God, not this.
I’m dragged under swells of humiliation as the nurse wipes my body down, showing Mom how to do it.
And then there’s the pain. Jesus, the pain is raw and icy, the sharpness stabbing at every nerve and bone.
By the time my body is covered with a sheet, I feel feverish, my teeth aching from clenching them.
“Give us a moment, please,” Mom asks politely.
I hear the door shut and slowly open my eyes.
Mom sits down on the bed and pulls me into a tender hug. “I know,” she whispers. “I know, sweetheart.”
“Mami,” I whimper, clinging to her with my left hand.
“I’ll wash you from now on. Okay?”
I nod against her shoulders. “Please.”
“Don’t worry. Mami will take care of you.”
I hold on to my mother until the exhaustion and pain drag me into a feverish dream where everything is black as night, the sound of drilling bombarding me from every direction.
An explosion rips me out of sleep, and I dart up.
The pain in my chest and leg is devastating, and my lips part, but I can’t make a sound.
“Fuck,” Luca snaps, worry lacing the word. He takes hold of my shoulders and helps me to lie back down.
I gasp for air. Strands of hair stick to my clammy skin, but I feel a breeze. Glancing around, I notice two fans are directed at me, and the sheet is gone. I only have two towels covering me.
I see tubes disappearing beneath the bandage around my leg. I see the ugly bruises on my torso. Then my eyes land on my right hand.
I swear I can still feel the drill ripping through my skin and bone.
I’ll never forget the sound.
“Baby,” Luca murmurs while wiping my forehead with a cool cloth.
I open my eyes, feeling weaker than I’ve ever felt.
He smiles down at me. “Christ, you’re beautiful.” The cloth caresses my neck. “You know what I love most about you?”
I shake my head.
Luca wipes over my shoulders and down my left arm. “How fucking strong you are.”
I close my eyes again.
He keeps wiping over every exposed inch of skin, and it helps cool me down.
It feels good and comforting instead of degrading.
Jesus, I’m an emotional mess.
I blindly reach for his hand, and he instantly grips my fingers, pressing them to his mouth.
“Don’t let anyone see me like this,” I whisper. “Just you and my mom.”
“And your dad?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“Violet’s coming today. I can’t keep her away much longer,” he tells me.
“Violet’s okay. She’s seen me naked before,” I murmur while trying to focus on staying calm.
I can’t lose my shit every couple of minutes. It’s too exhausting.
Just take it one hour at a time. You can get through this.
“I love you,” Luca murmurs. His lips brush against my fingers.
I open my eyes and look at him only to see wonder on his face.
“Never stop looking at me like that,” I beg.
He gives me a loving smile. “Anything you want, amore mio.”
Luca just sits and stares at me and starts to trail his fingers up and down my left arm.
“That feels good,” I whisper.
“I love touching you,” he admits. “It was really hard keeping my hands to myself. I deserve an award.”
I let out a chuckle. “It’s your fault.”
Slowly the pain lessens, and my muscles relax. I dose on and off until Violet walks into the room.
Her face pales when she sees me, but she bravely swallows back the tears. Leaning over me, she presses a kiss to my cheek and gives my shoulder a squeeze.
“I would’ve come sooner if your parents allowed it,” she whispers.
“You’re here now.”
Violet pulls back, then her eyes sweep over my body. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“I’m okay,” I lie, not wanting her to worry more than she already does.
Only then does she glance at Luca, giving him a polite smile. “Hi.”
“Hey.”
My eyes flick between my husband and best friend, then I say, “You’re going to see a lot of each other in the future, so you better start getting along.” Luca frowns, which has me explaining, “Violet hates you by default because I loved you and you kept snubbing me.”
“Mariya!” my friend gasps.
Luca lets out a chuckle. “That makes sense.”
I grin at Violet while tipping my head in Luca’s direction. “He fessed up and told me he loves me.”
Her eyes widen then a grin spreads over her face. “I’m glad to hear that.”
She visits for a short while before Violet gives me a gentle hug, promising to come again soon.
When it’s just Luca and me, he rests his elbows on the bed and holds my hand. “Try to get some sleep, amore mio.”
I stare at him, drawing strength from his love until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.
Chapter 30
Luca
While my in-laws visit Mariya, I take time to get work done.
With Nikolas, Liam, and Gabriel in LA, we skip having a meeting at our usual venue and meet at my apartment.