Chapter 67

Aurora's POV:

"W-What are you doing here?"

After I said that, I realized how rude it sounded. Liam is the whole reason why I'm in here in the first place. I could've escaped and had help if it weren't for him.

"Uhh, Elijah sent me to give you this. He said it's for Mr Black." He says handing me a paper bag which I take. This must be the medication for Tristan.

"Oh, t-thank you." I mutter and he nods. This is so awkward. Liam used to be my best friend. I used to tell him everything and he was always so kind to me. But now, I can see how this whole Mafia thing changed him.

He's a lot less spunkier, a lot more skinnier and unhealthy, and looks like he doesn't have a funny bone in his body. Basically, the opposite of the Liam I knew.

"Um, would you like to come in? I made coffee." I suggest and he slightly shakes his head.

"I-I don't think that's a good idea." He sheepishly mutters, rubbing his neck nervously.

"Don't worry. I won't get you in trouble." I assure him. He hesitates and stares ahead in reflexion for a moment before bowing his head and taking a step in. I hold the door wide open and allow him to get inside.

I then close the door and he follows me into the kitchen. He sits down on the stool and awkwardly crosses his arms on the kitchen island.

I grab him a mug and serve him the coffee and continue to make breakfast.

"So, uh, I'm sorry about what happened these past few days." He awkwardly states and I nod smiling.

"It's okay." I reply.

"How's boss?" He asks, slightly lowering his voice.

"He's injured but he's doing okay." I inform him and he stares down.

There was an awkward silence between us where he sipped on his coffee and I carried on making my breakfast.

"Listen, Aurora. I'm sorry." He sighs and I turn to him. "If I hadn't taken you back here, your life would've been a lot different." He explains and bows his head apologetically.

"It's okay." I assure him. Even though he stopped me from escaping here, he's my friend. Or was my friend. And I don't want him feeling bad. What's done is done.

"I should be saying sorry to you. If it weren't for me, you'd still be chasing your dream as an engineer." I reminisce on the time he told me what he aspired to be. He nods in acceptance.

I was mad at Liam at first, but now, I feel sorry for him. Guilt is eating at my conscious and I just want to fix this for him.

"If you had the choice? Would you get out of here?" I nervously ask and he furrows his brows.

"Of where?"

"The Mafia. If you had a way out, would you?" I question and he swallows, his throat bobbing down and his face looking nervous.

"Of course. I'm miserable, Aurora. You have no idea what these people are capable of." He tells and my heart clenches. "But my life is Mr Black's now. My purpose is to serve and protect him till the day I die."

I was about to talk but his pager started buzzing.

"That's Elijah. I-I have to go."he says, looking alarmed as he rushes over to the door. But then he stops and turns to me. "It was really nice seeing you, Aurora." He mumbles and I smile. I hear his footsteps until he exits and closes the door.

That was so awkward.

Sighing, I turn my head and resume getting everything ready.

~~~~~~~~~~

I discreetly open the door to our room as I balance the tray on my hand then I shut it behind me. My eyes land on Tristan who's struggling to get out of bed.

"W-What are you doing? You're not supposed to get out of bed." I sigh, placing the tray on the coffee table and rushing to him.

"I need to take a shower." He grunts, struggling to get up but I place my hand on his bare back.

"W-Wait, please sit down. I'll go get the bath filled for you." I state, going over to the bathroom and let the water run.

While the bath fills, I go back into the room and help him take off his bandages and gauze since he can't move his arms, unintentionally getting a glimpse of his injuries and feeling my face drop. That looks so painful.

"Thank you, baby." He hums, his eyes flickering over my face wehereas I give a shy smile.

I then help him to the bathroom and into the tub. While he was in the shower, I change the sheets, the pillow cases and replaced them with new ones.

Aftee he took his bath, I helped him get dressed and as soon as I did, I noticed his arms started bleeding again.

Panicked, I sat him down on the bed and sat on the chair next to him. I then grabbed the first aid kit and cleaned his wounds, placing fresh bandages on his arm, his shoulder and his abdomen. Then wrapping the gauze around his arm.

"Is that better?" I ask, looking at him getting comfortable on the bed.

"Mhm." He hums, giving me a quick peck on my parted lips.

"I made you breakfast. Do you want to eat it now?" I ask him and he nods with a smirk on his lips, reaching over and tucking my hair behind my ear.

And since eating usually requires two hands and given the fact that Tristan's arms is unable to move for now, I sat there and helped him eat his breakfast. He needs it to get healthier and better. I don't mind. I want to make sure he's okay.

I think he would've done the same for me. I think.

As we sat there with me feeding him, my mind was concocting tons of thoughts. The main one being my dad. I don't know what Tristan did to him but some insight would be nice. I'm still debating whether or not I should ask him or not.

Swallowing, I open my mouth to talk. "Tristan?" I start, catching his attention.

He raises his brows and response,waiting for me to resume talking.

"W-Where's my dad?" I ask him and I watch him grit his jaw.

"He's locked up." He informs me and I nod, placing the fork down. "I don't know what I'll do with him yet. As much as I hate it, he's family." He continues, his voice harsh and laced in anger.

"And most importantly, he's your father. It's for you to decide his fate." He tells me, his full attention on me and his hand coming to my jaw. "I'll do what you want." He huskily grunts and I can't help but blush for whatever reason.

He's being nice to me. I like that. I usually refrain from talking to him in fear that he's not in a good mood or that he'll yell at me but I guess painkillers are kicking in.

I want to talk to him about something else but I don't know how it'll go. Fingers crossed.

"C-Can I ask you something else?" I softly mutter.

"Anything."

"It's about Liam." I blurt out, afraid of his reaction.

"And what about him?" He says, twisting his face in a frown.

"I-I saw him today. He came to give me your medication." I inform him and anger settles on his face.

"What is it that you're asking me exactly?" He pokes, his voice ever so deep.

"I-I was just wondering if you would ever let him go. H-He uh, he never wanted to be here." I state but as soon as I feel him about to talk, I interrupt. "I know there's a rule that whoever's brought in here never leaves, but-"

"No." He blankly says and I frown but then he continues. "That's what my answer would've been for this kind of request. But if it's for you, I'll consider it." He states, softening his stare at me.

My feelings for him are getting dangerously strong and I can't help but be scared.

I glance down at his face. His unshaven stubble, his striking eyes, his perfect hair. He's so handsome. I like him now, I really do but I'm too shy to admit it to him. He's treating me better and that's all I could've ever asked for.

"Thank you." I say with appreciation as he nods.

I wanted to ask about Claire, about the Russians. So many things but I was interrupted by the loud ring of Tristan's phone that was sitting on the couch in the foot of the bed.

"You can answer it." He grumbles, laying down flat on the bed, his face soon twitching in pain.

I grab the phone and answer the call. "Hello?" I say before the voice of my mother in law comes through. And she is not happy.

"TRISTAN, YOU STUPID BOY. YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK. I SWEAR WHEN I COME THERE, I WILL-" She raises her voice, making me flinch amd distance my ear from the phone.

"Um, this is Aurora." I nervously butt in and silence swarms through her end.