She blinked up at him, her vision blurry. “I’m fine,” she whispered, though it was a lie she could barely convince herself of. She was anything but fine. Her head swam, her body screamed in protest, and the emotional toll was heavier than she could bear.“Stop being stubborn,” Damien growled with a frown, his voice tinged with both frustration and fear. He gently lifted her, one arm under her knees and the other supporting her back. Despite her protests, she was too weak to resist. As he held her close, her head resting against his chest, the world around her began to blur into nothingness.His heart pounded in his chest as he carried her through the warehouse, the remnants of the battle still fresh around them. His men, who had stormed in behind him, were now sweeping the area, clearing bodies and securing the perimeter. Damien barely noticed them. His focus was solely on the woman in his arms, the one he had feared losing. He even forgot that Rapheal was standing there as the middle
……………The drive felt like an eternity, though it was barely twenty minutes before they arrived at one of the best hospitals in California. The moment the car stopped, Damien was out, scooping Eva into his arms once more. Medical staff, already alerted by his men, rushed to meet him at the entrance, leading him to a private room without hesitation.The doctors worked quickly, assessing her wounds and setting up IVs to replenish the blood she had lost. Damien stood outside the room, his jaw clenched, his arms crossed tightly over his chest as he watched them work. He hated feeling powerless. Hated that there was nothing he could do but stand and wait.After what felt like hours, the doctors finished stabilizing her condition. One of them walked out of the room and approached Damien cautiously, well aware of the man’s reputation. “Mr. Cross, the miss you brought in had been stabilized. She’s lost a significant amount of blood, but she’ll recover with rest. Though she has sustained some
George leaned back on his chair with a complicated expression on his face. It was obvious that he was going through a series of things at the moment that he couldn't explain.“I want you to find out who is the person that did this to my granddaughter.” George instructed." I'm already on it before you tell me, father.” Raphael smugly answered, making George arc a brow at him." You arrogant son….. Which hospital did that second arrogant punk take my granddaughter to? I've been calling him but he chose to ignore my calls.” George asked,. deciding that getting into an argument with Raphael is not important.“I don't know where he took Eva to because I didn't have any men follow them. So if you want to know where they are, then wait until Damien Cross answers your call.” Raphael casually replied as he reached for his coffee again."What?! Why did you let that Damon Cross take my granddaughter without having our men follow them?! I can't reach that brat because he is ignoring me. Quick, f
---A week trickled by, and Eva remained in deep, unmoving sleep.Why hasn’t she woken up?!Damien’s frustration was spiraling into desperation. He moved restlessly around her hospital room, back and forth in an endless loop that wore tracks into the sterile tile floor. Shadows from the bright, clinical lights cast deep lines on his face, making his fatigue painfully visible. Each lap around the room sharpened his anger and fear, simmering dangerously beneath his rigid composure.He gritted his teeth, jaw clenching as the sterile, unmistakable scent of disinfectant hung in the air, scratching at his nerves. This place—he hated it. Hospitals felt like death traps, filled with ghosts of the sick and the wounded. And worse, this was the second time he’d found himself pacing like this, in just this setting, all because someone had hurt her.Two times. Twice, he’d arrived too late. Twice, she had been caught vulnerable in the crossfire.His hand raked through his hair once more, but it onl
Two and a half weeks later.Beep.Beep.Beep.The rhythmic beeping sound filled Eva’s mind, scratching at her patience. She groaned softly, frustration and irritation building as the relentless sound drilled into her thoughts.‘Why can’t it shut up?! How Annoying!’ Her hand moved slightly, but even that small action pulled a wince from her as pain flared through her muscles. Her body felt as though it had been shattered and pieced back together, each limb screaming with the memory of trauma. Her head throbbed, a dull, relentless ache that only worsened as she stirred.Suddenly, she heard a loud crash in the background. The sound jolted her, heightening her awareness of her surroundings. Someone had slammed something, perhaps a table or chair, against the wall. Shuffling followed, then a low, furious voice, sharp and menacing.“It’s been three weeks, and you still haven’t stabilized her condition? How incompetent and useless,” Damien’s voice thundered, dangerous and animalistic, more l
Eva’s own gaze shifted to him, taking in his disheveled appearance. The usually composed, immaculate man she knew was gone, replaced by someone raw and broken. His suit was wrinkled, his hair wild and unkempt, his face carrying the haunted look of sleepless nights and endless worry. She’d never seen him so unguarded, so utterly vulnerable.Slowly, she shifted in bed, a faint discomfort creeping into her as she looked past Damien to the others. Nathalia, her normally bubbly friend, looked crushed by emotion. Edwin stood off to the side, watching the scene unfold with a faint air of detachment, his gaze flicking between her and his brother as if gauging his reaction.“G-good morning.” Eva’s voice was barely a whisper, reminding them all she was truly awake.“Oh, Eva…” Nathalia choked on a sob, practically running toward the bed, her arms spread wide for a hug. “It’s two in the afternoon,” she added, laughter and tears mingling in her words as she reached for her friend.“I’m so glad you
Edwin rolled his eyes, staring down at her. “I’m older than you, Nathy. Whether he asked me or not, you still have to go.”Nathalia turned and glared back at him without saying anything, but it was obvious that she was stubbornly standing her ground.Eric let out a sigh and decided to put an end to the petty argument between both siblings. Did they not realize the boss’s woman had just woken up?“I’ll get it,” He said, stepping out to fetch the cup of water that had started the entire argument.A moment later, the door opened and Eric returned with a cup, filled to the brim with water. He walked past the two siblings and walked towards Damien before handing the cup to Damien. “The dispenser was literally right outside the door,” He muttered, rolling his eyes as he glanced at both Edwin and Nathalia. With how much they’d argued, one might think it had been miles away.Nathalia who clearly heard Shane pouted and ignored him. Her focus was turned back to her friend and when she glance
His voice was soft but insistent as he asked, “Where did you learn to wield a gun like that?” He kept his tone gentle, his eyes warm and steady as they held hers, a silent reassurance that she was safe with him. He hoped, prayed, that his open expression would draw her out, that she’d finally trust him enough to let him in.The quiet intimacy between them stunned his younger siblings, who stood watching, wide-eyed. Nathalia had already glimpsed this side of her brother, the softness and vulnerability he reserved only for Eva, yet seeing it again still took her by surprise. Beside her, Edwin was speechless, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. He’d never thought his usually stoic, no-nonsense brother was capable of this kind of gentle devotion. Who would have guessed that beneath his brother’s composed, polished exterior was a man willing to give his whole heart to someone like Eva?“I-” Already knowing what was going to come out of her, his voice grew firmer as he cut her off, “Don’t tr