Chapter 73 Seventy Three

Chapter 73 Seventy Three
Doctor Romano adjusted the strap of the black medical bag over his shoulder. “We’re wasting time,” Doctor Romano said firmly. “Move.”

Antonio tightened his hold on Salvatore’s arm. “You heard the Doc.”

Salvatore let out a quiet breath but didn’t argue again. His eyes remained on Mira. “You’re coming?” he asked.

She gave a small nod. “I said I would.”

Only then did he allow Antonio to guide him upstairs.The mansion had fallen completely silent.

Servants stood against the walls as they passed, lowering their heads the moment Salvatore walked by. Some stared at the blood soaking through his shirt. Others looked at Mira’s stained dress.

Nobody dared to speak. Doctor Romano pushed open a pair of heavy oak doors at the end of the hallway. The room beyond looked more like a private hospital than part of a mansion.

Bright surgical lights hung from the ceiling. Glass cabinets lined one wall, filled with neatly arranged medicines, surgical instruments and sterile supplies.

A hospital bed stood in the center of the room.

Mira stopped in the doorway. “…You have an operating room inside your house?” Mira asked quietly.

Antonio didn’t evn look up. “It saves time.”

“For what?” Mira asked shocked and confused 

Neither man answered. The silence unsettled her. Doctor Romano placed his medical case on the stainless-steel table.

“Mr. Corvin,” Doctor Romano said. “Sit.”

Salvatore lowered himself onto the edge of the bed with a quiet grunt. The movement pulled at the wound. Blood immediately flowed faster down his arm.

Doctor Romano sighed. “I need the jacket off.”

Antonio stepped forward. “I’ll help.”

Together, they eased the tuxedo jacket from Salvatore’s shoulders.The fabric peeled away from the wound. Fresh blood soaked the white dress shirt beneath.

Mira felt her stomach tighten. She hadn’t realized how much blood he’d actually lost.

Doctor Romano reached for a pair of scissors. “I’m cutting the shirt.”

“I liked this shirt,” Salvatore muttered.

Antonio stared at him. “…Seriously?”

Doctor Romano ignored the complaint and sliced through the expensive fabric.

The shirt fell open. Mira’s breath caught.

His shoulder was a mess. Blood covered most of his chest. An angry hole sat just below his collarbone where the bullet had entered. Dark bruising had already begun spreading across his skin.

Doctor Romano examined it quickly. “The bullet passed through.”

Antonio let out a slow breath. “So that’s bad?”

“It could have been much worse.” Doctor Ramano cleaned away some of the blood before looking at Salvatore. “I’m going to numb the area.”

“No.” Salvatore said stopping him 

Doctor Romano looked up. “What do you mean no?”

“I don’t need it.” he said, “ Do whatever you need to do without it.”

Antonio rubbed both hands over his face.“Boss…”

“No anesthesia.” Salvatore said his voice slightly raised his eyes closed in pain. 

Doctor Romano folded his arms. “This isn’t a negotiation Mr Corvin.”

“It is.” Salvatore said firmly” Get on with what you need to do.”

Doctor Romano sighed heavily. “You're such…” he let his words trail off. 

Mira looked between them. “…You’re seriously refusing pain medication?”

Salvatore looked at her. “I don't need it.”

She stared at him. “You really do have a death wish.”

He smiled faintly. “I have something worth staying alive for so I can't die.”

She looked away before he could see the heat rising to her cheeks.

Doctor Romano snapped on a pair of gloves. “I’m removing the damaged tissue and stitching the wound. You would have to suck up the pain.”

Salvatore nodded once. “Do it.”

Doctor Romano reached for the forceps. The room became painfully quiet. Mira stood frozen near the door. She told herself she shouldn’t be here.

She told herself none of this mattered. Yet she couldn’t make herself leave. Every time Doctor Romano cleaned the wound…Every time fresh blood spilled … Her heart squeezed painfully.

Antonio noticed. He quietly walked over to her “You don’t have to watch.”

“I know.” she whispered 

“You look like you’re going to faint.” he said studying her carefully 

“I’m fine,” Mira said 

He looked at her for a second. “…You’re worried.”

She immediately shook her head.“I’m not.”

Antonio smiled knowingly. “If you say so but his going to be fine.”

Doctor Romano finally began stitching. The needle disappeared through torn flesh. Not once did Salvatore make a sound. Only the tightening of his jaw betrayed the pain.

Mira couldn’t stop watching him. “…Doesn’t it hurt?” she asked softly.

Salvatore looked at her. “Like fucking hell.”

Her brows drew together. “Then why aren’t you saying anything?”

His eyes held hers.“Because if I complain…” He managed the faintest smile. “…you’ll worry.”

She looked away immediately. “I wouldn’t. Why would I worry about you?”

“But  already are.”

Before she could deny it… Salvatore’s face suddenly lost what little color remained.

The smile disappeared. His breathing became uneven.

Doctor Romano noticed immediately. “Mr. Corvin?”

No answer. “Salvatore.” His eyelids fluttered.

Antonio walked over to him. “…Boss?”

Salvatore tried to speak.Nothing came out.

His body swayed forward. Then everything happened at once.His eyes rolled back. His entire body went limp. He collapsed sideways off the treatment bed.

“Salvatore!” Mira screamed.

Antonio caught him before his head struck the floor.“Boss!”

Doctor Romano was already beside him. “Lay him down!” 

Together they lifted him onto the treatment bed.

“Pressure’s dropping,” Doctor Romano said sharply.

“Get me another IV bag.”

A nurse rushed forward.

“Now!” Doctor Ramano Screamed 

Mira stood frozen.“What..…”Her voice barely came out.“Oh God…”She took an unsteady step forward.“Salvatore.”

There was no answer. His eyes remained closed.

His chest barely moved.

Doctor Romano quickly checked his pulse. “Damn it…”

Mira’s heart stopped. “What?” she asked, panic flooding her voice.“What is it?”

Doctor Romano didn’t answer. He pressed harder against the wound. Antonio, keep pressure here.”

Antonio obeyed immediately. “Doc…”

“We’re losing too much blood.”

Mira felt the room begin to spin. Her breathing quickened.“No, no, no…” Without realizing it, she reached for Salvatore’s hand. It felt colder than before. Her fingers wrapped tightly around his.

“Salvatore…” she whispered, her voice breaking.“You don’t get to do this.”

Tears spilled freely down her cheeks.

“You promised me you weren’t easy to kill.” Her grip tightened. “So dont die.”

The room remained painfully silent. And for the first time since she had met Salvatore Corvin… Mira was terrified that he might never open his eyes again.

Mira’s fingers tightened around his hand until her knuckles turned white. “Salvatore…” Mira whispered again.

Nothing. Not even the slightest movement. Doctor Romano checked his pulse once more before looking at the monitor beside the bed.

“Blood pressure is dropping,” Doctor Romano said. “Antonio, I need more light.” 

Antonio adjusted the surgical lamp without taking his eyes off Salvatore.“Talk to me, Doc.”

“He lost more blood than he should have. And he might need a blood transfusion.” 

Antonio cursed under his breath. “I told him we should’ve gone to the damn hospital.”

“You know he would’ve refused,” Doctor Romano replied.

Mira looked from one man to the other. “Is he…” Her voice trembled. “Is he going to be okay?”

Doctor Romano finally looked at her. “I’m doing everything I can. I have a little blood bag hopefully it helps

It wasn’t the answer she wanted. She felt her stomach sink. Doctor Romano reached for another the blood bag  before putting it on Slavatore. 

“Come on,” he muttered. “Don’t do this to me.”

The room fell silent again. Only the steady beep of the monitor filled the air. Mira never let go of Salvatore’s hand. She rubbed slow circles over the back of it without even realizing she was doing it.

A minute passed. Then another.

For an unsettling forty-five minutes nobody  spoke. Suddenly… The monitor gave a sharp, rapid series of beeps.

Doctor Romano looked up. “Pressure’s coming back.”

Antonio released the breath he’d been holding “Thank God.”

Mira’s eyes immediately searched Salvatore’s face.

“…Salvatore?” His fingers twitched against hers. It was so slight she almost thought she’d imagined it.

Then… His hand squeezed hers weakly. 

Mira's eyes widened. “Doctor…”

“I saw it,” Doctor Romano replied.

A few seconds later, Salvatore drew in a deeper breath.His brows knitted together. “…Hell,” he muttered hoarsely. 

Antonio let out a laugh that sounded dangerously close to relief. Salvatore frowned without opening his eyes. “…Why were  you yelling?”

“You scared the hell out of us,” Antonio said 

“I just took a nap,” Salvatore said.  slowly opened one eye.

“You passed out.” Antonio let out a short sigh “You almost gave Miss Voss a heart attack.”

Salvatore finally opened both eyes. His hazel gaze immediately searched the room.

It found Mira. She was still holding his hand.

Tears still glistened on her cheeks. He looked at their joined hands before looking back at her face.

“…Were you crying?” Salvatore asked softly.

Mira immediately tried to pull her hand away.

He held it, not tightly, Just enough to stop her.

“ were you crying for me?”

She looked away. “No.”

Antonio barked out a laugh. “Boss, she’s been crying for the last forty-five minutes.”

“Antonio,” Mira snapped.

“What?” Antonio asked innocently. “It’s true.”

She glared at him. “I wasn’t crying.”

Doctor Romano raised an eyebrow. “Miss Voss, your mascara is halfway down your face.”

Mira instinctively touched her cheek. Her fingers came away damp. She froze. Salvatore looked at her for several long seconds. His thumb brushed lightly across the back of her hand.

“…You cried for me,” he whispered.

She immediately shook her head. “No.”

“You did.”

“I didn’t.”

“You were terrified,” he said softly 

“I was angry.” she whispered. “ it would be so bad for you to die without me killing you myself.”

His lips curved into the faintest smile. “Ouch. Feisty as ever” he caressed her cheek softly “  but that's not what your eyes were saying.”

She finally managed to pull her hand free. “I was upset because you almost died before I could expose you.”

Antonio groaned. Doctor Romano chuckled quietly as he removed his gloves.

Salvatore never looked away from her. “If that’s what you need to tell yourself…” his eyes were on her  “I’ll pretend to believe you.”

She folded her arms. “I so much vex me.”

“And yet…” His tired smile returned.“…you here.”

Those two words stole the air from her lungs.

She opened her mouth. Nothing came out.

Because he was right. She had stayed..Not because she was trapped. Not because he had ordered her. She had stayed because the thought of losing him had frightened her more than she wanted to admit.

Realizing that terrified her even more.