Chapter 26 A danger to the title
It was morning, and Charlotte was still passed out cold.
Damien didn't move an inch away from her; he stayed kneeling beside her all night, his hand cupping hers.
I had gone out to bury the bodies of the men I killed and had just returned to the cabin with the shovel in my hand.
“You stink of seawater,” I said as I placed the shovel against the wall. “Don’t you want to change?”
He didn't respond; his gaze was fixed on hers.
I sighed and moved to the window; as I pulled it open, the harsh ray of sunlight peered through, casting a bright light across the place.
“Charlotte…” I heard Damien breathe.
I turned to see that she had woken up, her eyes fluttering.
“You are awake,” he whispered softly.
She gazed at him quietly, no expression on her face, saying nothing while he stroked her brown hair with his other hand that wasn't holding hers.
She slowly lifted up her hand and brushed his face. “I wish you were really here,” her voice shook.
He burst into tears and pressed his forehead against hers.
A man I had been enemies with for years, a man who would burn hundreds of men with just a flick of his finger—some called him the devil—and yet he was on his knees and in tears for a woman?
Charlotte was breathtaking, but I didn't think that even an angel would be able to make him soft.
“It's me, baby; it's me,” he sobbed uncontrollably.
Her brow creased, her hand immediately reaching for his face as he lifted it up from her forehead, “Damien?” He spoke, almost shouting as she realized that it was him.
He nodded, “Hi, baby.”
She immediately tried to sit up, but a loud scream echoed as she immediately laid back down. “Oh my God,” she grunted.
“Don't move, vita mia; you were hurt.” Damien quickly said, “I'm sorry I let you out of the ship alone. I didn't…” His voice broke.
Tears streamed down the sides of her face. “It's okay; it's not your fault. You are here; that's all that matters.”
“I’ll never let you out of my sight again…” He promised.
She forced a smile and nodded.
His gaze remained on hers as his grip tightened around her thigh; he pulled her shirt up and placed a gentle kiss around the bandage.
“I wish I could take the pain away,” he spoke. “I wish I could feel this pain on your behalf.”
She shook her head. “It's okay, Damein.”
He suddenly stood up and turned to face me. “We have to find a way to get back to land. Give me your phone,” he instructed.
I rolled my eyes, and then I slumped into the couch beside me. “I lost it at sea. If I had it, would it still be here?”
His gaze darkened in anger.
“Charlotte?” He turned to face her.
“I lost mine as well,” Charlotte responded softly.
His jaw clenched tight. “I need to get you to a hospital,” he growled. “I don't want anything to happen to you.”
“Dude, I already stitched her up.” I gestured to the bandage around her stomach. “Can you at least trust that I knew what I was doing?”
His face twisted with disbelief. “Trust you?” His brows knitted together before he could speak another word. Charlotte's hand shot out to his hand and gripped him tightly.
“Let it go…he did save my life.”
He gazed at her for a few seconds and then turned to face me. “Get up, we are going for a walk.”
I shot him a puzzled gaze. “I don't think we have ever been that close.”
“I cannot leave you alone with my wife. If I say get up, then get the fuck up!” He barked.
“Hey, this is my cabin; I can stay if I want.” He stood up from the seat in anger.
“Damien, please don't fight; I'll get a headache,” Charlotte begged, slowly waving her hand in the air.
I hissed as I marched out of the cabin, not for him, but for her.
~~Ezera’s POV~~
The leaves crunched under our feet as we walked through the forest.
I was dressed in a black tank top and a pair of loose pants, my hair was up in a ponytail, and I had an aggravated look on my face as I scanned through the woods for Damien.
“I think we should rest,” Marcus’s stained clove slowly behind me. “We have been looking for hours.”
I turned to face him, my eyes blazing with anger, but it wasn't for him.
I had been on the ship when Damien jumped overboard. I had shouted at him to stop, but he ignored me, like my words meant nothing. How could he put somebody else's life above his? How could he jump in without thinking?
“He's our boss; if his whereabouts are unknown, it's our duty to find him.” I turned to look at Damien’s soldiers; I had called them immediately. Damien jumped, and they came to meet us a few hours later with one of Damien's ships, which was anchored ahead.
“If you need to rest, then go ahead,” I spoke and then turned back to head deeper into the forest.
“We all need to rest, Ezera.” Marcus’s voice turned serious. “Including you,” he tried to face the men. “Set up camp here; we will continue the search later!” He announced it, and they all nodded. Some of them slumped against trees, while others set up the tent we had carried along.
I observed how exhausted they all were; maybe I had overdone it. “Fine, let’s take a break.”
I moved towards one of the trees and sat on the floor, my back resting against the tree, and I watched as they set up the tent. I picked up a dry leaf from the floor and began to crunch it into pieces, my mind fixed on Damien.
“Hey,” Armando, one of Damien’s soldiers, moved to sit beside me. “Is everything alright?”
I turned to look at him; his blue eyes pierced into mine, waiting for answers. “I'm fine, Armando,” I said, but my facial expression belied my words.
“Ezera, come on,” he urged, and he gently bumped his shoulder against mine.
I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm just... worried about Damien."
“We all are, but there's something else.”
I lifted my head up to the sky, and the sun hit my eyes.
“Is it…his wife?” Armando suddenly asked.
My head turned to face him. “You are out of your mind,” I cursed, tossing the leaves I had crushed in my hands on the floor. I quickly got up and began to walk away.
He got up as well and followed, “Ezera, you know how you feel about him.”
I turned to face him in anger. “Watch your mouth.”
He froze and pressed his lips together as two soldiers walked past us with wood in their hands. Immediately after they passed, he moved closer. “I have always wanted the both of you to be together, and then she swoops in, making him soft? The boss knelt in front of her at the recruitment; did you know that it's taboo to see him like that?”
I clenched my fists. “I have been here longer than you, Armando. You do not have to remind me what the rules are.”
He pulled closer. “She has a hold on him.” He quickly lifted his hands in the air. “And I'm not saying this to make you jealous.”
“I'm not,” my teeth cleaned.
“Sure,” he winked, “but I think you are the only one who can make him see that she is a danger to his title.”
I swallowed, without a response, and turned and began to walk away, but suddenly my brow raised as it caught a figure in the distance, “Damein!” I shouted in excitement.
The soldiers all lifted their heads in surprise.
I rushed towards Damien but suddenly froze as another figure appeared. “Is that …Alexander?”
“Unfortunately,” Damein spoke, slowly rubbing his hands together; he didn't seem at all surprised by our presence at all.
I smiled at Damien. “I'm so happy to see you.” I giggled and wrapped my hands around him in a tight hug. “Let's go back home; one of your ships is waiting to pick you up.”
“My wife is still here, Ezera,” he said in a calm tone.
My spell fell. Oh….
“Boys!” He shouted, “Catch something for my wife to eat; I’ll be back here with her in a few minutes,” he announced and turned to walk away.
“Yes, boss,” they all responded.
Alexander, on the other hand
, did not move an inch; he stood before me, a mischievous smirk on his face. “You like him,” he teased.
“Shut up,” I hissed and rushed after Damien.