Lily paced back and forth across the hospital waiting room, her heels clicking on the cold linoleum floor. The smell of disinfectant and coffee filled the air, making her stomach churn with anxiety. She couldn't bear the thought of being apart from Leo, not even for a moment.
The waiting room doors swung open, and Clara, Marco, and Miarbel rushed in, their faces etched with worry. Clara's eyes, red-rimmed from crying, locked onto Lily's.
"Lily, what's happening?" Clara asked, her voice trembling as she hurried to Lily's side.
Lily took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "Leo was shot," she said, her voice shaking. "He's in surgery now."
Clara's face crumpled, and she buried her face in her hands. Marco stepped forward, his jaw clenched in anger.
"Who did this?" he growled.
Lily hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "It was Chloe and her men," she said finally. "They ambushed us."
Miarbel looked up at Lily, her eyes wide with fear. "Is Leo going to be okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lily tried to smile, but it faltered. "I don't know," she said. "The doctors are doing everything they can to save him."
As they waited, the silence in the room was palpable. Clara held Lily's hand, trying to offer what little comfort she could. Marco paced back and forth, his eyes fixed on the door to the operating room. Miarbel sat quietly, her eyes fixed on Lily.
Just then, the doctor emerged from the operating room, a small smile on his face.
"Clara, I have some good news," he said. "Leo's surgery was a success. He's going to be okay."
Clara's face lit up with relief, and she hugged Lily tightly. "Thank God," she whispered.
Lily felt a wave of relief wash over her, and she hugged Clara back tightly. "I was so scared," she whispered.
As they hugged, Marco and Miarbel rushed over, relief etched on their faces.
"How is he?" Marco asked, his voice gruff with emotion.
The doctor smiled. "He's stable. We'll need to monitor him closely for the next few hours, but he should make a full recovery."
Clara smiled, tears of joy streaming down her face. "We can see him soon?" she asked.
The doctor nodded. "Yes, soon. Let's just give him a little more time to recover."
As they waited, Lily felt a sense of gratitude wash over her. She was thankful that Leo was going to be okay, and she was grateful for the support of his family.
Finally, the nurse emerged from the ICU, a warm smile on her face.
"You can see him now," she said.
Lily's heart skipped a beat as she followed Clara, Marco, and Miarbel into the ICU. Leo lay in the bed, his eyes closed, but as they approached, he stirred, his eyes flickering open.
Lily's heart melted as she saw the weak smile on his face.
"Hey," he whispered.
Lily leaned over, her lips brushing against his. "Hey," she whispered back.
Leo's eyes never left Lily's face as she hugged him tightly. He could feel her tears on his skin, and he knew that she had been scared.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice weak. "I'm so sorry I got hurt."
Lily pulled back, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. "Don't apologize," she said. "You saved me. You always save me."
As they hugged, Clara, Marco, and Miarbel gathered around the bed, smiling and crying at the same time.
"We were so scared," Clara said, hugging Leo tightly.
Leo hugged her back, feeling a sense of gratitude towards his family. They had always been there for him, and now they were here to support him through his recovery.
As they hugged, Lily sat down next to Leo, holding his hand tightly.
"I'm not letting you out of my sight," she said, smiling.
Leo smiled back, feeling a sense of happiness wash over him. He was going to be okay, and he had Lily by his side.
Just then, Leo's phone buzzed on the bedside table. Marco picked it up, answering quietly.
"It's Dominic," Marco said, looking at Leo with a serious expression. "He's on his way here."
Leo nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He knew that Dominic would take care of everything
As Marco handed Leo the phone, Lily's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Who's Dominic?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle.
Leo hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just a friend," he said finally, trying to downplay the situation.
But Lily's eyes lingered on his face, searching for more information. She knew that Leo was hiding something.
Just then, the door to the hospital room burst open, and a tall, imposing figure strode in. His eyes scanned the room, locking onto Leo.
"Boss," he said, his deep voice filling the room. "Glad to see you're okay."
Lily's eyes widened as she took in the man's intimidating presence. Who was this guy, and what did he want with Leo?
"Dominic," Leo said, his voice weak but authoritative. "Thanks for coming."
Dominic nodded, his eyes scanning the room once more. "I've taken care of the situation," he said. "Chloe's men are being dealt with."
Lily's eyes locked onto Dominic's face, her expression curious. "What does that mean?" she asked.
Dominic's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Lily. "It means you're safe now," he said. "You and Leo."
The room fell silent as Lily processed Dominic's words. She looked at Leo, then back at Dominic, her eyes searching for answers.
Leo's eyes never left Lily's face as he tried to reassure her. "Everything's going to be okay," he said, his voice weak but sincere.
Lily's eyes lingered on Leo's face, searching for reassurance. She knew that he was trying to protect her, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to the story.
Dominic's presence seemed to fill the room, his intimidating aura commanding attention. But as Lily looked at him, she saw something unexpected - kindness.
"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Dominic's expression softened, and he nodded. "You're welcome," he said. "We'll do everything to keep you and Leo safe."
Clara, Marco, and Miarbel exchanged glances, their faces etched with concern. They knew that Leo's involvement with the mafia was complicated, but they also knew that he would do everything to protect those he loved.
As the tension in the room dissipated, Lily reached out and took Leo's hand. "I'm not going anywhere," she said, her voice firm.
Leo's eyes locked onto hers, his expression filled with gratitude. "I know," he said. "I'll always be here to protect you."
The moment hung in the air, filled with unspoken promises and unresolved tension. But as Lily looked at Leo, she knew that she was exactly where she was meant to be.