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Dad crossed the room and pulled us both into a tight hug. “It’s going to be okay, kids. I promise. I’ll be back to being a pain in both your asses soon enough. My part is simple. It’s your cousins you need to think about.” I heard him swallow hard. “Uncle Drake needs your good thoughts and prayers more than I do.”
“Okay, Daddy,” I whispered, not wanting him to hear how weak my voice was.
“Yeah, okay,” Mason echoed.
Dad pulled back and then kissed my forehead. “The press might get crazy. Don’t go anywhere without security, one of your uncles, or Luca.” I nodded, unable to speak without sobbing. His gaze went to Luca, who was still behind me. “Take care of her for me, son.”
“Always,” Luca rasped out, unable to hide his own emotions. Luca hugged Dad with Mason and me still between them, squeezing us against their bodies.
My brother laughed, and I couldn’t help smiling a little as they smooshed us together.
“Shane.” Mom’s soft voice had Dad stepping back. He kissed the top of Mason’s head, then wiped his thumb over my cheek. It was only when I felt him brush away a tear that I realized I was crying.
“I love you two more than anything,” Dad told us in an emotion-choked voice. “I’ll see you both soon. I promise.”
“I love you, Dad,” Mason told him, his chin trembling.
“I love you, Daddy,” I whispered.
He grinned, then took Mom’s hand and followed the nurse out. The door closed behind them, and I felt myself begin to sway, but Luca’s strong arms
caught me and lifted me against his chest. As he carried me to the nearest chair, I finally let the sobs free.
Luca’s warm hands rubbed up and down my back. “Cry all you want, baby,” he murmured at my ear. “I’ve got you.”
Chapter 16
Luca
It was a few hours before Aunt Harper returned, alone. By then, Violet’s tears had dried, and she was sitting quietly beside me. Mason sat on her other side, and the two of them held on to each other, while I held on to my girl, silently offering her every ounce of my strength so she could get through this.
Aunt Lana and four of her kids joined us, and I felt bad Nevaeh had to make the trip home alone, knowing her father was already in surgery. But she worried us all when she arrived and just sat down, not making a sound—not even blinking her eyes behind her glasses.
Lyric and I shared a look before glancing back at our scary-smart cousin. It was like she was a ghost sitting there. Not touching anything, not speaking, barely breathing at times. I figured she was in shock, and no one could reach her as they tried time and again to interact with her.
The room was almost at capacity with our family by the time a surgeon came to talk to us.
Uncle Shane had come through his part of the surgery beautifully, according to the doctor. As soon as he left with the promise of a nurse escorting Aunt Harper to Uncle Shane’s room after he was out of recovery, I could literally feel Violet deflate. Exhaustion was weighing down on her, and I could tell she was ready to drop. But she just sat there, trying to be strong for everyone else.
Hours later, after a crazy blowup between Nevaeh and her boyfriend, once he’d arrived, Aunt Harper came back to the waiting room and pulled me aside.
We moved to a less crowded corner, and she glanced over at her kids. “How are they?”
“Tired, but good. How is Uncle Shane?”
She gave me a small, genuine smile. “He’s good. In a lot of pain, but he’s going to be fine. So is Drake, from what Lana told me just a few minutes ago. I’m so relieved that everything turned out so well.” Her pretty purple eyes went straight back to Violet. “You’re sure she’s okay? She’s so brave and strong, but she forgets it’s okay to be the weak one every now and then.”
“I think a good night’s sleep is all she really needs,” I assured her.
“You’re probably right.” She took my hand, giving it a firm squeeze. “Would you do me a favor?”
“Anything.” I loved this woman just as much as my own mother. She’d always been in my corner. Supporting my relationship with Violet every step of the way. She knew I would never hurt Violet, that I would gladly die for the girl who meant the world to both of us.
“I’m going to stay the night. Shane will sleep better if I’m with him, and I honestly don’t think I could make myself walk out of this place without him right now. But the kids need the comforts of home. Would you mind driving Vi and Mason home for me?”
I was already shaking my head. “You know I would never turn down more time with Violet.”
She laughed softly. “Believe me, I know. Every time I see you two together, I can’t help but remember when you were barely two years old and would put your hands on my pregnant belly, telling me and anyone who would listen ‘mine’ over and over again.”
