Page 85 of Ruthless Reign

“She’ll be okay, brother,” Leo said. “I know it.”

I watched him walk out of the room as the weight of his words settled in my chest.

Brother.

Two years ago, I would have died rather than consider Leo Caputi my brother, and now he truly was—not just in relationship but by law. The Roses and the Caputis were connected irrevocably by love and marriage, and soon by blood.

The doctor had confirmed Julia had been pregnant and miscarried due to the trauma of being shot. I didn’t plan to tell anyone that, not until Julia knew herself. I grieved the young life we’d lost, even if I didn’t know about it until two days ago. I wanted children with her. I wanted the family I’d always envisioned.

I stared at the woman on the bed and wiped the water from my cheeks, praying to whatever fate…karma…deities were listening that they heal her and bring her back to me. Hadn’t I given enough for this fucking war? My parents, my blood, my fellow Roses, almost my brothers and sister. Hadn’t I done enough to end it, to make it right? And now my whole future lay unconscious on a bed, nearly bled to death, and what did I get in return? Nothing but my anger and frustration that I couldn’t do anything to stop it.

To distract myself, I answered a few emails from my phone and replied to the sibling group chat including Pollux, Castor, and V.

Verona:Bear, do you need anything? I’m on my way over. I’ll bring you something to eat.

Pollux:Get me a chicken sandwich—the one with the cheddar jack cheese.

Verona:I didn’t ask you, bonehead. You’re not at the hospital with your wife.

Castor:I want extra fries.

Pollux:Get me extra fries, too. We’ll meet you there.

Verona:Idiots. BEAR—Do YOU need anything?

Pollux:Yeah, brother. Want me to bring you some clean clothes?

I laughed and tried not to let my emotions overwhelm me. If it was one thing about my siblings and me, we were trauma-bonded down to the marrow. Losing our mother so young, living this life together, it made the foundation of our relationship so fucking solid, nothing would shake it. I could tell them not to come. I could tell them not to waste their time since she probably wouldn’t wake up for a while, but they wouldn’t listen. When Pollux had been in the hospital, we’d all gone to see him every day, even if there was nothing new to see. They wouldn’t let me face this on my own.

A groan from the hospital bed drew my attention before I could reply to my siblings, and when I glanced up, my heart nearly stopped to see her beautiful brown eyes open.

“Julia?” I said.

She moved her lips to try to talk, but there’d be no point with the ventilator down her throat.

“Shh,” I said. “Don’t move. Don’t try to speak.” I called over my shoulder for a nurse or a doctor, fucking someone to help her, but when she grabbed my hand and squeezed, I knew she’d be okay. Leo had been right. She was strong, much stronger than me, and she’d pull through.

“You’re okay,” I told her. “You’re in the hospital, but you’re okay.”

The sound of rushing feet came up behind me and warm hands pulled me away from my wife.

“Let me see her,” the nurse said, grabbing the stethoscope from around her neck. A few other people filled in around her, and I reluctantly dropped Julia’s hand to let the doctors do their work. But regaining consciousness was a good sign, and I bowed my head to silently give thanks to whatever had heard me and granted my prayers.

27

JULIA

“Why do they call you Bear?” I asked, my throat still scratchy and hoarse from the tube being removed a few days ago. I had never gotten an opportunity to ask, and after almost dying, I wouldn’t waste any more time.

Roman smirked and shook his head, holding out a spoonful of cheap pudding. “Because nothing can get through me if I stand my ground. Ever since I was little, I was a juggernaut, too big for my britches.” He put the spoon between my lips and I swallowed it down. Even though I wasn’t a huge fan of the taste, I needed the calories. “And I protect what’s mine.”

“Hmm,” I said. “Me too.”

“Good thing you’re married to me, then,” he said, scooping up the last bit and offering it out to me. But I shook my head, unable to stomach anymore. He ate it himself and set the plastic cup on the side table. “But don’t you ever do anything like that again, little wife.”

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “Your life is good enough to trade for mine, but mine is not good enough to trade for yours?”

“You’re goddamned right.” He glanced down at my stomach with a knowing look, and I clutched my midsection. Afterthe trauma of being shot and going through surgery, I had miscarried. I’d been crying about it since I woke up and found out. I yearned for the life I’d lost, even though I didn’t know I was pregnant in the first place. It wasn’t far along, barely six weeks, but it was enough. Up until very recently, I wasn’t sure I wanted this with him, and now I mourned the future that had been ripped away from us.

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