Page 120

“I need to get back to my wife, so figure out what the fuck they were doing to her.” I instructed and he nodded, slipping behind one of the desks.

CHAPTER 37

Antonio

She’d been passed out for eight hours now. I hadn’t left her side. Couldn’t.

Gently, I reached up and brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear.

As soon as we got to the hotel Samantha stayed with her until she fell asleep and she hasn’t woken up since.

My wrist passed over her mouth and when I felt her steady breath on my skin, I eased back in my chair beside her.

I placed her palm to mine, interlacing our fingers before kissing the back of her hand.

A heavy tightness had expanded in my chest. I couldn’t see or talk to anyone, much less think straight.

My men, including both Nereus and Samantha had passed by multiple times every hour but with my silence and her state still unchanging, they left wordlessly every time.

Nereus wanted to stay at her side after the doctor left, but I wouldn’t let him. I didn’t want any of them in here.

The sun was setting behind me, the light warming her face and suddenly this was the only thing that mattered. Her coming back to me. I needed her to.

My hold on her hand turned firm as I pressed my forehead to our hands.

According to Kiril they took her into that room, tied her up and lowered her unconscious body into the tub. It was supposed to fuck up her head, and based on what happened when we found her, I’d say it worked.

Our only hope was that it wasn’t permanent, and that when she’d regain consciousness, she’d be okay.

I let go of her hand rose to my feet, pacing up and down the room. My hands gripped the hairs on my nape as I squeezed my eyes shut in frustration. Cesar’s words about her not going down without a fight kept replaying in my head and I knew it to be true but… she’d been fighting every day since she was seven…

I turned to face her entirely then stopped near the foot of the bed.

What if she didn’t want to fight anymore…

* * *

It’s been three weeks. Twenty-one days of not leaving this chair. Seventy-two hours of no change.

I hadn’t been able to sleep. Eating was much worse. I simply didn’t care for any of it.

Cesar and Samantha had been pestering me about it every goddamn day and it pissed me off how they couldn’t see that none of it mattered.

My routine was simple.

As soon as the sun came up I kissed her forehead, hopped in the shower and found myself back at her side. The cold water helped a lot… until it didn’t.

The doctor stepped back, slinging his stethoscope around his neck.

“Unfortunately—“

I reached forward, grabbing by his collar to shut him up. “Don’t fucking say it.”

“Sir…” Cesar’s pitiful voice echoed beside me as a hand rested on my shoulder.

Fear danced behind the doctor’s eyes but he, and everyone else in the room, knew he didn’t need to say anything. I already knew. We all did.

I let go of him and he straightened his blazer, slightly lifting his chin.