Dr. Khan came over to finish checking her out. “I don’t think she has a concussion, but she’s going to have a hell of a headache and probably a black eye to go with that goose egg on her temple. No NSAIDs for the headache. Acetaminophen only.” He pulled the fetal doppler from the bag he’d sent Ugo to retrieve from his room and placed it on Monroe’s stomach.
Moments later, the sound of one baby’s heartbeat filled the room, then the second’s. “Everything seems to be fine with the babies,” he said after a pause. “Let me know if you start feeling any cramping or have any spotting.”
Monroe nodded, touching her hand to her forehead. “Thanks, Dr. Khan.”
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He shook his head at her. “You keep things exciting around here, that’s for sure, Mrs. Fontana.”
“Precious, do you need something for the pain?” I asked when we were alone again. Before she could answer, I started for the bathroom to get her some Tylenol from the medicine cabinet.
“Gian,” she called, making me stop before I could reach the bathroom door.
I sprinted back to her side. Her eyes were wide as she looked up at me, and she lifted her hand. I clasped hers in mine and bent over her to kiss her palm. “What’s wrong, my love? Is the headache bad? Do you think you should go to the hospital?”
“No, no.” She stroked her hand over my hair. “I… Mila told me something, but I-I don’t know how to explain it.”
Hearing the distress in her voice, I dropped to my knees beside her. “Just tell me, precious. Whatever it is, I’ll fix it for you.”
“It wasn’t about me.” She started to sit up, but then gasped and dropped back down. “Fuck, I whacked my head good, didn’t I?”
With my free hand, I skimmed a finger down her jaw. “Even with that shiner you already have going on, you’re still the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”
The beginnings of a smile teased at the corners of her lips. “Charmer.”
“It’s the truth.”
“I need to call Mila back. She’s probably freaking out.” Blowing out a frustrated sigh, she glared up at the ceiling above our bed. “Gian, what would you do if you weren’t Enzo Fontana’s son?”
I pulled my brows together at her random question, and I checked the pulse in her wrist, making sure she was really okay. “Throw a party and celebrate.”
“Mila said you’re not,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper.
I stiffened, my heart pounding. She was really beginning to worry me. Maybe Khan didn’t know what the fuck he was talking about, because it seemed as if Monroe had injured her head and was now talking nonsense. “What else did Mila say?”
“That Enzo Fontana took a DNA test but died before he got the results. No one ever contacted the lab, so they’ve held on to them all this time.” She turned her head, and I saw her eyes were bright with tears. “I think…I think they’re coming for me.”
“What? Who?” I cupped her face. “You’re not making any sense, baby.”
“She kept asking where I was. And then she mentioned Lyric’s cousins and that they were looking into you. That’s how they found out about the DNA tests. She said they were trying to find me.” Twin tears spilled like diamonds from her eyes. “They’re going to come for me and take me away.”
“No, I won’t let them.” I kissed her brow, trying to reassure her—and myself. “You’re mine, Monroe. I won’t let anyone take you from me.”
“Lexa made me choose,” she said with a whimper. “She made me choose because you’re Enzo Fontana’s son. But you’re not. He’s not your father. She won’t make me choose now. She’ll let me have you and her too… Right?”
“Precious, I would love to give you that, but I can’t.” I kissed her lips softly before pulling back. “I wish I could, but I can’t change reality.”
“I love you,” she whispered. “I love you so much. I don’t want to leave you. I know I said I did, but I lied. Because I was mad at you and hurt. But…” Her tears were flowing faster now, streaming like rivers from each eye, making her nose run. “But I want to stay with you, G. Please, don’t let them take me away from you.”
“Never,” I vowed in a raspy voice.
“But don’t hurt them,” she pleaded. “I couldn’t handle it if someone got hurt because of me. Please don’t shoot them.”
“Baby, if anyone tries to take you from me, I’ll kill them all.” Her tears only fell faster, and I groaned in pain at the sight. “But if it means so much to you, I’ll tell my men to stand down.”
“P-promise?”
I climbed into bed beside her and pulled her head to my chest, careful not to so much as graze the tender spot on her forehead. “Don’t I always give you what you want, my love?”