Chapter 7 Arrive at the hospital

RILEY

Unsurprising in the least, the three tall, attractive men following me through the hospital attracted a lot of attention.

Killian, Jason, and Dale were all striking in their own rights, and each garnered plenty of interest from nurses and patients alike as we moved down the corridors. Not that I could blame them. They were practically towers of powerful masculinity, each moving with quiet purpose and grace.

As we arrived at Dominic’s room, I turned to them.

“Wait outside for a moment. I’ll call you.”

Then I quickly stepped through the door. I wanted to check on Dominic first before deciding how to introduce them to him.

Inside, Hannah and Domi were watching a superhero cartoon on the television, but the second I entered the room, it was all but abandoned.

“Mommy!” Domi cried, a cute little smile forming on his lips.

His genuine excitement at seeing me, even when he was so weak, warmed my heart, and I rushed to his side.

“Hi, baby,” I murmured.

I bent down and kissed him on his pale forehead. His skin was still hot to the touch.

I gently stroked his cheek. “Sorry I was gone for so long.”

“I missed you,” he said quietly, melting beneath my touch like a little white cat.

“I missed you too,” I assured him. I placed another kiss on his forehead for good measure. “Have you been good for Auntie Hannah?”

Domi nodded seriously.

“We’ve just been watching this show all day,” Hannah mused. “It’s pretty good, honestly, for a kid’s cartoon.”

I glanced at Hannah and pointed toward the call button, asking silently with my eyes if the doctor had said anything.

Hannah immediately understood what I meant. We had learned to communicate through facial expressions and gestures back at the orphanage, where making too much noise always earned us a scolding from our caretakers.

She shook her head but made a gesture indicating that Dominic’s condition was currently stable.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Dominic’s gaze slowly shifted past me. He tilted his head curiously.

“Who are they, Mommy?”

That was when I realized that Killian, Dale, and Jason had entered the room without waiting for my cue.

They stood near the doorway, still as statues, their expressions unreadable.

Hannah blinked a few times in surprise before mouthing, What the fuck?

Although I had rehearsed this conversation over and over in my mind during the car ride, I found myself at a loss for words when faced with Dominic’s curious eyes.

I wasn’t prepared to deliver the truth to Dominic yet.

“They are… my friends,” I explained vaguely.

Hannah arched an eyebrow. Then it quickly click for her as she glanced between Dominic and Killian. Her lips parting in quiet awe.

It didn’t take a genius to piece things together. Though I hadn’t so much as described Killian to her even once, Killian and Dominic looked very much alike.

Meanwhile, Killian wore a frown, clearly displeased with my answer. Dale and Jason exchanged a glance. But none of them said a word.  

"Want some water?” I cleared my throat and asked, trying to distract Dominic from his staring at Killian.

Dominic nodded.

As I retrieved a cup of water from the bedside table and brought it to his dry lips, Killian shifted his weight and slowly stepped closer.

Domi took a few sips of water and then paused, watching Killian with a confused expression.

Before I could stop him, Killian lowered himself down and squatted beside the hospital bed. His throat bobbed.

My heart sped up as I anticipated his intentions.

Domi studied him closely, then smiled.

“We have matching hair,” he pointed out happily. “Mommy said it’s really rare, like snow.” He turned to me, expecting my approval.

“Yes,” I said, gently brushing the silvery white locks from his eyes.

Domi smiled proudly before looking back to Killian.

Killian’s lips curled slightly. “My mother used to say the same thing,” he said. “She told me it looked like fresh fallen snow.”

Domi grinned, pleased by his response. He studied Killian for another moment before saying, “I hope I get to grow up big and strong like you.”

Killian’s lips curled further. “Big and strong like me, huh? Why’s that?” He seemed surprisingly patient with Domi’s childish remark.

“So that I can protect Mommy from bad guys,” Domi answered seriously. “Like a superhero. I’ll kick every bad guy! Mommy said I’m a little superhero to her.”

His attention immediately returned to the TV screen, and Killian arched a brow in my direction.

I shrugged, slightly embarrassed. “He likes superheroes.”

As Domi continued watching the cartoon and began introducing his favorite characters to Killian, Hannah wrapped a hand around my arm and pulled me aside

“So I suppose that’s…” she lowered her voice into a whisper as she eyed Killian. “Domi’s father. But who the fuck are those other two?”

She gestured toward Dale and Jason.

“They’re…” I struggled to answer. “Honestly, I couldn’t really tell you. He just brought them with him.”

“Are they, like, his entourage or something?” Hannah quipped. “Or maybe they’re in a gang. They’re all so… big.”

She made a comical gesture, and Dale blinked at us charmingly.

Hannah rolled her eyes. Her jaw tensed as she watched the three of them suspiciously, crossing her arms against her chest.

“I don’t like him,” she said.

Killian rose from his position beside the hospital bed and turned to me.

“Can we step out into the hall?” he suggested. “I need to speak with you.”

Hannah gave me an approving nod. “I’ll hold down the fort. Take your time.”

Despite my reluctance, I followed Killian out of the room.

We found seats nearby sat down.

Killian didn’t speak at once, and I found myself start fiddling with the beaded bracelet on my wrist. Domi had made it for me a while back during one of our arts and crafts nights, and I hadn’t taken it off since.

Everyone who passed by us in the hallway cast glances at Killian, especially a group of young girls whose cheeks immediately blushed when they saw him. It was undeniable that he was incredibly attractive despite his cool demeanor.

Hecleared his throat.

“How did he get sick?” he asked.

His accusatory tone wasn’t lost on me, and it took all my self-control not to argue with him.

He might be arrogant and self-righteous, but there was a chance that he could help Domi, so I decided to play nice.

I started from the beginning and explained what led up to his hospitalization – the sudden onset of fever, paleness, and weakness.

To Killian’s credit, he listened intently without interruption, nodding thoughtfully as I relayed everything Dr. Ward had told me.

I tried to focus on the facts, my hands continuing to toy with the bracelet as if it were the only thing keeping me tethered to sanity.

“When will the results be ready?” Killian asked when I finished. “And what’s the name of this doctor?”

“Dr. Ward,” I answered. “And I’m not certain.”

He studied me for a moment before asking. “What’s your financial situation?”

I was taken aback.

“What?”

“Let me be clearer. Do you have a job? Do you have stable income?” he asked bluntly, and the bluntness felt almost insulting.

“That’s none of your business,” I defended, irritation flaring through me.

“It is my business when my son is sick.” he said evenly.

“Look, I asked for your help, but that doesn’t give you an excuse to interfere in our lives,” I said, stilling my hands and glaring at him. “My personal life is not your concern.”

Killian’s emerald eyes glinted with something I couldn’t read.

“Personal life? I was simply considering practical issues,” he scoffed, and when he crossed his strong arms against his chest, his veins stood out a little. “You seem to be struggling with giving Dominic the best care.”

“Don’t you dare suggest I can’t take care of my own son,” I practically growled at him. “This wasn’t my fault, and if you think for one second that I’m going to let you insist otherwise, then you’re insane. You can process this however you want, but you don’t get to question my parenting just because you’ve suddenly learned you have a son!”

I rose from my seat before he had a chance to respond. I knew I was losing my composure, but he was infuriating.

Why did I even agree talk to him? I suppose the only reason why I hadn’t slapped him was because he was needed for Dominic.  

But before I could move, his hand caught my wrist and stopped me.

“We haven’t even gotten to the key question yet, Riley,” Killian said. His emerald eyes fixed me to the spot.

“Did you even try to contact me five years ago?”