𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐌𝐞

67|| Heartbeat

Dante // August 20
•••

The beeps coming from Celeste's heart monitor are going steady, but still I readjust the noise cancelling headphones over her ears.

"Mr. Alessi?" One of the nurses enters after knocking on my bedroom door. "Ms. Costelle's breakfast is here."

I nod, wordlessly allowing her to let Piero in as I glance at the untouched plate with toast layered with strawberry marmalade, bits of fruit and scrambled eggs.

"Capo." Piero greets me with a nod before setting the freshly made breakfast on the nightstand next to the one he made yesterday, but just like the past seventeen days he doesn't acknowledge the fact that no one is awake to eat the food he's been delivering here.

He follows my gaze to her heart monitor and watches the lines and beeps before he looks from the headphones on her head to the rain tickling against the windows.

"Did you sleep?" he asks.

"No." My eyeballs feel dry and irritated, my eyelids heavy and my brain is all messed up from sleep deprivation. "It's raining, I had to make sure she doesn't get scared."

"It's been raining for three days straight now, capo." He puts some honey in the mint tea he'd made for Celeste and the spoon ticks against the insides of the teacup as he stirs. "And she can't hear anything with those headphones on."

I know that, but still my mind was more at ease sitting on a chair next to the hospital bed I'd had brought into my room than it was asleep.

I take her hand in mine, my thumb pressing down on the pulse I'd nearly lost because of a bullet intended for me.

Lester had called his men back when he realized who'd taken his bullet and I'd gotten Celeste to the nearest hospital just in time. One minute later and she wouldn't have made it.

She was in surgery for hours. They had to get the bullet out and stop the excessive internal bleeding. She'd already lost too much blood and her damaged lungs due to smoking didn't help either, but the surgery saved her life. After which, she slipped into a coma.

But she's home now.

I caress her pale skin underneath my fingertips and play with her fingers while tracing the silver ring I'd put on one of them.

I barely notice Ricardo entering the room with flowers. "Adriana made a new bouquet," he says. "Where should I put it?"

I point at the spot in my room where the other thirty-six flower filled vases stand and Ricardo adds the new one to the collection.

Adriana hadn't been talking to me. She'd visited Celeste a handful of times, but always insisted I had to be out of the room.

I know she's feeling guilty and sad, but it's hard to talk to someone who's avoiding you like the plague.

I twist the ring around Celeste's finger and feel both men's eyes on me.

Eventually, Ricardo breaks the silence. "I'm not sure it's legal to marry someone who's unconscious."

"She will wake up."

He sighs, walking a little closer. "Dante.."

I look at him then, knowing full well what possibility he's implying since it's been the only thing captivating my mind for the past days. "I'll marry her anyway."

He shakes his head, but knows better than to speak.

Piero clears his throat. "Shall I bring you a plate as well, capo?"