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Jago was right. The entire situation was skating close to a cliff and we could be staring down into an abyss.

We’d been accompanied by several soldiers, some remaining outside the hospital while two walked behind us. Antonio’s room had also been made secure, fear of his death weighing heavily on my mind.

Emiliano had been ordered to stay with Marco, who remained in his room. At least Bella hadn’t been further traumatized, even trying to make me laugh over breakfast.

But the weight of everything continued to be a heavy burden. The shipment was going out that night. I’d learned all about it and the worth. If things went well, the money earned would filter through my father’s company. I could make that happen.

If and when I was allowed back into the office.

“Are you sure you want to go in there alone?” Jago asked.

“He’s my soldier. Whether you want to believe this or not, you’re not the most popular guy on the block.” We’d stopped just outside Antonio’s room. Even with a gunshot wound, he hadn’t been placed in intensive care. That meant his condition was stable and not as bad as I’d originally thought.

Some good news.

“Moi? I thought everyone loved me,” he retorted.

“Dream on.” I laughed and patted his chest. “I’ll only be a few minutes. Promise.” I glanced at the soldiers leaning against the corridor walls, the two men heavily armed and prepared for anything. They stood straight as we approached, nodding to Jago first, but showing their sign of respect to me as well.

“I’ll hold you to that. We have some work to do before tonight.” Jago brought me back to the moment, his gentle touch of brushing my hair over my shoulder creating shudders.

“Always business with you.”

“After tonight, we’ll cut back.”

“Right. I don’t believe a word coming out of your mouth.” I raked my finger under his jaw before taking a step away. “I’ll just be a few minutes. He needs to know he has our full support.”

“Understood.”

But did he? Had Jago ever showed compassion to his men, or had he just tossed them aside, reminding himself and everyone else that injuries and death were merely a part of the job they’d signed up for?

Had my father ever visited anyone in the hospital? I didn’t remember a single time, but he’d taken up a vigil when my mother had been shot.

Shot.

He hadn’t told me for months what had really happened to her, merely telling me she’d been involved in an accident. The hurt would remain for the rest of my life.

I took a deep breath and pressed my hand against the door. The doctors and nurses knew better than to interrupt us. I’d sensed fear when we’d walked by the nurses’ station.

Was it from my father’s reputation or Jago’s?

As soon as I walked inside, I was struck by the number of machines and hoses. An IV, a heart monitor, blood pressure monitors, and something else I wasn’t certain of was monitoring.

Antonio had appeared like every other soldier, big and buff. Now he appeared more fragile. Just like life.

Sighing, I slowly moved toward his bed, studying the private room. From what I knew about blood pressure, the numbers appeared normal and his breathing was only mildly labored. I pulled a chair closer, trying to remain as quiet as possible. Since he was asleep, I had no intention of waking him.

My arms and legs felt heavy as I eased to the vinyl cushion, immediately uncomfortable. It wasn’t only because the chair was ridiculously stiff, but more about the rapid beating of my own heart.

I was a mess. There was no other way around it. This wasn’t a life I’d ever wanted, yet here I was. After staring at him for a few seconds, I closed my eyes. It had been a long time since I’d prayed. I’d stopped believing when my mother had been killed. But now, I said a silent one for all of us, not only Antonio.

At this point, it was obvious we all needed a little guidance, and maybe some divine intervention.

Images floated across my mind, including the single time I’d been allowed to enter my mother’s hospital room. I’d onlylearned later that my father had insisted I have a moment to say goodbye. If only I’d known then maybe I would have told her how I felt.

How much her love and guidance had meant to me.

A single noise drew my attention and when I looked up, Antonio was staring at me. Was he really seeing me? I didn’t know the man, but it struck me that he had no one keeping vigil. From what Jago had told me, no one had tried to visit him.