CHAPTER 26

RENZO

 

Someone was talking.

No. Someone was breathing too close to my face.

“Baby,” a voice said softly. “Wake up.”

My head hurt. Everything hurt. But that voice… I knew it. I tried to open my eyes and failed the first time. My lashes felt heavy like they had 300lb weights attached. I tried again.

Her face came into view..

She was leaning over me, hair falling forward, eyes warm and familiar. Her breath brushed my cheek when she spoke again, and it smelled like mint—the one she always used in the morning.

Scented toothpaste…

“Baby,” she said again, tapping softly. “Wake up.”

“You fell asleep again,” she added. “Today is my birthday. Have you forgotten?”

Birthday.

Right.

Fuck.

I smiled. Or tried to. My face felt stiff, but the feeling was there. The memory snapped into place like it had been waiting for this exact second.

I bought an emerald necklace. Yeah, the real deal, not the bullshit replicas. I’d bought it weeks ago, had it wrapped properly, hidden in her dressing room behind the shoes she never wore but refused to throw away.

I remembered standing there that morning, checking the clasp twice like an idiot, telling myself not to overdo it.

It was supposed to be a surprise for her birthday. Great! I leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.

“Come,” I said, pushing myself upright. “I have something for you.”

She blinked at me.

Then a small crease appeared between her brows. Now, she looked confused. I could tell she didn’t know whether to argue or follow.

“Renzo,” she said slowly, “what are you—”

“Just come,” I said, already standing. “Don’t talk.”

I took her hand without waiting for permission and pulled her with me down the hallway. She stumbled once, laughed under her breath, and followed.

We stopped in front of the dressing room.

“Open it,” I said.

She frowned. “Open what?”

I looked at her then. Really looked.

My face went blank. I looked at her. Really looked. “Open it,” I repeated.

She hesitated, then turned and pushed the door open.

The box was there exactly where I left it.

She gasped softly, one hand flying to her mouth as she stepped inside and reached for it. She lifted the lid carefully as if it would disappear if she moved too fast.

There. The emeralds sat in a perfect deep green. She turned back to me, eyes wide. Immediately, I pulled her into me, locking my arms around her waist.

“Happy birthday,” I whispered into her soft ears.

She didn’t answer.

She just looked at me… then her eyes watered. They streamed down her face in joy.

God.

She was so fucking beautiful.

I leaned in, already missing her, already wanting more, already…

_____________

My eyes flew open.

Fuck… the lights… they were blinding. I blinked harder, forcing my eyes to adjust. All I could see was the ceiling above me.

It was damn white.

This was not our bedroom.

Suddenly, a loud metallic clatter echoed through the room. I turned slowly to meet the stunned face of a nurse. She had dropped the aluminium tray…

“Oh my God,” she breathed.

Then she ran.

“DOCTORS!” she screamed into the hallway. “DOCTORS, HE’S AWAKE!”

My body felt wrong… all heavy and weak like it didn't belong to me anymore. Instantly, voices exploded around me. Footsteps. A lot of shoes… and orders were shouted.

Someone grabbed my wrist.

“Pulse,” a man said sharply.

Another light flashed into my eyes.

Stop! I wanted to yell, but the words lodged in my throat.

“Mr Renzo,” someone else said loudly. “Can you hear me?”

I tried to speak but something interrupted. Outside the room, I heard a sound that didn’t belong in a hospital.

It sounded like a body hitting the floor.

“What the hell—”

“You said one month!” I heard my father's voice—Richard? When did he get here?

“You said one fucking month!” He snarled.

Footsteps rushed toward him.

“Sir”

“It’s been one month and five days!” he shouted. “Five days! Do you know what that means?”

The doctor turned. “We told you it was an estimate”

“Don’t give me that shit,” Richard snapped. “You put my son in a bed and told me to wait. I fucking waited.”

The room buzzed.

I focused on breathing in and out, but my chest still ached.

“Doctor, his heart rate’s climbing,” someone said.

“Pressure’s unstable.”

“Sir, stay still.”

I hated that.

I hated being told what to do.

“Mr Renzo Dominico,” the doctor said. “If you can hear me, squeeze my hand.”

I squeezed hard, making sure all my irritation was felt.

The room went quiet for half a second.

“He’s responsive.”

“No shit,” Richard muttered from the doorway.

“He’s awake,” the nurse said again, disbelief thick in her voice.

Someone leaned closer. “Renzo, can you tell us your name?”

I swallowed.

My tongue felt thick, but my lips parted.

“Zaria.”

Everyone froze.

The doctor blinked. “Your wife?”

“Where,” I rasped, “the fuck is that bitch?”

Someone sucked in a breath. I turned to my father who was already staring at me. He didn't look pleased.

The doctor recovered first. “Renzo, you’ve been unconscious for over a month. You’re disoriented”

“She poisoned me,” I snapped weakly. “Where. Is. She?”

“Easy,” the nurse said quickly. “Your body…”

“Father, get Elix,” I said.

Richard straightened immediately. “She’s already on her way.”

Good.

My head throbbed. Suddenly, fragments started slipping through the gaps in my mind. They were the things I had considered hallucinations…unreal.

“She ran,” Kenny said carefully. “We lost her trail after Brazil.”

Brazil?

My jaw tightened.

Of course.

The doctor pressed something into my IV. “We need to stabilize him or we’ll lose him.”

“No,” I growled. “Don’t fucking touch me.”

“Mr. Renzo”

“I said don’t.”

I stared at the ceiling again.

Zaria. A laugh bubbled up in my chest but what came out from my lips was a broken sound.

Richard leaned closer. “Son?”