Page 186 of Arturo's Temptation

“Go and see our granddaughter. We’ll wait for news on Bella.” Ana urged, holding onto Lorenzo’s arm. “Take a picture for us,” she smiled, trying to remain positive as she spoke.

“I will.”

A strange hummingsensation rumbled through my chest as I stood beside the incubator my daughter was in. My eyes stung as I watched her delicate chest rising and falling with help from the ventilator. She had a head of dark hair just like mine, and a dainty button nose along with full lips just like Bella. She was so beautiful, and she was ours. The sound of the heart monitor made my already fried nerves more frazzled. I hated how fragile she looked. She was hooked up to so many tubes, it made me feel helpless. There was nothing I could do for her.

“You can touch her hand, if you like.” A nurse from the edge of the room informed me.

“I can?”

“Yeah, through there,” she pointed to the hole beside my little girl’s hand.

“I-I don’t want to hurt her.” The nerves must have been so fucking obvious as she smiled graciously and made her way over.

“Don’t worry, you won’t.” She guided my hand toward the opening, my breath hitching the second my finger came into contact with her soft, warm skin. “There you go. Now, I’ll be just outside if you need me.” I didn’t pay much attention as she left, I was too lost in staring at my girl.

Our girl…

“Heyprincesa, it’s your dada.” I placed my finger inside her fist. She was so small, she must have weighed no more than three pounds. “You have no idea how much I love you.” I rested my head against the incubator, letting my tears fall. “Your mama will come soon. She’s a fighter just like you.”

What felt like minutes must have been hours when Ana’s soft voice caught my attention.

“Arturo?”

“Come in, Ana.”

“Oh, Arturo, she’s gorgeous.” She lowered herself in the chair beside mine. “As much as I see my daughter in her, she’s all you.” I chuckled. A delicate frown formed across her brow as she swallowed,“Did they give you any, uhm… updates?”

“Yeah, nurse said all bein’ well she’d be allowed home in around six weeks.” Ana nodded then took my hand.

“I came to tell you that Bella’s out of surgery and they’re pleased with how she’s doing.” I clasped a hand to my eyes as relief flooded my veins. Ana smiled when I looked back up. “They’re hopeful she’ll wake up soon.” Both my girls were okay. We were all going to be okay. “Do you want me to sit with our newest addition while you go sit with Bella?”

“Would you mind?”

“Of course not, send Lorenzo down when you see him though. He’s dying to meet this one and was gutted when I beat him to the elevator,” she giggled, her hand replacing mine in the incubator.

“I will. Thank you, Ana.”

My heart soared as I made my way upstairs, I couldn’t wait to be there when my woman opened those pretty blue eyes.

I only hoped she could forgive me.

61

Each timeI felt close to waking, the darkness would creep back in. It was hard to fight the urge to give in to it, I felt as though I’d been hit by a truck. Everything from the waist up was throbbing and from the waist down all I could feel was a tingling numbness from god knows what. A familiar hand held mine, the thumb circling over my knuckles.

Where the hell was I?

When my eyes flickered open, I cringed at the bright, artificial light.

Arturo? Where are you?

“Bella,” I turned my head to see a handsome face, lined with relief. Tears sprang to his eyes as he lifted a cup of water to my lips. The moment the cool liquid hit the back of my throat, I groaned in relief.

“W-Where am I?” I managed, my voice croaky with disuse.

“You’re in hospital.” His eyes dropped from mine, as if he was composing himself.

“O-our b-baby?” I panicked, pain radiating through me with every movement I made. I clutched my bump only to realiseit was a lot smaller than before. “Arturo, where’s our baby?” I sobbed.

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