Page 153 of Rome: The Ballerina

Silence.

“Rome is as much mine as she is Richie’s or Rhea’s. That’s–” Teddy coughed, masking his emotions, “That’s my entire fucking heart. I raised her. Bathed her. Fed her. Wiped her ass. Straightened her up when she wasn’t doing what she was supposed to. It wasn’t often.

“She’s the good one. The one that’s far away from the world my sisters and I live in. She is pure. Shewaspure, at least. Keep her that way. She thrives on love. She’s spoiled rotten. Never tell her no, because I will always tell her yes.

“And, if I have to do your job, I will terminate your position. That is not a threat. That is a promise. One I fully intend to keep.Don’t let her down. Don’t ever let her down. She’s too fragile. Too loyal. Too good to be lied to, cheated on, or disrespected.

“You have some large shoes to fill. Fill them motherfuckers. Don’t half-ass it. I won’t let you, and neither will those women that just filed out of here. For her, we ride. For her, wedie. No questions asked. Marry her and give her whatever her heart desires.

“It won’t be much, because I have given her everything. Just maintain it. Maintain her. She’ll be happy with a garden and early morning runs. She’s easy to please. So, do that.Please her. Every day.”

“I fully intend to–all of that. Happily. Rome isn’t the only one who has been waiting, either.” Saint chuckled.

“I didn’t have the privilege of dreaming about a certain person in the world but I knew she was out there. Somewhere. And, I also knew that everything I bumped into prior to meeting Rome just wasn’t it.

“But, here she is. I have the rest of this lifetime and the next to love her gently. Slowly. Wholly. Tenderly. There’s no need to worry. You can rest your bones, Doc. She’s in the best of hands.”

Out.

In.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

I peeled my eyelids apart. Slowly, I was gathering my strength. Darkness coated the hospital room. I lifted my right arm to find an IV injected into my vein, pumping me with fluids. There was another filtering my blood.

My left arm tingled from numbness. So did my left side. Saint’s scent was overwhelmingly good. I leaned forward, burying my head in his chest. He was sound asleep.

I drifted off again. Those that I loved surrounded me. The peace I found was immeasurable.

Out.

Groaning,I rolled onto my back. Sunlight pushed through the windows.

“Baby?”

Saint’s voice pulled me in, keeping me conscious and alert.

“Yes?” I groaned.

“Baby, I know that breath kicking. Stand back, honey.”

“Rou!” Rather called out.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Though halfway annoying, she was hardly ever wrong.

“She laughs,” Range cheered.

“How are you feeling?”

Saint hovered over me, brushing my hair back. It was no longer in a bun. It wasn’t even in a ponytail. It was flat against my head, hanging down my back.

“Thirsty.”

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