Ace's POV
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Hannah was in surgery for hours when we got to the hospital. She had suffered some internal bleeding, an infection from her previous wound they fixed, and a fractured wrist. It was bad but better than I expected.
Majority of Ben's wounds had already healed. He had several broken ribs and some scarring in his lungs from being trapped in the room with smoke. He, like Hannah, was also covered in a ton of cuts and bruises.
When we brought them in the nurses looked shocked they were even alive. Their injuries weren't near as bad as they looked. Ben looked as though he had been beaten to a pulp and Hannah looked like "Carrie" after they dropped the pigs blood on her.
They were going to ask me to talk to the police but, once I told them my name, no questions were asked. Mafia don's are known throughout the world by certain places, such as hospitals. They don't exactly know who we are or what we're involved in, just that we're dangerous and seek immediate attention.
I thought I was going to lose my mind when they told me Hannah needed to have surgery. I just got her back and now more people are taking her away from me. I understand they're doctors and are just trying to help, but I need to be with her.
Vinnie, Antony, Oliver, and I sat in the waiting room while she was in surgery and Ben was being examined. We sent the soldiers home. One of the Capos from our other compound let me know that we had lost twenty six of our own. It was nothing compared to the 150 soldiers we brought, but everyone of them were my responsibility.
The weirdest thing is, I never cared before. Yes, I lost soldiers and I was sad that they were no longer with us, but I never cared until now. Now, all I can think about is their friends, their loved ones. I can't help but wonder if some of them will have others at the compound, anticipating their return, praying that they're safe.
I feel miserable for them, I feel weak. My father was right she makes me weak. I don't think she wants my power, she's never intentionally made moves of going after it. Would she even want that power though?
I feel bad about my soldiers that didn't make it, but I don't know how she would react. It's hard to just forget that you have that blood on your hands, that you led those people to their deaths. Normally I don't feel that much remorse, and I drink away the little I do.
I hadn't slept in days and I don't think I would be able to until I was with Hannah again. I sent Oliver to go get some coffees but he was gone for hours. I made Antony go find him and the two eventually showed back up with Antony dragging Oliver by the collar of his shirt. Oliver had about fifty candy bars, chips, and other sweets in his hands.
"Found his ass buying out the vending machine on the fifth floor." Antony said, sitting back down.
"I was hungry!"
"Did you at least get coffee?" I groaned, rubbing my forehead.
"I got you a snickers..." He trailed off, shakily holding one out. I glared at him, causing him to quickly retract his hand.
"I'll take it." I hear someone say behind me.
We all quickly stand up as Ben walks out into the waiting room. He had a slight limp and was holding around his ribs, but other than that he seemed okay. Oliver dropped all of his candy in the floor and immediately ran to Ben and hugged him, causing him to wince.
"I'm so glad you're okay."
"Sarah's gonna flip her shit, bro." Vinnie said, looking at Ben as if he couldn't believe he was real.
"Not if she kills him first." Antony mumbled with a mouthful of Doritos that he stole from Oliver.
"Did they discharge you?" I ask, concerned for my best friend. He nodded and limped to us, sitting in a chair next to me.
"They said take it easy for a few weeks and then I'll be good as new."
"Good luck with that." I sigh, sitting down. He gives me a questioning look, causing me to shake my head and laugh. "Antony was right, she's gonna kill you."
"It isn't my fault I got kidnapped." He groans.
"Yeah but that's women, bro." Antony spoke up again. "50 bucks, she'll use her whip on him."
"Nah." Vinnie laughed. "75, she'll break his arm." They all look to me, asking for my bet. I think for a moment before smirking.
"A thousand, she'll go for the ribs. Sarah loves to go for the sore spots."
"Even though we're making bets about me getting my ass beat...I agree with Ace."
"When are we going back, anyways? I wanna see this." I look around at all of the boys who want to go home, especially Ben.
"You three are stuck here on watch until Hannah is discharged." I say, looking at two of the capos and Oliver. They all groan as I look to Ben. I know he wants to go home more than anything but, if I tell him to stay, he will. "Ben, I'll call a car, you can go home tonight." He immediately let out a sigh of relief.
As much as we all wanted to see Sarah kick his ass, they deserved some alone time before we all got back. They aren't the same when they're apart. I got my best friend back, now its time for Hannah to get hers. Sarah never physically died, but her whole personality did when we thought Ben wasn't coming back.
After around an hour, a car came to pick up Ben. I left the others in the waiting room while I walked outside with him. If they had any updates on Hannah, I needed to know immediately. However, I've been without my best friend and his shitty, but truthful, advice for weeks.
"What's the first thing you're gonna do when you see her?" I ask him as we slowly walk. He thinks before smiling to himself.
"I wish I could give you a manly answer but, in all honesty, I'll probably cry." He sighed. "They would heal me while I was there, but there were still times when I was close to death, where all I had to do was let go and I'd be gone. Sarah is the only reason I endured, the only reason I chose to stay.
"In our life, it's hard to believe in god, it's hard to have faith. In all honesty, I never really did until the day I met her. I know there was no way she just walked into my life without some divine intervention or some shit." He paused, laughing. "I don't know if there's a heaven, or happiness, after we die. I just know that, regardless of where I'd end up, it'd be a place of eternal misery without her."
"Don't you think that makes you weak, though? Loving her?" Ben gave me a look, knowing I was referring to myself.
"I think there are many things in life that can make us weak, but not love. I think love only makes us stronger."
"How? You just said you'd be miserable without Sarah."
"Yes, and I also said she was the only reason I continued to fight. Whoever says 'love makes you weak', is just trying to manipulate you. Love gives you a reason to fight, a reason to live. Love teaches you to see the good in the world, even when you think theres none left."
"How am I supposed to see the good in the world when I'm running a mafia?"
"Not everything is black and white, Ace. You can't always decide if something is good or bad. Thats just life. I think tonight was good because I finally get to go home, but I also think it was bad because Jack got away and we lost soldiers.
"In a few hours, I'm going to get the living hell beat out of me, but I'm also going to be able to go to sleep next to her. Theres always good in the bad and bad in the good. You can't always decide that, but it's important to have someone you love to help you get through it. Someone who can show you the light when theres nothing but darkness."
"If I decide not to have someone like that by my side? If I want to rule with my head instead of my heart, does that make me a bad guy?"
"No, just an incredibly stupid one." He glares at me, finally stopping my bullshit. "Whats really going on?"
"My father. He told me Hannah made me weak, that I was so busy falling for her, I didn't even realize she was going to steal my mafia from me."
"You don't seriously believe that, do you?"
"The mafia part, no. She does make me weak though. If I lose her, Ben, I won't be able to live with myself. How can I rule a mafia when I'm busy falling for her?"
"You rule it differently. You rule it with more compassion, more love for your soldiers. You make sure that she is protected and you lose few lives, fearing the loss they would feel of losing someone."
"You love Hannah, Ace." He says, opening the door to the car. "Don't let her go because you're afraid."
"I'm not afraid."
"Sure." He laughs, climbing in.
"I'm not."
"You are, and it's okay. Love scares the living hell out of you, that's no reason to push it away though."
He closes the door and the car takes off.
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