Caught In Between - Book 1

43

CHAPTER 43
Domenico

Saturday

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

The noise that echoed in my ears got louder with every passing sound. I tried to move, but my body wouldn't allow it. I tried to open my eyes but came up equally unsuccessful. Where the fuck was I? And what the fuck happened? Questions swirled in my head as the pain that ached my body became more prominent by the second. Another row of beeps sounded off as it hit me.

Catalina.

We were on a date, and everything had gone perfectly, no better than perfect. Then, out of nowhere, a truck t-boned us.

The last thing I remembered was the lights coming at us at full speed while I called out Catalina's name. It was too late. There was no time to do anything before our car was being crushed and glass was flying. I tried to yank her towards me, but it all happened so fast. She took most of the impact.

Blood. God, her blood covered my hands. So much fucking blood. I tried to stay conscious, but when my head slammed against the window, it knocked me off my axis.

My ears were soon ringing, and my vision was fading. I tried so hard to hang on for her. There were sirens in the distance, and I felt myself slipping away. No, Nic, open your eyes! My mind screamed at me, but I didn't have the strength. Open your fucking eyes! I was trying. I needed to stay with her. Goddamnit, open your eyes! She could be dying or dead. Alone and afraid because you couldn't stay awake. OPEN YOUR—

My eyes shot open, and I jerked up, head pounding with pain radiating throughout my body. My vision was blurred but well enough to know I was in a hospital.

Reaching down, I patted my legs, searching for my phone, but it wasn't there. When my eyesight was finally back to normal, I realized I was in a clinical gown with my clothes nowhere in sight. Also, my right arm was wrapped up and in a sling. There were tiny cuts throughout my skin, and fuck, everything ached.

Catalina. My brain reminded me. I needed to find her. I needed to find my girl.

Yanking the IV and the adhesive patches off my skin, setting the monitors ringing, I swung my legs off the side of the bed. My head spun, and I reached up, palming my temple, struggling to gain my bearings.

Fuck.

"Señor, you need to lay back down." A petite nurse rushed into the room, attempting to push me back down, but I wasn't having that shit.

"Where's the woman I came in with?" I asked in a raspy voice.

"She-she... It's best if you wait for the doctor."

No. No. No. No.

I pushed the petite woman out of my way. I needed to find her. I needed to be with her.

Swinging the door open, I met Matteo's chest, and I stumbled back a few steps, still weak on my feet. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. I got you." Matteo's hands reached out for me, but with my good arm, I pushed him out of my way.

"Where is she?" I roared, limping into the nurse's station. My mind was already thinking the worst. I needed an explanation. Anyone in my way was a casualty of the war raging inside of me until I got my answer. Lorenzo rushed over to me and tried to calm me down.

"Nic, relax. You're gonna hurt yourself," he told me, but again, those weren't the words I wanted to hear. I shoved him away.

"I'm already hurt, goddamnit," I yelled at him. "Where the fuck is she?"

"That's what we've been trying to figure out, but they won't tell us shit." Matteo's voice caught my attention from behind, and I veered around to face him. "The doctor said we have to be family."