Marrying the Mafia

Nothing but Death Do Us Part

Aria's POV:

The soft rhythm of hospital machines floods my ears as a doctor patches the cuts on my face from Ryder. I am numb. I can't feel anything. I was so terrible to him. I blamed him for his brother's actions. Who the fuck does that? Who is that cruel? God, I regret it all. I never should've second guessed him or his intentions. I've never felt so loved a day in my life. I will never find that again, nor do I want to. I just want Derek.

"Ma'am?"

I snap out of my thoughts and look at the doctor. My eyes fall to his name, and I see 'Dr. Warren'. He's rather nerdy looking, so maybe he isn't a threat. Why do I have to keep an eye out for these things? I'm not cut out for this. I can't be the one in charge. I need Derek.

"Yes?" I reply, my exhausted gaze meeting his eyes.

"Does the man that came in with you... y'know, beat you?" Dr. Warren insinuates.

"No! That man protected me, shielded me with his entire body. Don't you ever assume that kind of shit," my voice drips with anger and grief if. It's not his fault though. I mean when a bloodied girl drags her bullet-filled husband into the ER, there's no proper senario to assume.

Derek needs to be okay. I need him. I can't live without him. I should've never treated him the way I did.

"Aria Montgomery?" Another doctor asks. I look around for a second before realizing that she's talking to me. I told the hospital I'm his wife, but I don't officially have his last name.

She's a short, Asian doctor named Dr. Xiango. Her long, black hair is tied back in a tight bun, her eyes locked on mine.

"It's bad. He's dead, isn't he?" My voice trembles as Dr. Warren excuses himself. Dr. Xiango sits across from me on a swivel chair.

"No, he isn't dead. He needs intense surgery. The bullet ruptured his spleen, and his organs are starting to shut down. We need to operate, but we need your consent," Dr. Xiango hands me a clipboard with consent forms.

I don't hesitate, signing the bottom of the paper. As I hand the papers to Dr. Xiango, I catch her wrist.

"You do whatever you have to. Please, save my husband," I beg, tears in my eyes. Dr. Xiango gives me a reassuring smile as I release her wrist.

"I will do anything and everything I can," Dr. Xiango replies, gripping my hand. I nod my head, tears falling from my eyes now. "Go have something to eat. His room is being prepped now, I'll have someone send you up whenever his room is ready."

I nod my head, unable to stop shaking. My head spins with anger and confusion as Dr. Xiango walks away. I hate money. I hate wealth. I hate power. None of this would've happened if I didn't have money.

You can get away with anything, especially with women. Arranged marriages, trafficking, assault, everything. It's sick and corrupt.

        I take Dr. Xiango's advice and eat in the cafeteria before going back to the waiting room. Eventually, someone finds me and leads me up to Derek's room.

He's not going to be out of surgery for a long time, but I can't sleep. These past few days have been pure hell. I can't take it. From the warehouse to the hangar, and then to here, I am exhausted physically, but I can't sleep knowing my husband is in danger of losing his life.

The doctor's examined me in the ER and found that I was seconds from my ribs shattering. If Ryder had stood on me a second longer, or applied more pressure, I probably would've died.

Luckily for me, my bones are only bruised, not broken. It hurts like hell, but the doctors did give me some medication to ease the pain a bit.

I wish it had been me and not Derek. I'm the reason he's lying on that OR table, dying. If I had never entered his life, this never would've happened...