A lone tear escaped from my eye. I didn't know him personally, but couldn't help but think of one thing; he was my father.

Noah immediately drove away from the explosion and Alex and Dom looked at the explosion with surprise.

My eyes lingered to the scene of the still burning debris which faded as drove further and further.

A slight tug on my t-shirt made me look down on my lap. I saw Dante laying down next to me; his head on my lap and his legs on Dom's.

I looked at Dom who gave me slight smile.

They don't know yet. My conscience reminded me.

For them, their sworn enemies just died. To me, he was the only actual family that I knew and the only blood relation I met.

I gave a sad smile back and looked down at Dante. He was conscious but was drowsy because Dmitri had been torturing him ever since they got a hold of us; last night.

When we reached a hospital nearby, all of us got out of the car. Looking at Dante, a few nurses and doctors rushed outside with a stretcher.

They took him in and the three of us followed. We tried to to inside the room where he was being sent to but they stopped us.

"I'm sorry. No one is allowed to come now. We will let you all know when you can come." The nurse says.

We agree and sit on the chairs in the waiting room. None of us dared to say anything for the next couple of hours.

Two hours later...

For the last two hours, I have been trying to spend my time staring at my surroundings.

The low-volumed TV on the wall, doors sliding open and shut seeing more and more wounded people coming in, people talking in low voices, intercom calling out codes, squeaky wheelchairs going past and the clack of the keyboard made by the receptionist nearby.

What's taking them so long ? Had he gotten shot somewhere and maybe we missed it ? We would have seen it if it was bleeding, Azalea. I reminded myself. Yeah, right.

Just I was about get up and ask the nurses and doctors what was wrong, a female doctor from Dante's room came out.

"The lacerations on his chest and abdomen are all stitched up. They weren't that deep so it wasn't much of a difficult procedure. He needs rest so that pressure isn't applied on the stitches.

The patient is in a stable condition. You may go see him, but only one at a time." The doctor said. "Quick question: Does the patient have significant other ?"

Hold your horses, woman. Back off, the dude is mine.

"Yes, he does. You're looking right at her." I said giving her a bright smile. I heard Dom, Alex and Noah snicker behind me at my response.

"Oh." She said, her voice held disappointment. "Alright then." She said and walked away.

As much as I wanted to go in first, I knew I couldn't be selfish.

They have known him for a much more longer time than me and deserve to see him first.

I turned to look at them and gestured towards the room in a way of saying, 'you go in first.'

But all three of them shook their heads 'no'. "Go ahead. We'll go after you." Noah said with a bright smile.

I nodded and made my way towards the room. I pushed down the cold handle of the door and went in, closing the door behind me.

My olfactory receptors were hit by the smell of a weird mixture of cleaning products with a scent of antiseptic with a hint of the metallic tang from stainless steel of the bed and the stench of bleach wafting from bedding.

My roamed all over the room until they stopped when they found him.

There Dante was, laying down on a white bed with a white blanket draped over his body. As I got closer, I could see him better.

He wasn't wearing his own clothes but rather the hospital gown. He looks so peaceful when he is sleeping.

All I could think about was the fact that he was being beaten up and when I had gone to untie him, the first thing he had asked was if I was alright.

I sat on the chair that was put next to his bed and carefully took his hand in mine.

His hand felt to cold so I rubbed my hand against the back of his hand and softly kissed it.

"I would prefer if the kiss on on my lips, you know." A voice says. I immediately lifted up my head and saw Dante smirking.

I smiled and let go of his to give him the glass of water kept on the table near the bed.

He took it and gulped its contents in a moment. He gave the empty glass to me and I kept it back on the table.

"How are you feeling ?" He asked me.

"You're the one who is hurt. I should be asking you that." I told him, stressing on the words 'I' and 'you'.

"I'm okay." He sighed. "But I might feel better if you kiss me."

I narrowed my eyes at him and shook my head in disbelief. Slowly getting up from my place, I went towards him and gave him a peck on the lips.

But it seems like he wasn't happy with just that because as soon as I lifted my lips, Dante snaked his arm around my waist and pushed me closer, making our kiss last longer.

He slowly moved his lips against mine and I did the same. I craved for him. I craved to feel those tingles that I feel when I kiss him.

I craved for his touch; the warmth of his lips against mine. Everything.

I pulled away in need for air. We stared into each other's eyes. For a moment it felt like it was only us in this world.

But that feeling stopped when someone opened the door and shouted, "That's why you were taking so long !"

We chuckled and broke eye contact; we didn't have to look at the direction to know who it was. Alex.

"Why ? Why Alex ?" Dante mumbled to himself but because I was close, I could hear too.

"Let them be." said Noah, who was standing behind Alex. Them Dom entered too, "Hey !"

"We caught them smooching." Alex teased.

"Che cosa ? " Dom said, confused.

"Well, you know, when two lips pucker and they go..." Alex explained, puckering his lips.

"Okaaayyyy. I know what a kiss means... I meant-" Dom gets interrupted.

"I can demonstrate..." Alex said, getting closer to Dom.

"Eww...no." He backed away. "Get away from me !"

Dante and I looked at each other and smiled. I'm just happy everyone is alright.

But I still have to tell them about Elijah being my Dad, and Nikolai, I mean, Zane, missing.

Pretty much everything Elijah told me.

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