Dante's perspective:
She had been gone a long time. At first I didn't think much of it. It's Rylee and knowing her she's probably talking up the charity to some yuppies. But there was an unsettling feeling and a lump in my throat. I looked over at James just as he was saying something in his ear piece. I knew from the look on his face and the fact he turned quickly and ran, something was wrong. I chase after him down the hall and around the corner, where Erik was pounding on the door calling out Emma's name. I shoved him out the way beating my fist against the door.
I paused only for a second listening for her.
My heart slammed against my chest when I heard a faint whimper. I stood back and rammed my body against the door falling through as it crashed down. My eyes immediately fell on a crazed Rylee on the floor stabbing a knife into Marks neck. I rushed in behind her taking hold of her arms. Eriks eyes widened in fear as he pulled Marks lifeless body away and James took the knife from her hand.
Rylee: The baby.
She barely whispered going limp in my arms, and my heart sunk to the furthest depths of my stomach.
James: The car is waiting outside the exit down the hall.
James helped me up as I cradled Rylees lifeless body in my arms and disappeared down the hall to the car. James called Dr. Lynn and Gram.
James: Is she bleeding.
His voice sounded like it was under water.
James: Sir. Is she bleeding.
The words barely triggered. I looked down and could see she was covered in blood I couldn't tell if it was all Marks or not. I squeezed Rylees body closer to mine as James reached in the back grabbing me by the shirt.
James: Sir with all due respect you are going to have to pull your head out of your ass and let us help her.
He let me go and I pulled up the front of her dress enough to see she was soaked in blood. My eyes glossed over as I began shaking in fear and raw anger. James turned back forward continuing to talks on the phone. I slipped off my suite jacket and wrapped her in it, clutching her to my chest. The tears fell uncontrollably. Carlton pulled up outside an emergency room where Dr. Lynn, Gram and some nurses where standing by. James barely got the door open and I was rushing for the Dr. I don't want to let go of her and insisted I carry her to where ever they needed her. Gram put a hand on my shoulder stopping me as the nurses and Dr. Lynn reached out taking her from my arms. They placed her on a gurney rushing her through two double doors that shut in my face.
I was blinded by fury as my fists flew out at the next person that put a hand on me. Gram ducked as I spun around and my fist clipped James's jaw. Both of them tackled me pushing me into a near by room.
James: You acting like a god damn mad man isn't going to fix anything. You need to pull your self together and be ready to be there for Rylee. She's going to need you as much as you need her. This isn't the time or place to lose it.
James words penetrate through my crazed mind. He was right. If She loses the baby. Even though we knew it was a possibility under normal circumstances, this was going to devastate her. By the look on her face as she stabbed Mark over and over she already knew. It was something I've felt. The day I thought she died. I can only imagine how similar that look must have been to the one I had when I tried to kill my father. I looked at Gram to see his blood shot eyes and worried look. He's been through this too many times. I look at James and to his jaw. There was no evidence that I had hit him but I still felt like an asshole.
Dante: I'm sorry I hit you.
He chuckles and scratched the area.
James: Is that what you call that.
Gram let out a faint chuckle at my expense. A few minutes later a young female nurse with a tan and brown hair came in.
Nurse: Mr. Landry?
Gram stood up.
Nurse: Do you happen to be A+?
Gram: No but her fiancé is.
He points at me and I'm not at all surprised that he knew that.
Nurse: Sir can you come with me.
Dante: What's going on.
Nurse: It's just precautionary. Miss Landry has lost a lot of blood and may need a transfusion.
Dante: How is she. What about the baby.
I demand as I follow her out of the room and down the hall to another smaller room.
Nurse: Please have a seat. Are you diabetic or have any underline health concerns or blood disorders.
Dante: No
I seethe though my teeth pissed that she's not answering me as I roll up my sleeve.
Dante: Tell me how my fiancé and baby are.
She wipes my arm with alcohol avoiding eye contact with me as she pokes my vein with a needle.
Nurse: Very nice veins.
She sees my jaws clenching and my chest puffing. She's not amused.
Nurse: I understand your concern and frustration. But I can not tell you anything right now other than she's in good hands. Dr. Lynn is doing everything she can to help your fiancé.
She pulls the needle out and takes a cotton ball to my arm.
Nurse: Drink this juice and eat these crackers and stay sitting. I'll be back in five minutes to take you to a waiting room.
I bite the inside of my lip feeling like a five year old. Fuck it. I go to stand up and instantly get hit with a slight dizziness. Immediately I sit back down and snatch the juice off the little table. Five minutes later the nurse returns and leads me back down the hall to another room.
Erik is standing out side talking with James. He looks my way and I can see the guilt and remorse written all over his face. Had it been anyone else I probably would beat the shit out of him for not preventing this from happening. But it's Erik. He's one of my best men aside from James and Jason. He knows he fucked up but I know Rylee wouldn't want me to blame him. Even though I do. But I blame my self more for not killing the prick when I had the chance.
His eyes avert mine as I walk past with out saying anything and take a seat not noticing the other people on the room. My head drops in my hands with my elbows on my knees and I replay the scene over and over again in my head. Rylees face as she stabs Mark. Her whispered voice as she tries to speak. Her lifeless body soaked in blood as I held her in the car. Nothing could stop the tears falling from my eyes. I say a silent prayer for her and our baby. A firm hand grips my shoulder. I can tell by his pants and shoes it's Gram.
Gram: She's a lot stronger then you might think.
The door opens and I jump to my feet wiping my face with my sleeve. It's just Jason. I sit back down and let the back of my head hit the wall rubbing a hand over my face.
Jason: Everything's been taken care of. But Mr. Santino was asking about Emma. He over heard Trevor telling Mr. Dean she left feeling ill and he's been trying to get a hold of Dante. What do you want me to tell him.
Dante: My phones in the jacket Rylee was wearing. Tell him I'll call him in the morning when.
Jason: Um. He's here sir.
My eyes flew open as I sat forward in the chair. Just then the Dr entered.
Dante: Everyone out! Except Gram.
Everyone scrambled out the door. Gram and I both stood hovering over Dr. Lynn like two lions looking down on a baby gazelle. She wasn't at all intimidated. She looked back and forth between us with such grievance, I felt like I couldn't breath.
Dr. Lynn: Emma is stable and being transferred to the ICU.
I sucked in the breath I was holding. Thank god my Rylee was ok. Which meant the look was for the loss of the baby.
Dante: The baby
I whispered already knowing the reply but needed the confirmation and the how.
She touched my arm with sincerity.
Dr. Lynn: I am sorry Mr. Santino. She suffered from placental abruption.
Dante: How?
Dr.Lynn: most common cause is car accidents, though it can happen from a bad fall or being hit with extreme force.
Dante: But R..... Emma is going to be ok.
Dr. Lynn:. She lost a lot of blood, and it will take weeks to heal but, yes she'll make a full recovery.
Gram: When can we see her.
Dr. Lynn: Once we have her all set up in the ICU. For now I'll take you to the ICU waiting room on the next floor.
I walk past the dr and peek out the door. James is there in a second. All I could see was my closest men. James, Jason, Erik and Carlton.
Dante: Where is he.
James: Out in the main lobby. Trevor has his eyes on him.
Dante: He doesn't come up to the ICU is that understood.
James nods and talks into his ear piece repeating my demand. Gram tossed his Yankees cap on pulling it down to cover his face as we follow the Dr to the ICU. James and Jason follow in the elevator while Erik takes the stairs. She leads us into another private room where we wait. Jason mans the elevate while Erik remains at the stairway exit. James covers the door to our private room. I sink down into a seat with my head against the wall and close my eyes.
Rylee: The baby
Her voice whispers over and over again. I try to imagine what happened. How the fucking piece of shit got to her. What did he do to cause her to miscarry. There's little satisfaction in replaying her stabbing him in the neck not because he's dead but because I wasn't the one to do it. How could she have been so wrong about him. It had to be the hormones. She was doing so much better as far as not getting sick all the time but her thoughts and emotions where a little off from time to time and she kept blaming the hormones. Anger starts to take over again as I think about how the fucker got into that bathroom. Where the fuck was Erik.
James enters the room with a solemn look.
James: We lost Mr. Santino.
Dante: Then find him.
James: We're looking. But there's something else.
I waved my hand at him to proceed. He walked in and handed me his phone.
James: Levi searched Marks body and found a hotel key. This is what he found at the hotel.
I expanded the photo. There was rope and fake ids spread out on a table. Another photo was of a collage. Pictures of Rylee mostly of her at the Lions Den but a few were of her and I but I was cut out. He was a fucking psychopath. It explained why his apartment was empty when we paid him a visit. He had already been planning to take her. Gram took the phone and studied the photos. I could tell by the shocked and angry look on his face he felt as fooled as I did.
Gram: He was a fucking ghost.
Gram mumbled handing the phone back to James.
Gram: Is there anything indicating her real identity or linking him to Roy or Mr. Santino.
James: Levi has his phone but there's a face recognition lock.
Gram: Have it brought to me.
James: We have the equipment to open it back at the apartment.
Dante: Have it brought here to Gram.
James nodded and left the room.