13. Michela

Chapter 13

The hospital room is sterile and quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos that led me here. I shift slightly on the bed, wincing as pain radiates through my ribs and shoulder. I guess I hit the car door harder than I originally thought. Once the adrenaline wore off, I started feeling the aches and pains.

The accident feels like a nightmare, but the beeping of the monitors and the dull ache in my body remind me that it's all too real.

The door swings open, and Lorenzo strides in, his face a mask of worry and barely contained anger. "Michela, how are you feeling?"

I sigh, already bracing for the onslaught of his protective instincts. "I'm better."

He paces beside my bed, his hands running through his hair. "I should have been there. I should have?—"

The door opens again, and Ryan steps in. Relief washes over me as soon as I see him. He ignores Lorenzo's frantic pacing and steps over to the bed. He leans over and places a soft kiss on my lips. "Are you okay, kitten?"

"I'm better now that you're here." I smile up at him as my brother looks on.

Ryan gives me another kiss on my forehead before turning to Lorenzo. "Let's talk in the hallway."

"No." I'm not about to let these two step outside and plan my life without my input. "You two can discuss it here in front of me."

Lorenzo crosses his arms over his chest and waits. Ryan smirks down at me. "Okay, kitten." He glances over at my brother. "I've made some arrangements while they were running all the tests on Michela. Once the doctor releases her, I'm taking her to St. Bella, the private island a friend of mine owns in the Caribbean."

"You just decided this without discussing it with me?" my incensed brother roars. "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

Ryan doesn't flinch. Instead, he steps closer, positioning himself between Lorenzo and the bed. "I'm her goddamn man, and I'm going to take care of her."

I'm not going to lie; my girly bits tingle at the sight of Ryan standing up to my powerful brother.

Their standoff hangs thick in the air, a clash of wills that seems momentarily unbreakable. But then Lorenzo blinks first, his shoulders dropping slightly. He nods and blows out his breath. "I'm the head of this family. I understand that you and Michela are a couple, but you'll have to work with me. I need you to keep me in the loop." Wow. I can't believe he's willing to negotiate.

"I can live with that." Ryan glances down at me and smiles. "I love you, kitten."

"I love you, too." I smile back as my brother groans quietly.

"I have to get out of here before this lovey-dovey shit becomes contagious. The last thing I need right now is more goddamn complications."

One of my brother's men knocks on the door, interrupting us. "I need to speak with you, please," he tells Lorenzo with a look I can't quite decipher.

"I'll be right back," my brother calls before following the other man out the door.

The door opens and my brother steps back in. "I need details about the island so we can check it out and make sure it's secure."

Ryan remains calm, his voice steady and reassuring. "It's very secure. Private security oversees the island, and it's accessible only by boat or seaplane. We'll have everything we need to make sure she's safe and comfortable."

Lorenzo isn't ready to cave. "I need to see that for myself. Have you already forgotten your promise to keep me in the loop?"

Ryan stares at him silently for a few moments, and I'm worried the frail truce between them is about to shatter. "Okay. I'll email you all the details."

Lorenzo nods. "Once we make sure the island is safe enough, I'll arrange a private plane for you and Michela."

"Thank you." Ryan sits on the bed next to me and takes my hand in his while my brother sits in the hard plastic hospital chair next to the door.

I breathe a sigh of relief. Rome wasn't built in one day, and the new dynamic between Ryan and Lorenzo will take time to cement.

With Ryan by my side, I know I'll get through this. The prospect of sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and spending time alone with Ryan sounds like heaven. Whatever comes next, I'm ready to face it, one step at a time.