Chapter Seventy-five: Heart Made of Glass, Mind of Stone

Xavier’s Point of View

I parked as close as I could to the hospital’s entrance. Being on a motorcycle made it much easier to find a spot. We quickly dismounted and raced inside, entering the elevator and running down the hallway once we’d gotten to the floor Don Brzezinski’s room was on. There was a heavy police and enforcement presence as we raced down the hall, and I realized that they were present not only to keep the Brzezinski family safe but also to keep an eye out for Lillianna.

Rei hadn’t said a word to me the entire time and refused to look me in the eye. I hoped she could hold it together in front of the kids and not lose it on Aamon and Grace before meeting her grandfather. Somehow, I knew without a doubt that Don Brzezinski was waiting for her. It was his granddaughter who he was waiting to say goodbye to.

Salem's voice filled the hospital room as Rei hurriedly entered. Shiloh held onto her grandfather's hand while Onyx stood behind them, serious and focused. Salem had already jumped into his mother's arms, excitedly wrapping his legs around her. It would have been quite funny if the circumstances were different: my petite girlfriend trying to hold her growing son, who was clearly too big for her to do so effortlessly. I bent down and opened my arms, and Salem quickly squirmed out of his mother's grasp and ran towards me.

“I’m scared, Xavier. I don’t want him to die. I like him already, and I want a grandfather. We just got him. Why can’t we keep him?” the little boy sobbed as his words shot out of his mouth at an incredible speed.

I didn’t know what to say, so I just held him as he cried and rubbed his back. Rei looked at me with gratitude mixed with pain. I hated that look in her eyes. I deserved it, but it gutted me. I would never intentionally cause Rei any pain. I loved her more than I loved my own life.

“Rei, this is our grandfather,” Aamon said and gestured toward the Don, who lay in the bed connected to so many tubes and his face ashen.

Rei glared at Aamon and looked at Grace with such contempt that I was afraid that my girlfriend would launch herself at her best friend. I thought she was angry with me, and Rei was. But it was nothing compared to the fury my girlfriend felt for Grace.

“I’m s…” Grace started and Rei just held up her hand.

“Don’t. Don’t fucking say a word. Not now,” Rei spat.

I had never seen this side of my girlfriend before. Her eyes were filled with anger, and her posture was no longer slumped in defeat but rigid and tense. A serious conversation would occur, but I couldn't predict if their friendship would survive the aftermath. I also wasn't sure if my relationship with Rei would survive either.

X’s Point of View

“She’s angry. More angry than she’s ever been. Rei has pushed down her feelings for so long, denying herself the chance to process everything she went through. I’m afraid she will break,” I whispered in utter fear.

“She won’t break. Rei will rise above, forgive and move past this. It’s who she is. But Rei won’t forget. If any of them were to lie to my granddaughter again, she’d walk away without looking back,” Don Brzezinski said.

"And this, young man, is where I get to help you and those in this room who kept things from Rei. We all meant to help her, but all we did was control and hurt her... just differently than her ex-husband had," Don Brzezinski whispered.

Don Brzezinski’s Point of View

I struggled to open my eyes; doing just that took so much strength. My eyelids were heavy, and everything hurt. When my vision grew clearer, I could see Shiloh. Even with all the commotion, she hadn’t taken her eyes off of me. Her young eyes widened with surprise when my gaze met hers, and she gasped.

“He’s awake! Great Grandpa Kaz is awake!” Shiloh shouted at the adults in the room, yet she never let her eyes move from mine.

I tried to smile, but it was so hard with all of the tubes. I gestured to them, and then tried to move my hand in such a way to show that I wanted the one in my mouth out.

Onyx pressed the button for assistance to come. Though just a young boy, he kept his head together more than all the adults in the room. I knew then that my organization was in good hands. Onyx looked at me, offered me a small, shy smile and nodded his head.

Once the medical personnel arrived, it took about ten minutes for them to remove the tubes so I could speak. Shiloh held one hand, and X held the other. No one else in the room could see him, but somehow, I knew Rei felt his presence because she kept looking over to where he was standing.

Rei moved to stand beside X and placed her hand in mine. X put his arm around Rei, and she physically relaxed, leaning into him, although she didn’t realize it. It was fascinating. She sensed him but did not truly understand that he was there. None of this made sense, but I also knew I was only awake and able to meet my granddaughter because of X. I didn’t want to waste time questioning it. I just wanted to experience this moment: my first hello and last goodbye simultaneously.

“Rei, I love you, and I’m sorry,” my voice rasped out, and my granddaughter choked on a sob she was trying to hold back.

Even now, Rei was trying to be strong for her children. Her eyes were red and swollen. She’d been crying. I sighed.

“You need to understand that everything we did was out of love and concern for you. Perhaps we were wrong. No, in many ways, we were wrong. I’m sorry, Rei,” I whispered.

“I wish I could have known you. I know I would have loved you. I already love you,” sobbed my granddaughter.

Salem broke free from Xavier’s embrace and climbed swiftly onto my bed. My God, the child was chaos personified.

“Great Grandpa Kaz, I know you have to go soon, but I want you to know we love you. Like, really, really love you. We want you to stay so bad, but if you can’t, if it hurts too much, we will say goodbye. We don’t want to, though. " His voice trembled even though it boomed throughout the room.

How loud was this child?

Rei laughed at my expression, and X kissed her head softly.

“He’s always this loud, grandfather. Salem is a vibe, but one we love,” my granddaughter smiled.

“Your children are such blessings. They will bring honor to the Brzezinski name, just as you have. Forgive me, Rei. Let me go in peace knowing that you know I love you and your children,” I whispered.

“I forgive you. How could I not? I wish you could stay,” Rei answered me through her tears.

“My lovely granddaughter, you are anything but fragile. You are fierce and filled with fire. I love you, thank you for forgiving me,” I said and closed my eyes.

When I opened them again, I found myself standing with X in a long hallway with a light at the end.

“Did you want me to walk you home?” X asked.

“Yeah, I’d like that,” I answered as I wiped away the tears.

As we walked down the long hallway and into the light, I heard X’s voice say, ‘Welcome home,’ before returning to the hallway.