My chest clenched. “I’m sorry, Kitty Cat.”
She pulled away to smile down at me through her tears. “I prayed for this moment.”
“As a former nun, I would expect nothing less.”
“I’m serious, Leandro.”
Swallowing hard, I replied, “I know. And I’m glad you did.”
Caterina tenderly ran her finger over Luca’s cheek. “He really is beautiful, isn’t he?”
“He’s his mother.”
Pity echoed in Caterina’s expression. “I know.”
Bea came rushing inside. “What’s wrong?” I demanded.
Her face lit up. “They just called. Your wife is awake.”
For a moment, those words stunned me so much I couldn’t move. But then Caterina was taking Luca from me while I screamed at the muscles in my legs to work.
When they finally did, I leapt out of the chair and started running down the hall. I didn’t think I could get to Drea fast enough. Just as I was a few feet from her room, I skidded to a stop.
What if she wouldn’t take me back?
What if I’d hurt her too much when she was so vulnerable that she could never forgive me?
No, I couldn’t let that happen. Not as long as I had a breath within me. I had to prove to Drea that we belonged together.
And with Luca.
CHAPTER CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN: DREA
From the moment I opened my eyes, a flurry of activity began around me. Medical staff came running. Since I still felt half-in and half-out of consciousness it was overwhelming.
And when the breathing tube was removed, I finally felt human again. Of course, when I tried to speak, nothing but a whisper came out. At what must’ve been my panicked expression, a nurse patted my arm. “Don’t worry. It’ll come back in a few minutes.
“Okay,” I croaked a little louder before.
Once the medical staff moved away from me, my gaze pinged around the room. Vittoria and Audrianna stood with their arms around each other smiling through their tears.
Although I was happy to see them, there was someone else I began searching the room for.
But he wasn’t there.
Had I just been dreaming when he told me loved me and wanted me back? It seemed too cruel of a trick for my mind to play on me. But then I swallowed down my sadness to focus on the other man in my life.
“Luca?”
Vittoria beamed. “He’s fine. Healthy with a head full of jet black hair like you had when you were a baby.”
“Thank God.” Although I was happy to hear how well he was doing, it wasn’t enough. I wanted to see him for myself. To hold him in my arms.
“I want him.”
“The nurses are preparing to bring him down.”
As I closed my eyes, a relieved breath escaped my lips. “Good.”