Watched

Desi hurried into the softly lit medical wing, her footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. Her heart pounded with worry as she approached the room at the end of the corridor. 

Lily lay in the hospital bed, her fragile form barely visible beneath the pristine white sheets. Machines hummed softly, monitoring her every breath. Lucas, standing by the door with his arms crossed, fixed his gaze on Desi as she entered the room.

"Lily?" Desi's voice was gentle as she neared the bed, her eyes filled with concern.

Lily slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Desi, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you the doctor?"

"Yes, I'm Dr. Desi," Desi replied, offering a reassuring smile. "I'm here to help you feel better."

Lily nodded weakly, unable to muster more than a faint response. Desi felt the weight of Lucas's watchful eyes and turned back to Lily, taking her hand in an attempt to provide comfort. "I'm going to perform a quick checkup, alright? It won't hurt."

Lily nodded again, her grip on Desi's hand feeble.

Desi retrieved her stethoscope and placed it gently on Lily's chest, listening intently to the faint, irregular rhythm of her heartbeat. A trace of concern crossed her features, quickly concealed.

"How are you feeling today, Lily?" Desi inquired as she continued her examination.

"Tired," Lily murmured. "My chest hurts sometimes."

Desi nodded understandingly. "I know. We're going to conduct some tests to figure out what's happening and help you feel better, alright?"

Lily gazed up at Desi with wide, apprehensive eyes. "Will it take long?"

"A little while," Desi reassured her. "But I'll be right here with you.”

Desi observed Lucas moving closer, his imposing presence looming over them from the corner of her eye. She tried to divert her attention to Lily, attempting to keep the atmosphere light.

"You’re incredibly brave," Desi murmured softly, trying to maintain a cheerful demeanor. "I know this is tough, but we’ll make sure you’re well taken care of."

Lily didn’t reply, but her small fingers clutched tightly around Desi’s hand. Desi glanced up at Lucas, sensing the tension in the room escalating. He was fixated on her like a hawk, his gaze unwavering.

Desi cleared her throat. "I’m going to check her blood pressure now," she informed Lucas, even though he hadn’t inquired.

"Proceed," Lucas replied curtly.

Desi flinched at his cold tone but concentrated on Lily. She wrapped the cuff around the little girl’s arm and began inflating it. The readings were lower than she would have preferred.

"Lily, how long have you been feeling this tired?" Desi inquired, trying to keep the conversation flowing.

"I don’t know," Lily murmured. "For a long time."

Desi nodded, mentally noting the information. "Alright, sweetheart. I’m going to draw some blood for testing now, and then we’ll take a short break."

Lucas drew closer. "Is that necessary?"

Desi looked up, taken aback by his proximity. "Yes, it’s standard procedure. I need to comprehend what’s happening inside her body."

Lucas’s eyes narrowed. "Fine. But handle her gently."

Desi swallowed hard. "I always do."

She turned back to Lily, offering a reassuring smile. "You’ll feel a slight pinch, but it’ll be over quickly, okay?"

Lily nodded, her eyes filled with trust. Desi felt the weight of that trust and worked meticulously, drawing the blood as gently as possible. Lucas hovered close, his intense gaze fixed on her.

"Finished," Desi said softly as she concluded. "You did great, Lily."

Lily gave her a small, weary smile. "Will I get better soon?"

Desi smiled back, though her heart ached. "I’m going to do everything I can to help you, I promise."

Lucas drew closer, looking down at Lily. "You’ll be fine, sweetheart," he said, his voice softer than before. "The doctor is going to fix everything."

Lily nodded and closed her eyes, exhausted. Desi stood up and walked over to the table to label the blood samples. Lucas followed her, his presence overwhelming.

"How serious is it?" he asked softly, his voice tinged with tension.

Desi hesitated. "I need to conduct some tests before I can provide you with an answer. But her condition is serious. We need to act swiftly."

Lucas’s jaw tightened. "Do whatever needs to be done."

"I will," Desi asserted, her voice resolute. "But you need to give me space to do my job. Standing over me like this…it’s making things harder."

Lucas’s eyes darkened. "I’m not leaving my daughter alone."

"I’m not asking you to leave her," Desi responded, her tone composed but insistent. "I’m asking you to give me some breathing room. Your constant presence—it’s overwhelming."

Lucas took a step back, but his gaze remained fixed on hers. "I don’t trust anyone with her."

Desi sighed, trying to maintain her composure. "I understand that. But if you want me to help her, I need to focus without feeling like I’m being watched every second.”

Lucas said nothing for a moment. Then he nodded, though his expression remained hard. "Fine. But I stay nearby."

"That’s all I’m asking for," Desi said, relieved he wasn’t arguing more. "I need to be her doctor, not constantly looking over my shoulder."

Lucas didn’t respond, but he stepped back toward the door, giving her more space.

Desi returned to Lily’s side, checking her vitals again. She could feel the tension in the room easing slightly, but it was still thick enough to make her uneasy.

"I’m going to send the blood samples to the lab," Desi said, more to herself than to Lucas. "We’ll have answers soon."

Lucas watched her closely. "How soon?"

"A few hours," Desi replied. "I’ll rush them, but we still need time."

"Time is the one thing we don’t have," Lucas muttered, his voice tight.

Desi didn’t respond. She knew how urgent the situation was, but rushing the process wouldn’t help. She needed to keep her head clear, despite the pressure Lucas was putting on her.

As she packed up her equipment, Lucas moved closer to Lily’s bed, brushing a strand of hair from his daughter’s face. The cold, intimidating man seemed to melt away for a moment as he looked down at her.

Desi watched him from the corner of her eye, seeing the raw emotion he tried so hard to hide. It reminded her that underneath the ruthless mafia boss, there was a father desperate to save his child.

She turned away, giving them a moment of privacy. But even with her back turned, she could still feel Lucas’s tension filling the room.

"I’ll come back when the results are in," Desi said quietly, gathering her things.

Lucas didn’t look up. "I’ll be waiting."

Desi left the room, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt exhausted already, and this was just the beginning. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Lucas’s cold, watchful eyes would be on her every step of the way.