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“I’m warning you, bella; he’s in rough shape.” Drake frowned.
“I’ve seen more than you think, Drake. This life isn’t for the faint of heart. I have my fair share of scars, remember? Men have been beaten before my very eyes. Seeing death isn’t a memory you ever forget. Trust me. I can handle this.
“When you’re in Noah’s situation for the first time, it changes you. He needs all the love and support he can get. If I upset him, I’ll turn and walk right out the door. But he needs this.”
The desolation in his wife’s eyes said it all. She was the one who needed this, and all he could do was support her through it. For a woman as young as she was to be so desensitized and talk about her experiences so flippantly as though it were normal ruined him. He had his own burdens to carry from the ruthlessness he’d seen, but he was blessed to have experienced many years of a normal life.
It was as though Drake saw her anew. Being exposed to depravity and vileness was normal for her. He was intent on making up for every moment she’d lived in hell and every scar on her beautiful soul and naked body. One day this would be behind them, and he would help her grasp the life of her dreams.
Alessandra was determined to stand strong when facing Noah and refused the chair the staff wheeled in. His sympathy was the last thing she wanted. Drake offered his arm in a chivalrous gesture. He glowed with pride when she accepted with little convincing.
Drake wanted to be the man Alessandra could rely on—the man she could trust with her deep-seated pain. She had learned to hide her shame deep down but showed him glimpses of vulnerability. Maybe one day, Drake would finally be worthy of his wife’s faith and love.
The strong smell of disinfectant assaulted Drake’s nostrils, stronger than ever as they took the arduous journey down the hospital corridors. An occasional wince of pain crossed Alessandra’s face. She was determined not to show weakness but couldn’t hide the beads of sweat that dotted her forehead from exertion.
“You can lean on me if you need to, Alessandra,” he suggested.
“I’m fine, Drake,” she said through gritted teeth.
But she leaned further into him. Drake took his wife’s weight upon himself as though she were lighter than a feather. She sagged against the wall with relief when they reached the elevator, taking several deep breaths.
“You don’t have to pretend to be strong, bella,” he said softly.
Her eyes blazed with fearlessness. “If not me, then who?”
Drake was taken aback by her dogmatism and fell in love all over again with the defiant way she raised her chin. Her subtle movements and facial expressions communicated so much that if he blinked, they’d be missed. It was time to back off. The more he pushed, the further she’d go to prove him wrong. He’d be damned to do anything that impeded her recovery and held the elevator door for her.
Noah had been moved out of the ICU that morning. The man was lying in bed when they entered the room. His torso was bare except for the white bandages covering his wounds. Because he was bedridden, ugly white stockings were placed on his feet to assist in circulation.
Alessandra gasped and her eyes shimmered as she took in the seriousness of Noah’s condition. The swelling in his face had diminished considerably. Noah suffered a broken orbital socket and would most likely have scarring and possibly require another surgery if it didn’t heal on its own.
Drake shook his head as Alessandra pushed away from him and hurriedly made her way to the bedside. Noah weakly held his hand out to her and she clasped it, kissing it gently.
“Oh, Noah! I’m so sorry this happened to you. It’s all my fault,” she sobbed.
“Shhh. I’ll be okay, I promise,” Noah said feebly. His voice was dry and scratchy as he spoke, still hoarse from days of ventilation.
He winced in pain but attempted to smile for Alessandra’s benefit. She returned his smile through watery eyes and stroked his hair. They didn’t need words to communicate the love and respect between them.
Witnessing the touching moment between his wife and friend, Drake twitched with jealousy. Two kindred spirits who understood each other without wanting to tear each other down. Their connection was effortless and carefree, forcing him to stand on the outside, looking in.
At first, Drake wasn’t worried about Noah’s attraction to his wife. He knew the man’s orientation and that he was in an open marriage to pursue sexual gratification with women as long as his husband approved. But now, seeing how they looked at each other, they had something Drake never experienced—unconditional love.
Drake chastised himself for letting those petty feelings consume him while his friend lay in a hospital bed. But if anyone could evoke such a strong response, it was Alessandra.
“Are you hurting? Is there anything I can do for you?” she asked.
“I’ll live, gorgeous. Please don’t cry.”
“I swear Luca will pay. My father will pay for this. I won’t stand idly by and let them continue to hurt the ones I love!” she vowed.
Drake cleared his throat and addressed Noah. “We’re leaving for a while. Jerry knows where we’ll be if you need us.”
Alessandra leaned in and pecked Noah on the cheek opposite his swollen eye. He smiled softly at her.
“Get better soon. We have many more dates ahead of us. I’ll visit as soon as I can,” she promised.
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” He turned to look at Drake. “Take care of each other. Stay safe.”
