Chapter 147 I said stop

Chapter 147 I said stop
I couldn't breathe in that hospital room anymore.

Every second that passed without knowing what was happening at home felt like knives in my chest. 

"What have I done?" 

My imagination grew wide. My mind kept spinning - Was it Mateo losing control, maybe Rafiq fighting back, or Lucian seeing everything. I sat up slowly, ignoring the dizziness, and stared at the IV line taped to my arm.

I had to go.

I swung my legs off the bed, but the moment my feet touched the floor, the world tilted. My knees buckled. I grabbed the bed rail to steady myself, breathing hard. My eyes landed on the heavy metal IV pole, the machine humming and tethering me to the wall.

I reached for it, trying to pull the heavy stand with me, but it was too clunky. The wheels caught on the floor. I wasn't strong enough to drag this through a hospital, let alone into a car.

"Bloody hell," I whispered, looking at the tangle of wires.

This damn IV need to stay on. As a nurse I know the damn risk for the baby andy self. But Matoe? 

The door opened.

Mateo's mother stepped in, looking startled to see me standing.

"Isabella... what are you doing out of bed?"

I didn't have time for pleasantries. "What are you doing here?"

"I came back," she said, closing the door. "It didn't feel right leaving you alone."

"Damn right it didn't." I raised my voice. "Jake!" he rushed in immediately. 

Both Jake and Mrs. Rossi stared at me like I'd gone mad.

"I don't have time," I said urgently. "We're going back to the house right now. Mateo is in danger."

Mrs. Rossi rushed forward. "You are on strict bed rest. The doctor said-"

"MATEO IS IN DANGER!" I snapped, voice cracking with fear. "We are going home immediately. Jake, get the IV bag!"

Jake moved fast. He didn't waste time arguing. He reached up and unhooked the plastic IV bag from the metal stand. He quickly untangled the long clear tube from the machine's sensors, keeping the line connected to the J-loop on my arm.

He handed the bag to Mateo's mother, who was standing there, stunned.

"Hold this," I told her, my voice trembling. "At all times. You have to keep it higher than my arm, or the fluid won't flow and my blood will start to back up into the tube and clot."

Mrs. Rossi nodded, her face hardening with resolve. She lifted the bag high, holding it steady toward the ceiling.

I tried to take a step, but my legs gave out completely. Jake caught me before I could fall, scooping me up into his strong arms without hesitation.

"Let me," he said quietly, adjusting me carefully so I wouldn't put any strain on my abdomen.

I didn't protest. I was too weak, too scared.

In the elevator, Mrs. Rossi kept the IV bag raised perfectly above my arm level. I looked at her - this elegant woman who had once made me feel so small - now helping me like this.

"I'm sorry for being rude earlier," I whispered.

She gave me a tired but warm smile. "Be rude all you want, child. You're trying to save my son... and yourself."

The drive felt endless. Morning traffic was heavy - it was already past 10 AM. Jake drove as fast as he safely could. Mrs. Rossi sat beside me in the back, arm raised high, keeping the IV bag steady toward the roof of the car. Every bump sent pain shooting through my belly, but I clenched my teeth and stayed quiet.

When we finally pulled up to the house, Jake didn't wait for instructions. He carried me inside, Mrs. Rossi hurrying beside us with the IV bag still held high.

The moment we stepped through the front door, the horror hit me.

Blood. Everywhere.

Mateo was on top of Rafiq, fists flying in a brutal, relentless rhythm. Rafiq wasn't fighting back anymore - his face was a mess of blood, nose smashed, lips split open, one eye swollen shut. Mateo's knuckles were raw and bleeding, but he kept punching, over and over, like a machine. Blood splattered across the marble floor with every hit.

Lucian was huddled in the corner, crying hysterically. Elena was trying to shield him, tears streaming down her own face. She was petrified.

"Mateo!" I screamed.

Jake lowered me gently to my feet. My legs shook violently. I could barely stand.

"Mateo, stop! Please!" I begged.

I looked at the tube still connecting my arm to the bag Mrs. Rossi was holding. It was a tether-a reminder that I was supposed to be a patient, a victim, someone fragile. But I couldn't be fragile right now.

With a trembling hand, I reached over to the J-loop on my arm. My fingers fumbled with the Luer Lock connector, but I didn't hesitate. I twisted the plastic screw, feeling the slight pop as the long IV line detached from the catheter in my vein.

"Isabella, what are you doing?" Mrs. Rossi gasped, still holding the now-useless bag in the air.

I didn't answer. I pinched the small tube on my arm shut for a second to stop the blood, then ignored it. I took one agonizing step forward, then another, pushing away from Jake's reaching hand.

I was shaking so badly I could hardly breathe. If he killed Rafiq, he would go to prison. Lucian would lose everything. Mrs. Rossi would lose her son. And I... I would lose the man I loved.

"Matoe?" 

He didn't hear me. His mother rushed forward, grabbing his arm. "Son! Stop this madness!"

He shook her off like she was nothing and kept hitting.

I was shaking so badly I could hardly speak. If he killed Rafiq, he would go to prison. Lucian would lose everything. His mother would lose her son. And I... I would lose the man I loved.

My legs shook violently. I could barely stand, leaning heavily against the Jake as the smell of copper and sweat filled the room.

"MATEO ROSSI!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, my voice raw and echoing off the blood-spattered walls. "I SAID FUCKING STOP! NOW!!!"
The sound echoed through the hall.

Mateo froze mid-punch. Slowly, he turned his head toward me.

He looked terrifying - covered in Rafiq's blood, a small cut on his lip, bruises forming on his cheekbone and jaw. His chest heaved, eyes wild and glassy. When he saw me standing there, barely able to stay upright, his expression shattered completely.

Shame. Guilt. Horror. All of em.

He crawled off Rafiq on his hands and knees, moving toward me like a broken man. Tears filled his eyes.

"Isabella...Baby" His voice cracked. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

I collapsed into his arms the second he reached me. Jake moved to help Mrs. Rossi, who had fallen to the floor in exhaustion.

I was crying hard now - ugly, terrified sobs. I was scared he had killed Rafiq. Scared for Lucian. Scared for all of us.

Then I heard groans and movement.

Rafiq stirred. He pushed himself up slowly, blood dripping from his ruined face. Before anyone could react, he lunged - grabbing Lucian by the neck in a brutal chokehold, fingers digging in like he wanted to snap the boy's neck.

Everyone froze.

Lucian whimpered, eyes wide with pure terror.

I looked Rafiq dead in the eyes, my voice low and shaking with pure fury.

"If you hurt him," I said slowly, "I will make sure you beg for death."

The room went deathly silent.

Rafiq stared at me. Something in my voice - or the pure hatred in my eyes - broke through. Slowly, his grip loosened. He released Lucian, who ran straight into my arms.

Rafiq dropped to his knees, defeated and bleeding.

I looked at Mateo, glaring through my tears. I was pissed. Scared. Relieved. And completely done with all of this.

"Take me back to the fucking hospital," with my finger pressed to my neck, I told him, voice hard.

Mateo didn't argue. He simply lifted me into his arms again, blood and all, and carried me out toward the car.

"Please be fast Mateo. Fucking fast. My heart is at 145 and my BP is dropping. I'm going into shock. Move!" I managed to mutter.