BrandonReporters disperse in front of the hospital when I arrive after a call from Oliver, but I’m more anxious about Alayna’s state. What did this son of a bitch do to her? I still have no idea what happened because Ollie and Stan don’t have time to explain everything.
I break through the crowd that won’t let us pass. Some reporters are asking about me, that fucker Drake, and his crime, but most are random; I can’t understand them. My mind is somewhere else to even try to fucking understand, so I couldn’t care less. I need to see my fiancée right away.
“Just keep going. I’m right behind you,” Jason instructs, then he and some security block the reporters and let me through.
“We are not answering questions for now, please. Give my family some privacy!” he yells, and his voice trails off as I go further.
Oliver is impatiently treading back and forth in front of the emergency room while on the phone. Stan, on the other hand, is sitting quietly on the bench as if in deep thought.
“Oliver. Stan.” I make notice of my arrival.
Oliver halts. “Brandon.”
“What happened to her? Where is she?” I panic, panting.
“She’s inside. They’re treating her wounds.”
“Wounds.” I shut my eyes, clenching my fist. “What did he do, Oliver?”
“Brandon, what matters the most is that we saved her, okay?”
“No, answer me. What did he do to her?”
Stan stands up. “Brandon, calm down.”
“Are you really not going to tell me then?” I demand, looking at both of them. “What. Did. He. Do?”
Oliver exhales. “We don’t know what exactly happened, but he was all over her, and she was bleeding pretty badly when we found her.”
“So you’re saying he almost killed her?”
“Brandon!” He grasps my shoulder. “I understand where you’re coming from. I saw her—” he swallows “—I saw her there myself. Believe me, I wanted to murder him, but Alayna is our priority. She wouldn’t want your hands dirty. So please. Calm. Down. ”
At the back of my head, I know he’s right. Oliver has always been right. Alayna had always warned me about him, but I’ve been too clouded by my anger. But what else should I do? It’s frustrating not being able to do anything.
“Ah, fuck!” I rub my face down and sulk a sharp breath. “Fuck the law.”
“Don’t say that, Brandon,” Stan interjects. “The police already arrested the mayor.”
“She knows you’re here too,” Oliver adds.
I clear out my lungs to gather my wits. “Any news from Cary?”
“We haven’t heard from them,” Stan replies. “Why don’t you sit down while we wait?”
As I perch on the sitting area, still feeling restless. I recall the things that happened on our engagement night. It started with my grandfather’s unpleasant remarks to her and her family. Then Pauline came. Alayna got upset, then she excused herself to the restroom. I let her leave alone.
Fuck.I should have gone with her. I should’ve been there for her.
This is all my fault.
***
A doctor finally comes out of the ER after three hours. “The blood transfusion was successful, and we’ve already treated her injuries. However, I’d like to advise that we let her rest here for three more days. After that, she’ll be fine.”
Thank God!“Can we see her?” Jason asks the doctor.
“I’m so sorry,” he says. “But we have to transfer her to a special care unit first. One of our interns will inform you if it has been done.”
“That’s fine. Thank you, Dr. Miles,” Oliver says.
“You’re welcome, Mr. Katrakis.” The doctor gives a slight bow, then excuses himself. “Gentlemen.”
“Brandon, why don’t we get some coffee while we wait?” Stan suggests. “You need to relax, man. You heard the doctor. She’ll be fine.”
The last time I took my eyes off her, I almost lost her. I will never repeat that mistake. “I’m not leaving. I’ll be waiting for her here.”
“I’ll be here. You have had nothing since last night,” Jason says attentively.
“I had a sandwich on the plane this morning. I’ll be fine,” I lie, but truthfully, my stomach can’t take anything.
“Then we’ll get you something. We don’t want another patient here. You need to eat,” Oliver says. “I’ll probably make a call too. Cassius still hasn’t answered my messages.”
I nod. “I’ll be fine. Just go.”
Stan and Ollie get in their way while Jason and I remain in front of the emergency ward.
“She’s like you in some ways, you know,” Jason says out of the blue.
“How can you tell?”
“She’s a survivor.” He glances at me. “Just like you. Oh, stubborn too. She’s always been like this.”
I smirk. “I’ve met my match.”
He smiles. “You two belong together.”
I cross my arms. “Are you expecting the same from Casey?” I tease.
I might not be utterly paying attention to other things happening around me, but I know she’s been close to the Wolf lately. Of course, all I want is her happiness. If she chooses to be with him, I won’t get in her way. She’s old enough to make her own decision, but as much as possible, I want her to be careful. Jason’s field of work brings danger around every corner.
“Nah.” He clicks his tongue. “I’m not even sure if she likes me.”
I snort. “Oh, come on. I’m done with complications. Cassius and Arianna’s feud is enough. I have high expectations from you and Casey.”
“Hold on.” He looks at me with a scowl. “What do you mean, Cassius and Arianna?”
“What do you mean by what—” Oh. “No, I heard what you said.” His tone thickens. “What’s with Cassius and Ari?”
Shit.“I…” I sigh. “I’m sorry.”
“So it’s true?”
“Well, I didn’t realize it was supposed to be a secret.”
“The last fucking thing I want is your cousin trying to get into my sister’s pants.” He grimaces.
“We don’t know what’s really happening.”
“Arianna might feel like that with our profession, and then things she did—you know what I mean. She hasn’t even been in a proper relationship before.”
I shot an eyebrow. “How do you know that?”
“I just know… And your cousin, he’s… He’s been fucking around ever since Athens. He was barely even with us.”
That. He’s right. “And hey, you also know why he can’t,” he adds. “He’s probably still not over Alayna. She’s only going to hurt A. I don’t want this to become a problem in the future.”
Or maybe he’s just being overprotective. “All right. If I may give you a piece of advice, until we’re sure what’s going with both of them, it is better if you wait for your sister to open up before doing anything. The last thing you want is an angry sibling nagging at you all the time.”
He laughs. “Is Casey like that?”
I sigh. “Unfortunately.”
“I think she’s awesome,” he mumbles.
I’m about to say something else when the ER’s door abruptly opens and five hospital staff drag a stretcher outside, and I immediately catch sight of my fiancée’s face, still unconscious. My heart shatters even more when I see her state, and anger boils in me again. She has black marks around her eyes and bruises on her face. Her body is covered with bandages.
AlaynaMy body aches everywhere, but I stiffen. It hurts too much to move.
I’m still alive.Right, yes. I remembered being saved, and I saw Oliver’s face. He told me Brandon came.
Around me, I smell antiseptic and undertones of the artificial fragrance. Judging by the scent of my surroundings, I’m aware of where I am. Bit by bit, I blink my eyes and try to open them.
My beautiful man’s face is the first thing I see.
“Hi…”He kisses my knuckles and brings my palm to his face. “Hey.”
I force a smile. “I love you.”
His eyes redden and start to swell. “I love you too.”
“Oh, don’t cry. I can still feel my limbs—no broken bones. No sign of permanent damage,” I manage a joke, chuckling.
“Don’t,” he says gruffly. “You scared me back there.”
I grunt, adjusting my back. “But you saved me. Like always. What is it about restrooms? Dangerous place.”
“Very.”I nod. “Next time.” I brush away the tears tumbling down his cheek.
Brandon lets out a quiet sob. “I’m so sorry, Alayna. It’s because of my negligence. You are here when I’ve promised to protect you.”
“But you did as you promised. You are here now.”
“But it’s not enough. I could’ve done better.”
“Shh… Don’t torture yourself,” I whisper, grinning at him. “You came to save me from him. You’ve protected me.”
“No, it’s because you’ve been very courageous, darling. Thank you for waiting for me.” He springs up and plants a kiss on my forehead. I feel sore everywhere on my body, but his soft lips are still powerful enough to bring tiny volts of electricity and tingles to my skin.
We stay like that for a long time until I remember the person who caused my pain. I cringe once again, recalling how he looked at me. He was ready to kill me.
“But where is he now?” I ask in panic. All of this meant nothing if he only got away.
“Oliver called the police. Everything they saw that fucker did to you was enough evidence to arrest him. I’ll make sure he’ll rot there for the rest of his life.”
Relief floods my heart.
Everything Drake did and said to me all comes back in a flash. From the experiences I had with him, I learned what it felt like to dedicate oneself to someone. I laughed, cried, and dreamed once, but it was all mercilessly crushed by him when he lost his mind. He hurt me, ruined me, and then left me shattered. He was my misery. My devil.
“But then it’s done. Is it?”
“Yes, darling. It is.”