The paramedics worked lightning fast to get her inside the hospital. One of the doctors in a white coat pointed down a hall. "This way. We have the prep room ready for her and an operating roomcleared."
His pulse dropped to zero. Amy might need surgery? He had truly failedher.
Another doctor, an older man, gave orders to a female nurse, "Get the X-ray machine and prep the CTscan."
"On it." She rushed out thedoor.
Lucio's head swam, but no one dared asked him to move from Amy’s side. He leaned closer and told her, "Amy, I need you to be okay forme."
He’d never forgive himself for putting her in this situation. This was hisfault.
Another nurse came over and kept her head down. "Your Highness, we need you to step back. She’ll be run through the CT machine so we get a full analysis of what happened toher."
He stepped back and nodded. "Go."
The nurse went behind the small bed and pushed Amy out of theroom.
He stood silent, waiting as doctors milled around in the room. No one said anything as they waited and timeblurred.
Once the door opened and Amy wheeled back inside, the entire room brightened and he was alert. The older doctor he recognized from earlier came in and spoke to him and the team of other doctors. "She has broken bones and a small internal bleeding tear. We're bringing her to the operatingroom."
Three of the doctors filed out and followed down thehall.
Lucio stared at the doctor who seemed in charge. He knew he couldn't go in there. He held his shoulders tight, hanging on. "Will shelive?"
The doctor returned his gaze without blinking. "If we stop the bleeding, and nothing else happened. We'll know more once the doctorsstart."
Without another word, he left and Lucio was all alone in the emptyroom.
For the first time in his life, he put his hands together and prayed for God to help her. Amy had his heart and he couldn’t live without her, notnow.
His mother came into the room and broke the heavy silence. "Son." She took his hands, like he was still six yearsold.
"Mom." He wished somehow that Anna Camilla really had the power to make everythingbetter.
She squeezed, as if sharing her strength. "Amy's parents are in the waiting room. Whathappened?"
The tears that threatened earlier burned the back of his eyes. He kept his head down and swallowed the ache in his throat. "I followed the speeding car from the hotel. When I made it to a field, a farmer flagged me into his field and brought me to her. I have no idea how she gotthere."
She kissed the sides of his face and gently tugged him toward the door. "Come. Please talk to her mother and sister. They are bothworried."
Lucio's feet felt like lead as he followed his mother to the hall. No press had made it to the waiting room—just family. His gaze met Evie's who stood next to her fiancé and he told the four of them, "They brought her in forsurgery."
Her parents hugged each other andcried.
"Mom, Dad, everything will be okay." Evie broke eye contact with him to console herparents.
Amy’s mother was very pale. He wished he had better news, but his stomach was in knots. "The doctors found broken bones and internal bleeding. They rushed her intosurgery."
"Is she going to be okay?" Her mom rocked on her feet. Amy's father held her until shequieted.
Lucio dropped his head, but was thankful his own mother was here for him. "I don't know anymore."
Evie reached for Michael’s hand. "Internal bleeding—how did thishappen?"
How was a great question—but he had no answer. Once he knew Amy was okay, he'd devote every second to bringing whoever did this to justice. "The last thing I know is she left your room,Evie."
Evie's face flushed red and she clung to her fiancé. "We talked but she said she was going toyou."
