12. Recovery and Revelations

CHAPTER 12

RECOVERY AND REVELATIONS

The next few hours passed in a haze of fear and worried waiting. They'd managed to get Matteo to a private clinic that catered to their kind of clientele – no questions asked, cash only. Enzo paced the waiting room, his clothes still stained with Matteo's blood, as the doctors worked to save his lover's life.

Tony sat nearby, his usually jovial face lined with worry. "He's tough, kid," he said, trying to sound reassuring. "If anyone can pull through this, it's Matteo."

Enzo nodded numbly, unable to form words. The image of Matteo falling, of the life draining from his eyes, played on repeat in his mind. This was his fault. Matteo had taken that bullet for him, had put himself in harm's way to keep Enzo safe.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a doctor emerged. "Mr. Salvatore is stable," she announced. "The bullet missed any major organs, but he lost a lot of blood. He'll need time to recover, but he should make a full recovery."

Relief hit Enzo like a physical force, nearly bringing him to his knees. "Can I see him?" he asked, his voice hoarse from unshed tears.

The doctor nodded, leading him to a private room. Matteo lay in the bed, looking pale and smaller somehow without his usual commanding presence. But he was alive, his chest rising and falling steadily.

Enzo approached the bed on shaky legs, reaching out to take Matteo's hand. "I'm here," he whispered, bringing Matteo's knuckles to his lips. "I'm right here, baby. You're going to be okay."

To his surprise, Matteo's fingers twitched in his grip. Slowly, those steel-gray eyes fluttered open, focusing hazily on Enzo's face.

"Enzo," Matteo rasped, his voice weak but full of relief. "You're safe."

A sob escaped Enzo's throat. "Yeah, I'm safe. Thanks to you, you big idiot. What were you thinking, taking a bullet for me like that?"

A ghost of Matteo's usual smirk played at his lips. "My job," he murmured. "Protect... what's mine."

Enzo let out a watery laugh, leaning down to press his forehead to Matteo's. "I love you," he said fiercely. "God, Matteo, I love you so much. Please don't ever scare me like that again."

Matteo's free hand came up weakly to cup Enzo's cheek. "Love you too, baby," he whispered. "Always."

As Matteo drifted back to sleep, the painkillers taking effect, Enzo settled into the chair beside the bed. He wasn't going anywhere. Whatever came next, whatever fallout they had to deal with from the night's events, they would face it together.

The next few days were a whirlwind of activity. Don Ricci arrived, his face a storm of worry and barely contained rage. He embraced Enzo fiercely, then turned that penetrating gaze on Matteo's sleeping form.

"He saved my life," Enzo said quietly. "More than once. We wouldn't have uncovered the Moretti plot without him."

Don Ricci nodded, his expression softening slightly. "He's a good man," he acknowledged. "Loyal to a fault. You could do worse, son."

Enzo blinked, surprised by the tacit approval. "You... you know about us?"

His father snorted. "I'm not blind, Enzo. Just because I don't approve of everything you do doesn't mean I don't pay attention." He sighed, suddenly looking older and more tired than Enzo had ever seen him. "We'll talk more when this is all over. For now, focus on getting him better. The family owes him a debt."

As Don Ricci left to deal with the fallout from the attack, Enzo felt a weight lift from his shoulders. His father knew, and while he might not be thrilled, he wasn't outright rejecting Enzo's relationship with Matteo.

Over the next week, as Matteo slowly regained his strength, Enzo rarely left his side. He helped with everything from changing bandages to assisting with painful physical therapy exercises. Through it all, their bond deepened, forged in the crucible of shared danger and unwavering devotion.

One night, as they lay together in the hospital bed – against doctor's orders, but Enzo couldn't bring himself to care – Matteo turned to him with a serious expression.

"We need to talk about what happens next," he said, his voice still rough but growing stronger every day.

Enzo propped himself up on one elbow, studying Matteo's face. "What do you mean?"

Matteo sighed, reaching up to cup Enzo's cheek. "This life, baby. It's dangerous. You've seen that firsthand now. We need to decide if it's worth the risk."

Enzo felt his heart clench. "Are you... are you saying you want to leave? Give up on us?"

"No," Matteo said quickly, his grip on Enzo tightening. "Never. I'm saying we need to be smart about this. Maybe it's time to consider a different path. One that doesn't put us in the crosshairs every day."

Enzo was quiet for a moment, considering Matteo's words. The idea of leaving behind the only life he'd ever known was terrifying. But the thought of losing Matteo was infinitely worse.

"Okay," he said finally. "Let's do it. Let's find a way out. Together."

Matteo's eyes widened in surprise. "You're serious? You'd leave all this behind?"

Enzo nodded, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Matteo's lips. "For you? In a heartbeat. You're all that matters to me now, Matteo. Where you go, I go."

Tears glistened in Matteo's eyes, a rare show of vulnerability. "I love you, baby," he murmured. "More than I ever thought possible."

As they held each other close, both knew that the road ahead wouldn't be easy. Leaving the family, starting over—it would be the biggest challenge they'd ever faced. But they had each other, and that was enough.

The next morning, as sunlight streamed through the hospital room window, Enzo and Matteo began to plan their new life. A life away from the violence and danger that had nearly torn them apart. A life where they could just be Enzo and Matteo, two men in love, facing the world together.

However, their plans were interrupted by an unexpected visitor. Marco, Enzo's cousin, slipped into the room, his face a mask of barely concealed hostility.

"Well, well," Marco sneered. "Isn't this cozy? The family's wild child and his pet enforcer, playing house."

Enzo tensed, instinctively moving to shield Matteo. "What do you want, Marco?"

Marco's eyes narrowed. "I want to know what the hell you two think you're doing. You think you can just waltz in, play hero, and suddenly you're back in Uncle's good graces? It doesn't work like that, Enzo."

"We're not playing anything," Matteo growled, struggling to sit up despite Enzo's protests. "We uncovered a plot that would have destroyed this family. What have you done lately besides kiss ass and count money?"

Marco's face flushed with rage. He took a step forward, fists clenched at his sides. "Watch your mouth, Salvatore. You might have Uncle fooled, but I see right through you. You're nothing but a hired gun with delusions of grandeur."

Enzo had heard enough. He stood, placing himself between Marco and the bed. "Get out," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Now. Before I call security and have you thrown out."

For a moment, it looked like Marco might actually throw a punch. But then he stepped back, a cold smile spreading across his face. "This isn't over," he warned. "You two might think you're untouchable now, but remember – in this family, loyalty only goes so far."

As Marco stormed out, Enzo let out a shaky breath. He turned back to Matteo, seeing the worry etched on his lover's face.

"We need to be careful," Matteo said, reaching for Enzo's hand. "Marco's not the only one who might have a problem with us. There are a lot of people in the family who won't like the idea of us leaving."

Enzo nodded, sinking back onto the bed beside Matteo. "I know. But we can't let that stop us. We've come too far to give up now."

Matteo pulled Enzo close, pressing a kiss to his temple. "You're right. We'll figure it out. Together."

Over the next few days, as Matteo continued to recover, they refined their plans for a new life. They discussed potential locations, job prospects, how to safely extract themselves from the family's web of influence. It wasn't going to be easy, but with each passing day, the dream of a life together – a normal life – felt more and more within reach.

But their bubble of hope was shattered one afternoon when Tony burst into the hospital room, his face pale with worry.

"We've got a problem," he said without preamble. "The Morettis are making moves. They're trying to capitalize on the chaos from the docks. If we don't do something fast, we could lose everything."

Enzo and Matteo exchanged a look, the weight of their responsibilities settling back onto their shoulders. They couldn't just walk away, not when the family – for all its faults – was in danger.

"What do we need to do?" Enzo asked, steeling himself for whatever came next.

Tony laid out the situation. The Morettis were moving in on Ricci territory, trying to poach their business contacts and muscle in on their operations. Don Ricci was doing his best to hold things together, but he needed help. He needed Enzo and Matteo.

"I know you two were planning on getting out," Tony said, his voice gentle. "And believe me, I understand why. But right now, the family needs you. Both of you."

Matteo reached for Enzo's hand, squeezing it gently. "It's your call, baby," he said softly. "Whatever you decide, I'm with you."

Enzo felt torn. On one hand, the idea of diving back into the dangerous world of family politics and rival gangs terrified him. He'd come so close to losing Matteo once; he didn't know if he could bear it happening again. But on the other hand, this was his family. For better or worse, the Riccis had shaped him, had given him a place in the world. Could he really turn his back on them now?

After a long moment of internal struggle, Enzo made his decision. "We'll help," he said, his voice firm. "But on our terms. And when this is over, we're out. For good."

Tony nodded, relief evident on his face. "That's fair. I'll talk to your father, make sure he understands the conditions."

As Tony left to make arrangements, Enzo turned to Matteo. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, searching his lover's face for any sign of doubt. "I know we talked about leaving, about starting over..."

Matteo pulled Enzo close, pressing their foreheads together. "I'm sure about you," he said softly. "Everything else is just details. If you think this is the right thing to do, then I'm with you. All the way."

Enzo felt a surge of love and gratitude for this man who had become his entire world. "I don't deserve you," he murmured.

Matteo chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to Enzo's lips. "You've got that backwards, baby. I'm the lucky one here."

As they held each other close, both knew that the road ahead would be fraught with danger. The Morettis wouldn't go down without a fight, and there were still those within the Ricci family who might oppose them. But in that moment, none of it mattered. They had each other, and together, they could face anything.

The next day, against doctor's orders but with Enzo's careful assistance, Matteo checked out of the hospital. They had work to do, a family to protect, and a future to secure. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them side by side – the Enforcer and his Brat, united in love and ready for battle.