When The Night Grew Quiet
1360 Words
His body was heavier than she'd expected.
Blood continued to seep through his fingers, staining the sleeve of his white shirt.
"Boss!"
The captain sprinted toward them with several guards close behind.
"We have to move!"
Another explosion erupted behind the warehouse.
The ground shook violently.
Burning debris shot into the air.
Concrete crashed where they had been standing only seconds earlier.
"The building is collapsing!" another guard shouted.
Two men hurried to lift Dante.
He pushed them away with his uninjured arm.
"I can walk."
"No, you can't," Amelia snapped.
Everyone fell silent.
Even Dante looked at her.
She didn't care.
"You've lost too much blood."
"I'm fine."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
"It obviously isn't."
Another wave of dizziness swept over him.
He swayed.
Amelia stepped closer and slipped his uninjured arm over her shoulders.
"Lean on me."
Dante hesitated.
"I'll slow you down."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"And if you collapse again, you'll slow everyone down even more."
For a second...
No one breathed.
The feared Mafia King actually listened.
Without another word, he let part of his weight rest against her.
The captain blinked in disbelief.
He had served Dante for years.
He had never seen the boss rely on anyone.
"Move!" Dante ordered.
The convoy hurried toward the waiting SUVs
Aunt Claire sat inside the vehicle wrapped in a thick blanket.
A medic checked the bruises around her wrists.
The moment she saw Amelia, relief flooded her tired face.
"My darling..."
Amelia rushed into her embrace.
"I thought I'd lost you."
Claire held her tightly.
"So did I."
For several long moments, neither of them spoke.
The chaos around them faded.
It was just the two of them.
Finally, Claire pulled back.
She gently touched the bruises on Amelia's wrists.
"They hurt you."
"I'm alright."
Claire smiled sadly.
"You always say that when you're hurting."
Amelia lowered her eyes.
"I'm just happy you're alive."
Claire glanced past Amelia.
Her gaze settled on Dante.
The doctors were trying to examine his shoulder.
He was arguing with every single one of them.
Despite everything...
Claire smiled.
"So..."
Amelia frowned.
"So?"
"The man who saved you."
Heat crept into Amelia's cheeks.
"He was only doing his job."
Claire raised an eyebrow.
"Was he?"
"He protects people."
"No."
Claire's smile grew.
"He protected you."
Before Amelia could answer, one of the doctors shouted.
"We need pressure on the wound!"
Amelia instinctively turned.
"Dante."
He looked up.
His face had grown noticeably paler.
The doctor pressed fresh gauze against the wound.
"The bullet went clean through."
"Good."
"No," the doctor replied sharply.
"Good would've been not getting shot."
Dante almost smiled.
"I'll remember that next time."
The doctor rolled his eyes.
"You've lost enough blood to make most men unconscious."
"I'm not most men."
"No."
The doctor sighed.
"You're the most stubborn patient I've ever had."
Amelia beside him.
"Hold still."
He looked at her.
"I am holding still."
"No."
She adjusted the bandage the doctor was trying to secure.
"You've been moving this whole time."
Their hands brushed for a brief moment.
Neither of them pulled away immediately.
The doctor glanced at the blood-soaked bandage one last time before looking at the captain.
"He won't make it through the night if we don't stop that bleeding.
Amelia stole several glances at Dante.
His eyes were closed.
His breathing had become slower.
His shirt was almost completely stained with blood.
She quietly placed her hand over the bandage, trying to slow the bleeding.
"You really know how to scare people," she whispered.
One corner of his mouth lifted into the faintest smile.
"I've been told that before."
"Don't joke."
"I'm trying to keep you calm."
She looked away.t
"I'm not the one who needs calming."
The smile faded.
Dante's breathing grew heavier.
"Dante?"
He didn't answer.
Her heartbeat quickened.
"Dante!"
His head slowly tilted toward her.
"I'm awake."
"You almost gave me a heart attack."
"I'd apologize..."
"...but I don't have the energy."
She let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
The convoy finally turned through the towering iron gates of the Romano Estate.
Before the vehicles had even stopped, the mansion doors burst open.
Mrs. Bell hurried down the steps, followed by several members of the household staff.
Behind them stood two doctors, three nurses, and a fully equipped private ambulance.
The moment the lead SUV stopped, the medical team rushed forward.
"Mr. Romano has a gunshot wound!"
"Prepare the operating room!"
"Bring the stretcher!"
The rear door flew open.
One of the doctors took a single look at Dante's shoulder.
His face immediately darkened.
"He's lost far too much blood."
"We're wasting time."
"Get him inside. Now."
Two paramedics carefully transferred Dante onto the stretcher.
He frowned.
"I can still walk"
The doctor didn't even look at him.
"No, Mr. Romano."
"Tonight, you're my patient."
"And patients don't give orders."
Several guards lowered their heads, hiding their smiles.
Only Amelia noticed the faint, defeated sigh that escaped Dante.
The stretcher rolled swiftly through the grand entrance of the Romano Estate.
The once peaceful mansion was now filled with hurried footsteps and anxious voices.
"Clear the hallway!"
"Prepare Operating Room Two!"
"We need more blood bags!"
Servants stepped aside as the medical team rushed Dante upstairs.
Amelia stood frozen near the entrance.
For a moment...
Everything around her became a blur.
Aunt Claire gently squeezed her hand.
"Go."
Amelia turned.
"What?"
Claire smiled weakly.
"He's the reason we're both alive."
"I..."
"You'll regret it if you don't."
Amelia hesitated only a second before running after the doctors.
The operating room doors slowly swung open.
Every conversation in the hallway came to an abrupt stop.
Amelia, who had been pacing for what felt like hours, immediately stood.
"So?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The surgeon removed his surgical gloves and let out a tired sigh.
"The surgery was successful."
Amelia closed her eyes in relief.
"Thank God..."
"The bullet passed cleanly through his shoulder. We were able to stop the bleeding before it caused any permanent damage."
Mrs. Bell pressed a hand against her chest.
"I knew that boy would pull through."
"But..." the doctor continued.
Everyone's attention snapped back to him.
"He lost a considerable amount of blood."
"He'll need complete rest for several days."
The captain frowned.
"Will he recover fully?"
"If he follows my instructions."
The doctor gave a dry laugh.
"Although, judging by what I've heard about Mr. Romano..."
"...that may be the hardest part."
Mrs. Bell simply shook her head.
The doctor looked toward Amelia.
"He's still unconscious."
"The anesthesia won't wear off for another few hours."
"You may see him, but only for a short while."
Amelia nodded silently.
She pushed open the bedroom door.
The room was dimly lit.
Fresh sheets had replaced the bloodstained ones.
The scent of antiseptic lingered in the air.
Dante lay peacefully on the large bed.
His shoulder was wrapped in thick white bandages.
An IV drip stood beside him.
For the first time...
The feared Mafia King looked...
Human.
Not the cold man who commanded an empire.
Not the ruthless leader everyone feared.
Just...
A man who had nearly died protecting someone else.
Amelia slowly walked closer.
She stopped beside the bed.
"You really are an i***t," she whispered.
Her eyes fell to the bandages covering his shoulder.
"You could've died."
There was no answer.
Only the soft rhythm of the heart monitor.
She hesitated before carefully reaching out.
Her fingers lightly brushed the back of his hand.
It was warm.
She released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"You barely know me."
"So why?"
The question lingered in the silent room.
Just then...
A soft knock came from the doorway.
Aunt Claire stood there, supported by Mrs. Bell.
She looked tired, but she smiled when she saw Amelia.
"So..."
Amelia quickly stood.
"Aunt Claire, you should be resting."
Claire ignored the comment.
Instead, she looked at Dante.
Then back at Amelia.
Amelia looked at Dante again.
The room fell silent.
She watched the steady rise and fall of his chest.
He looked at peace.
- Writer
