The Change|| BxB

34. Blood Ties

Max's hands were trembling as he sat in the hospital waiting room, his mind racing with worry. Valentino had called him frantically, describing the harrowing events that led to Kyle being rushed to the ER. Max felt a wave of dread wash over him; he didn't want to believe that his friend might be in serious danger, nor did he want to confront the possibility of losing him. His anxiety was compounded by the grim reality of Valentino's dangerous lifestyle and the potential repercussions that came with it. Max shifted restlessly in his chair, unable to shake the feeling that he might be next.

After what felt like an eternity, Valentino emerged from the emergency room. His face was pale and etched with exhaustion. The moment his eyes locked with Max's, a wave of guilt washed over him. Max was seated with his hands buried in his knees, avoiding Valentino's gaze. Val made his way over and knelt down, gently cupping Max's face in his hands. "Baby, he's going to be okay," Val said softly, trying to offer comfort.

Max's eyes were clouded with tears. "It's all my fault. I told Kyle to go get snacks from the store. If I hadn't asked him, he wouldn't have been there." His voice cracked as he spoke, his emotions raw and unfiltered. He tried to push Valentino away, unable to face the comfort being offered. "I'm sure of it. It's my fault."

Valentino tightened his grip on Max's hands, his voice firm yet soothing. "It's not your fault, okay? If anything, it's mine. I ordered my men to bring in someone who owed me the most money. I didn't know it was Kyle. I would never have sent him if I'd known."

Max's eyes widened in shock. His breath hitched as he processed the revelation. "Your men did this. They must have known it was Kyle. They had to."

Valentino shook his head, his own anger rising. "How can you be so sure? They've seen Kyle around the house, but that doesn't mean they knew it was him. They just thought he was another random guy."

Max's anger flared, his voice rising. "How could they not know? They've seen Kyle enough times to recognize him. They had to know who they were targeting. They knew what they were doing, and it was never supposed to happen like this."

Valentino struggled with Max's accusations. The idea that his own men could have known Kyle was involved gnawed at him. It sickened him to think that someone so close to him could have been harmed due to his orders. His anger was palpable, and he was barely holding back his fury.

After a tense silence, Max spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper. "Let's go see Kyle."

Val nodded solemnly, standing up. They made their way to Kyle's room, the weight of the situation heavy on their shoulders. Valentino opened the door and stepped inside first, his heart sinking as he looked at Kyle lying on the hospital bed. Kyle was pale and motionless, the beeping of the heart monitor the only indication that he was still alive.

Max followed Val into the room and took a seat on the edge of the bed, his sadness evident. He reached out and took Kyle's hand, his tears falling freely now. "I don't know what's going to happen," Max said, his voice breaking. "I just hope he can pull through."

Valentino stood nearby, his emotions a tangled mess of guilt and sorrow. He watched Max with a heavy heart, knowing that his actions had inadvertently put his friend in this dire situation. He had to come to terms with the fact that his decisions had real-world consequences, and Kyle was now paying the price for it.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as they waited for any sign of movement from Kyle. The silence in the room was deafening, filled only with the mechanical sounds of medical equipment and the occasional sob from Max.

Valentino eventually found his voice, breaking the silence. "I'm so sorry, Max. I never meant for any of this to happen. I thought I was just handling business, but I never imagined it would come to this."

Max looked up at Valentino, his face streaked with tears. "It's not just about business, Val. It's about the people we care about. You need to be more careful with your decisions. We're all affected by them."

Valentino nodded, his eyes filled with remorse. "I know. I'll do whatever it takes to make this right. I'll make sure this never happens again."

The door to the room creaked open, and a doctor walked in, carrying a solemn expression. He approached Valentino and Max with a serious demeanor. "We've stabilized Kyle for now, but his condition is critical. We need to run more tests to determine the full extent of his injuries. It's going to be a long road ahead."

Max's heart sank further, but he held onto the hope that Kyle would pull through. Valentino placed a reassuring hand on Max's shoulder, understanding the pain and fear his boyfriend was experiencing.

"I'll stay here with you," Valentino said softly. "We'll get through this together."

As they settled into the waiting area once more, the gravity of the situation hung heavily over them. Valentino and Max were left to grapple with their guilt and the uncertain future, their bond tested by the harsh realities of their world. The path ahead was uncertain, but they knew they had to face it together, hoping that their loyalty to each other would be enough to weather the storm.

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