Chapter 7 - The Morning in Gold
When Mave woke up the following morning, the sun was pouring through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of the estate, painting the room in soft shades of gold and amber.
Her shoulder throbbed with a dull, manageable ache, thanks to the continuous IV drip beside her bed. She turned her head slowly, finding Finn curled up on a velvet settee near the window, wearing a clean gray tracksuit that was far too nice for anything they had ever owned, sound asleep with his bear tucked under his arm.
A quiet knock sounded at the door.
Sienna stepped inside, carrying a silver tray stacked with fresh croissants, sliced fruit, and a pot of steaming tea. She wore a simple white sweater, her dark eyes bright and filled with deep, gentle warmth.
"Good morning, Mave," Sienna said softly, setting the tray on the bedside table. "How are you feeling?"
"I... I feel like I got hit by a truck," Mave admitted, a tiny, tired smile touching her lips. "Where is... Mr. Colazo?"
"Rafe was up all night taking care of some... business matters downtown," Sienna said, carefully avoiding any details about the blood that had been spilled on East Cambridge. "He came back an hour ago. He’s downstairs with the doctors."
Mave’s posture stiffened immediately. Panic flickered in her hazel eyes. "Doctors? Is Finn—"
"Finn is fine, Mave," Sienna reassured her quickly, taking Mave’s hand gently. "It’s... well, Rafe arranged something for you. Can I bring them in?"
Before Mave could ask what she meant, the heavy mahogany door opened.
Rafe walked into the room, dressed in a fresh charcoal suit, his dark hair damp from a shower. Behind him walked an elderly man with silver hair, wire-rimmed glasses, and a quiet, authoritative presence.
"Mave," Rafe said, his voice deep and smooth as he stood at the foot of her bed. "This is Dr. Charles Montgomery. He is the Chief of Pediatric Cardiology at Boston Children's Hospital."
Mave stared at the famous doctor in complete shock. She had read Dr. Montgomery’s name on dozens of medical journals and waiting-list applications over the last three years. He was the leading cardiac specialist in North America, a man whose private consultation list was booked three years in advance.
"Dr... Dr. Montgomery?" Mave stammered, trying to sit up, but Rafe gently stepped forward, placing a warm, firm hand on her good shoulder to keep her resting back against the pillows.
"Stay still, Miss Donovan," Dr. Montgomery said warmly, stepping closer and opening a leather folder. "Mr. Colazo had your son’s complete medical history delivered to my desk at six o'clock this morning."
Mave looked frantically from the doctor to Rafe, her heart hammering against her ribs. "I... Dr. Montgomery, I don't have the deposit. The bank denied my loan yesterday... I can't afford your consultation—"
"Miss Donovan," Dr. Montgomery interrupted gently, laying a soft hand over hers. "Your son’s surgery has already been paid for in full. The operating room at Boston Children’s is reserved for next Tuesday morning. I will be performing the valve replacement personally."
Mave froze. The air left her lungs in a sudden, sharp gasp. She stared at the doctor, then slowly turned her head to look up at Rafe Colazo.
Rafe stood at the foot of her bed, his face calm, unreadable, but his winter-blue eyes locked onto hers with an absolute, unshakeable promise.
"You... you paid for Finn’s surgery?" Mave whispered, tears springing to her eyes, spilling hot down her pale cheeks. "Two hundred... two hundred and eighty thousand dollars?"
"It wasn't a gift, Miss Donovan," Rafe said softly, taking a step closer to her bed. "It was payment for an education. You showed me last night that there are things in this world more valuable than power, money, or territory."
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"I can't accept this," Mave wept, shaking her head as tears streamed down her neck. "I can't... I can't ever pay you back. I make nine dollars an hour plus tips... it would take me three lifetimes—"
"You saved my sister’s life, Mave," Rafe interrupted, his deep voice dropping into an intimate, powerful cadence that filled the room. "Sienna is priceless to me. Which means you owe me nothing. In fact, I am still heavily in your debt."
