Finally after a long 24 hours more, Dr. Lynn finally agreed to let me go home. Dante has been going rounds with his father over the phone since yesterday. Mr. Santino seemed genuinely concerned as he demanded to see his future daughter in law and pay his respects for the baby we lost. But Dante refused. He told him the truth about Mark and used it as an excuse as to why he wouldn't trust any of Santino's men including his father to be anywhere near us.
Dante: I already lost someone I loved because of you once, I will not let it happen again.
He yelled into the phone before hanging up.
His eyes met mine mixed with love, fear, anger.
He walked across the room and captured my lips with his.
Dante: I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell.
Dr. Lynn came in with James who was pushing a wheel chair.
Dr. Lynn: Are you ready to go home.
I nodded with a big smile. She began to instruct me how to sit up slowly and swing my legs over the side carefully but Dante had other plans. He scooped me up as gentle as a new born baby and eased me down into the wheel chair. Pushing James out of the way. Gram hated not being there but Mr. Santino had visited the hospital each day though he never made it past the main lobby it made things too risky for Gram. I can only imagine the kinds of thing he's done to prepare the house for my return. Setting up back up plans to his back plans. Probably going at it with Jason over surveillance and shifts. Dante has already warned his men that Gram had seniority when it comes to me.
The sun was blinding when Dante wheeled us out into the high noon warm August day. It was welcoming actually to feel the warmth after being cooped up in a freezing hospital for nearly 36 hours. Just as we reached the SUV. Dante tensed up and shielded me as Mr. Santino made his way over. I glanced around Dante with a hand shading my eyes.
Mr. Santino: Son I know I've done awful things in the past but I a sure you I would never intentionally jeopardize the safety of you or Emma or your future children. I have been worried sick about her. About both of you.
Dante steps forward puffing out his chest. Mr. Santino's guard who was one of Dante's men took a step forward in display of protection but it was just for show. Mr. Santino waved him back.
Dante: You don't get to come down off your high horse acting like you have some right to be apart of my life or my fiancé's life. You lost that right the day you had Rylee killed.
He didn't care at all that there was a small audience to his outrage. Not that it would matter, no one would dare intervene in a Santino feud. Well except for Dr. Lynn who with out batting an eye accepted the medium size brown teddy bear with a red clown nose like Robin Williams Patch that Mr. Santino was holding.
Dr. Lynn: Thank you Mr. Santino.
She put a hand on Dante's chest moving him backward to leave. She jumped in and slid across to the other side. Dante lifted me into the car buckling me in the middle before sitting next to me with my hand in his. James soon followed jumping in the front. Once we started driving, Dr.Lynn to my surprise started squeezing and examining the bear.
Rylee: You're a natural mafia woman.
She smiles and winks. Then my mouth drops open like I hadn't expected it. (Expect the unexpected) She pulls on one of the eyes and attached to it is a fucking camera. I am so off my game. I throw my head back and the tears swell.
Dr. Dr.Lynn: Hey Andretti. Open the back window.
Carlton starts laughing at the nick name and obliges. She tosses the bear out on the interstate. Dante is squeezing the handle so hard he's leaving marks in the leather. I give his hand a squeeze hoping to distract him. After a few seconds he takes a deep breath and turns to me kissing my lips. Then nods at dr Lynn with appreciation.
Rylee: Thank you for agreeing to accompany me home. Though I have a feeling it has more to do with a certain someone else?
I waggle my brows at her.
Dr.Lynn: Oh it has a lot more to do with a certain someone else.
I wince at the pain from the half laugh she caused me. The pain subsided quickly though since my body still has a large dose of morphine in it, per the doctors orders. She just wanted to make sure the ride home was as comfortable as possible, and at this very moment I was thankful. I was also thankful it put me to sleep. When we arrived home all the guys were waiting out on the porch. Gram was of course at the door before the car even came to a full stop. He opened the door to the side Dr. Lynn was on and scooped her up with one arm locking his lips on hers while sliding her down his large frame, before turning to me with a big grin. He reached in and patted my hand doing his best to hold back tears.
Dante slowly lifted me out cradling me to his chest. James lead the way up the steps with Dr.Lynn close behind him while Gram walked behind us. As we pass everyone they all give a nod and a warm welcome home smile. Home. Our first new home and our first day is with me all doped up on drugs and what not. Once settled in our new king size bed with black wooden posts, Dr. Lynn exams me making sure the drive wasn't too much. I reassure her I was fine.
Rylee: Hey Noah! You got your self a real keeper here.
I wink at him as she walks to him in the door way. He looks down at her with a big grin.
Gram: That I do.
Dante pulls the curtains closed and lyes down next to me taking my hand in his bringing it up to his chest.
Dante: You sure your ok.
Rylee: Yes. But ask me again when the drugs wear off.
After weeks of mental and physical recovery I was finally given the ok to train again. Dr.Lynn who never seizes to amaze me became a life saver in more ways than one, helping me through the darker days. Once all the morphine had flushed out of my system, reality had set in, and with it depression. Also apparently I had dreamed up a lot of weird things. Like the bear with the patch nose that Mr. Santino had given as a gift, turns out Dr.Lynn didn't rip the eye out and toss it on the interstate. Dante told me I had woken up one night and saw it sitting on the night stand and freaked out about it coming back to life like Chucky and ripped it to shreds. It didn't have a camera. It was an actual bear bought from the hospital gift shop.
Dr. Lynn had become a huge part of our lives. She moved into the guest house with Gram even after she had discovered that we weren't who we had been pretending to be. None of it had phased her at all. Turns out her late husband had been apart of a small gang in China, when he was killed she avenged his death before fleeing here to America.
Mr. Santino's health had declined. It was only a matter of time now, that either we made our move or let life take its course. Either way, I still needed him to know who I was before he died. By mid September I would finally have my chance. Mr. Santino had been put on bed rest after suffering another heart attack. He begged Dante for us to come see him before it was too late. We cautiously took his invite. Since most of Santino's men were actually working for Dante it gave us the advantage but Mr. Santino still had a few of his own loyal employees we would deal with if need.
Dante: Are you sure you're up for this?
Dante asks inner twining our fingers together as we sit in the back of the SUV on the way to Mr. Santino's place in up state.
Rylee: I am! Are you?
Dante: You don't know how close I came to taking him while you were recovering. You give the word and I'll get it done.
I kiss his cheek and rest my head on his shoulder. It wasn't long before we were entering through the front doors manned by Dante's men which meant they didn't check for weapons. We made our way up the stairs with James and Gram on our tail and are greeted by a doctor. He was an older short man with thick black framed glasses. He reached up patting Dante's shoulder and shook his head. The guard at the door was one of Santino's loyalists. He allowed Dante and I in but held an arm up blocking James and Gram. I looked back at Gram who was giving me an it's ok look.
Once the door clicked shut behind us the sounds of beeping machines set me back a moment to my time in the hospital.
Dante: Babe!
Dante's smooth voice brought me to. On the bed was Mr. Santino looking like death was waiting. I.V's sticking out of him and an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth. He had lost a lot of weight. Dante squeezed my hand and we both moved closer. Mr. Santino looked up at Dante and past him at me. He gestured for me to come forward with his hand out. As I came around Dante taking his hand he pulled the mask down with the other. He mustard a smile attempting to place his other hand over mine. Suddenly his eyes widened. His brows furrowed.
Mr. Santino: Your eyes, they've changed?
I leaned in a little closer.
Rylee: There the same as my fathers.
Mr. Santino: Who are you.
He tried to release my hand but I wouldn't let go.
Mr. Santino: What are you doing? Let go of me?
Rylee: Take a good look Mr. Santino. Do you not recognize me.
He looks over at Dante with fear and anger in his eyes
Mr. Santino: Dante! What is the meaning of this. Who is this where's Emma.
Dante: This is Emma pops.
Mr. Santino: No. no Emma had brown eyes, you? I don't know who you are get out.
The machines started beeping louder. The guard attempted to open the door but the second the knob turned it was followed by a loud thud. Mr. Santino looked at me yanking his hand from mine. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my family picture.
Rylee: You recognize me now Mr. Santino
Mr. Santino's eyes squinted to see the photo. He studied it going back and forth from it to me. His face turned pale, his eyes widen.
Rylee: You had my mother, and my little brother killed.
I ripped out his I.V as he reached for the oxygen mask. Gasping for air.
Rylee: You shot my father.
I yanked away the oxygen. Mask as Dante walked over to the other side of the bed turning off the machines. Mr.Santino whipped his head towards his son.
Mr.Santino: What are you doing.
He struggled to speak.
Dante: What I should have done ten years ago.
Mr.Santino looked between the two of us as if seeing it for the first time. The Epiphany of it.
Dante: You took her away from me all those years ago because of your greed and hate.
Rylee: Had you been a smarter man you would have seen it. The love Dante and I shared. We were always meant to be. But on our terms. In our time. And here we are. Soon to be wed after all these years.
Dante: Only this time you won't be reaping the benefits of our marriage. Rylee and I will.
Mr. Santino: How
He whispered. Just then Grams made an entrance walking to the end of the bed. Mr. Santino clutched his chest gasping for air as he sees it all unfold before him. Gram doesn't speak, he just stands there towering over the bed with pure hate in his eyes. Dante comes back around to my side of the bed pulling me into him. As we watch Mr. Santino take his final breath.
Dante called down to Erik to stop the doctor who was just about to pull out of the drive. We plugged everything back in and waited for the doctor to make his way back up. He didn't even bother trying to resuscitate. He checked a pulse by hand and stethoscope then looked at Dante with grievance and called the time of death.