Forged with Ink (London Inked Boys Book 3) Read online

  Chapter Eighteen

  Rocco waited anxiously, with Sophia’s mum and dad sitting nearby. It was strange to think he was Sophia’s next of kin now, and if anything went wrong, it would be on his shoulders to make the hard decisions.

  No, nothing would go wrong. He needed to stay positive. This was a massive opportunity for her. For them both. Some generous stranger out there had given Sophia what Rocco had been unable to, and now that stranger’s family would be grieving, perhaps not yet able to think about the amazing thing their loved one had done by signing up to be a donor.

  They were the longest three hours of his life.

  When a doctor finally approached them, all three of Sophia’s loved ones jumped to their feet.

  “The surgery went well. Urine output is looking good,” the doctor said with a smile. “Of course, the next few days and weeks are the most important. Once we can see the kidney is working, and we’ve found a good balance of immunosuppressants, Sophia will be able to go on to live a normal, healthy life.”

  “How long will she need to be in hospital for?” he asked.

  “Probably a week, if all goes well. It shouldn’t be much more than that.”

  “Okay, thank you.”

  “I see you’re newlyweds. Congratulations on the marriage. I’m not surprised you want to get her home.”

  Rocco nodded. “I definitely do.”

  “When can we see her?” Mrs Alexander asked anxiously.

  “She’ll be waking up in the next hour. I’m sure she’d appreciate seeing some friendly faces when she does.”

  “Thanks so much, Doctor.”

  “My pleasure.”

  Rocco made his way to Sophia’s room, sick to his stomach. All the feelings of that day when she’d collapsed and been brought to the hospital hit him afresh. He’d been so scared then, certain she was going to die. He knew this wasn’t the same situation, and that things should be better now, but as he pushed open the hospital room door and saw her lying there, he couldn’t stop the tears filling his eyes. He dragged a seat next to her bed and took hold of her hand, noting how cold her fingers were, and just waited for her to wake up.

  It felt as though every minute was an hour, but finally her eyelids fluttered. “Rocco?”

  He pulled the chair closer, squeezing her fingers. “I’m here, baby. You’re okay.”

  “The surgery...” she croaked.

  “It went well. The doctors say you’re going to be fine.”

  Her eyes met his, and he saw understanding there. “I’m going to be okay?”

  “Yes. As long as the kidney doesn’t reject, you’re going to go on to live a normal life.”

  A small smile touched her lips. “As your wife.”

  He thought his heart might burst. “That’s right, baby. As my wife.”

  Three months later

  Sophia swung open the door of their new flat to reveal four people standing in the communal hallway.

  “Congratulations!” Tess chirped, pushing a bunch of flowers and a bottle of champagne into her arms. “How does it feel to be homeowners?”

  Sophia stepped back to allow the small group of people into their new flat. Tess and Art, and Kane and Holly, had come for a house warming party. She and Rocco had exchanged contracts and moved in the previous week, so they figured they should celebrate. Besides, there was something else that needed doing that they hadn’t quite got around to after the wedding.

  Sophia’s health was great, and she’d never felt better. The kidney had taken well, and she’d been allowed to write to the family of the donor—a young man who’d been killed suddenly in a car accident. It was all done anonymously through the Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation, but she hoped the bereaved family had taken comfort in knowing his organs had gone on to help her live. Sophia had shed many tears while writing the letter, but she’d sent it feeling as though a door on her old life had been shut and she was ready to start her new one. She still had to attend regular appointments at the hospital, but now she’d hit the three-month mark and all was still looking good, they were going to get farther and farther apart.

  “What can I get everyone to drink?” Rocco asked, and Sophia smiled over at her handsome husband.

  Husband.

  She didn’t think she’d ever get tired of thinking of him as her husband.

  “Ooh, open the champagne,” Holly said with a squeal. “I can’t remember the last time I had real champagne.”

  Her boyfriend, Kane, jabbed her in the ribs. “I hope you’re not trying to say I don’t treat you well enough.”

  She slipped her arm around Kane’s waist and pulled him in for a squeeze. “You treat me just fine.”

  Sophia smiled as the two of them shared a kiss, and then carried the champagne out to the kitchen to open the bottle. It was good to see everyone so happy together.

  “You know I don’t normally do home visits,” Art said, opening his bag to reveal his tattoo gun and inks. “But in your case, I’ll make an exception.”

  She was allowed to wear her rings now the kidney had taken, but that didn’t matter. They’d already decided to have the rings tattooed on, and that’s what felt right. Art had offered to do the matching tattoos as a wedding present, and they were taking him up on that offer.

  Sophia grinned at Rocco. “Rocco said you wouldn’t mind, as long as we threw a few beers in.”

  The big, tattooed man with the spiky dark hair and the silver hole through his ear grinned back. “Perhaps I’ll do the tattoos before I have the beers, though.”

  She laughed. “Yes, that sounds like a good plan.”

  “So, who’s going first?”

  Rocco gestured to Sophia. “Ladies first.”

  “Is that just because you’re worried you’re going to cry like a baby,” she teased him. There was no way Rocco would cry. He was already covered in tattoos. One tiny one around his finger would barely make him blink.

  “This might be my smallest tattoo,” he said, “but it’s definitely the most important one.”

  “Yes,” she agreed. “It is.”

  The champagne was poured, and they all clinked glasses, toasting the new flat, and for once Sophia was able to toast her good health as well.

  “Ready?” Art asked her.

  She took a sip of the champagne, the taste tart on her tongue, the bubbles going up her nose.

  Art had already laid out a sheet of protective paper from the studio across their coffee table, and Sophia sat on the floor and put her left hand onto the paper.

  Rocco stood over her, looking down as Art prepared the ink and needle. “No going back now,” he said to her.

  And as the needle was placed against her ring finger, she smiled back up at him. “I’d never want to go back. All I’ve ever wanted is right here.”

  THE END

  About the Author

  Marissa Farrar has always been in love with being in love. But since she's been married for numerous years and has three young daughters, she's conducted her love affairs with multiple gorgeous men of the fictional persuasion.

  The author of more than thirty novels, she has been a full time author for the last six years.

  You can visit Marissa’s website at http://www.marissafarrar.com/ or find her at her facebook page, www.facebook.com/marissa.farrar.author.

  She loves to hear from readers and can be emailed at [email protected]. To stay updated on all new releases and sales, just sign up to her newsletter! https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/g0x9r0

  Other Contemporary Books by the Author

  The Monster Trilogy:

  Defaced

  Denied

  Delivered

  Dark Codes: A Reverse Harem Series

  Hacking Darkness

  Unraveling Darkness

  Decoding Darkness

  Merging Darkness

  The Mercenary Series:

  The Choice She Made

  The Lie She Told

  The Trust She
Gave

  The Trap She Faced

  Standalone Novels:

  No Second Chances

  Cut Too Deep

  Survivor

  Dirty Shots