Pearl

Once the plane landed, the men escorted Lars and me into a series of three blacked-out SUVs. I felt like a high-class prisoner being transported from one place to the next. All the windows were tinted, and it was impossible to see inside the cars. The men still operated like I was a target for Tristan—even though he was long gone.

Even though Crow was nowhere nearby, I felt safe.

We hit the road and drove through Rome to the hospital where Crow was. Cane gave me an update an hour ago and said he was still in surgery. He hadn’t heard any updates from the nurse or the doctor, which was a good thing. No news was good news.

Thirty minutes later, we pulled up to the circular entrance at the hospital, and the men helped me out.

Cane was there, dressed in all black. He had a cut above his eyebrow and a few dirt stains, but he was in good shape. Until I looked at him, I didn’t even realize that I’d never asked if he had been injured during the raid. “I can take it from here, guys.” Cane took me by the elbow and pulled me away.

“Mr. Barsetti?”

We both turned around to see Lars getting out of the SUV, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.

Cane nearly did a double take. “Lars? I didn’t know you owned jeans.”

Lars held his hands together in front of his waist, just as he did when he was working at the estate. “Would it be too intrusive if I came along? I know I serve Mr. Barsetti, but I’ve always viewed him like a son…”

My eyes immediately watered, and I grabbed his hand. “Of course, Lars. You are family.”

Cane patted him on the back. “Crow will be happy to see you.”

Cane guided us to the surgical floor and found us seats in the waiting room. A few other people were there, reading magazines or looking at their phones to keep busy. We sat down in the corner, but I couldn’t stop shaking my leg. The anxiety was getting to me, making me desperate for air even though I was breathing normally.

Cane leaned forward and massaged his knuckles as he stared at the floor.

Lars sat with a straight and rigid back, still like a statue and soundless like the night.

The silence was killing me.

The passage of time was torture.

When I thought an hour had passed, it was only twenty minutes.

I reminded myself that the worst was over. Crow had been rescued, and Tristan was dead. All Crow had to do was make it through this surgery, and our lives would be back to normal. We could have the quiet life we’d always wanted…the three of us.

I just had to stay calm.

Be patient.

But after an actual hour passed and we didn’t get an update, I started to worry again. “Cane, should we ask again? Do we talk to the front desk?”

Cane nodded to the nurse who sat behind the front desk. A phone was pressed to her ear as she spoke quietly so no one in the waiting room could hear her. “She’s the one I’ve been asking. But I doubt she knows anything because she would have said something by now. I’ll ask again if you want…”

“It’s okay. I just wonder how long this surgery is.”

“They had a lot to take care of, so it could be hours. It’s been six already.” Cane glanced at his watch.

Lars patted my hand. “He’s going to be alright, Mrs. Barsetti. If he’s made it this long, he’s doing well.”

“You think?” I whispered.

“Definitely.”

We waited another hour, a very long and painful hour.

Finally, the nurse behind the desk walked up to Cane.

We all rose to our feet, but I stood up the quickest. “Is he okay?” I blurted.

“They just finished,” she said. “Everything went well. They’ll be transporting him to his room any minute now. He’ll be out for a few more hours, so be patient.”

Tears formed in my eyes as the relief swept over me. Crow made it through the most difficult part. I would see his face soon. I would finally get to hold his hand. I would finally get to be reunited with him.

“That’s great,” Cane said. “Thank you so much.”

“I knew he would be alright,” Lars said.

We returned to our seats, feeling a little better now that we’d received great news.

“Do you want to be in there alone?” Cane asked. “Until he wakes up?”

I wanted to wrap my arms around Crow and never let go. I wanted to tell him I loved him a million times and splash his skin with my tears. But I didn’t care if Cane and Lars watched the whole thing. They were family. “No. He’ll be happy to see all of us.”

---

I cried when I first saw him.

His right eye was black and swollen, and there were scars all over his face. His abdomen was wrapped in gauze to protect his ribs, and he had a cast on his left leg. The doctor said he had several broken ribs that needed to be repaired, and the internal bleeding from a hernia had also been fixed.

Even though he would be alright, I was still heartbroken.

It was hard to look at him.

I wished Tristan weren’t dead so I could kill him myself.

Cane didn’t blink an eye over it. He’d seen his brother in worse condition when he pulled him out of that compound. Lars didn’t show any emotion, but he never took his eyes off Crow’s face.

We waited for Crow to wake up. Another four hours went by, and there was still no sign of movement. The sky had turned black as the night deepened and visiting hours were over, but that didn’t have any effect on us. No amount of security would get us to leave his room.

After what seemed like an eternity, Crow took a deep breath, and his fingers curled into a fist. He didn’t open his eyes right away, but his jaw clenched like he was having a bad dream. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling, his chest rising and falling hard as he switched into distressed mode. “Button…I need to call her.” He didn’t notice the three of us sitting there because he was still disoriented, unable to take in his surroundings even though his eyes were open.

I leaped from my seat and came to his side, grabbing his hand and being careful to avoid the IV. “Crow, I’m right here.” My hand moved to his chest, and I slowly lowered him back onto the bed.

“Button.” His hand grabbed mine, and he squeezed it before he locked his eyes on mine. It took him three full seconds to recognize me, to understand he was looking right into my face. His hand slowly released its grip, and he sighed under his breath. “I can’t tell if I’m dreaming.”

“The doctor said the anesthesia takes a little while to wear off, but you aren’t dreaming. This is real. I’m right here.” I interlocked our fingers and ran the fingers of my other hand through his hair. His right eye was still severely swollen, and I could barely make out his iris. His green eyes were dark, so they blended in with the purple discoloration and the irritated flesh.

The movements of his chest slowly returned to a normal pace, and he pulled me closer to him, his long arm moving around my waist as he positioned me. He turned his neck and pressed a kiss to my stomach before he rested his face there, right against my flat stomach.

My eyes watered and my chest ached. I could have lost my husband. This reality could have been completely different. He hardly said a word to me, but he showed his love for both of us with the sweetest touches. My finger stroked his hair, and I watched him close his eyes and lie there.

His lips moved against my shirt. “I can’t wait to meet you…”

Tears dripped down my cheeks, and I withheld the sniffles that burned in my nose.

Crow turned his face and looked up at me, seeing the emotion etched into every feature of my face. “I’m alright, Button. Give me a few days, and I’ll be back to new.”

“It’s gonna be more than a few days.” Cane walked to the other side of the bed and rested his hand on Crow’s shoulder.

Crow turned to him, a slight smile coming onto his lips. He was still slightly high, but with every minute, he was coming back to his regular self.

“At least a month,” he said. “But that’s what Lars is for.”

Lars joined Cane’s side and rested his hand on Crow’s. “I’m so glad you’re alright, Mr. Barsetti. Mrs. Barsetti and I were worried the entire time.”

“Lars, call me Crow. We’ve known each other long enough to use first names.”

Lars patted his hand. “I’ll allow myself the luxury just for today. But tomorrow, it’s back to Mr. Barsetti.”

Crow chuckled. “Sounds fair.” He turned back to Cane. “Everything go alright? How many did we lose?”

“Five,” Cane answered.

“How about Bran?” Crow asked.

“He’s fine. Got shot in the chest, but the vest protected him.”

“Good,” Crow said. “Bran is a good man. I’d miss him.”

I smiled down at Crow, loving the way he was more affectionate than usual. Most of the time, he was brooding and quiet, shutting off all his feelings and pretending he didn’t have any.

“He’s dead, right?” Crow asked next.

“Yeah,” Cane said. “I took care of it.”

“You’re certain?” Crow pressed.

“Yeah,” Cane said. “Shot him between the eyes twice. Dumped his body in a landfill.”

“Good,” Crow whispered. “That’s what he deserved.”

I ran my hand up and down Crow’s arm, massaging him so he wouldn’t get worked up over Tristan, someone who was officially gone. “The doctor said you’ll be here for a few days before they let you go.”

“I want to go home now.” Crow’s broodiness started to rise. He wanted his way at all times—even when a health professional disagreed with him. “I miss Lars’s cooking.”

Lars smiled. “You didn’t like the frozen lasagnas?”

“They were good,” he said. “But not as good as when they’re fresh. And I’m not eating hospital food…probably tastes like shit.”

Cane chuckled. “I like you better like this.”

“Strange,” Crow said. “I think I like you better too.”

Lars patted Cane on the back. “It’s nice to see the two of you getting along. A very rare sight.”

“I love my brother,” Crow said bluntly. “Not sure why I never say it…”

My eyes softened, and I turned to Cane.

Cane couldn’t hide the touched expression on his face. “I love you too, man. I’m glad you aren’t mad at me over this whole thing.”

“How can I be mad?” Crow said quietly. “We went to hell and back for my wife. I’d do the same for yours.”

Cane nodded, but he couldn’t hide his look of pain, obviously thinking about the fact that Adelina said she didn’t feel the same way.

Lars patted Cane on the shoulder. “Let’s give these two some privacy.”

Cane walked out with Lars, still wearing the sadness on his face.

Now that it was just the two of us, I pulled up a chair and took a seat at his bedside. My hand rested on his arm, and I treasured the feel of his warm skin. I traced the web of veins across the surface, remembering each one without even touching them.

Crow watched me, turning serious now that Lars and Cane were gone. His eyes were slightly different because of the drugs in his system, but he gave me that intense look I’d come to expect from him. It was a look he only gave me. No one else in the world had the luxury of receiving that scorching expression. “All I could think about was you and our little one…”

I smiled when I heard him talk that way about our baby like he was already a part of our lives. I hadn’t known how Crow would react when I told him I was pregnant. He didn’t seem enthused about having a family. But he was so supportive, even if that wasn’t how he really felt. But now, he seemed genuinely excited. “I was afraid you wouldn’t be happy when I told you I was pregnant…”

He didn’t turn away from the comment. “I didn’t want a family. It was the last thing on my mind. But the idea of you being pregnant with something we made together…is pretty incredible. And thinking about the two of you while I was in Tristan’s captivity kept me going…kept me sane. It numbed the pain in a way medication never could.” His hand moved over mine. “I didn’t want our child to grow up never knowing me. I couldn’t let that happen.”

“And you didn’t.”

He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’m telling Cane I’m leaving the business. We’re going to have a quiet life from now on. Just the two of us and wine. No more running. No more looking over our shoulders. I promise.”

I realized Crow didn’t know what Cane had sacrificed to save him. “Cane gave the business to the Skull Kings.”

Crow took a little longer to grasp information than he usually did. Until the medication wore off completely, his thoughts would be convoluted. When his eyes dilated and his jaw tightened slightly, I knew he understood what I’d said to him. “He did? Why?”

“He couldn’t round up enough men to save you. Everyone he called was too far away or there wasn’t enough time. I suggested we make a trade with them. In exchange for their help, Cane had to hand over the business.”

Crow’s eyes softened as he sighed. He looked up at the ceiling with one hand resting on his chest. His eyes shifted slightly back and forth as he thought to himself in silence.

My hand stayed on his. “That must have been hard for him.”

“He knows it was worth it. There was no other option.”

He turned his eyes back to me. “I guess that solves our problem, then.”

“I’m excited. Maybe I’ll finally be able to go shopping on my own now…”

The corner of his mouth rose in a smile. “Don’t push it.”