Page 303 of Kissing the Villain

ALEX

Pops didwhat he could to treat Luca before a Medevac helicopter flew him to the nearest hospital, where I waited with the Knights surrounding me. Drake sat on my right, with my legs resting on his thighs. He rubbed my feet to take my mind off everything. But even his skilled hands could not make me forget about my husband getting shot at our wedding.

Finn and Luca were in surgery. It felt like hours had passed as I sat in my wedding dress, stained with Luca’s blood. The doctors expected Finn to make a full recovery after surgery. According to my grandfather, his injuries were not as severe as Luca’s.

Arlo was dead. Most of our guests bled out on the ballroom floor. Some of the Mafia families lost men. The Carver had a bullet in his skull, though some of his men were lucky and got away in time. Marcello had assured me they wouldn’t return to exact revenge for their boss. He said men in their world were only loyal to those who paid them, and since his uncle was no longer breathing, we didn't have to worry.

Pops waited across the room from us, still dressed in his tuxedo, his hands and shirt matted with dried blood. He’d tried to stop the bleeding to give Luca a better chance of survival. Mygrandmother was the only member of a Founding family not in attendance.Good riddance.No one would miss Blair.

I sat on Marcello’s lap, clutched his bicep, and held him dearly. He hugged me against his chest and cradled the back of my head with his big hand. When Marcello was in surgery, Luca held me and told me everything would be okay. Today, it was Marcello’s turn to console me while we waited to find out if Luca would live.

I couldn’t imagine a world where Luca didn’t exist. I had run away from him for years, desperate to escape my family legacy. But now, I would have given anything, even my own life, to see him one more time. To kiss his full lips and tell him I love him.

You can’t kill the Devil, baby.

I replayed Luca’s words dozens of times, telling myself there was some truth to his statement. Though I knew Luca was never really the Devil. He was just a broken boy who grew into a dangerous man who used violence and fear to shield himself from others. To insulate himself so no one could hurt him.

We all looked like we had gone to Hell and back again. Sonny was on my left, tapping his fingers on his thigh as if counting down the seconds. He looked the worst of the Knights, his usually styled blond hair messy and falling onto his forehead. Cole and the Marshall boys sat across from us with their father. All the Cormacs, Battles, and Marshalls waited in silence.

We had the room to ourselves, the silence in the air stirring more nerves in my belly. The hospital staff knew my family well. Apart from Aiden, all the men in my family had been surgeons at Beacon Memorial Hospital. Because of our connections, they overlooked the fact that everyone was beaten up and covered in blood. It looked like we had attended the Red Wedding fromGame of Thronesand somehow lived to tell about it.

“I got you,” Marcello whispered in my ear. “It will be okay.”

I glanced up at him with tears in my eyes. He looked tired, his usually sad eyes hooded. Marcello was trying to hold it together for me.

“You lost your father and possibly your brother in one day.” I lay my head on his arm. “How are you doing, Marcello?”

“I’m fine,” he said without hesitation. “Don’t worry about me.”

I sat up and hooked my arm around his neck. “I will always worry about you.”

“Don’t,” he shot back. “You have enough things to think about at the moment. My dad died with honor. He died protecting us.”

“Protecting me.”

“You are family, Alex.” His knuckles grazed my cheek, and I leaned into his hand. “I would have done the same. So would Luca. All of us would have died to save you.”

“And look where Luca ended up.” I sighed. “If he doesn’t make it… I can’t even…”

“Turn off your brain,” he ordered. “Try to relax.”

“Impossible.” I sighed. “We barely said I do before Luca got shot. I’m pregnant. This baby needs a father.”

He rubbed his hand over my stomach. “I will take care of you and this baby, no matter what happens to Luca.”

“He has to live,” I croaked. “This baby needs him. You, me, the Knights, we all need him. I just went through this with you. I can’t…” I sobbed so hard my stomach hurt. “Marcello, I can’t do this again.”

“You can.” His fingers wove through my hair in a soothing motion. “You’re stronger than you think, Alex.”

“How did your uncle get onto the estate without setting off any alarms?”

“He grew up at the Salvatore Estate.” Marcello frowned as he looked into my eyes. “Only Salvatores know about the secret passages.”

“And me.”

He held me like a child and kissed my forehead. “You’re a Salvatore now.”

“Claudio and his men used the passages?”

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