Chapter 45

Chapter 45
Adrianna’s pov~

As soon as I open my eyes, I'm met with intense pain. My entire body feels like it’s tearing itself apart from the inside out. My stomach twists violently, and I let out a weak cry, my hands instinctively moving to cradle it.

“Easy, easy… I’ve got you.”

Dante. His voice cuts through the chaos I can hear in the room. I try to open my eyes, but everything is too bright. My head throbs, and my chest feels tight, like something is pressing down on it.

“Dante…” I whisper.

“I’m here.” His hand tightens around mine. “Stay with me, Adrianna. Just stay with me.”

I blink slowly, forcing my eyes open. We are in a car.

I’m lying across the backseat, my head resting on Dante’s lap. His hand is tangled in my hair, his other gripping mine so tightly it almost hurts but I don’t tell him to stop because it’s the only thing keeping me awake right now.

“Mum…” The word slips out before I can stop it.

“She’s alive,” Dante says quickly. “Your brother’s with her. Angelo’s already preparing.”

Relief hits me so hard it almost makes me sob. Alive. She’s alive but the relief doesn’t last.

Another wave of pain crashes through me, sharper this time. I gasp, my back arching slightly as my fingers dig into Dante’s jeans.

“Shit,” he mutters. “We’re almost there. Just hold on.” I nod weakly, even though I’m not sure I can.

Something is wrong. My body feels… unstable like it’s fighting itself.

~~

The mansion is chaos when we arrive.

Dante carries me inside before anyone can even say anything, his arms tight around me like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go.

“Move!” he snaps, and people actually listen. That alone would shock me if I had the energy.

I’m placed on a bed and the sudden stillness makes the dizziness worse. The ceiling spins above me, and I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to steady myself.

“Angelo!” Dante calls.

“I’m here.”

I turn my head slightly and see Angelo already at my mother’s side across the room. There’s blood everywhere. Too much blood.

My chest tightens.

“Mum…”

“She’s stable for now,” Angelo says without looking at me. His hands move quickly, efficiently. “But she needs surgery. I need space.”

Elio hovers beside him, pale and shaking. Armando stands a few steps away, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles are white. Emiliano is near the door, watching everything like a silent guard.

“Luca?” Dante asks, his voice sharp.

“On his way,” Emiliano replies. I let out a shaky breath.

Everything feels like it’s slipping away from me. My fingers twitch against the sheets. My stomach tightens again, and this time it doesn’t release. The pain lingers, deep and wrong.

“Dante…” My voice trembles. “Something’s wrong.”

“I know,” he says softly, brushing my hair back. “We’re fixing it. Luca’s coming.”

But there’s something in his eyes. Fear and that scares me more than anything.

~~

I don’t know how much time passes as I fade in and out, slipping between consciousness and darkness. Every time I wake, it feels harder to breathe. Harder to think.

My body is cold then hot, then cold again. At some point, I hear angry shouting.

“-not an option!” Father’s voice booms.

“It is if she dies!” Dante fires back. My eyes flutter open. They’re across the room.

Arguing.

“She is my daughter,” Alessandro says, his tone deadly calm. “I will not risk further damage to our bloodline.”

“She’s dying!” Dante roars. “Your bloodline won’t mean shit if she’s dead!”

My chest tightens. I try to sit up, but my body refuses. A wave of dizziness hits me, and I fall back against the pillows with a weak gasp.

“Enough.”

Luca’s voice cuts through the tension like a blade. I turn my head slightly.

He’s standing there now, his expression grim. His eyes flicker to me briefly before moving back to the others.

“Tell us,” Emiliano says quietly. Luca exhales slowly.

“The chemicals that were used on Adrianna…” He pauses, like he’s choosing his words carefully. “They’re breaking down.”

“What does that mean?” Dante asks, his voice tight.

“It means her body can no longer sustain itself the way it has been.” Luca’s gaze shifts back to me. “She’s dying.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. Dying.. I'm dying. I swallow hard.

“And my babies?” I manage to whisper. Luca hesitates. That’s all the answer I need.

“They’re at risk,” he says finally. My hand moves instinctively to my stomach.

No. No, no, no-

“There has to be something,” Dante says, stepping forward. “You created this. You fix it.”

Luca nods slowly. “There is… a possibility.” Everyone stills.

“What?” Alessandro demands.

“I can recreate the serum,” Luca says. “Reintroduce it into her system. Stabilize the chemical imbalance.”

My babies might be saved...

“But?” Armando presses. Luca’s jaw tightens.

“But the serum won’t just affect Adrianna this time.” His eyes meet mine. “It will affect the children too.”

The room goes quiet again.

“They could develop the same… enhancements,” he continues. “Strength. Altered physiology. Possibly more.”

“Possibly more?” Elio echoes.

“I don’t know,” Luca admits. “There’s no data for this. No precedent.”

“So you’re saying...” Alessandro starts.

“I’m saying,” Luca cuts in, “that it could save all three of them or it could change the children permanently.”

“No.” Father’s voice is firm. Final. “We are not turning my grandchildren into experiments.”

“They’re already at risk!” Dante snaps. “Doing nothing guarantees they die!”

“And doing this guarantees nothing!” Alessandro fires back.

“They’re my children!” Dante’s voice breaks slightly. “And she’s—” He stops, swallowing hard. “She’s everything.”

I watch them arguing and deciding like I’m not even here.

Like this isn't about my life and that of my children.

“Stop.” My voice is weak and barely audible but it’s enough. They all turn to me.

I push myself up slightly, ignoring the way my body protests.

“I’ll do it,” I say.

Dante’s eyes widen. “Adrianna-”

“I’ll do it,” I repeat, stronger this time.

“Do you even understand what this means?” Dad asks sharply. I meet his gaze.

“I understand that my children are dying,” I say. “And I’m not going to sit here and let that happen.”

“They could suffer because of this,” he presses.

“So could I,” I shoot back. “And yet here I am.”

“I didn’t survive everything I’ve been through just to lose them now,” I continue, my voice shaking but firm. “I choose them. Every time.”

Dante steps closer, his hand finding mine.

“I’m with you,” he says quietly. I squeeze his hand weakly. “I know.”

Father looks like he wants to argue again but he doesn’t because he knows that this isn’t his choice. It’s mine.

“Do it,” I say, looking at Luca. He studies me for a moment.

Then nods.

“Alright.” The room shifts into motion again.

Luca starts giving instructions. Angelo moves between rooms, balancing both me and our mother. My brothers fall into place, their earlier anger replaced with tense focus.

Dante doesn’t leave my side not even for a second. As Luca prepares the serum, I feel the weight of everything pressing down on me.

All tangled together.I turn my head slightly, looking up at Dante.

“Dante…” I whisper.

He leans closer immediately. “Yeah?” I swallow hard.

“If I don’t make it…”

“Don’t.” His voice is sharp. “Don’t say that.”

“You need to hear this.” My grip on his hand tightens as much as I can manage. “If I don’t make it… you have to fight for them.”

His jaw clenches.

“Adrianna-” "Always,” I finish softly. His eyes close briefly, like the words physically hurt him.

“I will,” he says.