Page 44 of Psycho Saints

Julian reached down to the carrier at his feet, opening up the door as I watched quietly. Kenny stepped out, peering up at us before Julian scooped him up and set him in my lap.

As soon as we'd gotten in the car, Julian had checked him over for injury, and somehow, he'd been unscathed.

My fingers absently stroked Kenny’s soft fur as fresh tears spilled down my cheeks.

Julian's voice cut through the haze of my thoughts. "I haven't told Tyrone about the pregnancy," he said softly. "I think that should come from you."

I nodded, barely registering his words. My mind was a whirlwind of fear and anxiety. "All this shit... it could make me lose it," I muttered, my voice thick with emotion.

"Don't talk like that," Julian said firmly, his hand squeezing my shoulder.

I shook my head, more tears falling. "I don't want to lose it," I whispered. "I want this baby more than anything."

My voice caught in my throat as I thought about Cristian. If it was his baby... The possibility was too much to bear. I couldn't finish the thought, choking on a sob instead.

Julian's arm wrapped around me, pulling me close. "No matter what happens, Scarlet, you'll always have me and Tyrone," he assured me. After a pause, he added with a hint of humor, "And Kenny, of course."

Despite everything, I felt the corners of my mouth twitch upward. I looked down at the cat in my lap, continuing to stroke his fur. Kenny purred contentedly, his presence grounding, a small piece of normalcy right now.

"Thank you," I murmured to Julian, leaning into his embrace. The warmth of his body and Kenny's weight on my lap provided a welcome sense of security amidst everything.

The car continued its journey through the now darkened evening, carrying us towards an uncertain future. I clung to Julian and tried to focus on the steady rhythm of Kenny's purrs. It was all I could do to keep from falling apart completely.

At least I wasn't alone.

21

SCARLET

Isat in the chair by the hospital bed, my eyes fixed on Cristian's still form. The steady beep of the heart monitor filled the sterile room, a constant reminder that he was alive, if only barely. Three days had passed since the Russos' retaliation, and the weight of everything that had happened pressed down on me.

Tyrone had been a whirlwind of activity, systematically dismantling what remained of the Russo family. The last of them were gone now, their empire crumbling. Those who'd survived had fled the city, leaving behind a vacuum that the Silvestris were all too eager to fill. They were claiming their assets and buildings, distributing them to the other families they were allied with where they felt comfortable doing so. All stuff Tyrone had shared in his brief visits before he was off again to deal with everything.

I hadn't told Tyrone about the pregnancy yet. It didn't feel right, not with Cristian lying here, unconscious and fighting for his life. Only Julian knew, and he'd kept my secret, understanding the delicate nature of the situation.

My hand found its way to Cristian's, careful not to disturb the IV lines. His skin felt cool beneath my touch, so different from the warmth I'd grown accustomed to. I thought back to the weeks before the attack, how he'd been trying so hard to change, to make amends for his past actions.

The gifts, the constant attention, the way he'd doted on me - it had all been his attempt to prove himself worthy. And now, here he lay, having taken bullets protecting me. He'd taken care of me, just as he'd promised.

"You dickhead," I whispered, my voice cracking. "How dare you go and get shot right now?"

A lump formed in my throat as I remembered the moment he'd been shot. The look of determination on his face, the way he'd shielded me with his body without hesitation. Even as he fell, his only concern had been for me and the baby.

The baby. My free hand drifted to my stomach. A life Cristian had nearly died to protect, even in those first moments of knowing about it.

Hell, he could still die. The thought wormed its way through me as I ground my teeth.

"You need to wake up," I said, squeezing his hand gently. "You hear me? You don't get to check out now, not after everything. Not when..."

I trailed off, unable to finish the thought. The future stretched out before me, uncertain and frightening. I'd accepted this life, embraced the darkness that came with being part of the Silvestri family. But now, faced with the prospect of losing Cristian, I felt adrift. Tyrone and Julian wouldn't handle his death with ease. I could imagine Tyrone walling himself off, becoming colder, while Julian, well, I dared to think he'd start to withdraw, find a focus. Losing him would shatter what we had, changing everything.

A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. Julian entered, his face a mask of concern.

"Any change?" he asked, moving to stand beside me.

I shook my head. "Nothing yet."

Julian's hand came to rest on my shoulder, a comforting weight. "He's strong, Scarlet. He'll pull through."

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