Kate's POV:

I sat at Lucio's bedside, my hand resting gently on his. The steady beep of the monitors was the only sound in the sterile hospital room. His face, always so commanding and full of life, was now eerily calm, almost peaceful. But I knew better. Lucio was a storm held captive, and I could only imagine how much he was fighting to return to us.

I reached out, brushing a lock of his dark hair away from his forehead. His skin felt cool under my fingers, and it sent a pang of worry through me. "Lucio," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I don't know if you can hear me, but I need you to come back. We need you. I need you."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them away. I couldn't afford to fall apart. Not now. Not when he might need me to be strong. I pressed a soft kiss to his forehead and rested my head against the edge of the bed, the weight of everything pressing down on me.

The door creaked open, and I turned to see Michen entering the room. His expression was heavy, his usual calm demeanor cracked by exhaustion and worry.

"How is he?" Michen asked, his voice low.

I shook my head. "The same. The doctors keep saying it's just a waiting game now, but... it's hard, Michen. What if he doesn't wake up?" My voice broke, and I hated how weak I sounded.

Michen pulled up a chair beside me, his broad shoulders slumping. "He'll wake up, Kate. This is Lucio we're talking about. He's stubborn as hell. If anyone can fight through this, it's him."

I managed a weak smile at his attempt to reassure me, but the knot in my chest refused to loosen. "I hope you're right."

We sat in silence for a while, both of us staring at Lucio, willing him to move, to give us a sign. After some time, Michen cleared his throat. "Hasley's been asking about you. She says she wants to talk when you're ready."

I nodded absently. Hasley's reappearance had been a whirlwind of emotions. I couldn't imagine what she had been through, but right now, my focus was on Lucio and the baby.

The baby.

I rested a hand on my swollen belly, feeling a faint kick in response. It was as if the baby was reminding me to stay strong. "Do you think... do you think he knows about the baby?" I asked quietly.

Michen glanced at me, his expression softening. "If he does, it's probably what's keeping him fighting. He wouldn't miss this for the world."

A tear slid down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away. "I hope so. He's going to be an amazing dad, isn't he?"

Michen chuckled softly. "The best. Overprotective as hell, but yeah, the best."

The door opened again, and this time, it was Emily. She carried a tray with food, her expression a mixture of determination and worry. "Kate, you need to eat. Sitting here all day isn't going to help him, and it's definitely not good for the baby."

I opened my mouth to protest, but Emily gave me a look that brooked no argument. Reluctantly, I stood and let her lead me to a small table in the corner of the room. She set the tray down and sat across from me.

"I know you want to be by his side every second," she said, her voice softer now. "But you can't pour from an empty cup. You need to take care of yourself."

I nodded, picking at the sandwich on the tray. "I just... I don't know how to do this, Em. I feel so helpless."

Emily reached across the table, squeezing my hand. "You're doing more than you think, Kate. Just being here, talking to him—it matters. He'll come back to you. To all of us."

Her words were comforting, but the ache in my chest remained. After I finished eating, I returned to Lucio's side, holding his hand tightly in mine.

"Lucio," I murmured, leaning closer. "I'm trying to be strong, but it's hard without you. I need you to wake up, okay? You promised me you'd always be here."

I stayed like that for hours, whispering to him, telling him stories about the baby, about the life we would have when he woke up. My eyelids grew heavy, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep with my head resting on the edge of the bed.

In my dreams, I saw him, standing tall and strong, his green eyes full of life. He smiled at me, reaching out his hand. "I'm coming back, Kate," he said, his voice steady and sure. "Just wait for me."

I woke up with a start, the image of his smile burned into my mind. Was it just a dream, or was it a sign? I didn't know. But I held onto the hope that he would keep his promise. He had to. For me. For us.

Emily's POV:

It had been two agonizing days since Lucio was brought back, fighting for his life in that coma. The house had turned into a strange, tense environment, where hope and despair collided. Kate had practically taken up residence in his room, refusing to leave his side for more than a few minutes. Every time I looked at her, my chest tightened. She looked so fragile, like a porcelain doll that had been dropped too many times.

She spent her days rubbing her swollen belly, whispering to the baby, and talking to Lucio as if her words could reach him in whatever place his mind was trapped. It broke my heart to see her like this, but it also made me admire her strength. Kate hadn't given up on him, even though the rest of us were barely holding on.

We were all in the living room, trying to distract ourselves with some mindless TV. The sound of canned laughter from the sitcom on the screen felt grotesque, a mockery of our current state.

Kate sat on the couch, her hands resting protectively over her stomach. "If it's a boy, I'll let Lucio decide the name," she said softly, her voice carrying an edge of sadness. "He wants a boy so badly."

"Well, I've got a suggestion," Joseph said, grinning. "How about Josii? It's strong, unique—perfect for a King."

Kate rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips despite her obvious pain. "Not happening, Joseph. Lucio would laugh in your face."

"Come on!" Joseph protested. "It has a nice ring to it."

"Nope," Kate said firmly, though her voice softened as she absentmindedly rubbed her belly. "I'll wait for him to decide."

Hasley leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees. "Of course, he wants a boy. Typical Lucio." She smiled faintly, but there was a glint of sadness in her eyes that she couldn't hide.

I glanced at her. She had been quieter than usual since we rescued her. I couldn't blame her. Being reunited with family after everything she'd endured was bound to bring up a lot of emotions. But there was something else, something deeper. She always tensed up when we mentioned Dad. Her face would darken, and she'd quickly change the subject.

Michen walked in, leaning down to press a kiss on my cheek before settling beside me. His presence was comforting, even if he didn't say much. He had been making an effort to be better, to show he cared, and I couldn't deny that it warmed my heart.

"How's he doing?" Michen asked, looking between me and Hasley.

Hasley sighed, brushing her hands through her hair. "No change. He's stable, but there's no sign of improvement."

Steven walked in, his face drawn with exhaustion. He had been working nonstop to uncover Carl's next move and figure out who he was working with. He dropped onto the couch beside me, running a hand over his face. "Any updates?" he asked quietly.

Hasley shook her head. "Nothing new. Same as before."

Kate's head dropped slightly, her shoulders slumping. "I keep thinking... what if he doesn't wake up? What if..." Her voice cracked, and she bit her lip, fighting back tears.

I reached over, squeezing her hand. "Don't think like that, Kate. He's strong. He's fighting to come back to you."

Hasley nodded, her voice firm. "Lucio isn't the type to give up. He'll wake up when he's ready."

Kate gave us a small, watery smile, but I could see the doubt in her eyes. She had been blaming herself since the moment Lucio was brought home. And Hasley—she carried her own guilt, even though none of this was her fault.

Michen's POV:

The gang's house was buzzing with activity when I arrived. The men were immersed in their tasks, the tension in the air reflecting the precarious state of our family. As I walked in, the noise died down, heads turning in my direction.

"Come forward," I called out, my voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

The men stopped what they were doing and gathered before me, all clad in black. Their eyes showed a mix of respect, fear, and uncertainty. They were used to taking orders from Lucio, the King. But now, with him out of commission, they were looking to me.

"As you all know," I began, keeping my tone steady, "King is in a coma. He's fighting for his life because of betrayal—from his own blood." My fists clenched involuntarily, the thought of Carl's treachery igniting a fresh wave of anger.

"I am second in command," I continued, "and until King's recovery, I will oversee everything. Operations continue as normal, but I want every one of you to remain on high alert. We don't know what Carl's next move is, but I can promise you this: he'll regret the day he crossed us." My words hung in the air, and the men nodded, their loyalty unwavering.

"Now, get back to work," I ordered, and the men dispersed, returning to their tasks. I walked out of the building and climbed into my car, the weight of responsibility pressing down on my shoulders.

As I drove back to Lucio's house, my mind was racing. Carl's betrayal was still hard to process. The man we'd grown up with, someone we'd trusted, had tried to destroy everything. And now, Lucio was fighting for his life. The thought of losing him was unbearable—not just for me, but for everyone who depended on him. For Kate.

The house loomed in the distance, and I pulled into the driveway with a heavy heart. Inside, the atmosphere was somber. Everyone was gathered in the living room. Even Kate was there, though she looked like a shadow of herself. She'd hardly spoken or eaten since Lucio had been brought home, and the sadness in her eyes was hard to witness.

Emily was the first to notice me. She placed a comforting hand on my back and patted it gently. "He'll wake up soon," she said, her voice filled with hope.

I nodded, though my chest felt tight. "I know," I muttered, pulling her close and burying my face in the crook of her neck. Her presence was comforting, a small light in the darkness.

"Hey, get a room," Jordan grumbled, breaking the moment. "Some of us are still single, you know."

Steven smirked from across the room. "You're the only one who's single here, Jordan. Maybe you should get on that instead of complaining."

"And you should remember who had to sleep on the couch last night," Jordan fired back. "Bet that was cozy, huh?"

Joseph rolled his eyes but shot back, "At least I'm not a momma's boy."

The bickering escalated, Jordan and Joseph exchanging insults like kids on a playground. The rest of us couldn't help but laugh, though Kate's smile was faint and fleeting. She was trying, but the weight of Lucio's condition hung over her like a storm cloud.

"Well, go ahead and tell Mom," Joseph taunted, grinning. "She'll take my side, like always."

"Don't forget," Jordan countered, "I know you still sniff girls' butts like a damn creep."

The room erupted in laughter. Jordan flushed with embarrassment, and Joseph smirked triumphantly.

"That's disgusting," Emily said, shaking her head, though she was laughing too.

But the lighthearted moment didn't last. Kate stood abruptly, her face a mixture of annoyance and exhaustion. "Can you guys grow up for five minutes?" she snapped, her voice breaking slightly. The room fell silent, and she walked out, leaving us all feeling guilty.

Emily looked at me, her expression mirroring my own concern. "She's barely holding it together," she said softly. "Lucio's the only thing keeping her going. If he doesn't wake up..."

"He will," I said firmly, though I wasn't sure if I was trying to convince her or myself. "He has to. For her. For all of us."

But deep down, I knew that if Lucio didn't wake up soon, the cracks in our family would only grow deeper.