Chapter 56 Not So Strong
Aiyana's P.O.V
Distraught wasn't even the right words to describe his mood. I knew that betrayal hurt and have had my fair share but it took seeing Jerome this way to understand the gravity of the betrayal of family.
Gerald wasn't just his friend, or best friend. He was his only family and although everyone else in the mafia would see it as him raving for revenge, I could see just how he was trying so hard to distract himself from the hurt by working like a mad man for several days.
He hadn't eaten properly, taken a proper bath or even sat down till about an hour ago.
His men saw a strong leader that wasn't biased in his punishments no matter how close a person was, but I saw a man that was both broken and afraid. A man that thought it too shameful to show just how upset and heartbroken he was, and honestly, if I didn't do anything about it, not just his emotions but his body would break down too.
Gathering up every courage I had coupled with my frustration, I walked into his office filled with gang members that all looked like different shades of death.
Eyes screened me as I passed, some blatantly and others with a little more subtlety but no one said anything as even though I knew just a few, more than a few knew me.
I had practiced a thousand times in my head just how I was going to say the right words in order to get my point across in a room as suffocating as this, but as soon as all those eyes focused on me, my mind went blank.
“You need to rest.” I breathed out walking towards him as everywhere became totally silent. I rested my hands on his shoulder as soon as I got to him and a frown etched on my face. Through the fabric, I felt heat. Heat so intense that I questioned whether it was just my nerves but I didn't even wait nor consider that so many of his underlings were here. My hands moved on their own and rested on his forehead which confirmed my suspicion but somehow, it still wasn't enough, making me go ahead to place my forehead on his.
He was burning up.
“Call the doctor!” I yelled out in panic as I moved to try to get him up in a panic but he felt too heavy.
“I'm fine Princess, don't panic.” He breathed out but even his words were far from convincing with the way he was panting just to get them out.
Before I could struggle with him, Biggie was by my side, lifting him up like he weighed nothing and carrying him towards his room with me following with his laptop and phone.
Panic flooded me as I looked at his almost unconscious frame still resisting being carried.
“I…I can walk. Drop me this instant.” He ordered Biggie who immediately froze and was about to do as ordered.
“No. Carry him just like that till we get to the room.” I retorted, my voice carrying the same tone that an order would and for some reason, Biggie obeyed and continued walking.
I knew I had no power over any of them but it seemed like my anger had its perks.
“Aiyana-” He started but I cut him off, now getting angry at all his bravado.
“Don't Aiyana me, and quit being stubborn. You can barely talk!” I snapped as we reached his room and carefully laid him down, but as soon as I saw his face again as he lay, another wave of panic flooded me.
His eyes were rolling up, and starting to show only the whites.
“No! No! No! Jerome! Don't sleep” I yelled desperately. I may not know anything about medicine but I knew that if a patient in a very bad state wanted to sleep, 90% of the time meant death and I couldn't have that.
No way.
I was not losing anyone dear to me again.
But as I tapped on him, his head fell from the pillow like someone who was lifeless. Another wave of fear and panic washed through me as one of the kitchen ladies rushed in with a bowl of ice water and a rag.
“We hadn't even had the chance to be together. Don't you dare die on me!” I yelled, tapping his face to keep him awake but his eyes just kept rolling in. Turning to the ice water, I wiped his face and neck with the rag that seemed to be doing something as every time it made contact with his skin, he jolted.
‘Good’ I thought to myself as I came to a conclusion that I would keep wiping him till the doctor arrives.
For several minutes, I continued. I could feel my hands cramp and scream from the discomfort but I continued. I couldn't even think of anything other than continuing this, anything that could prolong his consciousness till the doctor arrived.
As soon as I thought about it, the door bursts open to reveal the doctor and a very stressed looking Dario.
Not a single second was wasted as the doctor immediately sprang to work, checking his pulse, his eyes. Literally his whole face in seconds and injecting him all in a few seconds.
I knew he wasn't better yet but relief flooded me, seeing the efficiency that the doctor worked with.
“He has severe fever but the drip should bring his temperature back to normal in a few hours, make sure to check in on him from time to time. While we wait, I'll run some tests to see if there are any underlying illnesses.” He says as he picks up his tools from the bedside table and the bed, straightening his now rumpled shirt as he walks out filling our whispers and mumbles of ‘thank you.’
As soon as the door clicked shut, indicating that everyone had left, I scooted closer to him, looking closely at his features that I never really paid close attention to even though it's no debate that he's very handsome.
Looking closely, I couldn't resist the urge to touch him. My hands moved before my brain followed. I touched his hair that felt like soft pillows from how full they were, to his eyelashes that always had me jealous.
“So beautiful.” I muttered out, thinking about just how this beautiful and powerful man was in such a vulnerable state.
I knew that I could leave and just occasionally check in but from what I know and he had told me about the mafia world, there was always someone close by waiting for his death or trying to cause it and I couldn't have that.
I just would not be able to sleep or breathe properly knowing that I can't tell exactly what state he was in while also knowing that his life hung by a thread every day.
“Rest well, I'll watch over you till you wake up.” I whispered into his ears and kissed him on the cheek as I settled down to wait.
‘I’ll protect you.’