Bratva Baby

Chapter Thirteen

Dimitri

I paced, back and forth along the wide hospital corridor. My dress shoes making a horrible squeaking sound every time I made a turn.  It was an ear-splitting sound, but it was better than the silence that seemed to wrap around me.

It had all happened so quickly. It was hard to get my head around it. Someone had tried to kill us. They hadn’t just shot into my wedding reception they had blown it the hell up.  With my wife inside.

Sophia had many flaws, but she was an innocent. Whether the hit was aimed at me, my family or hers didn’t matter. Trying to hurt what belonged to me would be met with a retaliation so swift and so severe that it would shock the world. And I knew I wasn’t the only one on the war path. Stefano would be a well. Sophia was his sister. His baby sister and he cared for her, not to mention his pregnant wife was there. It was a miracle she had come out of it with only cuts and bruises.

Of course, Stefano had demanded she be checked over by a doctor. I would have a well.

“Any news?” Alice Moretti, wife of the Don Luca Moretti and crime boss of her own accord slipped on to the seat next to Sophia’s hospital door. My eyes glanced to hers, the closed door and then back to my feet.

They had been in there for what seemed like hours. No one would tell me anything, they wouldn’t even let me in to see her. I had absolutely no idea what was going on in there, all I knew was that was alive.

“Dimitri?” Alice asked again. Her eyebrows rising into her hair. Finally, I turned to her. She was sporting an EMT jacket over her formal wear but looked unharmed.  “Sit down before you wear a hole in the carpet.”

Reluctantly I did what she asked, not because I wanted to. Not even because she asked but because I was suddenly bone tired.

“Any news Dimitri?”

I shook my head. “No none yet they won’t even let me in to see her.  When I find out….” I risked a glance at her face and the words died on my lips. She knew one look on her face and I knew it.

“You know who did it don’t you? Who was the hit for? if Sophia.”

Alice’s small warm hand came down over mine. “Sophia will be fine, she’s a Romano they are made of strong stuff. “

“Who did it?”

This time it was her that shook her head. “That can wait for another day. When everyone we love is out of this place and home resting.”

“Luca?”

“Cut on his head, a few stitches nothing more.” She shrugged. “The Moretti’s are made of strong stuff as well. He’s waiting with Stefano.”

Turning in my chair I studied her. “And you thought you would come and wait for Sophia? That very kind of you Alice.”

Of course, Alice was kind. She was just that sort of person. A trained nurse with a cute accent and a rosy disposition. She was also the heir of one of the biggest crime empires in the whole country and married to one of the others. There were rumours that she had killed her own father. Looking at her I could believe it as well. She might look sweet and innocent but there was fierce loyalty to her as well.

“I came to sit with you Dimitri.” She said in that sing song voice. “You shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.”

I didn’t know what to say. As a cold-hearted man, I wasn’t used to the kindness of strangers or even acquaintances. Instead, I asked the first thing that came into my head. “Lily?”

Sadness clouded her eyes. “She is fine, they have the baby’s heartbeat so that’s good. I think they are waiting on a scan to confirm.” She didn’t need to say anymore. If Lily lost this baby Stefano would burn the whole city until he found the person or persons responsible and who could blame him.

“And you?” I eyed her up and down.  “You don’t look hurt at all.”

“We weren’t in the ballroom. Luca and I had…” A blush crept up her cheeks. “Well, we were just coming back in when the explosion happened.”

“I see, well that’s good.” Distracted my head snapped up as Sophia’s hospital door swung open and a man in blue scrubs stepped out. He swept his yes up and down the corridor before they settled on us.

“Are you Sophia’s family?” He glanced down at the notes in his hand. “Stefano?”

Rising to my feet I shook my head. “I am Dimitri.” I didn’t bother offering him my hand. I doubt he would have shaken it anyway. “How is she? When can I see her?” I desperately wanted to see her. To make sure with my own to eyes that she was fine.

“I have her next of kin as a brother Stefano Romano and a friend Alice Moretti.” His brow furrowed. He recognised those names I was sure of it.

“I’m Alice, Dimitri is her husband. It was their wedding reception that got attacked. Sophia had no time to make changes to her records yet?” Alice was all business.  “How is she doing?”

The doctor’s smile was dazzling. “She is fine, a few nasty cuts. We were mainly concerned about how long she was knocked out for, but she is awake now. A few days’ rest, at least one day in here so we can rule out any complications and then…”

I cut him off. “Internally she is fine? She will be able to have children?”

The doctors grin wilted. “Why. Um...”

A roar sounded from behind me. Something made of solid muscle crashed into me sending me sprawling. I didn’t have a chance to do more than throw my hands up in an attempt to protect my face from smashing into the floor before Stefano was on me. His fists flying.

“That’s all you care about, isn’t it? That my sister gives you a baby. She almost died because of you, but you don’t give a f**k about that do you?”