Rico, looking tinier than the strappy, big-for-his-age boy he adored, lying inert and ashen on the operating table. Isabella in full surgical garb, orchestrating the team swarming around him: Jeffrey, Marta, other nurses, an anesthesiologist.
Then Isabella raised her head. The one part of her visible, her eyes, collided with his. What he saw there before she turned back to their son almost brought him to his knees.
“He’ll be fine.” Rose caressed his rock-tense back, tugging him to sit on the viewing seats.
His eyes burned. “Will he?”
Assurance trembled on Rose’s lips. “She already saved him from the worst at the accident scene. The surgery is necessary, but I believe the life-threatening danger is over.”
A rough groan tore from him, and he dropped his head into his hands, unable to bear the agony of hope and dread.
“She’s amazing, isn’t she?”
Rose’s deep affection made him raise his head and look down at Isabella once more. He wondered again how fate had found it fit to bless him with finding her. His only explanation was so he’d lose her, the worst punishment it could have dealt him. But that was what he deserved. Why had fate chosen to punish her by putting him in her path time and again?
“Look at her—functioning at top efficiency even though it’s her son on that table. I don’t think I would have held together in her place. But Isabella’s survived and conquered so much, she channeled that strength to take on the unimaginable responsibility of Rico’s life.”
Realizing she’d just said Rico’s name, he looked at her.
A smile of reproach quivered in her tear-filled eyes. “I almost fainted when Isabella finally told me the truth. It’s why I am up here, not down there.” A beat. “Not that I didn’t know it from the first moment I saw you together. I kept hoping you’d tell me all this time. Why didn’t you?”
“I...I...left it up to her to tell you.” It hurt to talk, to breathe, to exist. And he deserved far worse, a life of constant agony. “I was on probation, and she didn’t know if I’d work out. I didn’t. I was a catastrophic failure. I was leaving them, leaving all of you. I’m the reason this happened. I almost ended up killing my son.”
“You were leaving? God, Rex, why—?”
Rafael, Eliana, Numair and Jenan walked in, cutting off Rose’s anguished exclamation.
Eliana rushed to hug him. “Antonio called us.”
Rafael hugged him, too, and he saw in his eyes that Numair had told him everything. But there was no surprise there, just reaffirmed faith. Rafael had always believed in him, no matter the evidence against him.
“I called him as I walked in, and he said he’ll be landing in a few minutes,” Rafael said. “My helicopter is waiting beside his landing lane. He said he’ll drop off with his gear outside the practice like he does on missions. I coordinated with the police so they don’t pursue him or my pilot.”
Numair added, “The others are on their way. Is there anything else we can do?”
Richard shook his head, choking on too many brutal emotions to count. His son lying there, his fate undecided. The love of his life doing what no mother should, fighting for her son’s life. The unwavering support of Isabella’s and Rose’s families. All his friends rallying around him.
Yes, friends. Brothers-in-arms. Just...brothers.
And he again wondered...how he deserved to have all these people on his side when he’d done nothing but waste opportunities and make horrific decisions.
Suddenly, Antonio rushed into the OR already gowned. And as if they’d always worked together, he and Isabella took their places at the table. After Isabella filled him in as he set up his equipment and examined scans, Antonio looked up, gave Richard a nod, a promise. His son would be fine.
Isabella looked up, too, sought only his eyes, and he wanted to roar for her to leave it all to Antonio. She’d suffered enough. But he knew she’d see it through, could only be thankful his son had such a mother.
“All right, everyone...” Antonio’s voice filled the lounge. “Out.” Before Richard could protest, he pinned him in his uncompromising gaze. “Especially you, Richard.”
Everyone rushed out immediately, but Richard stood rooted, even as Rose and Rafael tried to pull him away. He couldn’t leave Rico. He wouldn’t leave her.
He’d never leave either of them again.
His gaze locked with Isabella’s, imploring her.
Let me stay. Let me be there for both of you.
Her nod of consent was a blessing he didn’t deserve, but he swore he’d live his life striving to.
She murmured and Antonio exhaled. “Dr. Sandoval decrees that you stay. But make one move or sound and you’re out.” At Richard’s eager nod, Antonio looked at Rose. “Sorry I kicked you out with the rest, Dr. Anderson, but I did only so you’d keep your big brother on a leash. Now you’ll do it in here.”