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“We are?” Dante questioned.
Emelia turned into his embrace, and reaching up, whispered so the others wouldn’t hear, “We won’t be under father’s roof then.” She kissed his cheek, and smiled at the soft groan that escaped his mouth in a whoosh of air.
“Emiliano?” her mom questioned, her hand going to her heart. “What’s wrong?”
They all turned to face their father and realized why her mom had sounded so worried. He was pale, and wouldn’t meet anyone’s gaze as he slowly walked to a chair at the table and dropped into it. It was as though his legs wouldn’t hold him up anymore.
Emelia made a move toward him, and then paused when it suddenly hit her that it might be because of them that he was acting the way he was.
“Emelia, honey.” He cleared his throat. “I can see your worry, and my reaction now has nothing to do with you and Dante. I promise. I was still upset at you both when I woke up, but after the call I just received, it made me realize that life is too short. You both love each other, that’s clear for anyone to see, so you have my blessing.”
She should be happy at that announcement, but something was off. Emelia crouched down beside his chair and took his hands, “Thank you…but, Dad, you have us all worried.”
Her mom had come over to them and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. He patted Emelia’s hands before he pulled his wife down onto his lap and held her close.
“Mateo,” he paused, and Emelia’s heart flipped and tears filled her eyes. Dante tugged her to her feet and into his arms as their father continued, “He’s okay. Well, he’s in the hospital, and they’ve assured me he isn’t in any pain right now because he’s been given strong pain medication. He was in a car accident during the night, and although he has a lot of bruising, his right leg took the brunt of the crash.”
“Oh, no,” Emelia gasped. “We have to go to him.”
“We will,” their father replied.
Dante asked, “I know you said about his leg, but how badly?”
“I know what you’re thinking, which is probably what everyone is thinking, but I didn’t ask. I just wanted to know that my son would be okay, and he will be. He has a long road ahead of him. I don’t know much more, but I’m sure we’ll find out plenty when we get down there.”
“I’ll go and get Aiden up, and I’m still packed from my trip here so I’m good to go,” Diego said before he left the kitchen in a hurry.
“Let me get you some coffee and maybe a slice of toast. Then I’ll then go and pack for us both,” her mom offered.
“I can’t eat.”
“You need something in your stomach before we leave, Emiliano.”
He nodded. Everyone knew it was wise to just agree.
“We’ll go pack then meet back here so we can sort flights out,” Dante added, tugging her from the room.
“Okay, I need to call Connor, the stable manager, and let him know we’re going out of town.”
They left their father mumbling while Emelia felt her heart in her throat.
Her fun loving brother Mateo. How could fate be so cruel, after they’d given him the wicked witch? At that thought, she felt bad because she could have been with him, and be just as injured.
Well, it looked like they were all heading to Dallas, where, no doubt, Kasey and Eric would meet up with them.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Exhaustion had set in hours ago for Dante, and Emelia, but after they’d finally been allowed five minutes with Mateo, they had felt ready to leave the hospital for the hotel that Dante had booked everyone into. The hotel was across the road, and much more convenient than any other.
He hadn’t even considered separate rooms for them. They were sticking together, and starting how they meant to carry on—partners in life.
Which was why Emelia slept beside him, and why he felt settled for once in his life. There was still the quiver of fear in his belly because of his brother. But they’d been told that Mateo would make a full recovery, although his career was up in the air, and would be until he’d started his physical therapy.
Mateo had broken his ankle in the crash, but it was his smashed up knee that would be the major problem. He knew his brother would be crushed at the loss of the career that he’d worked so hard for over the years, and Dante prayed for a miracle.
He wasn’t sure his prayer would be heard, as his boss was probably angry and ashamed of him right now.
But all Dante could think about was how lucky he’d been to not only spend some of his life doing God’s work, but being able to spend the rest of his life with the woman curled up beside him.
