Elliot lay in the hospital bed, a fresh gauze wrapped around his torso and a hospital gown replacing his torn shirt. The sterile scent of the hospital clung to the air, the soft hum of the heart monitor the only sound in the room. Sitting beside him, Aeisha gently wiped his face with a damp towel, her hands trembling slightly as her mind replayed the events of the past few hours.
Earlier, after escaping the ambush, Aeisha had thrown her arms around Elliot, overwhelmed with relief. But when she saw the blood staining his shirt, panic had set in. "You’re hurt!" she had cried, tears streaming down her face. Her heart had ached at the thought of losing him.
“It’s just a graze,” Elliot had assured her, his voice as calm as ever, though she could see the strain in his eyes.
“Could be more than a graze!” she had protested, frantic to get him to the hospital. When Lance and Ace had arrived with backup, Aeisha had begged them to take him in. Elliot had resisted at first, but the fear in her eyes had finally made him relent with a reluctant sigh.
Now, he sat propped up in bed, the calm indifference still visible on his face, but Aeisha knew better.
“I’m fine now,” Elliot murmured, breaking the silence.
Aeisha let out a long, shaky sigh. “Good,” she replied, though her mind was still far from at ease. She looked down at her lap, her thoughts swirling. “Why is this happening to us?”
Elliot’s gaze lingered on the wall, a rare sigh escaping his lips. “It’s my fault,” he admitted.
Aeisha’s head shot up, her eyes wide with confusion. “Your fault? How is it your fault?”
Elliot hesitated before speaking, his gaze still fixed on the wall. “I have enemies around me. Those people who ambushed us—they were after me.” His voice was steady, but there was tension in his jaw, something she had never seen before.
The weight of his words hit Aeisha like a wave, leaving her momentarily speechless. Before she could respond, he turned to her, his eyes serious, as his usual composure returned. “If you want to leave, I’ll understand. This isn’t what you signed up for. I’ve put your life in danger.”
For the first time since she’d met him, Elliot appeared vulnerable. It startled her, but it also steadied something deep within her. She reached out and took his hand, her heart racing in her chest.
“I’m not leaving you,” she said firmly. “I don’t care how dangerous it is. I’ll stay.”
Elliot stared at her, his expression unreadable, before a soft snort escaped him. “Even if it’s dangerous?”
“Yes,” she replied without hesitation, smiling at him despite the gravity of their situation. “And I’ll protect you too.”
A rare smile tugged at Elliot’s lips, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“I’m not!” Aeisha pouted, crossing her arms.
Elliot chuckled softly, the sound so rare it made her heart flutter. He reached out and patted her head gently. “Thank you, Aeisha,” he said, his voice quieter. “I promise, I’ll protect you no matter what.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I believe in you.”
As Aeisha stood to fetch his paperwork, Elliot stopped her with a quiet command. “Let Lance and the others handle it. You should stay here with me.”
“I can’t just sit around—”
“Stay,” he insisted, patting the empty space beside him on the bed.
Aeisha hesitated for a moment, glancing at the chair she had been sitting in. “I’m fine here.”
“If you don’t join me, I’ll leave the bed,” Elliot warned, raising an eyebrow with a hint of mischief.
Aeisha sighed in defeat and climbed into the bed, careful not to disturb his bandages. Within minutes, the exhaustion from the day’s events caught up to her, and her eyes grew heavy. Before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.
Elliot watched Aeisha as she slept, her breathing even and peaceful. Her face softened in sleep, and for a moment, his cold exterior melted. Something warm flickered in his eyes as he glanced at her, but the moment was short-lived when his phone buzzed.
He quietly called Lance and Ace into the room. The two men entered swiftly, their expressions serious.
“What’s the status?” Elliot asked, his tone all business.
Lance nodded. “We’ve captured a few of the attackers alive. They’re being interrogated now.”
Elliot’s voice was cold as he replied, “Good. I want to know who sent them.”
Ace stepped forward. “We’ve traced the attack back to the same person who tried to kill you a few days ago. Your uncle.”
Elliot’s lips curled into a smirk, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “My uncle still dares to make a move against me. How bold.”
“What’s the plan?” Lance asked.
Elliot’s gaze flickered to Aeisha, still asleep beside him. His expression hardened as he looked away. “Capture him. I’ll deal with him personally once I’m out of here.”
Both men nodded in agreement, their loyalty unwavering. “Understood,” they said in unison before leaving the room.
Elliot leaned back against the pillows, his mind already calculating his next moves. But as he looked at Aeisha, the tension in his shoulders eased slightly. For now, she was safe. And for her, he would make sure it stayed that way
