The day of the surgery dawned bright and early. Luca arrived at the hospital before sunrise, pacing the waiting room like a caged tiger. His men kept a vigilant watch outside, ready for any sign of trouble.
Hours passed like days as the surgery dragged on. Luca’s fingernails dug into the upholstery of the uncomfortable plastic chairs, his knuckles white with tension.
Finally, Dr. Vincent emerged from the operating room, his expression unreadable. Luca leapt to his feet, his eyes searching the doctor’s face for any hint of hope.
“The surgery was a success,” Dr. Vincent said, his voice even and measured. “We were able to remove the bullet and stop the internal bleeding.”
Luca’s chest loosened with relief, a hint of hope flaring in his heart. But before he could say anything, Dr. Vincent continued, his words a hammer blow to Luca’s fragile optimism.
“However,” he said, “Sophia is still in a coma. And her condition remains critical. It’s impossible to predict when or if she’ll wake up.”
Dr. Vincent hesitated, his brow furrowing as he considered how to break the news. Finally, he took a deep breath. “There’s something else you should know,” he said. “Sophia is pregnant. About five months along.”
Luca’s eyes widened, a mix of shock and joy washing over him. But just as quickly, the joy turned to fear. “If she stays in the coma,” he said, his voice catching, “will the baby survive?”
Dr. Vincent shook his head. “I’m sorry, Mr. Luca,” he said, his voice gentle but firm.
Luca sank back into the chair, his head spinning with the weight of the news. A child-a part of Sophia and Isaac-still lived inside her. A piece of them that could live on, a glimmer of hope in the dark shadow of their loss.
He steeled himself, pushing the grief and rage down to the deepest recesses of his soul. He had a new purpose now, a new reason to fight.
He would bring this child into the world, and he would raise it as his own.
As the days passed, Luca became a fixture at Sophia’s bedside. He held her hand, talked to her, even read to her from her favorite books. He poured his love and strength into her, willing her to wake up, to hold on for the sake of their child.
But the baby was growing fast, and the doctors became increasingly concerned. They urged Luca to prepare for the possibility of an early delivery, for Sophia to give birth while still in a coma.
Luca refused to accept this, his resolve hardening with every passing day.
Weeks later, Luca sat beside Sophia’s bed, his fingers entwined with hers. She looked peaceful, her face calm and serene. Luca closed his eyes, trying to send his thoughts and prayers to her through their connection.
A nurse bustled into the room, her steps brisk and efficient. “Mr. Luca,” she said, “the doctors would like to do a pregnancy scan. It’s a routine procedure, but it will give us more information about the baby’s development.”
Luca nodded, his eyes still closed. “Fine,” he said.
The nurse dimmed the lights in the room, the gentle hum of the ultrasound machine filling the air. Luca watched as the machine was positioned over Sophia’s belly, his breath catching in his throat.
The nurse moved the wand over Sophia’s stomach, the image on the screen coming into focus. And then, Luca saw it. Two heartbeats, two tiny forms. Twins.
He stared at the screen, his eyes wide and unblinking, his heart pounding in his chest.
“It’s twins,” the nurse said, her voice hushed with wonder.
The revelation of twins sent shockwaves through Luca’s being. Two lives, two pieces of Sophia and Isaac, still alive, still fighting to be born.
He swallowed hard, the tears coming despite his best efforts to hold them back. “Twins,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion. “They’re going to be strong, just like their parents.”
The nurse smiled, her eyes shining with empathy. “We’ll do everything we can to make sure they’re safe,” she said.
Luca nodded, his gaze still fixed on the screen. “I need you to do something for me,” he said, his voice suddenly firm and resolute. “I need you to tell the doctors that these babies are fighters. They’re survivors. They’re going to make it.”
The nurse met his gaze, her expression one of understanding and respect. “We’ll do everything we can,” she said. “And we’ll pray for Sophia to wake up and be a part of their lives.”
Weeks passed, each day a mixture of hope and fear. Luca watched Sophia’s belly grow, watched the lines on the fetal monitor trace the steady beat of his children’s hearts. He talked to them, sang to them, willing them to keep fighting, to stay strong.
And then, one day, a miracle happened. Luca felt Sophia’s hand twitch in his, a faint stirring of life. Her eyelids fluttered, and she took a shallow, ragged breath.
Luca gasped, his eyes filled with wonder and relief. “Sophia?” he whispered.
Sophia’s eyes fluttered open, blurry and unfocused. She blinked a few times, her eyes roaming the hospital room. And then, she saw Luca. Her husband, her love, sitting by her bedside, his face contorted in a mixture of joy and fear.
“Luca?” she croaked, her voice weak and hoarse. “Where… where am I?”
Luca leaned forward, his hand gently brushing her cheek. “You’re in the hospital,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “You’ve been in a coma. But the doctors did everything they could.
Sophia’s mind was still foggy, but the weight of Luca’s words was slowly sinking in. She was in a hospital. She’d been in a coma. And then, it hit her. The horror of that night, the loss of Isaac, the gunfight, the last thing she remembered before darkness claimed her.
“The baby,” she whispered, her eyes widening in panic. “Our baby. Is… is it…”
Luca’s expression crumpled, his eyes filling with tears. “The baby didn’t make it,” he said, his voice choking
Sophia’s eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth as a strangled cry of anguish escaped her lips. She collapsed against the pillows, tears spilling down her cheeks, her body wracked with sobs.
Luca pulled her into his arms, holding her close, his own tears mingling with hers. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so, so sorry.”
Sophia wept for what felt like hours, her body shaking with grief, the loss of their child a raw and gaping wound in her soul.
Eventually, Sophia’s tears slowed, her grief settling into a dull, throbbing ache that would never fully go away. She pulled back from Luca’s embrace, her eyes red and swollen, her face etched with sadness.
“What… what happened?” she asked, her voice hoarse and broken. “Why did Vito do this? Why would he hurt our baby?”
Luca sighed, his expression hardening. “Vito is paying for what he did,” he said. “Believe me, he’ll never hurt anyone again.”
“What does that mean?” Sophia asked, her eyes searching Luca’s face, her voice a little stronger now. “What have you done?”
Luca hesitated, weighing his words carefully. “You’ve been in a coma for almost two months,” he said. “In that time, I’ve dismantled Vito’s operation, piece by piece. His men are either in prison or… gone.”
Sophia’s eyes widened, understanding dawning in her gaze. “Gone?” she asked. “You mean… dead?”
Luca met her gaze, his expression solemn.
“Dead,” he confirmed, his voice flat. “Vito crossed a line that should never be crossed, and I made sure he paid the price for his actions.”
Sophia swallowed hard, her mind reeling from the revelations. “But… what about us?” she asked, her voice small and scared. “What about our life? Our family?”
Luca reached for her hand, his grip strong and reassuring. “We’re going to rebuild,” he said, his eyes gleaming with determination. “And we’re going to do it for Isaac.