Page 137 of Gabriel

“How are you holding up?” Nikola asked.

“Just great,” I retorted dryly. “Everything is perfect. My sister is still missing, I can’t see shit, and I’m still stuck in this hospital.”

“Look at the bright side,” Nikola said slowly. “You finally got Amara. That was the longest courting I’ve ever witnessed.”

“It doesn’t compare to yours, Nikola.” Matteo snickered before turning serious again. “You’ve always looked at things from the bright side, Gabriel, so I think it’s important not to stop now.”

“Yeah, I’m trying real fucking hard.” I couldn’t see them, but I imagined them sharing a glance, exchanging silent words of what to do next. “What? Why are you not saying anything?”

“Listen, Gabe, I’m your nephew and friend, and I want you to remember your advice.”

I sighed. “Are you really doing this right now?”

“Damn right, I am,” Nikola gritted. “You helped get me out of my self-pity, and while you seem to be doing much better than my dumb ass, I can also imagine the despair in you. I’ve been there and done that. It’s important to keep an optimistic attitude like you usually do. In fact, annoy the fuck out of all of us with it.”

I snorted. “If I knew my payback was coming, I would have kept my mouth shut, Nikola.”

“What Nikola is trying to say,” Matteo piped in, “is that you have family and a woman who’s standing by you. Focus on that, and everything else will follow.”

“Things must be bad if both of you are pampering me with personal advice and life lessons,” I grumbled.

“Not at all, but I’m sure this situation isn’t easy for you,” Matteo replied. “We’re here for you.”

“Gabriel, you need a distraction, and that shit won’t happen in the hospital,” Nikola chimed. “So I suggest you get Amara in here, have her lock the door, and you two fuck each other until your vision comes back.”

“Why in the fuck did I bring you along?” Matteo hissed.

“I brought you along, Matteo,” Nikola deadpanned. “He’s my uncle, not yours.”

“I swear I’ve never heard you refer to me as your uncle as much in my entire life as I have today?.”

“Well, you are my uncle, old man.”

“This is not helping,” I muttered.

Nikola must have opened his mouth to speak, because Matteo cut in, “I swear to God, Nikola, if you say one more thing, I’m going to kill you.”

“Fine, fine… but I think Gabe and Amara fucking until his vision comes back is good advice.”

“Yeah, if I wanted to chafe,” I grumbled. “Besides, it’s not like I can see what I’m doing.”

Silence followed, stretching for a long moment.

“What can we do to—?” Matteo asked.

“No, fuck that,” Nikola interrupted. “Your other senses are heightened, Gabriel. Take advantage of that and learn from it, and continue as your old self because you are still that. Eyes or no.”

“Amara’s going to fucking kill you, Nikola,” Matteo said, exasperated. “She specifically said not to upset him.”

My lips twitched despite my somber mood. “I think I might shed a tear as I listen to her kick your ass, Nikola.”

Nikola snickered. “I would never hurt a woman, but I might hurt you, Uncle.”

“I finally understand your sentiment, Nikola, and those words you gave me after your accident…” I answered honestly. “I’m struggling with the idea of someone like Amara—so alive, sharp, and beautiful—being stuck with me.”

“Too late,” Nikola said somberly. “Because I don’t think that woman is going anywhere, and her mothers—so weird, by the way—are already planning the wedding.”

“For the love of God, Gabriel, don’t piss off Liana Volkov,” Matteo muttered. “We’ll be on your side, but please try not to let it come to that.”