Yenedith is standing at the small window in the emergency doors when one of the doctors approaches to tell her that her brother has gone into surgery. Alexander sees her from the far end of the hallway and walks over to try to hear part of the conversation because the woman can't stop crying. — A nurse will come to get you soon so you can donate blood.
— Thank you — she replies, barely audibly.
Alexander tries to speak with the doctor, but she refuses to give any more details. — Yenedith, I don't know if you maybe saw anyone from the car, someone who came very close or who didn't seem scared like the others — he makes the attempt, but stops himself from hugging her the way he used to hug him when he saw him crying so inconsolably. — Why don't we go wash our hands?
— You're right, this is atrocious… I'm going to wash my face — her voice sounds drowned out. Seeing the bloodstains in the shape of her brother's hand on her cheek is a nightmare in itself; they cover almost her entire left arm and even extend under the nails of both hands. She returns to the hallway with her breathing more under control now that the pressure in her throat has eased a little. As soon as she sees Alexander, her tears start flowing again. She freezes at the thought that her brother might actually have lost that much blood. — You should change your clothes; I don't think he'll want to see you like this when he wakes up.
— Why don't you go first? We don't know how long the surgery will take, and that way you could be here to see him first — he interrupts her attempts to say something else — I insist, I can have someone bring me some clothes.
— I'll give you my number so you can let me know if anything comes up.
Alexander is checking his phone for the latest news about the shooting when he feels a cold chill run through his entire body, accompanied by another wave of pain that he attributes to his mind being clouded by the rush of adrenaline. He sends a message to Robert and takes a couple of analgesics he pulls out of his coat. Yenedith arrives an hour later, at the same time as his butler with the clothes — Thanks. Wait a moment so you can take the used clothes with you.
— Yes, sir — says. When Alexander takes off his overcoat, Robert grows concerned and inspects the garment as soon as he receives it — Have you been changing the bandages on your wounds, sir?
— I don't use bandages anymore. Why do you ask?
— Alexandero, there's a hole in your shirt — says Yenedith with her voice trembling.
— No, damn it! — he says, pulling it out of his pants to reveal the part of his abdomen where a bullet is lodged. He sighs and closes his eyes.
— I think he's going to faint!
— A doctor, please! — Robert shouts.
— I'm not going to pass out — Alexander says. After being taken to an exam room to have the bullet removed, they disinfect the wound and give him a couple of injections.
— The police will come by to ask you a few questions, and we'll make sure to hand over the bullet so they can investigate what happened. For now, you'll be under observation to make sure you don't develop an infection — the doctor says before leaving.
— Thank you — Alexander replies. He sees Yenedith approach the stretcher a few seconds later. — Any news about Tadeus?
— He's already out of surgery. I was able to see him, but he's still asleep.
— This whole situation is horrible. I… I tried to keep him safe.
— What could you possibly have to do with all this? — Yenedith watches Alexander's face tense up — I know what happened in Greece. Do you think it could have been those people?
— That's the most likely scenario, yes — Alexander leans back against the headboard of the stretcher and pats the side of the mattress for her to sit down. He recalls that article about her extortion lawsuit; he finds it interesting how well they've managed to keep their faces out of the public eye despite all the media attention on the case. He feels a refreshing sense of privilege knowing who that "businessman's daughter" is, knowing her name, her real name, and having an idea of her character.
— Are you thinking about him? — She seems to smile for an instant — Along with Tadeus' clothes, they gave me this.
Alexander doesn't hesitate to take the ring dangling from the gold chain. — Thank you, Yenedith. I'm so glad you're okay. We were worried about you, especially your brother, obviously. I thought, I realize now, that maybe your father had done something terrible to you.
— I was also lied to. I was told you had killed him.
— I wouldn't blame you for being afraid of me; apparently, that's the only thing I'm good at — Yenedith laughs for a second. Alexander smiles and says — If my sister were still alive, I wonder if you two would have been friends.
— What happened to her?
— She was just a baby when she died. I can't stop thinking about what she'd look like now, if she'd take after me or more after my mother — Alexander grins as he recalls the first time he saw her. — It makes me so happy to see how much the two of you love each other.
— Do you want to go see him?
Alexander nods and leans on Yenedith's shoulder to get up from the stretcher. Walking isn't too difficult for him, even though the analgesics aren't working very well. He lets her greet him first when he sees that his eyes are open and stays in the doorway until Tadeus looks in his direction. — My love, I was so afraid of losing you — he says, intertwining fingers with his, a rejected gesture.
— It's almost dinnertime — Yenedith remarks.
— Maybe some soup, please — says Tadeus, who turns his face toward the other side of the room. Some light still streams in through the window; the wind cools his forehead, a relief his mind doesn't share. This man slides his hand across his chest until it reaches his cheek, so their gazes can meet — Alexander, I…
— You don't have to remind me; I know that you love me.
Tadeus sighs as he feels a sudden tingling on the bridge of his nose; his voice refuses to come out the first time he tries to deny it, so he opts to say — It's clear that the consequences of my actions are catching up with me faster than I can make amends.
— I'll take care of that.
— I understand if you hold a grudge against me…
— We have to move forward.
Tadeus nods immediately — You're right. I truly hope you can find someone who really loves you and more than I ever tried to.
— Forgive me; I shouldn't have asked you that question — he says with a calmness in his voice that certainly shakes Tadeus' composure.
— You can't promise me a safe life.
Strauss leans in to kiss his lips. It's a victory for him to once again feel the shiver running down the back of his neck as Tadeus' left fingertips trace his scalp. He sits on the edge of the stretcher as he guides the right hand toward his back so as not to crush it. With his hands on each cheek, their breath brushing against each other's cheekbones and trapped between their lips, their hearts beat as one — I love you so, so much — Alexander whispers with the nose still pressed against his — What I feel every time I'm with you is greater than all the lies we told each other — he says, and kisses him gently once more.
Tadeus brings both hands to his back and clings to the kiss, trying to close the space between their arms— Ugh!
— Sorry, did I hurt you?
— No — says Tadeus without letting go of him. They kiss until the police interrupt them.