Bella (A Sagatori Family Saga a Mafia Romance Book 4) by Kimberly Blalock Page A

changes.” She walked forward and lifted her arms to hug me. “Your so brave, Bella, so much braver than I ever was,” she whispered. I had to admit, I didn’t feel brave, but hearing that from her did give me the courage I needed to keep moving forward even when I wanted to curl up with Jax and die with him.
    I didn’t waste my breath or energy with any further look at Chase or the rest of the people that had given up on Jax. I didn’t want anything to do with anyone that didn’t believe in him the way that I did.
    ***
    The next few days were cold. That’s the way I’ll always remember them cold. I suppose it was the hospital, but the color is what stuck out to me the most. A pale gray. Rain had been constant over the time we’d been in Chicago Memorial. Cold, gray, and wet; it just felt cold. The beginning of summer had arrived, and yet no matter how many flowers bloomed all I could feel was cold. All I could see was the color gray.
    I had been getting sick nearly every morning except for today. Today I had been sick all day . I’d paced the hospital room waiting for Tony to call with news he’d caught that bastard, Orlov. I knew Tony didn’t want me having anything to do with this, but it wasn’t his call. If he didn’t deliver that bastard to me, he would soon find out what crossing me would lead to. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Tony as if he was blood, but I wasn’t playing around. I wanted revenge. I wanted to drink it like a tall glass of warm blood. I wanted to feel its slippery consistency drip from my fingertips.
    I’d been sleeping in a recliner when I hadn’t been laying my head on Jax’s pillow at night. It was uncomfortable, but I don’t think I noticed really. My eyes watched Jax’s waiting for him to wake up. When I was alone, I’d sneak into the bathroom and turn on the water in the sink, and I would cry and then cry some more. I’d decided long ago I’d never let my weakness show, and I damn sure hadn’t been ready to start.
    Only a hand full of people knew Jax had been in the hospital for the last week. Most thought we were on our honeymoon somewhere exotic thanks to some gossip that had been spread by my dear friend Emily. Holy hell she could get the word out fast, but now I’d have to figure out what to do for the long haul. If anyone knew that Jax was in the hospital, the Underboss would take over. When Sal and Tony had been around, I’d asked them what would happen in the future. They looked at each other and said they really didn’t know since nothing like this had ever happened. I knew right then and there that no one could find out.
    I made a decision that day; a decision that my family wouldn’t be happy with. Hell, they’d fight me all the way, but I’d win.

Bella
    Two weeks later…
    My neck was stiff and my body felt like it had been twisted into a million tiny knots. I’d been sleeping in the chair next to Jax’s hospital bed. He’d been having difficult nights caused from his gunshot wounds. His lungs weren’t working the way they were supposed to be. The machines were beeping from his low oxygen; the nurse kept calling them alarms or something. Anyway, I hadn’t slept well in a while but that didn’t matter when it came right down to it. I was blessed I had my life and my baby was growing inside my belly. Jax on the other hand—well, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.
    Mrs. Moretti arrived every day at ten sharp. She’d walk in wearing all black carrying her large bag. She’d set it down and stare at me. Ugh… it drove me insane. I wanted to tell her that her son was going to be okay. I did every chance I got, but I knew she didn’t believe me. The look in her eyes was doubtful at best.
    “Have you eaten?” she asked.
    I shrugged into the chair my body sat numbly inside of. I leaned toward Jax and swept his hand into mine. “I’ll eat something in a while.”
    Mrs. Moretti took tiny steps towards me. Short dark hair with curls clung to her