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Life

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Chapter 43: Life (Dante's POV)

Have you ever wondered what death feels like? 

Not knowing if I was alive or dead, if I was even breathing anymore... I was certain this was it. I couldn't remember a moment in my life when the pain and misery were so strong that I couldn't beat them, but that was until I took that bullet and watched Anastasia suffer more than I did. 

I was the one bleeding out, it should have been me in a world of pain... then how come she was hurting? 

It wasn't an impulsive reaction, it wasn't a thoughtless move. I took that bullet for her, knowing how lethal it was for me. I took that bullet for her, knowing it could kill me, and I was fucking ready for it. I was ready to die for her. 

I would rather that bullet have killed me than watch her break down the way she did as she held me in her arms. 

At some point, despite still being unconscious, I'd realized I was very much fucking alive, and I wasn't dangling between the realms of life and death. This wasn't the fucking afterlife. I was breathing and conscious. 

I slowly returned to my senses. The hearing came first. The steady beeps came from the hospital machinery, soft whispers around me, and the doctors and nurses discussing my surgery. 

I had no idea how long I'd been knocked out, and I had no memory of anything after I lost consciousness in front of the gallery. I didn't know how I was brought to the hospital, who was with me... or who saved me. 

It took several attempts for me to finally open my eyes despite them constantly fluttering shut under the blinding fluorescent lights. The beeps from the heart rate monitor grew louder, and that was when I felt her touch. 

Squinting my eyes open, I looked at where Anastasia's hand lay over mine and where she rested her head at the edge of my hospital bed, facing me while she had dozed off. 

I stayed utterly still for the next several minutes, conscious of my breathing, of every little tremor in my body so I wouldn't alert or awaken her. All I did was watch her. 

Her hair was half-heartedly pulled back into a braid, which I was certain Amara or Rose had done for her. She had changed out of the dress stained in my blood and wore jeans and a full-sleeve t-shirt instead. Her skin looked paler than usual without its natural flush, and pure exhaustion was written all over her. 

Cautiously, I retreated my hand from beneath hers and, with trembling fingers, reached forward to brush her hair behind her ear from where it had fallen over her eyes. That tiny action was enough to startle her awake. 

Her eyes snapped open, desperately seeking mine as she jumped upright. A beat passed of her simply staring at me with a mixture of shock and relief in her eyes. "You're awake," she whispered. 

I took her free hand in mine again as I cleared my throat. My mouth and throat felt dry, and my tongue wouldn't unstick from the roof of my mouth until I forced myself to swallow and talk despite the roughness in my voice. "How long was I out?" I asked. 

"A little while," she answered, "about twelve hours." 

I glanced at the window where sunlight streamed in from. It was the next afternoon... 

She stood up swiftly, her chair screeching back. "Let me call the doctor," she rushed out. 

My fingers tightened around her hand as she took the first step away from me. "In a little while," I said. 

"Dante—" 

"I just want you to myself for a few minutes before everybody swarms in, Mia Cara. That's all I ask. Please?" 

Relenting, she sat back down, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. Her head fell forward, resting beside my legs. "Thank god you're awake," she whispered quietly. 

My thumb naturally stroked the back of her hand as I watched her clinging to me, trying to be as gentle as she could, careful of the IV drip in my arm. "I had a dream while I was out," I told her, softly taking her chin between my fingers. 

"A dream?" she asked quietly. 

"Mm-hmm," I nodded once, "we were getting married." 

Finally, she cracked a smile. A small laugh escaped her as she watched me in disbelief. "Were we?" 

I nodded again. "That was my last thought... before my heart stopped," I whispered, running the pad of my thumb across her cheek. 

"What was?" she asked softly. 

I blinked, staring back at her. "I was wishing I'd married you before I died." 

Her breath hitched at my words. 

"I would die a happy man, Anastasia," I added. 

She sat in silence, holding my gaze despite how her eyes glossed over, and a single tear betrayed her false composure, sliding down her cheek. I wiped it away. "We have all the time in the world," she cleared her throat, "you have your whole life to marry me." 

"You are my whole life," I replied, "I'd marry you in a heartbeat." 

Another minute passed, and then she couldn't take it anymore. One tear after another streamed down her face as she lowered her head, almost in shame, her shoulders shaking softly while she held my hand to her lips. 

"I'm so sorry," she mumbled to me, "I couldn't save you. I couldn't even get you the help you needed. Maybe if I'd called them sooner, you wouldn't have lost so much blood. It was my fault, Dante, and I'm so fucking sorry." 

I stayed quiet, listening to her, watching her cry. 

"If I'd just listened to you... I shouldn't have gone after him. I shouldn't have drawn you out there. He wanted to hurt me, but you're the one who almost lost his life. I'm sorry, I'm so fucking sorry." 

I waited for a minute as she tried to recollect herself, to steady her breaths. "Baby," I said softly, "I took that bullet for you knowing what it would do to me. Trust me, I'd gladly do it again if I had to. I was happy to take that bullet for you, do you understand?" 

Confused, she shook her head and asked, "How can you say that? How could you be so okay giving up your life for somebody, Dante?" 

"Wouldn't you do it for me?" 

She replied almost immediately, "Of course I would. In fact, I would rather it be me right now." 

"Then why is it so hard for you to believe that someone would do the same for you?" 

She threw her head back, sighing heavily. 

"Anastasia," I called out. She looked at me, defeated. "I would rather die than lose you," I told her, "I didn't think twice before jumping in front of you to take that bullet. Better me than you." 

"No," she argued, shaking her head, "no! It's not better you than me, I... Don't do that again, Dante. Ever. I mean it. I can't lose you." 

"You're stronger than you think, baby." 

"I'm not that strong," she said, "not enough to lose you and survive it. I don't want to live my life without you, I couldn't take it." 

"You have the whole world in front of you, Anastasia." 

"You are my whole world. My entire being is yours; my entire universe begins and ends with you, Dante," she whispered. 

Each word she said hit me straight in the heart. 

"That's how much I love you," she added. "If I'm your whole life, then you're mine too." 

For an entire minute, she rendered me speechless. I'd never even imagined I would hear those words from somebody, let alone from the fucking love of my life. 

Exhaling, she slowly rose up. "I have to bring a doctor in here." 

I caught her wrist one more time. "Anastasia." 

"Yes, Dante?" 

"Please kiss me." If she said no, I was certain I'd beg. 

Biting down a tiny smile, she leaned in and pressed her lips to mine softly for a few seconds before pulling away. "Let me bring you a doctor, okay?" she whispered before slipping out. 

Moments later, she returned with an entire fucking army behind her. A doctor, along with two nurses, and following them entered Tristan, Amara, Kai, Rose, Nathan, and even Marshal. Any more people and the entire private room at the hospital would turn into a goddamn concert. 

I sort of felt like a work of art off on display, but I remained quiet as the doctor conducted a general checkup, checked my vitals and blood pressure, and took a new blood sample before leaving with the nurses. 

My eyes drifted back to Anastasia. "Really? It's like you brought the whole city in here." 

She shrugged, "Everyone wanted to see you. Be nice. They saved your life." She glanced pointedly toward Tristan and Kai. Sighing, 

I turned to look at Tristan as he stood beside me, looking at me smugly. "You hear that? You owe me big time, Dante," he smirked. 

I stared back at him blankly. "Really?" 

"Welcome back, sweetheart," he winked. 

"I think we should thank our own doctor here," Amara said, subtly jabbing Tristan's ribs. "He stopped your bleeding before we even got to the hospital." 

I glanced at Kai, and then my eyes drifted to where Rose stood a few feet away from him, with Nathan conveniently stuck between the two. 

I'm surprised they didn't kill each other and managed to focus on something else instead. 

"Thanks," I ground out reluctantly, "for saving me." 

A smug remark was definitely dangling at the tip of his tongue but glancing at Anastasia, he suppressed it. 

And saved whatever was left of my ego. 

"Anytime," he simply said. I turned to Nathan, expecting him to give me another sassy remark like the other two did, another reason I owed him. 

"Frankly, I didn't do much," he mused, "I was simply the driver." The British accent still dripped from his words like ivy. 

I tipped my head down slightly. "Regardless of that, I should still thank everybody here," I sighed, then said to Rose and Amara, "especially you two. For taking care of Anastasia." 

Both of them offered me soft smiles in exchange. 

Marshall stood silently in the back, but with a reassuring nod from my head, confirming that I was okay, he silently left. 

Amara nudged Tristan again, and on cue, he cleared his throat, "Well... We'll give you both some time alone." 

Everyone trickled out behind him and Amara. Anastasia and I exchanged a glance as we watched Rose and Kai fall into step side by side, crashing in the doorway as they both tried to leave first. 

"For the love of God," Rose muttered in frustration, stepping back and dramatically gesturing for Kai to go ahead. "Please, your fucking highness." 

Kai stepped back and folded his arms, leaning against the doorway. "I don't like that tone, Ms. Chen. Perhaps you should ask me nicely," he said sarcastically. 

Scoffing, Rose took a step closer, looking ready to murder him on the spot. She probably would have if Anastasia hadn't chimed in. 

"Civil," Anastasia demanded, "both of you, please!" 

"Kiss my ass," I heard Rose mutter as she strutted out. 

Kai turned to Anastasia with the epitome of innocence plastered on his face. "And she tells you I'm the problem," he said calmly. 

"Get out," I said before Anastasia could reply, "before I make you." 

A tiny laugh escaped Anastasia as she watched me in amusement, letting me pull her down to sit by my legs on the bed. "I think you can be a little nicer to him," she said, taking my hand. "He did save your life, Dante." 

"I'll show him nice once I'm out of here. When am I out of here?" 

She arched a brow at me. 

"There's no chance I can get you all to myself while we're here," I explained. 

"You can hardly move," she scoffed, "so whatever those ideas in your head are, get rid of them." 

I agreed, "I can't move... but you certainly can." 

Scoffing, she stared at me in disbelief. "Self-control, Mr. Rossi." 

"With you, I have none." 

She laughed softly. 

"Seriously, when can I leave?" 

"Ten days is what the doctor told me." 

There was a knock on the door, followed by the doctor stepping in with a clipboard in his hands. "Mrs. Rossi," he said to Anastasia. 

My brows shot up as I watched her respond. "Yes?" 

Mrs. Rossi? 

"We need you to fill out a few papers on Mr. Rossi's behalf. Please." 

She took the clipboard with a smile. 

I waited until the doctor left and the door closed behind him. "Mrs. Rossi?" I called out. 

"Yes," she answered instinctively before stopping herself in realization. "He said only family could see you," she said sheepishly. 

"I kind of like Mrs. Rossi on you, baby." 

"Do you?" she laughed. 

"Mm-hmm," I nodded, resting a hand on her thigh, my palm lazily traveling to her inner thigh where I squeezed. 

"What?" she asked, "why are you staring at me?" Without even looking at me as she filled out my paperwork, she felt my eyes on her. 

"I can't fucking wait to marry you," I mumbled. 

She smiled, hiding her grin behind the clipboard. She didn't have to say it, I knew. She couldn't wait either.

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Chapter 43

OMG Y'ALL, THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE THE LAST ONE AS AN EPILOGUE, AND THEN WE ARE FINISHED WITH THIS BOOK AHHH

next ch: epilogue

😭😭