Chapter 127: Raptured kidney

I drive to the hospital with one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting against my injured shoulder.

The pain is irritating, but I have bigger things to worry about.

I need to know how Nerissa and Victoria are faring.

When I finally pull into the hospital parking lot, I barely bother to park properly before getting out. I head inside, ignoring the receptionist who attempts to stop me.

I don’t have the patience for explanations.

My men have already informed the hospital’s security team that I expect full cooperation. Anyone who tries to delay me will have a very unpleasant evening.

I find them in the hallway outside the emergency ward.

Isabella is crying into Nerissa’s arms. My sister’s shoulders shake with every sob, and Nerissa has both arms wrapped around her, rubbing her back as she whispers something I cannot hear.

The sight makes something tighten in my chest.

Bella has always been strong. Stubborn, occasionally reckless, and far too willing to argue with me when she thinks I’m being unreasonable.

Seeing her like this makes me feel helpless in a way I despise.

Then she lifts her head and sees me.

“Lysander!”

She practically launches herself into my arms. I catch her with my good arm, wincing when she accidentally presses against my injured shoulder.

I ignore the pain and hold her close.

“It’s okay,” I murmur, rubbing her back. “It’s okay, I’ve got you.”

She clutches the back of my shirt and cries harder.

I don’t tell her to stop.

I simply hold my little sister while she falls apart in my arms, because sometimes there is nothing else a person can do.

After a while, her sobs begin to quiet, though she doesn’t let go of me completely.

I press a kiss to the top of her head.

“Have you spoken to the doctor?”

She nods against my chest.

“Yes.”

“And?”

Her fingers tighten around my shirt.

“He said the accident crushed her kidney against her lower rib cage. It ruptured.” Her voice breaks, and she pulls back enough to look at me. Her eyes are swollen and red. “The other kidney is doing its job for now, but they don’t know how long it will keep up. She could die any moment.”

Well shit.

I feel Bella begin to cry again, I tighten my arm around her.

“Hold on,” I tell her. “I’ll speak to the doctor.”

I gently release her and turn toward the emergency ward. Right on cue, a doctor appears at the end of the hallway, walking toward us with a file in his hands.

I meet him halfway before he can reach my sister.

“Doctor.”

He looks up.

“Yes? I assume you’re the patient’s husband?”

“Brother. We need to talk. I understand she needs a new kidney.”

“Yes. My team and I are currently assessing her condition and discussing the available treatment options. Given the severity of the rupture, we need to determine whether….”

“I need you to understand something.”

I step closer.

The doctor stops speaking. I watch him swallow before taking a small step backward.

“I don’t care what you have to do,” I tell him quietly. “Find a solution. Get the specialists you need. Contact every hospital that might be able to help. I need her alive.”

His lips part, but I continue before he can respond.

“And if something goes wrong, every single person responsible will have a very serious problem with me.”

The doctor pales.

“Sir, we’re doing everything we can. We’re trying to find a compatible donor, but transplantation isn’t that simple, especially on such short notice. We have to consider compatibility, availability, and whether a transplant is even the appropriate immediate intervention for her condition.”

“Try.harder.”

I hold his gaze for another moment before stepping aside.

He nods quickly and walks away.

I watch him disappear through the doors before releasing a slow breath.

Threatening a doctor is neither reasonable nor particularly helpful. I know that…..but

I’m running out of patience for this entire fucking day.

The day has been shit from beginning to end and somehow, it keeps getting shittier.

I drag a hand over my face and return to the women.

Nerissa looks up when I approach.

“How is she?” she asks.

“The doctors are working on it.”

It’s not much of an answer, and she knows it.

Still, she doesn’t press me.

Instead, she reaches for Isabella’s hand and squeezes it.

I look between them.

“Come on,” I say. “Let’s go home.”

Nerissa looks at me as though I’ve just announced that we’re going to die.

“What?”

“Home, ladies.”

She rises slowly from the chair.

“Lysander, we can’t just leave her here all alone.”

“She’s unconscious, Nerissa. Sitting in this hallway won’t help her wake up any sooner.”

Her mouth tightens.

“That’s not the point.”

“I know what the point is.”

“Then you should understand why I’m not leaving.”

I look at her and she looks back at me, refusing to back down even though exhaustion has settled over her face. Her hair is still slightly disheveled from the chaos outside the shop, and there are faint traces of tears beneath her eyes.

She looks tired…..More tired than she wants me to notice.

I lower my voice.

“Victoria won’t be alone. I’ll leave security outside her room, and my men will make sure no one gets near her without authorization. I’ve spoken to the doctor. They’ll continue treating her, and we’ll come back tomorrow.”

Isabella speaks.

“But, Lysander…”

“Please, Bella.”

My sister falls silent.

I turn to her, softening my tone.

“I need to know you two will be safe so I can handle what I need to handle tonight without worrying about your safety every second.”

Her eyes search my face.

“Handle what?”

I pause.

“Things that need my attention.”

It isn’t a lie…..Not entirely.

I simply don’t intend to explain that I have a kidnapping planned for tonight.

Nerissa studies me for a moment longer. I can practically see the questions forming behind her eyes.

“But it’s a hospital,” she argues. “We should be safe here.”

“No.”

The word comes out sharper than I intended….i take a breath.

“This is a hospital, Nerissa. That doesn’t mean you can protect yourself here. There are too many people coming and going, too many entrances, and too many opportunities for someone to get close to you without my men noticing in time.”

She understands what I’m saying, someone tried to kill us today.

We have no idea whether the threat has ended and I won’t make the mistake of assuming it has.

“Come on,” I say more gently. “I’ll drive you both to mother’s house. I’ve already arranged security.”

Neither of them argues again. I suppose today has taken a toll on them, too.

I lead them toward the exit, keeping them close as we move through the hospital corridors. My men are waiting outside, and one of them opens the car door before I reach it.

Nerissa climbs into the back seat beside Isabella and I get behind the wheel.

For the entire drive, the car remains quiet.

Isabella occasionally wipes her eyes, while Nerissa stares out of the window with her arms folded across her chest.

I catch her looking at me through the rearview mirror once.

When our eyes meet, she looks away.

I want to reach back and take her hand, i want to tell her that everything will be fine but I don’t make promises I cannot keep.

So I drive.

Minutes later, we pull up outside my mother’s residence.

As instructed, the property is crawling with security. Men stand at the gate, along the perimeter wall, and beside the entrance. Others patrol the grounds, checking every vehicle that approaches.

No one enters or leaves without my knowledge.

It’s excessive I know but it’s

also necessary

I step out and open the back door for the women.

“You’re home,” I tell them.

Nerissa gets out first, then turns toward me.

“Are you coming inside?”

I glance toward the house.

My mother will want to know what happened. She’ll ask why I’m injured, why I’ve brought the women home under heavy security, and why I look as though I’m preparing to start a war.

I can’t deal with that right now….not when I already have a war to start.

“Not tonight.”

Nerissa’s brows draw together.

“Lysander…..”

“I’ll come back later.”

She looks as though she wants to argue, but Isabella slips her hand into hers.

“Come on, Rissa.”

My wife hesitates before finally turning toward the entrance.

I wait until both women are safely inside before getting back into the driver’s seat. Then I pull away from the curb and speed down the road.