Page 49 of Deadly Vows

“Thank you,” I murmur.

The doctor turns away to leave the room, but Luca follows him, murmuring something so that I don’t hear their conversation. But I do make out a small part of it.

“No records.”

I scoff to myself. So, my hunch was correct. This doctor is employed by the family as well. Being a significant crime boss means hospital visits should be minimal. Hospitals mean records and police. And for the types of injuries sustained in this line of work, Luca would be dead or tracked down immediately.

I’m confident that’s how Ari managed to find out about my running away. The wreck I caused was in the middle of a back road, and I’m sure Luca was too injured to call someone. My family must have gotten ahold of the hospital records and began looking for me.

I take a deep breath, my eyes shifting to the partially open window. The sunlight streams in, offering a false sense of hope. But the warmth is nice, making my eyes suddenly feel heavy as I lie back on the pillow. The crushing defeat I felt waking up only solidifies as I realize I am not only hooked up to machines, but also that Luca probably has this hospital under heavy surveillance.

I am once again at his mercy.

So, I continue staring out the window until my eyes grow too heavy to keep open, and my mind falls asleep.

When I open my eyes again, Luca has returned. He’s in different clothes, sitting in his designated corner, not working for once. He’s reading a book. I shift my attention to the window. The sun’s rays have turned a deep orange as it reaches the end of its descent.

“You’re awake,” Luca says, closing the book as he stands. He silently crosses the room, pulling the bedside tray with him. He’s quiet as he pulls the silver cover from the food, revealing a steaming bowl of soup. He grabs the bowl, bringing it with him as he sits on the edge of the bed, gently dipping the spoon.

I eye him in confusion as he brings the spoon to my lips, but he speaks before I can voice my thoughts. “I’m not in the mood for games. Eat.”

I reluctantly open my mouth for him to feed me, ignoring the twist of hunger in my gut and the intense pleasure my taste buds get from having food after being unconscious for so long.

“Dr. Patterson said you need rest and something in your system. Your body will need help replenishing your strength,” he says.

“So he does work for you,” I say.

Luca doesn’t respond as he feeds me, ensuring the bowl is empty before placing it back on the tray. And once again, silence falls between us. He’s thinking hard about what he wants to say next.

“Elise…don’t try to take your life again. I can’t handle that. I can’t handle life without you,” he says.

“Don’t you realize you almost lost me because of you?” I ask, finally garnering enough strength to look at him as I confess my innermost thoughts.

“You broke me, Luca. You tortured me. You carved your name into my flesh, for God’s sake. You’ve killed people in front of me, and now you expect me to be okay with the massacre of my family by my brother’s hand. How do you expect me, the woman you constantly remind was kept away from this world, to react?” I ask.

He studies me for a long time, but doesn’t respond. I wish I knew what he was thinking. I never know what he’s thinking, yet he can read me like a book.

“Can you just stop fighting me on everything? Why do you refuse to acknowledge that the reason you’re with me in the first place is that your family wasn’t planning on you living this long? Why won’t you acknowledge I am the one who saved you?” he asks.

Silence passes between us, and I don’t know what to say.

“I guess it doesn’t matter anymore. William has agreed to help me gather what’s left of your family. You can hate me from the safety of our home once it’s finished,” he says, standing. He watches me with a hard expression as he once again closes himself off.

“And Elise, remember your brother is a Trovoli as well. Don’t try something like this again. Or he will join your family in their extermination,” he says.

We continue to stare at each other, and I try my best to keep a straight face. But I feel my bottom lip begin to tremble as frustration courses through me. I shut my eyes tight, and the tears fall miserably down my face.

He wins again.

He’s using my soft heart against me, dangling my brother’s life for my own. I could never cut his life short because of my own selfishness, and Luca knows that. He knows that very well.

Luca releases a deep sigh, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Oh, Elise…It’s only because I love you.”

Luca reaches for my face, and I quickly raise my hand to slap him away. But he catches my attack, something dangerous flickering behind that controlled gaze as he fights his emotions.

He laughs, releasing me as he stands. His back remains to me as his voice carries through the room.

“Remember what I said, Elise. Your brother’s life depends on it,” he says.

---