Unmasking The Mafia

Chapter 34

An hour passes by slowly, the minutes dragging on like hours as you and William sit in silence in the waiting room. Your minds are filled with a tumultuous mix of fear, hope, relief, and worry; a whirlwind of emotions swirling in the dead air of the room.

Finally, a nurse pokes her head out of the room where Ethan is resting, her expression calm yet serious.

"You can go in now."

The two of you follow the nurse into Ethan's hospital room. The room is a stark contrast to the sterile environment of the rest of the hospital - warm and inviting, with a comfortable bed, a few machines monitoring Ethan's vitals, and a single chair by the bed for visitors.

Ethan is lying in the bed, pale and still recovering from the surgery, but his chest is rising and falling with each steady breath, a clear indication that he's still very much alive.

You inch towards the bed and hesitantly place your hand on Ethan's arm.

The feeling of your hand makes Ethan's eyes flutter, his eyelids beginning to open slowly as he comes out of his anesthetic-induced sleep. His gaze is hazy at first, his vision probably still blurry and unclear. It takes a moment, but eventually his eyes focus on you, recognition beginning to register in his eyes.

He opens his mouth to speak, but all that comes out is a hoarse whisper.

"...mom?"

As soon as he speaks, you feel your breath hitch in your throat. You never thought you'd hear him again, and this... this is the happiest thing that has happened in the last few days.

Ethan tries to sit up, but a wave of pain visibly washes over him as he winces, flinching back against the bed. The machines attached to him begin to beep faster, the steady rhythm becoming slightly erratic as his heart rate picks up.

"S... stop. Hurts..." he stutters out, his voice weak and strained.

"Hey... don't strain yourself."

He nods slowly, his expression a mixture of pain and relief. He takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he gazes up at you through half-lidded eyes.

"Water... please..."

Ethan's gaze then drifts over to William as he enters the room, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. With his help, Ethan manages to raise his head slightly and take a few sips of the water, the cool liquid running down his parched throat.

As he drinks, his eyes dart between the two of you, a thousand unspoken questions in his gaze.

William sets the glass down on a nearby table, his gaze never leaving Ethan's face as he watches his son closely. Seeing him awake and alive, albeit still in pain, is a relief, but the sight of his pale skin and the tubes and wires attached to him is a stark reminder of everything that's happened in the last few hours.

Ethan sets his head back on the pillow, his chest still heaving slightly as he tries to catch his breath.

The room is silent for a moment, the only sounds being the steady beeping of the machines and Ethan's labored breathing. Finally, Ethan speaks up, his voice rough but determined.

"I... I'm going to be okay, right? The nurses... they said... they said there were complications..."

You hesitate, not knowing what to say or how to say it. Seeing you hesitate, William steps forward, his gaze never leaving Ethan's face as he speaks up.

"You had... issues during the surgery. Internal... bleeding. But the doctor stabilized you. You're gonna be alright, kiddo."

Ethan nods slowly, his eyes drooping slightly as his body begins to tire. The pain-induced adrenaline rush is slowly fading, leaving him exhausted and weak.