***LONDON’S POV***
I watch in pleasure as Zane scoops soup and feeds me with it.
“I can do that myself, Daddy,” I say opening my mouth to eat.
Zane scowls at me and I stay put, eating as much as I can.
I know I can’t ignore the conversation Zane and I are going to have, but just thinking about it, that fucking cell has bile rising in my throat.
“I can’t have any more food in me,” I complain and Zane looks at the bowl before pushing it aside.
I had cleared a good portion of the meal, and that is why Zane let me go.
“Daddy?” I call our when he stalks towards the door.
“What is the matter?” he asks standing, his hand on his doorknob.
“Please, don’t leave me alone,” I beg, hating myself for being so weak.
Huffing, Zane comes back to me, removes his phone, and shoots a message to someone.
Waiting, I hope he starts the conversation first, but nothing.
A doctor walks in and checks on me.
“Your wrists are swollen, but it’s nothing to alert about. You will have to apply this balm on it to reduce swelling,” he explains.
When he leaves, he asks me to sleep. Zane walks him to our bedroom door but doesn’t go out.
At the clicking sound, I burst out in tears. I hear Zane rushing towards me and he climbs in bed beside me, holding me until half of my body is on his chest.
It is only then I notice that he has ditched away his clothing.
“I am going to brace myself and tell you everything when I feel comfortable, okay?” I stutter, breathing in his chest.
“We aren’t talking about anything until you have slept well. I will stay here until you do so. But u have to go check up on Dante,” he says.
At the sound of my son’s name, a bubble ripples in my throat and I start crying.
“I am such a bad mom. My son watched his mom get arrested at such a young age. What does that make me?” I say my voice very weak as I start crying profusely.
Zane grasps each side of my shoulder and shakes me for a moment.
“Don’t ever say that about yourself, baby, you know that is not true,” he barks out.
I am crying and the next thing, I have fallen asleep, my body too tired to fight consciousness.
**
***ZANE’S POV***
I hate how I can see London’s vulnerability, but I can’t be any prouder at the fact that she chooses to show these little bits with me.
I don’t even deserve my own fucking wife, but here she is in my arms, snoring lightly.
For the last hours that London had been away, I had called every police station in Sicily and they hadn’t confirmed that she was brought in for custody or arrest.
Even Don Russell’s connection was powerless and all I had to do was sit and hope she gets put somewhere we could bail her.
But here she is, returned all beaten up and having seizures.
The Doctor didn’t think it was alarming about the seizures, but with some good sleep, she will get back in shape.
I had been worried about the baby. My baby growing in London’s belly and the doctor had assured me that it was fine and growing.
No complications for now.
I sleep with my wife in my arms and finally find rest.
*
The next morning, there is a knock on my door and I rush to get it.
Lisa is there panting when she sees me. Her eyes are glossy and stealing a look from London, I nod following her toward Dante’s room.
“What’s going on?” I demand increasing my pace.
“I don’t know, Sir. He is burning. Probably a high fever. He wouldn’t take drugs, he is just panting and wants you,” she mutters, arranging her shirt.
“Call Dr. Smith,” I order as I open Dante’s room.
He is in his crib and his grabby hands flash towards me, wanting me to carry him.
“Dada!” he says his voice has lost its enthusiasm and his face is blank.
“Hey, big guy, you want to tell me where hurts?” I ask cuddling him to my chest.
“Head and nose,” he responded softly.
Looking at his face, I notice he has a running nose and I frown at it.
“Get him a pullover, Lisa. He has flu,” I say kissing his forehead.
“Mummy,” he says crying.
“You can’t see mummy now, Champion. But I promise to get her to come see you when she wakes up, okay?” I ask and he just stares at me, crying softly.
I hand him over to Lisa and she wears him some warm clothes.
“Let me go and check on my wife. Make sure he eats something before the doctor gets here,” I say and Lisa nods.
Walking out of Dante’s bedroom, I walk the short distance to my bedroom and open the door.
She’s not where I left her.
“Fucking little wife,” I cuss beneath my breath as I stalk downstairs.
I find London curled up in a ball in the living room sleeping.
Standing in front of her, I call out gently at her.
“London, do you want to tell Daddy why you are not in bed?” I ask fiercely.
She blinks, forcing herself to glare at me.
“I didn’t see you when I woke up,” she cries out softly.
“No, you didn’t. That’s because I just stepped out for a minute,” I yell at her.
Wrong move. London breaks down into tears and she starts rocking her shoulders.
“Damn it,” I say before crashing before her, my knees on the floor.
My very needy wife scrawls into my arms and she starts hiccupping, her eyes hooding with pain.
“Hush, baby, Daddy is here,” I say.
“I need you, please. Don’t ever leave me alone now that I need you,” she tells me, and scooping her, I sit on the couch and she comes willingly into my embrace.
“I’m not going anywhere, baby,” I whisper in her hair.