He Didn’t Kidnap Me. Not Exactly novel Chapter 230

Chapter 230

(DeLuca’s POV)

I remained standing outside the ICU.

My discussion with the doctors had ended several minutes ago.

They hadn’t agreed with my decision. And objectively, they were right.

Daisy still required intensive care. She needed constant monitoring after the operation, and moving her so soon wasn’t something any responsible doctor would recommend.

Unfortunately, medicine wasn’t the only danger waiting for her.

They hadn’t seen armed men walk into a hospital before.

I had.

The first time Daisy was admitted, someone had almost finished what the first bullet had failed to do.

That wouldn’t happen again… and I’d made my position clear.

The moment they deemed her stable enough to be discharged, I was taking her out of the hospital.

There had been arguments. Professional objections.

Warnings.

I’d listened to every one of them. Then I’d told them there was no alternative.

Now…

All that remained was waiting.

The corridor was strangely quiet.

People moved through it. Nurses walked past with clipboards. Stretchers rolled by. Conversations drifted from distant wards.

None of it truly reached me.

My attention never left the ICU doors.

They had told me the operation was successful. They had told me she’d survived. I believed them.

But I simply needed to see her for myself. Until I did, something inside me refused to settle.

Minutes crawled by.

Each time the doors shifted open, my attention rose instinctively, only to fall again when another patient or member of staff emerged.

Not yet.

My heartbeat never fully returned to normal. That wasn’t something I experienced often.

Control had always come naturally to me.

Waiting did not.

Especially when the outcome mattered.

Footsteps approached now and I knew who they belonged to before they stopped beside me.

“Boss.”

Fritzo.

The other two men remained a respectful distance behind him.

Neither spoke.

For a while, neither did Fritzo. Then he cleared his throat.

“I know this probably isn’t the right time.”

I kept my eyes on the ICU.

“But there’s something I’ve been thinking about.”

Still, I said nothing.

“I’ve followed you for years.”

His voice carried none of its usual lightness.

“We’ve fought gangs. We’ve walked into ambushes. And we’ve stared down situations where the odds weren’t exactly on our side.”

A faint chuckle escaped him.

“And somehow you always looked bored.”

I stared.

“You never panicked.”

“You never rushed.”

“If anything, the worse things got, the calmer you became.”

He paused.

“I used to think you were incapable of being afraid.”

Silence stretched between us.

“But today…”

His words slowed.

..

“I’ve never seen you like this before.” He said and I finally looked at him.

His expression held no curiosity. Only concern.

“I don’t understand it.” His brow furrowed. “What makes this different?”

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