Page 76 of Alessia
I narrow my eyes but a small smile tugs at my lips, “That’s different.”
“Oh, really? Enlighten me.” She coughs.
“It’s different because… losing you isn’t an option for me. You’re not just… anyone, Harper. You matter.” my voice falters, but I hold Harper’s eyes, “You matter tome.”
Her expression softens, and she reaches out with her uninjured arm to take my hand, “And you think you don’t matter to me? Alessia, I’d endure this all again if it meant coming home to you.”
“Okay, Tesoro… You can tell me about it when we get you back on your feet.” I whisper before she passes out in my arms.
Harper’s body goes limp, her weight suddenly a leaden presence against me. Panic tightens in my chest as I cradle her. Blood seeps through my fingers pressed to her shoulder, its warmth a grim reminder of the urgency.
“Hold on, Harper,” I murmur. “I can hear the ambulance coming… Hold on, Tesoro.” I whisper in her ear.
The seconds stretch into eternity, each one punctuated by the shallow rise and fall of her chest.
When the ambulance finally arrives, the paramedics move with practiced efficiency, their calmness a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me. I clutch Harper’s hand tightly as they load her onto the stretcher, refusing to let go even though they insist I drive myself to the hospital.
“Not happening. I ride with you or you fix her right here!”
The paramedics look at each other and with a sigh, one of them agrees. I step in the ambulance; I’m not leaving Harper for a single second.
At the hospital, the fluorescent lights are harsh and unrelenting, casting everything in a sterile, clinical glow. The staff whisks Harper away, leaving me standing in the hallway, feeling hollow and helpless. I sink into a plastic chair, her words replaying in my mind like a lifeline, anchoring me to hope.
Minutes blur into hours before a doctor approaches, his expression grim.
“She’s stable, for now…” he says. “She lost a lot of blood, add that to her other injuries and malnourishment, it’s a miracle she got this far.”
“What injuries?” Anger rises in me.
“I can’t disclose that information without Harper being conscious, you’ll have to wait until then. It may take a while for her to wake up after so much trauma.”
The words feel heavy. I thank him, my voice barely above a whisper, and follow the nurse to her room. Harper lies pale and still against the stark white sheets, an IV taped to her arm. I sit beside her, my hand cupping hers, and whisper,
“You’ve got to wake up, Tesoro. You promised to come home to me.”
The hours tick by and still no sign of Harper waking up. Elio stationed men around her room and the hospital. Since Gianni is still out there somewhere we need to keep our guards up.
The door of Harper’s room opens and Lorenzo walks in, Amelia following on his heels.
“Hi, big sis. How are you doing?” He puts his hand on my shoulder.
“I’ll be fine.” I scoff.
“I know, just wanted to check in. Amelia flew in and she brought some food for you.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“I know that too.”
I sigh and tear my eyes from Harper to look at them. Their faces are lined with worry, though they try to mask it with small smiles. Amelia steps forward, holding a small brown bag.
“Just something light,” she says gently. “A sandwich, some fruit. You need to keep your strength up.”
I nod reluctantly. “Thanks,” I mutter. Amelia places the bag on the side table, her hand brushing mine briefly before she steps back.
Lorenzo pulls a chair closer to me and sits down, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “Any change?”
I shake my head, my throat tightening.
