Page 5 of Enzo (The Amato Family #2)

T ime is meaningless. I don’t go back into the operating room, knowing I can’t handle seeing him like that.

Though part of me rebels against the thought of not being there should the worst happen, I have to trust the doctors…

I have to trust Doc. He’s never lost a patient before, and I know he won’t start with Enzo.

It doesn’t matter if he’s not the one working on my love, I trust my boss and friend with my life.

James brings me coffee, but I don’t drink it, though the heat emitting from the cup helps let me know I’m still alive.

“Kail.” My name being called has me looking up, and I almost drop the coffee when I see my father standing in the doorway.

“Papa,” I gasp.

Papa walks into the waiting room, and I barely have time to set my cup on the floor before he sweeps me up in his arms.

“I’m here, figlio. Sono qui. Non sei solo.”

My eyes sting as I cry more. I’m honestly surprised I have any tears left. “Who…”

“James called us,” my oldest brother, Vic, says.

Blinking the tears from my eyes, I focus on him and…all of my siblings.

“What are you guys doing here?” I ask in a watery voice.

“Enzo is one of us,” my sister says. “Like hell were we just going to stay home and worry about the two of you.”

I let out a sob, grateful for my family who would drop everything to be here, not only for me, but for Enzo.

Papa holds me by the shoulders. “It’s okay, figlio. Whatever happens, I’m here for you both.”

I nod, but before I can respond, Doc steps into the waiting room. I wipe my eyes and straighten up as I eye the dark circles under my friend’s eyes.

“He’s stable,” Doc says in a wrecked voice.

James moves to his charge and wraps his arms around him, holding him close.

“He should be coming out of the anesthesia soon, and then he’ll be moved to his own room.

I got you permission to sit with him, Kail, so I can take you back there when you’re ready. ”

My knees give out and Vic rushes forward to hold me up. “Thank you.” My voice wobbles and I hope he can hear the gratitude in it. There aren’t any words to describe the relief I feel.

I know it’s going to be a long road, but fuck, as long as he’s alive we can handle anything.

“He’s not out of the woods yet,” Doc cautions. “The next twenty-four hours are critical, you know that. They’re pushing everything they can at him, not only to keep him comfortable, but to hopefully stave off an infection. Enzo’s a fighter, though. He’ll recover from this.”

I nod. He will. I believe that deep in my bones. Wiping my eyes, I straighten from where I’m leaning on Vic, and he makes sure I’m steady on my feet before letting go completely.

“I’m ready,” I tell Doc.

“You sure? It’s okay if you need to take a few hours to get some sleep. Enzo isn’t going anywhere.”

I shake my head. “Neither am I.”

“We’re not either,” Papa says.

“You’re not going to be able to see him until we get him out of here,” Doc cautions.

“That doesn’t matter,” my second-eldest brother, Micah, says. “Enzo is family, and he needs us. We don’t leave family behind.”

Doc snorts. “Okay, well, it’s getting way too Lilo I’ll make sure no one tries to fuck you over.

Not that we’ll be here long, just until he’s more stable and we can move him safely. ”

I nod, some of my worry easing at his words. It’s one less thing Enzo has to deal with, and that’s all I can ask for during this time.

I watch his face, zeroing in on every bruise and cut from the glass—a few have stitches—and as much as I need him to wake up from the anesthesia, I want him to stay as pain free as possible as well.

Bringing his hand to my mouth, I kiss his rough, work-worn knuckles. Enzo stirs a little, his head falling in my direction as a quiet groan escapes his throat, though he doesn’t wake fully.

After a few minutes—long enough for me to start getting concerned, though Doc doesn’t make any move to indicate he’s worried—Enzo groans again.

I kiss his hand once more, watching as his eyes open to slits before closing again. His hand tightens around mine, and he takes a deep breath before moaning and opening his eyes fully.

He blinks a few times before he manages to focus on me. “K…” he rasps.

I give him a small smile. “Welcome back, baby.”

He licks his lips. “Where…”

I take a deep breath. “You’re in the hospital, Enzo. There was an accident and you needed surgery.”

The monitor shows his spike in heart rate. “Roman…”

“Is fine,” I tell him, fudging the truth a little, not wanting to stress him out by outlining the boy’s injuries when he’s just waking up. “You did your job, and now he needs you to heal. I need you to heal.”

“Bossy,” he whispers.

I let out a watery laugh. “Yeah, I am.”

Leaning over, I place a soft kiss to his chapped lips. “You’ll see just how bossy I am when I’m forcing you to behave and you’re stuck listening to me and Doc for a while.”

He groans, not in pain but exasperation this time, making me smile for real. “Yeah, you’re screwed, my love.”

“Least you’re pretty…” he mutters.

I snort and kiss him gently once more. “Such a flatterer.”

His eyes open and close a few times, and I run my hand through his shorn hair, watching as a ghost of a smile crosses his face.

My tension eases, though I know the hard part is yet to come. He’s awake, but not yet aware of what’s happened, and I already know he’s…not going to take it well. Enzo is a doer. Being down for the foreseeable future as he adjusts to a whole new way of life?

Yeah, that’s going to be a tough pill to swallow. But as we simultaneously grip each other’s hands tighter, I know whatever comes next we’ll get through it… together.