The moment I stepped through the gate and saw her as a hostage was indescribable. I was boiling with anger but had to remain rational to ensure nothing further happened to her. She looked so weak, as if she could lose consciousness at any moment. My sports t-shirt, which she was wearing, was soaked in blood up to the neckline. Whether it was hers or not was unclear, but from her appearance, I could imagine it was hers. Dried blood clung to her face. I had to hurry. My priority was to save her first. Fortunately, she noticed my signal and bit him, and Claus, who was stationed far away with the sniper, hit James in the shoulder, causing him to fall to the ground. I had to take care of Sofia first and then deal with James, who was writhing on the ground like a worm, leaving a trail of blood behind. I quickly carried Sofia in my arms and rushed outside to the car where Frederick was the driver. In the short time I carried her, my hands became covered in blood, which worried me even more as she began to lose consciousness. 

Blood-soaked hair stuck to her face, and it was evident she was in pain. I gently brushed her face with my hand, feeling heavy-hearted. I gritted my teeth in despair and anger. When was the last time I had worried about someone? I think it was when that bastard harmed my mother and sister. There was a bandage around her wound, and now I knew she had been stabbed.

 I muttered to myself, "Sofia, no..."

 Then I shouted urgently to Frederick, "Drive faster!"

 He stepped on the gas even more. I quickly took out my phone from the side pocket and dialed Nicolas. 

He picked up right away, and I asked, "How's it going?" 

He breathed heavily, "Just chill for a moment... huff... So, we killed them all." 

It was good news. 

"Did you get James?"

 Just his name made my blood boil.

 "That bastard managed to escape, but with the gunshot wound, he couldn't have gotten far" James informed me.

 I rubbed my face in frustration. 

"Find him no matter what it takes," I said, hanging up angrily. 

The car suddenly stopped, and I got out with her in my arms, rushing up the hospital stairs and shouting to the nurse, "Immediately!" 

Three nurses came running from behind the counter, one called someone, the others fetched the stretcher. I laid Sofia down on the stretcher, and the third nurse took her directly to the elevator. I ran my hand through my hair, feeling desperate and unable to think clearly. 

The nurse shouted to me, "What blood type do you have?"

 I looked at her. "A positive!" 

She signaled for me to follow her quickly to the blood draw. I sat on the chair and rolled up my sleeve as she prepared the needle and drew blood. 

After a liter, she murmured to herself, "We need more..."

 I looked at her seriously. "Then take more!"

 She looked at me with concern. "That's dangerous for you, sir."

 I couldn't think clearly for a moment, then I grabbed her by the collar and said firmly, "Do it now, nurse."

 She widened her eyes briefly before nodding in fear and taking more blood. Here we were now, after 6 days. I sat on the chair next to her bed, my hands clasped against my forehead, staring at the floor. For 6 days, I've been waiting for her to wake up. The surgery was difficult, and one minute later, she would have died due to kidney failure.

But thankfully, she had managed to pull through with her own willpower. I took a deep breath. What was currently extremely annoying me was that James had managed to leave the country. He couldn't have done that on his own because we had frozen his accounts, burned down his apartments, slaughtered the entire Mafia cartel Hunter. It must have been external help, but I'll deal with that later. I looked back at her. She lay on the bed with a bandage around her head, hospital clothes, her hair falling softly to the side. Her body was connected to monitors, and I checked them every second to make sure she was still alive. I stood up from the chair and walked around the room. Suddenly, the doctor came in and nodded at me. 

He was the same doctor who had treated my mother and sister back then. This hospital was private and exclusively for our cartel members. The doctors were the best in the country. He went over to her with a file and opened it on the table. First, he went to her and gently opened her eyelids, made some notes, looked at her head wound, made some notes, checked the monitor, made some notes, and then carefully inspected her stab wound, removed the dressing, and applied a fresh one. 

He then took a syringe from his coat and injected it into her IV infusion. Stepping back, he looked at me with a gentle smile. "She'll make it, it's just a matter of time."

 I nodded to him with a smile and patted him on the shoulder as he left the room. I sat back down on the chair and closed my eyes. I just wanted to give my mind a little break.

"I heard a voice but didn't register it. 'Dante... Dante!... DANTE...' 

Now I finally opened my eyes and saw her awake after 6 days. My heart felt so free. I stood up immediately and hugged her tightly. She hugged me back tightly, burying her face in my chest, and I held her tighter against me, relishing her warmth for the moment.

 I whispered softly to her, 'I thought you might never wake up.' 

She chuckled, and I must admit it further lightened my heart.

 'I was just pranking you,' she said.

 I scoffed and grinned at her. I released her from the hug and kissed her forehead, cupping her face in my hand. She looked at me with wide eyes. What would I have done if those blue eyes had no life left in them? She had become thinner during these days, which pained my heart even more. If I had been more careful, this wouldn't have happened. 

'How are you feeling?' 

She leaned back in bed and smiled at me 'My hip area feels a bit numb, but otherwise, I'm okay.'

 I sighed and sat back down on the chair. 

'Are you hungry? Shall I bring you something?'

 She smirked briefly and turned carefully in bed to face me. 'A fat cheeseburger would be good right now.' 

I laughed and took out my phone, calling the security men who were guarding the door. 

They came in immediately, stiffening, and said, 'Yes, sir, what can we do for you?'

 'Get a cheeseburger meal,' I said. 

They glanced at me skeptically for a moment, and I signaled with my hand towards the door 'Hurry up,' and they hurried out.

 I then stood up. 'I'll inform the doctor.'

 I turned around, but her gentle hand grabbed mine, and I looked at her with widened eyes. She looked at me with determined eyes 'Come back quickly.' 

I smiled at her 'Of course.'

 She let go of my hand, and I went to the door, stepping out. At the end of the hallway was the doctor's office. I knocked on the door and opened it. He was busy with paperwork and looked at me confusedly.

 I said happily, 'She's awake.' 

He stood up excitedly 'Ohhh,' and then he went out with me, and we went to her room. 

She was already sitting up in bed, and the doctor waved happily at her 'Miss Donn, you're finally awake.' He then pointed his finger at me and laughed 'He was quite worried.' 

She stretched. 'Oh really?' 

I looked at her proudly.

The doctor went over to her and conducted some tests, while I leaned against the wall and watched with crossed arms. She had to get up carefully, but her legs were still shaky after being unconscious for 6 days. I wanted to rush to her side, but the doctor assisted her. He took both of her hands and helped her take a few steps, like a baby just learning to walk.

She then sat back on the edge of the bed, and the doctor turned to me. 

"Everything looks quite good, but I would still recommend keeping her here for another day to see how she progresses," he said.

 I nodded in agreement, "Yes, of course." 

He then walked to the door and left the room. I turned on the TV to help bring her back to reality. 

The news report came on immediately, "The police are currently investigating the case involving the Mafia cartel known as the Hunters. It appears to be an internal power struggle." 

She looked at me skeptically and asked, "What does that mean?" 

I glanced out the window, "They dared to challenge us and, on top of that, to kidnap you." 

She then cautiously stood up, leaning on the bed frame, her face filled with concern.

 "Don't tell me... wives and children too," she said.

 I looked at her silently, my hands in my pockets.

 Her mouth hung open in shock, and with a bitter undertone, I said, "Welcome to our world, Sofia."