Cara’s POV
All through the drive to the hospital, I couldn’t stop imagining the what-ifs.
What if his case had worsened? What if his case was already beyond the point of recovery? What if he doesn’t regain consciousness at all?
I didn’t know what to expect, and the fact in itself was sickening.
Literally speaking.
At the hospital, we found my father and Doctor Bruno talking at the reception and were immediately escorted to Adonis’s room.
“What happened? He was fine before I left.” I asked, my eyes zeroed in on my husband’s unconscious form.
“I don’t understand either. We stood up to see Diavolo out when fluid suddenly began to leak from his nostrils-
My face contorted, “Excuse me, what? Fluid?”
“I wouldn’t say it was sudden. The fluid is from his brain. I believe there’s a leak somewhere.” Doctor Bruno cut in, “Remember, we have left this untreated for long, so adverse effects like this are bound to occur.”
My heart skipped a beat.
At the end of the day, it was due to Adonis’s stubbornness.
The man lying on the bed looked nothing like the one I’d left at home a few hours ago. He looked like a shadow of himself-which he obviously was at the moment.
My Adonis wasn’t as weak as the one on the bed. I eyed the oxygen mask worn over his head and the IV connected to his arm. The constant beeping of the machine only made the entire sight worse.
“Is this… also a result of the delayed treatment? Because he looks like all the symptoms that should’ve been displayed months back are coming in full force now.”
“It’s possible. Mr Bernardi was lucky, but that was the thing I was most worried about. I knew it would be too much to contain when it worsened.” The doctor sighed. “We are going to run a scan once again to get the feel of things, and if it is still possible, we’ll have the surgery immediately.”
“Wait, are we talking about the same surgery? The one you were arguing about two months ago?” Luca, who had been silently taking in the state his friend was in, questioned.
“Yes,” My father gave me a stern look, “I told you two to figure it out. Why wait until it got to this stage?”
“Because he didn’t listen. You know him, Luca; Adonis can be a case when he wants to.” I drew in a shaky breath. “The only thing we can do is wait for the scan results, but he has had his way. He won’t be leaving here without treatment.”
A soft groan reached our ears, and we all turned to the source, watching as the subject of discussion slowly blinked his eyes open.
The moment they met our peering ones, he frowned, glanced around the room for a few seconds until realization filled him, and then he pulled off the oxygen mask.
“You shouldn’t do that.” Doctor Bruno rushed to his side. “You were not breathing well, so we had to place you on extra O2 support.”
“I’m fine.” Adonis croaked, throwing the mask to the side. “What exactly happened, Luca? I thought we were done with the mission. Did he get me?”
We all paused, glancing at one another in silent communication.
What mission was he talking about?
“Dude…” Luca started with a smirk, moving closer to his bed. “What mission?”
Adonis eyed him with a blank stare. “My mother’s f*cking first husband? Are you serious right now? Don’t tell me you left the shipment with him?” He turned his head to the side, trying to pull himself up but couldn’t. “And why the f*ck am I this weak? Where’s the bullet wound?”
A hand rose to my lips, barely able to muffle the gasp that flew out of them at his words.
No way…
I felt my heart drop to my stomach.
Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong. Why-
“Camilla!” My father caught me before I could hit the ground. “Be careful. I know you’re shocked, but remember you’re pregnant.” He warned.
I hadn’t even realised that my legs were giving out.
Adonis whipped his head towards us, narrowing his eyes on the arm around me as though he was just noticing, “Who are you, and why are you calling my wife Camilla?”
My father stared back with a scrutinizing look and he turned to me. “Why isn’t he saying anything, and why are you looking at me…” he trailed off, his gaze fixed on my heavy bump.
The next time they met mine, they were filled with rage.
“You’re pregnant?” The words, laced with distaste, fell from his lips. “Who’s the father? No, wait, I saw you three days ago; when did it get this big? Wait, what am I saying?” His expression became blank again. “This is a prank, right? Very funny.”
“Adonis…” It was Luca who spoke up. “We finished the mission.”
“I know. I’m asking if-
“About eight months ago.”
“What?”
With great struggle, he steadily pulled himself up, breathing heavily, “What is that supposed to mean?”
Doctor Bruno stepped in, “You don’t… remember?”
“Remember what?”
Panic flashed across his face. His eyes darted around the room, struggling to focus. He seemed to recognize us, yet a flicker of uncertainty lingered in his gaze.
“Can you all stop looking at me like that and tell me what’s going on? You know what? Get me on the phone with Nonno.” He began to feel his sides, “Where’s my phone?”
At this point, I didn’t know what to do anymore… not even the right words to say.
How could this happen? How? A dry painful snort escaped me. I knew how. These are the consequences we have to face. We caused this. A sob raked through me as I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration.
“Listen to me.” My father stormed over to his bedside. “You had better snap out of it.”
“Out of what?”
“Your closed mind. You’re losing your memories, Adonis which I won’t stand for at this critical time. I do not want a weakling for a son-in-law-
Adonis was taken aback.
“Son-in-law-
“Mr. Rodriguez-” Doctor Bruno interrupted
“Let me. Finish. You,” he raised a reprimanding finger at my unknowing husband, “Dimitri is dead! So is Sebestien and his sons! Does that ring a bell?”
Adonis’s face only contorted in more confusion, yet he didn’t stop.
“You woke up from a coma some months back, and we are working on taking out your uncle before he ruins us all. Try to recollect it all. There’s no way you would leave my daughter husbandless or her child, fatherless after all you’ve put her through!” He gripped him by the arm, giving him a rough shake. “Am I clear?”
“Mr. Rodriguez-
Doctor Bruno tried again.
“Be quiet!” My father boomed, shaking him with more force. “Are you going to come to your senses, or do you want me to-
“Diavolo.”
He stopped, leaned back, and took a cautious look at Adonis.
“You can let go for me.” He rasped. “I think… I remember.”
My legs suddenly received strength, rushing over to him, “You do? Please tell me you do. Tell me-
His eyes met mine, and I got the confirmation I wanted. Unlike before, when he looked at me with confusion, this time he held a mixture of love, pain, and something like… guilt?
“I’m sorry, Bel.” He rasped, and without wasting any more time, I threw my hands over him, tears streaming down my face.
Who would’ve thought my father’s assault would prove useful?
“It’s fine. It really is. Thank you. We can overcome the rest.”
It took a few minutes to get my spilling emotions under control-I probably wouldn’t have broken the hug if I hadn’t noticed how hard it was for him to hold himself up.
Finally, lying back against the bed, we all watched empty eyes stare back at us with heavy minds.
“You don’t need to tell me. I can tell from the look on your faces.”
“You made a very irresponsible choice.” My father commented.
“We have a lot to handle.”
“We could’ve found a way around it. Nothing is worth losing your life over. Isn’t that what our fight is all about?”
“It’s about saving the mafia… saving my home-
“And saving our heads.” Luca pointed out. “Do you think we’d have our lives if Diavolo takes over? He’s not stupid and knows we’d come for him if he lets us go. Wasn’t that the same mistake Dimitri and his friends made?”
“We’re almost there now.” Adonis groaned lowly.
“Yes, we are. So you can go ahead with the surgery. Doctor?”
Doctor Bruno looked over at my father.
“Do whatever you need to do. Let him have the procedure done as soon as possible.”
“No.”
We all eyed the source of that word. Well, myself, Luca, and the doctor. My father glared at him.
“No? Do I look like I’m taking permission from you?”
“I’m not ready. Give me one more day, and we can go ahead.” Adonis replied.
My grip on his arm slackened and I took a step back, wordlessly going over to take a seat.
Isn’t it obvious enough?
My heart ached. I wanted to scream, to shake him, to snap some sense into him. But I knew it was no use. His stubbornness was a force as powerful as the illness itself.
Isn’t that what got him through the two extra months?
All I could do was watch, my chest constricting with fear so deep it threatened to consume me. There were no words to say. At least from me.
How could a man be this… stupid? Adamant? Annoying? Unserious about his health? Everything?
Right now, I didn’t think the hydrocephalus was the most dangerous thing to his health. If I hadn’t put enough space between him and myself, Adonis might have met his death before the illness brought it to him.
“Are you listening to yourself? Your brain is dying!” My father yelled.
It was one of the few times I’d seen him this frantic. He seldom raises his voice.
“I think Mr. Miguel is right, dude.” Luca reasoned. “We’ll take care of the rest.”
“I won’t lie down here while everyone else is fighting for my throne. What does that make me?”
“A man that cares about his life? A smart man who thinks of the future and sets his priorities straight? Who knows that he’d have to be alive to fight tomorrow?” My father bit back.
“We’ve run out of time, Mr. Bernardi.” The doctor chimed in.
“You said that two months ago, yet I’m still here. What’s one more day?”
“That is what makes it more dangerous. You had a short-term memory loss. The time range would continue to increase and might reach a certain stage where they won’t return at all. We’re speaking of brain damage here. I won’t be able to help you at that point.”
I remained silent, watching them bicker like it was a debate competition and everyone wanted to make their point known.
“It’s just one more day!” He defended, breaking into a fit of cough.
“How can you be so selfish? What about Camilla? And the baby? You care so much about your mafia family to give up your life and leave her behind?”
“I refuse to be subjected to such words. No one cares for or loves Cara as much as I do!” Adonis fumed. “Not even you, Miguel; I’m sorry if that sounds wrong.” His nostrils flared. “This is all for her! By the time my babies are born, I want all of this to be over. I want her to enjoy what a normal family should be like. No fights or battles. I’m almost there. One day would end it all.” He rushed out in one breath, gasping for air at the end of his rant.
I know it’s for me. Heaven knows I do, but can’t he see that I’d rather live through those battles with him by my side than live an ordinary life without him?
Thankfully, my father understood exactly my emotions, “You’re looking at it from only one side-
I-” Adonis interrupted but his words got caught in a wheeze. His hands moved to his throat, and he suddenly began to jerk.
I was frozen to the chair, watching in horror as he broke into a series of violent seizures, his face turning paler and his eyes rolling to the back of his head.
“What the fuck is going on?” Luca rushed to his side, fear written all over his face.
“Step back.” Doctor Bruno shouted as he pressed the button by Adonis’s bedside. “Patient in ICU VIP 1034 is about to go into cardiac arrest, I need help.” Then he turned to us.
“Everyone get out!”