Page 112 of His Tesoro

Light trickled into the room, highlighting my wife crumpled on the floor and soaked in urine.

I fell to my knees and gently rolled her over onto her back. Her eyes were closed and her skin was cold.

“No, my love, please be okay,” I begged as I gathered her in my arms. “Romeo! Get Aria here immediately!”

I ran back to the elevator as fast as I could without jostling Sofiya. “Stay with me,” I begged her still-unconscious form.

Angelo tore off his jacket and wrapped it around her as we all piled into the elevator.

“Sofiya, can you hear me? Please, baby, please say something.”

She let out a whimper, and the sound was relief and torture at the same time.

The elevator doors opened on the top floor and I ran into the apartment.

“We’re going to get you warm.” I tried to keep my voice soothing, but it was a lost cause. Nothing could be calm or soothing while my wife lay almost-unconscious in my arms.

Her eyes fluttered open.

“There you are.” My voice shook with relief. “Let’s get you in the bath. The warm water will help you.”

A look of horror contorted her face. “No, please, no water. I promise I’ll be good. Please don’t do that.” She struggled in my embrace, but her movements were weak and lethargic. Still, I held her tighter to keep her from falling or hurting herself further.

“Sofiya, love, what’s the matter?” My heart raced as she continued to struggle and cry out, each sound she made another dagger twisted in my chest.

“Please don’t. Not the water. Please, I’ll be good, I promise.” Her words were slurred as her eyes drifted closed again.

Romeo ran into the room. “Aria’s on her way. She said we have to warm her core first. Get the wet clothes off and put blankets on her.”

Angelo ran into the room, his arms laden with blankets.

Releasing Sofiya onto the bed was one of the hardest things I’d had to do.

The other two left the room while I stripped her clothing. I ran a warm washcloth over her skin, cleaning her, before layering the blankets over her.

I jumped when the bedroom door opened. It was Aria. She moved quickly to Sofiya’s side, pulling a warm compress out of her medical bag. I wanted to shout at her to hurry as she silently took Sofiya’s vitals, but I held my tongue.

“Her vitals are strong,” she finally said. “And her body temperature is rising.”

I couldn’t stop staring at my wife.

“How did this happen, Matteo?” she asked.

Words weren’t sufficient to detail what I’d done. To expose my shame.

Her eyes darkened as Romeo explained everything.

Sofiya stirred on the bed and I moved closer, but Aria stopped me. “You need to leave.”

A red haze fell on my vision. “I’m not fucking leaving her. I have to take care of her.”

“You’re the one who did this,” she seethed. “Do you think Sofiya is going to stay calm with you in the room? She is my patient, and I’m saying you need to get out. You can come back in only if she asks for you.”

Angelo appeared in front of me, his broad body looming over me.

“Let’s go,” he said, looking down at me like I was dirt.

For the first time since I was a child, I felt small.

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