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When she turned and noticed me, she tried to offer a smile but failed. Her fear was palpable. Almost everyone involved in Dion’s care acted the same way. Not that I could blame them. Their entire floor had been hijacked for days by unconscionable men carrying weapons. They had every right to be terrified to say or do the wrong thing.

“He keeps moving, and the blood pressure monitor is reacting. It shouldn’t beep for a little while.” The nurse scurried around me, heading for the door.

“How is he?” I asked before she left.

“Um. Stable. Still not conscious as of yet. He hasn’t opened his eyes, but we’re hopeful.”

Hopeful. The word was one I’d heard enough times I’d wanted to shove it down every doctor’s throat.

I wanted to ask about Dion’s brain activity, but I allowed her to escape my presence.

As I approached the bed, a strong chill remained. The room itself was unusually cold, but my condition had more to do with every event that had occurred and those yet to come. Plus, I’d considered him a friend.

In a world full of monsters, finding something you could relate to was a rarity and one I hadn’t taken for granted.

I also hadn’t allowed my guard to fall. He’d been a powerful man in his own right, brutal as fuck. I peered down at him, staring at the ventilator he was on, a tube stuck down his throat.

His fate was in the hands of God. Or so I’d heard. I no longer believed in a greater being and hadn’t since my wife’s death.

I pulled up the single chair, sitting down and trying to grasp why I was even bothering to communicate with him. Dion obviously couldn’t hear me. Whatever the reason, doing so felt right.

He adored Carmella and had for years. The fact he was lying in a hospital bed and I’d been tasked to marry her continued to sort itself out in my mind. There was no recourse, no chance that refusing would be accepted. I was simply following orders.

Then why did it feel as if I was betraying the man?

“How are, Dion? From what I’d heard from your doctors, you’re getting better. It’s just a matter of time.”

The slight ticking of another machine and the whooshing sound of the ventilator were constant, the momentous beats exactly like a metronome. At least the lights were low, meant to be soothing. How could anything seem comfortable when stuck in an ICU room? I’d almost laughed when I’d noticed the seventy-inch television attached to the wall until I realized it was meant for use by grieving families.

“Look, I won’t beat around the bush here. The doctors don’t know how long your recovery process will be. The alliance between Don Lupini and Don Santorelli is still in motion. They believe it’s the only way of keeping the latest enemy from making any headway.”

I stopped talking, scanning his face to see if he had any reaction.

There was none.

“Anyway, with your incapacity, Don Santorelli promoted me to an Underboss position. Don’t worry, buddy. Your place on the food chain will still be there after you recover. I wouldn’t have accepted had I heard otherwise.” I laughed as if this was all some big joke.

His arm suddenly moved and I almost stood, eager to find the call button. He stopped moving only a few seconds later and I shifted to the edge of my seat.

“I need to tell you something and I didn’t want you to hear it from anyone else. The Don also asked… No, he commanded me to marry Carmella Lupini. I don’t know how I feel about it, buddy. I really don’t. But I know it’s my duty. Don’t worry. She’s not happy about the arrangement either. In fact, I have the distinct feeling she might attempt to kill me in the middle of the night.” I wasn’t lying, but my laugh was as hollow as I felt.

The slushing sound of the ventilator captured my brief attention. He seemed much frailer than he had only days before, his skin pasty white while his lips were a slight shade of purple. How was that even possible?

“Bottom line is that the wedding is tomorrow, and I’ve accepted the union is good for both organizations. Just know I wish you were going to be the one to take her hand in marriage.” I stood, now uncertain I wanted him to react. Maybe I’d had some crazy thought about him fighting for what he wanted. It was obvious that wasn’t going to happen.

Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.

I was going to lose my mind if I didn’t get the hell out of the room.

“Just get better, bud. The crew needs your leadership.” I waited another thirty seconds before shoving my hand into my pocket and heading for the door. As soon as I touched the handle, I was certain I heard an entirely different sound.

Tipping my head and shifting to the left, I was able to capture another good look at him.

Dion remained in the same position.

But his eyes were wide open.

* * *