The intense brightness of the white lights makes my eyes ache as I struggle to keep them open. With a groan, I tilt my head from side to side, trying to alleviate the stiffness in my neck.
“Zara?” Frankie’s voice floats around the room.
I can make out a shadow. I can feel him around me.
“Frankie?” I cough and pain rips through me.
“Don’t move.”
Alarms start ringing, causing my head to pound against my skull. “Turn it off.”
He squeezes my hand, which calms the rising panic. Jesus, my mouth is so dry.
“You’re okay, angel.” Frankie reassures me and strokes my cheek. I can hear the pain in his voice, and it makes my heart start racing.
My eyes go heavy as I try to focus on him. But with the agony deep in my bones and throughout my entire body, it’s too much.
All I can see is the flames, the blood on my hands. Keller’s face as the ceiling collapsed.
Kai’s lifeless body.
Fear takes over.
“Hey, stay with me, baby.”
“Hmm,” is all I manage to say before I fail to keep my eyes open any longer.
“We need to keep monitoring her, Mr. Falcone. Your fiancé has had surgery and inhaled a lot of smoke.” The woman sounds like she’s on her last leg of patience.
His voice is rough. “You said the scans showed no lasting damage. So why the fuck isn’t she waking up?”
“Because she isn’t ready, sir.”
My eyes flutter open at the commotion. I squeeze Frankie’s hand and he turns to me, his red eyes meeting mine.
“Zara.”
“Frankie.” My throat is so dry, it hurts to talk.
“How are you feeling? Does anything hurt?” His hand cups my cheek and I lean into his touch.
“Everything.” I try to laugh, but it sends pain shooting through my ribs.
“Do you remember what happened, Zara?” the woman doctor asks, stepping forward next to Frankie.
“There was an explosion. Keller, he dived on top of me. Maddie and Sienna–” I start to tremble, tears sliding down my face. “Please tell me they’re okay, Frankie.”
“Shhh, yes. They’re both fine.” His thumb wipes the droplet from my skin.
“What about Keller?”
He took the brunt of the force. I don’t remember much else.
“He’s had surgery. We’re waiting for him to wake up.” Frankie hesitates, as if he’s holding back.
A sliver of fear shivers through me. “How bad is it?”
“His prognosis could be better.” He leans closer. “Kai never made it though, Zara.”
A sob catches in my throat. Frankie joins me on the bed, holding my hands. “It’s going to be alright.”
“The baby?” I all but whisper.
I hold my breath, waiting for the next blow. I don’t know how much more I can handle before I break.
Frankie’s face pales, grief written all over it.
“No,” I cry out. “Don’t say it.”
I let out a whoosh of air, and the tears flow freely.
Frankie carefully wraps his arms around me, and I nuzzle my face into his chest.
“I’m sorry, Frankie. I’m so fucking sorry.”
He sucks in a breath and hugs my head against his chest, my sorrow seeping through his white shirt. How can he be so calm?
How can he go through this again?
“No, angel. I’m fucking sorry.”
I grip onto his suit and squeeze, wanting to rid myself of this agony.
“It hurts, so bad,” I sob.
“I know, baby. I know.”
I don’t just mean the physical pain, it’s the pain in my heart. The way it’s crumbling is enough to make me numb.
He rests his head on mine, holding me so tight I can barely breathe.
“I love you,” he whispers. His voice breaks, which shatters my world.
We’ve had our future, our baby, painfully ripped from us.
Nothing has felt quite like this in my life.
