to the hospital in record time. He parks haphazardly, and then we both sprint to the emergency room. Gio collides with the desk, and the woman behind it gasps. “My sister. Isabel Antonetti.”
She quickly types on her computer. “Down this hall and a left at the T. She’s in 307.”
It’s a relief to hear she’s here in a room, but until I see her, I won’t be able to breathe. Gio and I running through the hospital must be intimidating because everyone hurries out of our way, parting like the Red Sea. When we reach the room number the nurse told us, I shove the door open and nearly collapse when I see Izzy laying there with IVs and soft bandages around her arm and leg. Her beautiful face is banged up with stitches in her forehead, and when she gazes up at me, she smiles. “Hi.”
“Hi?” Gio snaps. “Hi? What the fuck happened?”
She pulls her brows together and then winces at the pull of the sutures.
“My God,” I mumble and take three big steps before I’m at her bedside. “Are you okay? What happened?” When I study her closer, I see her eyes are dreamy, and she’s not answering, I can’t help but grin. “Did they drug you up again?”
“I can’t feel a thing right now.”
Gio comes to the other side and gently rubs her forearm that’s not bandaged. “What happened, Bella? Do you know what the doctors said about your condition?”
“Why would they want to know what I use in my hair?”
He presses his lips together, and I do the same, trying to suppress a laugh.
“Not your conditioner, Bella, your condition… your body, if anything is broken, do you have a concussion? Those types of things.”
She stares at him, and her eyes glaze over in slow motion. Before she can answer, her head rolls to the side, and she’s sleeping. I reach for the blanket and pull it over her, resting my hand briefly on her chest to feel her heart beating beneath the scratchy fabric. “Why don’t you go find a doctor or something? I’ll stay with her.” Not giving him a choice, I slide the chair over to me and sit down, cradling her hand as gently as I can.
“Be right back.”
I drop my head and rest it next to her chest, listening to the even breaths as she takes them. I’m not a particularly religious man, but I do thank God for letting her be okay. Refusing to even think about the possibility that she could have been in way rougher shape, I rain gentle kisses on her face and whisper how much I love her.
The pitter-patter of feet in the hallway get louder as they reach the door. “Oh señor, mi bebé.” Their mother comes scurrying in and shoves me out of the way. If I wasn’t so fucked up over Izzy being hurt, I’d comment about how impressive it is that she actually moved me back a step.
My hand stays loosely holding Izzy’s, but I move aside so she can get closer. Gio comes in along with his father, and the commotion rouses Izzy. “I’m trying to sleep,” she mumbles and rolls to her side, forcing me to remove my hand.
“No concussion, fractured arm, sprained ankle, and the gash in her forehead. That’s it.”
I sit back down in the chair and drop my head in my hands. Even as I see her, hearing the news makes my knees weak from the relief that pours through me.
Adamant that I will not leave her side, I stay the night since they want her to remain for observation because she hit her head. All her siblings show up at one time or another, which was one way to let her family know we’re together. By the time everyone leaves, it’s almost nine. I already made arrangements for Judy to be taken care of, so I have nothing on my mind but my woman. She was pretty much asleep the entire time everyone was here, but as soon as her second oldest brother left, she passed out. She stirs at around two in the morning totally awake. “Hey,” she whispers. “You didn’t have to stay.”
“Hey, baby.” I push up enough to kiss her. “You know I’m not going anywhere. How are you feeling?”
“Sore, but okay otherwise.”
I rub circles on the top of her hand. “What happened?”
“I don’t remember much about the accident. But before that, I quit my job.”
That makes me smile even though the reason she