Alessia asked, her eyes flicking to the bed.
“No, no. Let’s leave her be for a while.” I shook my head, my voice firm but gentle. She needed rest, real rest, not more prodding and lights in her eyes. The doctor had already come and gone twice today, and each time, it just stirred her up more. I wanted her to heal in her own time, even if that meant watching her slip away into sleep over and over.
Alessia nodded, then exhaled sharply, starting to pace the small space by the window. Her steps were quick, restless, like she couldn’t stand still with all this bottled up inside. She glanced at Viktor, a quick look that said more than words. I caught it, subtle as it was, but it was the least of my worries right now. My world narrowed to Raina, to the way her hand twitched slightly in her sleep, like she was reaching for something lost.
Viktor crossed the room then, his boots soft on the tile floor. He clamped his hands together in front of him and breathed out, steady as always. “Boss…”
I looked up at him, grateful for his solid presence. “Thanks for being here,” I whispered, my throat tight.
He nodded, his jaw set. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
His words hit me hard. Viktor had been with me through the worst.
But this felt different. This was personal, a wound that no gun or plan could fix. He didn’t push, didn’t offer empty promises. He just stood there, a rock in the storm. Alessia stopped pacing and leaned against the wall, her eyes red from holding back tears. We stayed like that for a while, the three of us in silence, watching over her.
Hours ticked by slowly as molasses. The sun dipped low outside the window, casting long shadows across the room. I finally told Viktor to take Alessia home. “She needs rest,” I said to him quietly. “And I need to be alone with my wife when she wakes.”
Alessia protested at first, hugging me tight before she left, whispering that she’d be back first thing in the morning. Viktor clapped my shoulder, his grip strong. “Call if you need anything, boss.” Then they were gone, the door clicking shut, leaving just me and the hum of the machines.
I pulled the chair closer to the bed, sinking into it with a sigh. My body ached from days without real sleep, but I didn’t care. I watched her face, tracing the lines of exhaustion that hadn’t been there before. The bruises from Marco’s hands still bloomed purple on her arms, a reminder of the hell she’d endured.
My fists clenched at the thought.
Those bastards, Talia and Marco were going to pay for every mark, and every tear.
She stirred then, her eyelids fluttering. Her hand dropped to her stomach, fingers splaying over the flat plane where our baby had been. She closed her eyes for a second, a deep breath escaping her lips, and then nodded her head slowly. It was like a subtle switch flipped, I saw it and it was acceptance.
The fight drained out of her, leaving something raw and quiet in its place.
I settled on the chair beside her, taking her hand in mine. Her skin was cool, but she squeezed back weakly. I lifted it to my lips, kissing her knuckles softly.
“We have all the time in the world to make babies again, baby.” The words came out rough, but I meant them.
“We didn’t have to lose this,” she whimpered, her voice small and broken. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over as she stared at the ceiling.
“I know, I know. We didn’t have to, and we don’t need to beat ourselves up about it, either. We will make another one.” I stroked her hand with my thumb, trying to pour all my strength into that touch.
Inside, my chest twisted. She was right, we shouldn’t have lost it. If I’d been faster, and smarter, maybe I could have stopped Marco before he laid a hand on her. But guilt was a poison we couldn’t afford. Not now.
She nodded, sniffing back the tears.
Her free hand wiped at her cheek, but more followed. Then, after a pause, she asked, “Where are… they? Talia and Marco?”
I met her eyes, steady. “I have gotten two of them. My men are holding them hostage.”
“L… Luciano…” Her body shook, a tremor running through her like a chill and it gripped her tight.
“I know, baby. I know. I am going to make them pay for this. I will make Marco pay terribly for this, so please… Ease your mind.” My voice hardened at his name.
“I could have prevented this. It is all my…” She started, her words tumbling out in a rush of self-blame.
“Shhh,” I cut her short softly, leaning down to kiss her lips. They were dry, and trembling under mine, but I lingered, tasting the salt of her tears. “It is not your fault. You’re not going to think that way, okay?”
She shook her head, stubborn even in her pain. “Luciano…”
I nodded, pulling her closer despite the IV lines. I held her tighter, my arms wrapping around her fragile form. “Tell me you’ve heard me, baby.”
She didn’t answer right away, just buried her face in my chest. I kissed her forehead, breathing in the faint scent of her shampoo mixed with the sterile hospital smell. “I am here with you. I am here, baby, I’m here.”
We stayed like that as the night deepened. Her sobs quieted to hiccups, her body relaxing against mine. I rocked her gently, my mind racing ahead.
The loss hung between us like a shadow, but so did the future. We’d build it stronger, fill it with the family we dreamed of.
Raina’s hand found mine again, lacing our fingers. In that touch, I felt her starting to believe it too.
For now, at least.