Page 304 of Kissing the Villain

Marcello nodded. “The same one you used to leave the estate.”

“I thought there were alarms in the Catacombs.”

“If you know how to disarm them, you can sneak through the house with no one knowing.”

“I think it’s time to seal the doors,” I said with authority. “We can’t risk this happening again, not with a baby on the way.”

“Agreed. I’ll work on it when we get home.”

“Mrs. Salvatore,” a male voice boomed.

I slid off Marcello’s lap and rushed to the doctor, dressed in green scrubs. “I’m Mrs. Salvatore.”

“Your husband pulled through,” the doctor said, and my relief rolled down my arms. “Luca’s heart stopped for thirty seconds, but we revived him. He’s still in recovery.”

“Can I see him?”

“When he wakes up, yes.”

Pops appeared on my right, Marcello on my left.

The doctor acknowledged Pops with a nod. “How are you, Chief?”

My grandfather was the Chief of Surgery before retiring from the hospital to become CEO of Wellington Pharmaceuticals.

“I’ve been better,” Pops said.

I spun around to face the Knights. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I looked at the men who risked their lives to save mine.

“Thank you,” I said to no one in particular.

Without a word, Marcello took my hand and kissed my skin. Then, he moved out of the way, allowing each knight to do the same. After they finished, I stood between them and smiled. Surrounded by my Knights, I felt safe and protected. Knowing I had these men at my command provided me immense comfort, especially at a time like this one.

I pressed my hand to Marcello’s cheek, allowing the silence to wrap around us. We stared at each other briefly before I moved to Sonny, Drake, Cole, Damian, Bastian, and Callum. I saved Aiden for last, repeating the same motion before I threw my arms around his neck. He lifted me off the floor, hugging me so hard he crushed my chest against his.

After I released Aiden from my death grip, Kali pulled me into her arms. “How about we get you cleaned up before you see Luca? It’s still your wedding day. A bride should look her best on her special day.”

A few hours later,a nurse entered the waiting room and gestured for Marcello and me to follow her to Luca’s room. The rest of the Knights had to wait since they limited us to two visitors at a time. Marcello held my hand as we followed the nurse down the endless hallway. My heart raced with each step we took toward Luca’s hospital room.

I stopped in the entryway, my mouth wide at the sight of Luca hooked up to beeping monitors. It reminded me of when Marcello got shot. The constant sounds of his life dangling by a thread.

“Why are the monitors beeping?” I asked the nurse.

“That’s normal,” she said with a sweet smile.

“Is he going to survive?”

“He’s not out of the woods yet, but his doctor is optimistic he will fully recover.” She cupped my shoulder. “Whenever you’re ready, you can see him.”

“Thank you,” Marcello said to the nurse, who nodded, then walked down the hallway opposite.

He tapped my back, helping me inch my way into the room. I took slow, deliberate steps, my pulse pounding as I looked at my sleeping husband. His eyes were closed, his chest rising and falling. I released a deep breath.

I stood at his bedside and leaned down to brush the black hair off his forehead. “I’m here, Luca.”

Marcello slid his hands to my shoulders. I leaned against his chest, and he hooked his arms around me. It felt like an eternity until Luca’s monitors made a different sound. A minute later, his eyes fluttered.

I slipped out of Marcello’s grasp and leaned over the bed. Luca opened one eye and looked up at me. A rare smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

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