Chapter 42.
Savage POV.
I've been sitting in this room for what feels like an eternity. Rebel has also been seen and checked over. I had to speak to the CPS and explained the situation. They threatened to take Rebel away. Until Teagan intervened. One word from her and the mention of her name was enough for them to back off. I get it. They are just doing their jobs.
Rebel wasn't seriously hurt. She had bruises on her face and wrists and ankles, from where she was secured to the chair. The doctors are arranging for her to see a child's psychologist. The police and FBI are also involved. But all they can do is do nothing. Those that did this are all dead.
Foxy was confirmed dead and the rest that came that day to kill us all suffered the same. Antonio told them what happened, and they were happy with the explanation and closed the case then and there. They said it wasn't worth the headache to go against the mafia, the cartel, the DeNucci family, and the clubs.
So here we are waiting for word about Angel. She has been in surgery since we arrived. It has been at least a day. No one is telling us anything. I watch as my little princess sleeps in her hospital bed. With Boomer at the bottom of the bed. Yeah, they had to let him in because he wouldn't let anyone near her, not even me.
The door opens and Alessa walks in with the girls. She smiles at me and moves closer to the bed. Boomer growls at her and Alessa snaps her fingers and points at him, and he stops. I chuckle.
"How is she?" she asks as she touches her face gently, watching Rebel sleeping.
"Physically she is exhausted, mentally this is going to take a toll on her." I tell her honestly as she sits next to her.
"She will be ok, in time. We have all grown close to her and her mom. They are both very special, Ryder. Keep them both safe. Or you will have to deal with me and my girls." She says, chuckling as the rest of them all stand around like a protective shield.
"Trust me, her and her mom mean the world to me. I won't let anything happen to them again. I plan on locking them away." I say and she looks at me with a small smirk on her face.
"Don't do that. She may end up like me if you do." She says with a sad smile on her face. I know there is a story there, but I won't push her as she leans over and kisses Rebel on her forehead.
"Will you all be moving on now?" I ask her and the women all look at me.
"Not until they are both back where they belong and are safe. They have both grown on us. Besides, we never walk away from a contract. Teagan hired us as your club girls once we took care of the old ones. But this is more than a contract. We all see Rebel and Angel as family. I maybe the boss of the Cosa Nostra and my husband is the head of the Bratva. But the Moretti's are sort of like family. So no, we won't be leaving just yet. Besides, we will help you and your club become stronger." She says and I look at her in shock as the women all chuckle.
"Sorry, Cosa Nostra?" I ask her, and she smiles at me and nods her head.
"Yes, my family comes from Sicily. My father moved here when he found my mother. My mother wasn't involved with the mafia. She was an elite. She was the original Ghost. But I have already said too much. Just don't lock Rebel or Angel away from the world. Unless you want your little girl to become like me. I would say let her be a little girl, let her make her own life and mistakes. Just guide her, don't hide her." She says, and I smile at her words when I hear Rebel shift in her bed. I stand up and move closer to her.
She blinks her big beautiful honey-coloured eyes at me and reaches for me. I move closer to her as Alessa stands and moves away to be closer to her women.
"Daddy. Mommy." She says and I sit down on her bed and lift her gently onto my lap as she hugs me, leaning her blonde head against my shoulder.
"I'm here baby, mommy is here too. She is just resting." It breaks my heart to lie to her, but I don't want her upset. She is already going to be going through more than any three-year-old should.
"I'm hungry." She says with a yawn as Boomer whines and she lifts her head and makes grabby hands at him and giggles. He is up and over, really excited as he wiggles his stump and ass, whining, climbing all over me to get to his little sister. He licks her face, and she is laughing. The door opens again and Teagan walks in and I look at her as she smiles at Rebel.
"Nonna," Rebel reaches for her and Teagan moves and lifts her up, hugging and kissing her. Rebel laughs and giggles. I look at Teagan and she nods at me, looking sadly at me and I can see she has been crying.
"She is in recovery." I stand and kiss Rebel on her head.
"You stay with Nonna and the girls ok, I will be right back." I tell her and she cuddles into her nonna. I run from the room and to the elevators. I wait impatiently to get to my woman. Once the elevator reaches the ground floor, I'm out and jogging towards the emergency department. "Angel Moretti." I ask, and the nurse smiles and points me down the hall. I thank her and take off in the direction.
I see her father and family as they talk to the doctor. I look at my father and mother and my men. They all look exhausted.
"Rebel is awake." I tell them and my mom stands with my father as they walk over to me. My mom hugs me and my father pats me on the shoulder.
"She will be ok son. I'm sorry." My dad says, and I look at him in confusion. Why is he saying sorry for? Angel is in recovery. So she has to be ok, right?
"Ryder." I turn and look at Antonio. He looks grim. This can't be good. I walk to him as my mom and dad leave, no doubt to go and see Rebel.
"What's happening? Teagan told me Angel is in recovery." Antonio looks at me and shakes his head slightly.
"Angel is in a coma. There is
swelling in her brain. She had a collapsed lung, internal bleeding, numerous broken bones, including her leg, arms, ribs, her pelvis. She not in a good way. She has hardware in her body. She died four times on that table. I'm sorry Ryder, she is technically on life support. She isn't breathing on her own. She will have to have more surgeries. They had to release the pressure on her brain." My breath comes out in a whoosh as I stagger and Gianni grabs me to support me.
They all have tears streaming down their faces.
"This is my fault." I say, and Antonio grabs me and hugs me.
"No, Angel knew what she was doing. In her mind, she needed to sacrifice herself to protect Rebel and all of us. My daughter is strong, she will come around from this," he says and I nod as I sob on his shoulder. "Will there be any damage to her brain?" I ask and he walks with me to some chairs and we sit down.
"They think she could have lost her memories, but we won't know until she wakes up They induced the coma to give her body time to heal. I'm sorry, Ryder. Until she is stable she will stay here in the ICU. When she is stable, she will be moved to a private ward. When she comes off life support. Then we will go from there. You need to be strong for her and Rebel. You father will resume title of President until we know how she is, as we all know you won't want to leave her side. I'm sorry Ryder."
She could lose her memories. She could be out for a long time. I'm not angry about my father taking back his position. I'm in no fit state to run the club and Antonio is dead right. My daughter and my woman need me. I have to pull my head out of my ass and be the man I know I can be. For my family, my club and for me.
"I will take you to her now, but be warned, it is not pretty." He says as I nod my head. I'm numb. She may not remember me or Rebel. Then what?
I stand and follow behind him, my heart is beating sound loud and painfully, I'm sure other people can hear it. I come to a quiet ward and we stop by a window looking into a room.
My breath catches, seeing her battered and bruised, pillows around her. Tubes coming out of her nose and mouth. Cables and wires connected to all different machines. The tube down her throat, I can hear the steady beep of her heartbeat and the inflation and deflation of the machine keeping her breathing.
Oh my god. Her face is swollen, a bandage around her head. Her leg is raised in a hoist and both arms, too. Her eyes are bruised and swollen shut. She looks like she was hit by a train.
"Can I go in?" I ask, not taking my eyes from her.
"Yes, but you need to shower and wear full PPE," a female voice says, and I nod my head. I follow her and do as I'm told. Wearing blue scrubs, a mask, gloves, a hat, and a surgical gown. I walk into the room. I choke on the tears as I walk closer to her bed. I can't even hold her hand.
"Angel, my goddess. I love you so
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much." I move to the head of the bed, being careful of all the machines and wires and tubes. I lean down, and kiss her forehead, "I'm not going anywhere. Rebelis safe. She is with our parents and wants to see you, but I will wait until you are awake. Rest princess, you did well. You saved our daughter, and you saved us all." Her heartbeat picks up and I look at the nurse.
"She can hear you." She says, and I stroke her forehead before kissing her again. I sit down in the chair and just watch the steady movement of her chest as she sleeps in her coma.
I won't leave her, no matter what. Angel is it for me. I will be become the man she needs and deserves.