Rowan pushed the heavy door open, walking into the room panting.
He went straight toward the bed and stood watching Esme, his chest heaving.
Xavier stood up from his chair, his posture instantly rigid.
“Is everything okay, sir?” Rowan turned his gaze to him, his eyes sharp and unforgiving.
“I need you to thoroughly audit all staff and security personnel.
If you spot anyone you’ve never seen before…
or anyone who doesn’t carry the mark…
kill them immediately.” He turned slightly, speaking with absolute authority.
“I need the security grid upgraded in every single sector: the kitchen, the living room, the bedrooms, and the courtyard.
If anyone who isn’t logged into the system enters those spaces, an immediate alert must be sent directly to my phone or yours.” Xavier nodded firmly, stepped toward the exit, and pulled the door open, letting it latch gently behind him.
Rowan walked over to the chair beside Esme’s bed and sat down.
He leaned forward, burying his face in his hands, letting out a heavy, exhausted sigh.
A few moments later, the door clicked open again.
Rowan looked over his shoulder to see his parents stepping into the room, both wearing deeply concerned expressions.
Mrs.
Carven walked straight to the bedside.
“My dear child…” she murmured softly, sitting on the edge of the mattress and caressing Esme’s hair.
“Mom, Dad…
what are you doing here?” Rowan asked, raising his head.
Mr.
Carven fixed his son with a stern glare.
“I got a call, Rowan.
How could you be so careless?
Leaving your newlywed wife completely exposed without adequate protection…
is your security apparatus really this weak?” Rowan looked down, his jaw clenching.
“Father, how was I supposed to know Vincenzo would return now?” Mr.
Carven stepped closer, placing a firm, heavy hand on Rowan’s arm.
“Rowan, this isn’t your first time dealing with him.
He is a dangerous mafia don, and you killed his son.” “It has been two years, Father.
Why surface right now?” Mr.
Carven glanced toward the bed.
“Because of her.
She is a liability in our world, and he targeted her specifically.
If his primary goal was to kill her, she would already be dead.
This was merely…” “…a warning,” Rowan finished quietly, nodding grimly.
“I will handle this, Father,” Rowan added.
“I’ve already dispatched Xavier to…” A soft groan cut him off.
Esme’s eyes fluttered open, rolling disorientedly around the unfamiliar room.
Rowan turned instantly.
“Esme, my dear,” Mrs.
Carven said softly, offering a warm smile.
Suddenly, Esme bolted upright, her eyes wide with sheer panic.
“Let me go!
Don’t kill me!
Please!” she screamed, thrashing wildly.
Rowan rushed to the edge of the bed, reaching out to steady her.
“Esme, what’s wrong?
Who is trying to kill you?” Esme shoved him away violently, her breathing ragged.
Mrs.
Carven gasped, pulling back in shock.
The door burst open as the attending physician rushed into the room, trying to stabilize her.
Esme kept pushing against him in a panic until the doctor quickly prepped an injection and administered the sedative into her arm.
Within seconds, her thrashing slowed, her eyes grew heavy, and she dropped back onto the pillows, falling into a deep sleep.
Rowan straightened up, his eyes locked on the doctor.
“What happened to her?
Is she going to be alright?” “Relax, Mr.
Carven,” the doctor said calmly, adjusting his stethoscope.
“She is in stable condition now.
Waking up suddenly caused a intense shock response.
Her brain simply couldn’t process her surroundings, or she was reacting to a nightmare.
Waking up in an unfamiliar environment can easily trigger a severe panic response.” “Will she be okay?” Rowan repeated, his voice tight.
“She is out of danger,” the doctor reassured him.
“I administered a mild sedative to allow her system to rest.
She needs sleep.” Mr.
Carven stepped forward.
“Is it possible to discharge her and bring her home today?” The doctor looked at Esme, then back at the senior Carven.
“Given her current condition, I strongly advise keeping her under observation in the hospital for at least two more days.” Mr.
Carven looked at Rowan.
“We cannot risk leaving her exposed in a public facility.” Rowan turned back to the physician.
“The checkups can be conducted at my estate.
You will be brought to the house, and I will triple your standard rate for the inconvenience.” The doctor hesitated briefly, then gave a professional nod.
“Very well, Mr.
Carven.
I will organize the necessary monitoring equipment for her home bed rest.” With that, he turned and exited the room.
Rowan walked back over to Esme’s bedside, taking a seat and resting his palm gently against her forehead.
“Rowan,” Mr.
Carven spoke up, his tone grave.
“What is your plan regarding Vincenzo?” Rowan kept his eyes fixed on Esme’s face, offering no response.
Mr.
Carven took a step toward his son, but Mrs.
Carven caught her husband’s arm, shaking her head subtly.
He let out a long sigh and stood back.
…
A tense aura hung over the estate grounds as the heavy front gates opened, allowing a sleek black vehicle to roll into the courtyard.
The car came to a smooth stop, and Rowan stepped out from the rear door.
He walked around to open Esme’s door, extending his hand outward to assist her.
From inside the backseat, Esme glared at his hand.
“I can get out myself.” “Please, I insist,” Rowan said smoothly.
“And I said I can handle it myself.
I don’t need your help.” Rowan let out a quiet sigh and stepped back, crossing his arms as he watched her attempt to maneuver out of the high vehicle.
Her hands and legs trembled visibly under her weight.
Seeing her struggle, Rowan bent down and lifted her effortlessly into his arms.
Esme gasped in shock, her face flushing with immediate anger.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” Rowan walked toward the grand entrance, carrying her securely.
A faint chuckle escaped his lips.
“Mind your language, my dear wife.” “Don’t call me that!” Esme snapped, glaring up at him.
“Put me down!” “You couldn’t even step out of the vehicle,” Rowan noted calmly.
“Do you honestly expect me to believe you can walk all the way into the house?” “Yes!
Now put me down!” Rowan stopped, letting out a resigned sigh.
“Alright, if you say so.” He lowered his arms, placing her feet back on the pavement.
He took a step back, folded his arms across his chest, and looked down at her with a light smirk.
Esme glared at him.
“What?
Why are you staring at me like that?” Rowan’s smirk widened slightly.
“I just want to see how far you actually get.” “I’ll walk when you leave and stop staring at me like a creep,” she snapped.
“Alright, fair enough,” Rowan said smoothly.
He began walking toward the main entrance just as his phone began to ring.
Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out the device and brought it to his ear.
Esme watched his back as he walked away, then turned her attention to her shaky limbs.
“Walk, you stupid legs…
don’t embarrass me right now,” she muttered internally.
She groaned, trying with all her strength to lift one foot forward.
Before she could take a single step, two powerful arms swept under her, lifting her off the ground once again.
Esme snapped her head up to see Rowan holding her securely against his chest, his attention focused entirely on the phone call at his ear.
Opening her mouth to protest, she was cut off when Rowan casually placed a finger over her lips, signaling her to remain quiet while he spoke.
Fuming with silent irritation, Esme clamped her mouth shut, turned her head away, and allowed him to carry her into the house.
I pray they live in peace, fall in love and have millions of babies.
Eeeee.