CARINA

39: STUCK WITH ME

DANTE'S POV

     "PLEASE don't scare me Carina. Breathe baby, I need you to breathe please" I continuously begged her as we sat in the ambulance. I didn't even know why we couldn't get to the hospital sooner

She was unconscious and I didn't want anything happening to her. She has to be fine. They have to be fine.

I was so shocked when I saw her big bump. I heard pregnant women increase in weight but she even looked skinnier than she was before and I could only blame myself for that. I was supposed to protect her and trust her. She begged me to but I didn't

We got to the hospital and the nurses were so fast to lead her to the emergency department. I followed in a hurry and met my family already there. Ambra was sitting in a wheelchair and still in her hospital robe. Adriano was also back from his trip.

He and Enzo were sitting on the chair. They looked half relieved when they saw Carina but it was still disturbing to see all the bruises on her skin. And her big tummy had them looking surprised

They led her to the theater room and stopped me from entering. I was fucking pissed but I wouldn't want to do anything that would put her life at risk so I stayed rooted in that spot

"She's pregnant?" My mom asked still shocked "Did-did he..."

"No he didn't" I said sharply at just the thought of him molesting Carina. I looked at her cousin and he had his head in his hands looking worried "Seems she's eight months pregnant" I said what the nurses had told us in the ambulance

"So that means..." Elerra started

"She was three months pregnant before the kidnapping" when I confirmed it, they all looked unhappy. We knew we all treated her bad and left her to go through this. All I wanted to do was turn back time to when she confessed her feelings to me. I would have also accepted my feelings for her and told her that...

That I love her too

We stood there for hours and it felt like days before Bernardi, our doctor came out. He took his mask off and we all went to him

"Turns out she's never had a check up during her pregnancy. The babies uhh..."

"Babies?" Jayden and I asked in unison

"Yes! They're twins" I shouldn't be shocked but I was. I wanted to be happy but I needed to hear that they were okay first "She has received lots of kicks and abuse as it looks so she's going to have a premature birth due to that and the stress. And we have no choice but to perform a c-section—but even with that, they are all still in danger"

"What are you saying?!" I shouted but Ambra held my bloodstained shirt, silently asking me to take it easy but I wasn't having any

"It's either we...save the mother or the babies"

"Stop giving me such bullshit!"

"I wish there was something I can do but...you need to make a decision Dante and it has to be now" Bernardi said and Jayden stared at me looking so scared

"My decision?" I asked and he nodded "Save them—all three of them. I want to see my wife and both my babies—breathing! Can you do that" he knew it wasn't a question

He stood there and gave a small and unsure nod "I think..."

"You think? Stop thinking and fucking make it happen!"

"Calm down, man" Adriano said

"Don't tell..." I cut myself off and held my head. I didn't want to argue with them. Carina was what mattered most, she has to be better. I have to save our babies so we can take care of them together.