Torn

Adonis slowly opened his eyes, sitting up gently. He stretched his sore body and felt his bones pop in places he never knew was possible. 

His eyes took in the familiar white walls, his nose picking up the stench of concentrated antiseptic; even without the continuous beeping of the machine by his side, he'd recognize this place anytime.

He had been here more times than should be considered healthy.

He stretched once again to be sure he felt no underlying pain. If the throbbing ache in his ribs and light headache were all the injuries sustained, then he was in luck. 

Honestly, he expected more. 

The door to the hospital room quietly slid open as though the person on the other side was avoiding making unnecessary noises, and Luca stepped in with a jar of water and a cup in hand.

His eyes met Adonis's, and he paused in his steps. 

He was pissed. Adonis could tell that much from the lack of words the moment he stepped in.

"You're up. Good for you." Luca walked over to his bedside and deposited the water on the desk.

"One would think you're unhappy about that fact." 

"Oh really? What gave me away?" 

Adonis rolled his eyes at his words, which were dripping with sarcasm.

"Can I at least get a glass of water before you start your berating?" 

"Get it yourself." Luca retorted and then went to sit on the only chair in the room. Adonis sighed before moving to pour himself some water. He hurriedly drank cup after cup, almost emptying the jar itself.

When he was satisfied, he climbed back onto the bed. 

"Good to see you can move around just fine. Cara's yet to wake up."

He wet his lips

"I figured." 

Luca snapped.

"What was going on in your head, Adonis? Why did you turn around? Why did you even come back? We had it under control!" 

"I was worried!"

"About what? You don't think we can handle the situation by ourselves? Because if you did, you'd have stayed back. God Adonis, you didn't have to try and trap the person yourself." 

"You know that's not what I mean."

"Then what?" Luca argued. He couldn't understand why Adonis would put not only himself in danger but also Cara. She was too fragile for their way of life. 

When he got the call that Adonis had returned, he grew worried. Although there was a break-in, it seemed as though nothing was taken. 

What if the break-in was just a diversion, and the person was going for something else? 

The instant he got another call that Adonis and Cara were being followed, he knew he was right. He expected that Adonis would come straight home, but once again, he decided to take matters into his own hands. It took a while to catch up with them due to Adonis's spontaneous action, and by then, the truck driver had escaped. 

The state he met them in when they got to the site of the accident only increased the level of anxiety he felt. The car had tumbled down a slope and crashed against a tree. He didn't want to imagine what would have happened if the tree hadn't acted like a barrier to stop it from tumbling further.

Luca felt his heart get caught in his throat at the news that his friend and wife were nowhere to be seen. It wasn't until they searched around that they found Adonis resting behind a rock, hugging an unconscious Cara to himself. She was barely hanging on. 

The amount of blood that had pooled around them told Luca that it was taking Adonis a great deal of strength to stay awake himself, yet he refused to let her go. 

He blinked at Adonis, who had his eyes closed in deep thought. 

He had never seen him act that way. Not since... 

Luca sighed. 

Whoever had planned this must have done his findings because it was practically impossible to get into the estate without getting caught. That or they were betrayed by someone close... 

"You know what this means, right?" 

Adonis opened his eyes.

"That we have a spy amongst us." 

"I thought this was going to be the usual way. Simple coronation threats, but it's starting to get complicated, and I can't help but think that the Grecos are involved." Luca reasoned.

Adonis closed his eyes once again. He had been doing a lot of thinking since he woke up. Whoever had planned this had one goal: 

To delay the coronation.

Why else would they stage an accident days before? He didn't want to play into their hand, but considering all that had happened within the last few days, having a coronation wasn't the next step.

It didn't make sense. 

It was better to eliminate every threat and protect the family now, or there would be no family at all to rule.

He was confused. He didn't know where to start from. There had been a pressing ache in his chest that had refused to go away since the accident.

It was a feeling he knew so well. Fear. 

After all, it was all he experienced during the first few years of his life. He hadn't felt this way in a long time. Not since he stopped being that little boy whose comfort space was the closet.

But was it fear for himself? No.

He was afraid for Cara. 

The reason remained unclear, but he was sure about one thing: he was going to protect her with everything he had. He wanted no harm to come to her. That much has been agreed on since he took the hit for her during the incident.

There was just one problem. The break-in happened days after she asked for the blueprints. Only a fool would not see the connection, and he wasn't a fool. If the Grecos were at centre of it all, does that mean she's working for them? 

She had deliberately hidden the fact that they were the ones who killed her father from him... and whatever she had planned, she couldn't do it alone.

That means she was either the spy or was working with the spy. 

No matter the amount of time he thought about it, Adonis still ended up with that conclusion, and this only intensified the ache in his chest.

He was not a child and knew the fear meant he was beginning to care for her. But whatever he felt for Cara wasn't sufficient enough to watch his family be betrayed.

Adonis was scared of himself for Cara.

If she was involved... if she really had a plan to bring his family down...

There was no way she could escape his wrath... Nothing came before his family... his brothers. 

He released a deep sigh, and the door was thrown open. Cecelia darted in, her face soaked in tears as she panted heavily, holding onto her knees for support. The only reason Adonis wasn't sprinting down the hall was the smile on her face.

"She's awake. Cara's awake."