Page 59 of The Mafia Bloodline
“She’s stable,” he said, and I nearly collapsed with relief. “We managed to stop the contractions for now, but she needs strict bed rest. Any further stress could trigger preterm labour. If the baby comes now, survival is uncertain.”
My jaw locked. “What do I need to do?”
The doctor gave me a look that cut through every defence I had. “Keep her calm. Keep her safe. That means no more surprises, no more excitement. She needs peace, Volken. You have to be her anchor.”
When he left, I leaned against the wall, running a hand through my hair, every muscle shaking.
Viking stayed quiet for a long time, then muttered, “You’re a damn good man, even if you forget it sometimes.”
I huffed out something that might have been a laugh. “You think she’ll forgive me?”
“She already has,” Viking said. “Women like her they don’t love half-measures. They love us at our worst, and they drag us back when we fall.”
I nodded slowly, the tension finally bleeding out of me.
“Go to her,” he said, clapping a hand to my shoulder. “Before she wakes up and starts yelling.”
I managed a smile, it’s weak, but real as I make my way back to her room.
Runa was asleep, the lines of fear softened on her face, her hand resting protectively over her belly. I sank into the chair beside her, taking her hand carefully in mine. Her skin was still a little too cool, her pulse too fragile beneath my fingertips. Every breath she took was a reminder of how close I’d come to losing everything.
“I’ll never scare you like that again,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “You and our child are everything. I can’t live without you.”
The words caught somewhere between confession and prayer. My chest ached as I lowered my head, resting my forehead against the back of her hand. The scent of her the warmth, honey, and the faint trace of my own blood in her veins filled every corner of me, grounding and gutting me all at once.
This was my fault. If I’d waited…If I’d thought…
If I hadn’t let her father walk back into her life when she was this fragile…
My jaw tightened as guilt clawed at my insides. She could’ve died because I’d wanted to give her hope. Because I’d been weak. Because I’d been selfish.
“I should’ve protected you from everything,” I murmured, my voice shaking against her hand. “Even the things you thought you needed.”
Her fingers twitched faintly in her sleep, the smallest response, and I lifted my head, pressing a kiss to her knuckles like a vowcarved in blood. “You and this baby, you’re my whole world, Runa. I swear I’ll keep you safe. Even from me.”
The door creaked open behind me, soft but firm. I didn’t bother looking up.
“Volken,” came the low, weary voice of the doctor. “It’s almost dawn.”
I stayed where I was, my hand still wrapped around hers. “I’m not leaving her.”
The doctor sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “You know the risk. Your strength fades with the light. You’ll be dead weight if she needs you.”
“I said I’m not leaving.” My tone came out sharp enough to make him flinch.
A heavier set of footsteps entered slower, more deliberate. “He’s right,” Viking said, his voice calm but unyielding. “You can’t stay, brother.”
I looked up at him, every muscle in my body tense. “I won’t leave her here alone. Not when she’s like this.”
“She won’t be alone,” Viking said, crossing his arms. “Ivan and Gideon are already on their way. They’ll stay until nightfall.”
“It’s not enough.”
“It’s all you can do,” Viking said, his tone turning harder. “You staying will do nothing but weaken you. And if something happens tomorrow, she’ll need you whole.”
I clenched my jaw, shaking my head. “I can’t just…”
Before I could finish, a soft voice broke through the tension.
