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"| just got a call from Mr. King Snr. Your grandmother just had a heart attack."
Ryan whispers the words that knock the air out of me.
Everything aroundfades. The smoke from the grill, the laughter, the kids shouting, all of it gone.
Muted.
Like someone hits mute on the whole damn world, and all | hear is the rush of
blood in my ears.
My grip tightens around the spatula until the metal bites into my palm.
Not again.
My chest constricts, the sway it did the last tshe collapsed. | force myself
to breathe, but it's shallow and useless.
What if | actually lose her this time?
Fear settles in my chest like a cancer cell and spreads in my entire body.
"Where is she?" | ask, my voice low.
"Quinn's Medical Center." Ryan answers quickly. "She was admitted ten minutes ago. The family is already there,
and Dr. Quinn snr is attending to her."
I nod once. My body moves before my mind catches up. | shove the spatula into Ethan's hand.
"Take over," | mutter.
He looks confused for half a second, but one glances at my face, and he knows better than to ask.
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| turn, and my eyes start searching instinctively.
It's crazy how long ago | would have just rushed out without a second thought. But now, whenever something
happens, | first have to check on Athena and Rayen and see that they're okay, then | move.
It all happens, so naturally, | hadn't even noticed.
We lock eyes, and from her expression, | can tell she saw the exchange and is curious.
She's squatting near the playhouse, her hands covered in paint, her brows pinched in concern. Her lips part
slightly like she wants to call out to me.
| force a small smile to my lips as she stands to meethalfway.
"Is something wrong?" she asks.
I nod and grab her hand as we walk out so | can tell her in private.
"Giana just had another heart attack." | run a hand through my hair. She gasps, covering her hand to her mouth,
"How bad is she?"
"I don't know, baby. But | hope it's not so bad."
Athena's face falls. Her eyes soften with worry, and without a second thought, she wraps her arms around me.
It's not tight. It's gentle, like she's trying to holdtogether when everything insidefeels like it's breaking
apart.
"She'll be okay,” she whispers, even though she doesn't know for sure. "Giana's strong."
| close my eyes for a second and let myself breathe her in. The scent of paint and sweetness. The calm in her
voice. It groundsmore than I'll ever admit.
"I have to go now," | murmur into her hair.
She pulls back slightly, her beautiful eyes finding mine, "I'll get Rayen we go together."
But | shake my head,
"No baby, today is the last day. Let him have fun. I'll check how she is and let you know, then you can join me
tomorrow."
She looks like she wants to argue but eventually gives in knowing I'm right. "Okay."
| press a kiss to her forehead. It's quick, but lingering just enough as | whisper, "Thank you."
Then | pull away and head to the car, where Ryan is already holding the door open.
As soon as I'm seated, he slides in beside me. As Alfred, the driver, starts the engine.
"Tell them to have the chopper ready if traffic gets heavy," | say, pulling my phone out and dialing before he can
even nod.
| call my father first, but it goes to voicemail.
Shit.
"Call Luca want him here in the
next and
He has to keep Athenaet
fe. | don't want anyone
else to do it do you understand?" s.
"Yes, sir." He quickly dials Lucas's number and speaks to him.
| would have, but | feel like if | say another word, I'll blow up.
The city blurs past the window, but my mind is still stuck in a sterile hospital room
with beeping monitors and too-white sheets.
I've seen it before, countless times. Her hand pale and trembling, her chest barely rising.
She always smiled, even then, and said things like,
"It's just a flutter, dear."
But this doesn't feel like just a flutter.
"Call Dr. Quinn,” | instruct Ryan after he cuts his call with Luca.
"I want to know exactly what's going on before | step through those damn doors."
He nods, already typing. "On it."
| lean back and rub my hand down my face.
| can't lose her. Not now. Not when things are finally starting to feel good.
She was right all along. | have loved Athena since | met her, | just didn't know it yet. | want to hold Nonna hand
so she can rub the fact that she was right in my face while we watch her favorite show. s
Giana is more than just my
grandmother. She's my anchor, Met
Veal family | had when thes were too busy with their reputations, s
I love that woman to death.
"They're still doing tests. But she's still unconscious.” Ryan says, makinghold back a series of curses.
"Any more news?"
"Not from the hospital. But sir, there is one thing you should know." | turn to look at
him.
He pushes his glasses forward as he handsthe tablet with a picture in it. Noah's parents are here?
"John and Katya just landed." He says, confirming what my eyes are already seeing on the damn picture.
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