Chapter 55 An angry wife
The loud beeping of monitors filled the room as my eyes slowly opened.
I blinked; the harsh smell of anesthetic filled the place, and I instantly knew I was in a hospital.
I heard a sob beside me and quickly turned to look in the direction. It was Becky; her eyes were red, and her blood-red hair was tucked behind her ears. As her gaze caught mine, she quickly sat up from her seat and walked towards me with a smile on her face.
“Oh…Damien,” she slipped her hands into mine, her voice shaky, “I thought you'd never wake up again.”
I pulled my hand away from hers; all I could think about was Charlotte screaming my name when I got shot.
“You saved my life,” I heard Volkov's voice and turned to see him standing by my side. “Why would you do that? We barely know each other.”
I sucked in a deep breath. “I thought it was the right thing to do,” I forced a smile. “Besides, we were friends, right?”
A confused frown formed on his face. “Of course,” he checked his watch, “I have to go handle a few businesses. I'll return when I can.”
I nodded and watched him leave the room.
Becky instantly grabbed my hands again as soon as the door closed behind Volkov. “Getting shot wasn't a part of the plan; you could have died.”
“Where's Charlotte?” I asked impatiently.
Her smile fell. “Back at the hotel.”
I swallowed. “She saw me get shot; she must be worried sick. Why isn’t she coming to see me? How many hours have I been out?”
“Oh... Damien, you have been in a coma for two weeks.”
Her words rang like a bell. Two weeks? Two weeks have passed already?
“Then you should let her know that I'm fine.” I quickly sat up on the bed, ignoring the pain in my back. The bandage around my body was a little tight. I didn't mind the pain; I slipped out of bed.
“Damein, get in bed now; the doctors have to make sure you are okay before you move around so much,” she cautioned.
“No,” I shook my head, ignoring the pain. “She has been seeing me in a coma for two weeks. She must be worried.”
Becky froze. “She hasn't seen you in two weeks, Damien.”
I halted. “What?”
“I couldn't let her come. Volkov thinks I'm your wife; if she is here, it will raise suspicion.”
“Fuck,” I pressed my hands against my chest; it ached like hell. I couldn't imagine how worried she was. “I'm going to see her.” I walked past Becky and headed for the door.
“Damien, you are hurt.”
“My wife's heart is hurting right now, and it's all because of me,” I responded as I walked down the halls, still in my hospital gown.
I found my car sitting just outside the hospital. “Where are the keys?”
“Damein? You can't leave!”
My eyes grew red with anger. “Where are the keys?!” My eyes grew red with anger, and I wrapped my fingers around her neck and squeezed it.
Her face turned red as she choked, “Fine, it's in my pocket.”
I searched her, hastily pulling it out of her pocket, and instantly entered the car. She rushed to enter beside me.
“You could at least wait for your men to get here and drive you; you are in a weak state.”
“If you don't shut up right now I swear…” I threatened and sped off to the road.
Soon we arrived at the hotel, and I rushed out of the car without looking back, doors open. As I reached our suite, I pulled the door open and marched in.
Charlotte lay in bed; her eyes instantly moved to me as she heard the door. “Oh my God, you are here!” She rushed out of bed and jumped into my arms. As she wrapped her arms around my back, she squeezed the part I had been shot at, but I didn't care; all I cared about was the tears in her eyes.
Her eyes were red and swollen, her hair wrapped up in a messy bun, like she hadn't touched it in days. I reached for her face and gently wiped off the tears.
“Becky told me I couldn't see you.” Her voice was raspy; she had cried so much and also lost her voice.
“Oh…Vita mia,” I led her to the bed and packed her to seat. I placed my knees on the cold tiled floor before her. “She didn't have the right to do that.” I bowed my head and gripped her thighs.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
I shook my head. “No,” I lied even though my back hurts like hell.
“Look at me,” she instructed, and I looked up to meet her gaze.
“Are you really not hurt anywhere?” More tears gathered in her eyes.
I nodded.
Her face suddenly twisted as she landed a stinging slap on my face. I didn't move; I just gazed at her.
She landed another, and another, and another until my cheeks turned red. I still didn't move; I just stared at her in silence.
“I watched you get shot!” She slapped me again. “I couldn't see you for two weeks and thought you were dead!” She landed another slap.
“Why would you jump in front of a bullet like that when you know that I…” Her hands hung in the air; she slowly withdrew them and pressed them against her chest. “You have a wife, Damien. I know our life is dangerous, but you cannot jump in front of a bullet like that.”
Her hands trembled. “I don't think I can take it…I…”
My heart broke as I saw her like that. I quickly moved to sit beside her. “I'll never do that again, I promise.”
She sniffed and pulled away from me.
“Now that I know you are okay,” she wiped her eyes, “I'll get another suite.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
“You hurt me, Damien. I'm happy to see you alive, but I have to take some time away from you, a break.”
My heart ripped into a million pieces as I stood up to face her, “Charlotte…”
She took a step back, her hand stretched out to me. “Don't, don't make this harder than it actually has to be. I can't stand you right now.”
She moved to a desk and grabbed my black card. As she walked to the door, she suddenly stopped. Without looking at me, she spoke, “You know I have been hurt many times, stabbed in the back by my parents, hit all the time by my twin sister, and flogged by my father's belt…” She scoffed, “One of your enemies has even slapped me in the face with a gun.”
She finally turned to face me. “Yet the scar you left on my heart hurt a thousand times more.” She stepped out and shut the door behind her.
I didn't follow her; she nodded her space. Instead, I grabbed my phone from a desk and dialed a number.
“Boss?”
“Marcus,” I breathed.
I heard a re
lieved sigh. “You are awake?”
“My wife just walked out of the hotel; follow her, and make sure she's safe where she's going.”
“Yes, boss.”
I hung up and tossed the phone on the bed; the pain in my back seemed to worsen.