Prologue
After the tunnel accident
The next day Caterina woke to the sound of a heart monitor beeping. She groaned softly and opened her eyes slowly knowing the lights would probably be bright. She looked around the room, but no one was around so she hit the button for her nurse. She needed to know what happened the last thing she remembered was calling Caiden, then everything went black.
"Ms Bellucci, you're awake!" Her thoughts were interrupted by the nurse.
"Y-yeah.. what happened? Is my baby okay?" She asked the nurse.
The nurse looked at her sadly.
"I'm sorry ma'am... the pregnancy was terminated in the accident. I'm so sorry. Let me go get your doctor. Your family has been waiting anxiously." The nurse said softly.
"Can you send for my friend Rylee? Please." Cat asked.
"Of course ma'am. I'll send her in immediately." The nurse said smiling.
That was a relief Rylee wasn't hurt too badly. A few minutes later Rylee rushed into the room.
"Thank god you're awake. Caiden has been crazy with you unconscious. They can't locate Heejin. It's been driving him insane." Rylee rambled hugging Cat gently.
"Where is he?" Cat asked.
"I sent him home. He was getting too riled up staying here."
"Does he know?" Cat asked.
"No, you know I wouldn't tell him," Rylee said.
"The doctors didn't say anything?" Cat asked
"He's not your husband yet, they can't legally disclose that information with him. Why, is..." Rylee stopped when she saw the tears fall from Cat's eyes.
"Cat... what's wrong?" Rylee asked.
"The baby didn't make it." Cat sobbed.
"Oh, honey... I... I'm so sorry." Rylee said softly.
Rylee pulled her best friend into her arms.
"He can't know. I can't tell him... not now. Him thinking I almost died is ammunition enough. He doesn't need any more reason to start a war." Cat said softly.
"What do you want to do then?" Rylee asked.
"I want to marry him," Cat said looking at her best friend.
"Babe." Rylee started to say.
"Rylee, we both need it. He needs to know I'm okay, and I need the distraction." Cat looked her friend in the eyes.
"Well alright then. I'll uh... I'll tell him you're awake." Rylee smiled softly
Not long after Rylee left to call Caiden the doctor came in to run a baseline set of vitals and run a few other tests. By the time he was finished, Caiden had returned to the hospital.
"Caiden is here." Her nurse said after poking her head into the room.
"You can send him in," Cat said with a smile.
Within minutes Caiden rushed into the room.
"Caterina, my love. You're okay?" Caiden asked.
"I'm okay, my love. I'm okay." She said softly.
"I won't let them get away with this. I swear to it." Caiden practically growled as he stroked Cat's cheek.
"Can the war wait until after we're married? Please.?" Cat asked softly.
Caiden looked at her.
"Caterina..."
"Caiden. Please." She pleaded
"I wish you wouldn't always turn to violence. Let the police do their work. Let them handle it. Once we're married. She can't touch me." Cat continued.
"You're wise. My love. Alright. How soon?" He asked.
"As soon as the doctors tell me I can leave. I don't want to wait another minute. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." She said smiling.
Caiden couldn't help the grin that found his lips and he pulled Cat in for a gentle kiss. After reluctantly pulling away from her, he went to speak with her doctors to find out how soon she would be able to be released. Cat watched him and sighed softly as she placed her hand over her stomach.
"He would have loved you... we would have loved you." She whispered.
She let a few tears fall, closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the pillow. She knew she could never tell him about the pregnancy. She would have to go through this without him. Sure she would have Rylee. But what she needed was Caiden, and she knew if he knew he would kill anyone who stood in the way of him finding Heejin and anyone else who was involved in the accident, and that she would probably never see him again. That could never happen. She was his and he was hers, she needed him. She would always need him.
