Valentino

Someone lightly shook me, rousing me from my slumber. I opened my eyes slowly to see my dad crouched before me and straightened up in my seat. "How long was I asleep?"

"Preston said you passed out right after our phone call. You've been sleeping for almost three hours," Dad said.

I wiped the sleep from my eyes and blinked. I felt like I had a massive hangover.

Someone held a cup of coffee in front of my face. I glanced at Uncle Romeo, smiling. I took the cup and sipped the coffee, waiting for the caffeine to wake me. I looked around the waiting room to see my uncles sitting in chairs.

"Where's West and Raymond?" I asked Dad.

Dad moved to a chair beside me and sat. "West, Alana, Raymond, and Gloria are in the back area. They're trying to get information about the girls. What happened?"

"Truth?"

"Always."

I looked at my dad, knowing this wouldn't be a pleasant conversation. "A demon attached itself to Eden's ex."

My dad knitted his brows.

"It was the same demon who attached itself to the monster that hurt you and your brothers."

My dad's expression changed as his jaw clenched. "Are you sure?"

I nodded. "He mentioned you and my uncles when I found him."

My dad nodded but didn't say anything.

West walked through the double doors toward us. We stood up and approached him.

"How's Misty?" My dad asked.

"She has a broken nose, jaw, and a concussion. But the doctor said she'll recover," West said.

"What about Eden?" Aiden asked.

"The doctors had to rush Eden into emergency surgery since a broken rib punctured her lung. They won't know more until after the surgery."

Aiden furrowed his brows and clenched his jaw but said nothing.

"Work has given us time off until the hospital releases the girls. What happened?"

"Wayne took the girls after he ambushed them," I said.

"Wayne did this." West pointed at the double doors.

I nodded. "Yeah, but I ripped him apart when u got my hands on him."

Everyone stared at me but said nothing. My cousins averted their eyes from our dads.

West nodded in acknowledgment. "I need to check on Misty. The doctor restricted visitors until they moved her to a room. You can see her once they get her settled."

I nodded in response. West knew I wouldn't leave the hospital without Mags.

"We'll take the others back to the house to get clean and changed," Uncle Pat said.

"I'm not leaving until I see Eden," Aiden said.

Uncle Pat nodded.

"We'll bring a change of clothes for Tino and Aiden," Uncle Rafe said.

"Aiden, call your dad and let him know you're okay," Dad said.

"Fine." Aiden walked away to call his dad.

The sliding doors opened. Diego and Emilio entered, with Emilio wearing his costume.

Uncle Rafe looked at Emilio and raised a brow. "What are you wearing?"

"It's my demon hunting gear," Emilio said.

"You look utterly ridiculous."

"What? I need to protect my clothes from ectoplasm. Haven't you ever seen Ghostbusters? They always get slimed."

My uncles exchange strange glances.

"Ignore the wannabe ghostbuster," Nix said, leaving the hospital.

My cousins rolled their eyes and followed Nix. My uncles left afterward.

I sat in the chair, leaned forward with my elbows on my legs, and rested my face on my hands. I stared at the wall across from me, trying to calm myself. The locket vibrated in my pocket, causing me to dig it out. I held the chain as the heart dangled in front of my face. The heart started glowing brighter, catching the attention of my dad and Aiden.

I stared at the locket glowing brightly when a pair of white shoes appeared before me. I lifted my gaze to a man dressed in a white button-up shirt and white slacks. The only color he had was black hair and ocean-blue eyes, which contrasted with his clothes.

The man leaned down to me and touched the one holding the locket. "You're never alone. He sent help."

"Who are you?"

The guy waved his hand and froze everyone in the waiting room. Aiden moved closer to us and knitted his brows.

"The greatest battle has yet to come. When it comes, I will fight along with you." His lips curved slightly.

I stared into his ocean-blue eyes and whispered, "Michael."

Light engulfed our hands before he removed his hand from mine. "The greatest warriors were given my name to succeed in the fight against evil. I will return when it's time." He gave me a curt nod before disappearing and time resuming.

My dad blinked his eyes to regain his focus. Aiden and I exchanged glances. Something told me this fight wasn't our last.

********
Misty

My head felt like someone took a sledgehammer to it repeatedly. The throbbing didn't help any. I groaned before opening one eye to a crack.

"Misty," my dad said.

I turned my head to see my dad and mom standing beside my bed, wearing worried expressions. "Nash."

"Hang tight, sis." My dad walked away.

My mom leaned over the bed and brushed my hair from my forehead. "You're okay."

"Water," I rasped.

My mom grabbed a cup and pressed the straw to my lips. I sipped it, letting the cool liquid wet my mouth and throat. I took a few more sips before my dad returned with Nash.

Nash moved to my bed and slipped his hand into mine. "I'm here, baby girl."

"Eden," I said.

"She's in surgery."

I blinked before closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep. It hurt too much to think.

*******
Aiden

I paced the waiting room, clenching and unclenching my fists, trying to calm myself. Val and Diego watched me but said nothing. The sliding doors opened as the others walked through it. Pat handed me a bag of clothes before tossing another one to Val. I took the bag and headed to the bathroom, where I stripped and cleaned off the blood. Then, I pulled on clean clothes before bagging the other garments.

I returned to see Raymond coming through the double doors and approached him while the others gathered around us. "How's Eden?"

"Alive," Raymond said.

Relief flooded me.

"Wayne broke three ribs, fractured her jaw, and broke her wrist. They had to give her blood transfusions from the blood loss. The doctor said she will have months of recovery ahead of her. Gloria and I will take her home once the doctors release her."

I didn't like the idea of Raymond taking Eden home, but his expression told me it wasn't up for discussion.

Raymond looked at me. "I promise Eden will FaceTime with you when she feels better. Gloria will stay with her at all times and help Eden with her recovery."

"I don't like the idea of not seeing Eden, but I accept your decision."

Someone placed their hand on my shoulder and squeezed it. I glanced behind me to see my dad. I turned to him before breaking.

He caught me before I hit the floor. My dad held me while I sobbed. "I got you, Aiden."

It was the first time I had shown emotions to my family. After Claire, I had shut down. Eden was different. She brought out my vulnerability and made me feel alive. If I had lost her, I would have lost myself.

******
Valentine

Between Misty and Eden, they both had a rough road ahead of them with their recovery.

West came out to the waiting room to talk to us. "The doctor is keeping Misty for a few days before releasing her. Once he discharges her, Alana and I take her home to finish the semester online."

My brothers and I looked at the ceiling, knowing this wouldn't please Tino.

"Did you tell Tino?" I asked.

West nodded. "He wasn't happy with the decision but accepted it. I won't let Misty stay while she recovers. I won't risk it."

I couldn't disagree with West and his decision. I would be the same way if anything happened to Tino. West and Raymond returned to their daughters.

Roman consoled Aiden while Ryden checked on Diego. My brothers dealt with their offspring while Emilio sat in a chair and fiddled with the contraption he had worn on his back.

I sat beside him. "What is that?" I nodded to the contraption.

"It's the demon extractor 1000. I've been trying to figure out a way to isolate a demon without hurting anyone," Emilio explained.

"I wasn't aware you were into this stuff."

"Oh, yeah." His eyes lit up in enthusiasm. "I've been trying to detect spirits forever." He leaned into me. "Don't tell anyone, but I hope to trap one."

"No worries there."

"So, Nash said you know about us."

"Us?" I raised my brow.

"Yeah, us. Didn't Nash tell you?"

"Tell me what?" I shook my head in confusion.

"I'm Marco. You know, Maggie's brother."

I did a double-take. "What?"

"Yeah. Diego is Caleb. Aiden is Carson. And Karlene is Cody. Eden is Paul, and Marissa is Jasper. It's weird how they returned as girls. And no, I'm not gay." Emilio rolled his eyes.

I stared at Emilio with this bomb he had dropped on my lap.

"Oh, Jace is Damien, and Jaime is Brody. I'm not sure how that happened." He rubbed his chin before shaking his head. "But it's all cool. The gang is back together. Now we can kick demon ass. Well, Nash can since he has the capability."

I glanced at Aiden and Diego while they interacted with their dads.

"Here. This might help you."

I glanced at Emilio, who was holding a pair of glasses out to me. I took them, placed them on, and looked at Aiden and Diego before glancing at my nephews. What... and I can't stress this enough... the fuck?

Karlene and the girls walked into the hospital and stopped to talk to the boys. Like the boys, they were surrounded by a white light.

If Grammy Gray brought her family back, she had a reason. She and Grandpa Grayson started our lineage. I wouldn't believe this was possible if I didn't believe in true love. Now, I understand what Grammy Gray means by an epic love story.

Misty and Tino would bring our family full circle with their love story. I had faith they would succeed. My lips curled upward at this revelation.

This is the end of the first half of A Crazy Thing Called Love. The next chapter kicks off the second half. Buckle up because I'm just getting started for what's coming.