Chapter 31

Carlos. I knew that old man was hiding something, but this? I could have never imagined this. I stare at the photos, trying to figure out the reasons that could make him do this, but I can't think of any. How can he do this to his only grandchild? The door to her room opens, and the doctor comes out before disposing off his gloves in the bin outside the door. "Can I see her? Is she okay?" I hurriedly ask, and the man stares at me in recognition. "Yes, sir, come with me," he pushes the door, and there she is, an oxygen mask on her face, and the whole chest and abdomen area is tied with bandages. Her upper body is covered with the hospital gown and a blanket, the other body and down her legs I rush to her and drop to my knees beside her bed. The sight of her makes my heart shatter. " What did they do to you, baby?" I mumble, holding her hand in mine. She's the strongest girl I have ever known. If I had it my way, I would quit this risky life and just have her with me. Just the two of us away from this drama. "Her ribs were broken and her abdomen got the hit too, she also has a couple of bruises, but she'll be okay," the man explains on the other side, but my eyes remain on her. Her beautiful face is so pale, and I can't imagine how much pain she went through. I was supposed to be there for her. "The drag we gave her will keep her asleep for some time, but she is safe now," he says, and I sigh in relief. I don't want to imagine what I would have done if she hadn't made it. For the first time in a long while, I am grateful to Rico. I have to go hunting. Rico took care of the Russians, and I have to find that old man. He is the closest to her, and if I don't do anything, I don't know what will happen next. Before that, I have to call the boys to come watch her. There is no way I will leave her unprotected again. Sam and Marcello arrive in no time, and I give them instructions before driving to Ace's. I park my car outside the gates, and two men allow me in. "Are you the ones who let princess out?" I question, and they glance at each other before one of them talks. "Yes, sir, she left a while ago," I chuckle darkly before putting a bullet hole in his head. Stupid. "You shouldn't have," I whisper, serving the next one with the same justice. Their first priority is to ensure the heiress is safe and not just open the gates. They should have informed Ace when they saw her drive out alone. "Ace", I push the front doors, shouting his name. How can he be sleeping and not even aware of what is going on? I march all the way to his room with the photos tightly in my grasp. "What's with the shouting, Carl?" he grumbles sleepily, sitting up on his bed. "Do you know where Kay is?" I question. "In her room, what's up?" he looks at me as if I am crazy, and I shake my head, throwing the photos at him. "What the hell?" he screams, jolting from the bed when he sees the content. I thought so too. "This can't be true," he growls, picking up his gun and exiting his room, and I follow him. He bursts into the old fuckers room, but he's not there. "Where is he?" I ask, checking his bathroom and closet, but it looks like he's not at home. We wake up all his guards, but none of them knows his whereabouts, nor did he leave with any. "I can't believe this. Where is Kay?" Ace asks, walking back into his room. "Russians attacked her, and it's Rico who called me; he gave me those photos," I mumble, walking beside him and entering his room after him. "What?" his head snaps to me in disbelief. "Said someone lured her out," I explain, rubbing the back of my neck. "Shit, she fucking sneaked out," he cusses, opening his closet door while I lower myself onto one of the couches in the room. "Tell me it's not bad," he comes out changed in dark jeans and a black hoodie. "I can't," I whisper, lowering my head. "Did you know about the threats?" he asks, giving me a hard stare. "I found out today and we fought, that's why I left," which was a mistake because we wouldn't be in this position right now. "How didn't I notice anything? Whoever got her out of the house knew you were not here," he reasons, motioning for me to follow him. "When did the old man leave anyway?" he pauses in his steps and turns to face me. "I saw him yesterday coming out of Kay's room with her sword," he explains with his forehead creased. "What sword are you talking about?" I have never seen Kay with a sword. "The Slayer, the one my grandpa used to own," he explains, and I remember hearing that story. "Follow me," he changes direction to her room and goes straight to where she keeps her weapons. "I told you it's not here," he says. The old man must have left with it. "Why didn't we notice anything?" I wonder, looking at him curiously "Just take me to my daughter, Carl," he sighs. * "Boss?" Nate calls when I pass a ward, and I remember the woman Kay saved last week. "Nate," I acknowledge him and turn to leave when he stops me. "Where is Kay? She was supposed to be here. We talked the other day, but she never showed up," he says, and I quirk my brows at him. Rico had said someone lured her out of the house. "What are you talking about?" I take two steps towards him completely eliminating the space between us. "The woman had been nagging about seeing her, that's why I called her." What he says makes me mad. Why would she demand to see Kayla in the middle of the night? Is she working for Victor? I push him out of the way and enter the room to find the woman sleeping facing the other side. This annoys me more. I yank her by her shoulder, and she yelps, startled by the move, but that is the least of what I will do if I find out she's a damn spy "Who sent you bitch?" I ask coldly. "Wh...at," she stammers, looking around fearfully, and I put her in a choke hold. I have no patience with her. Nate comes beside me and looks at the action skeptically "What is it, boss?" he asks cautiously "This bitch was used to lure princess out of the house; she's down the hall fighting to survive," I yell, and I feel my heart breaking just thinking about her condition. I squeeze he throat tighter, and she starts gasping for air. "Fuck" Nate mutters, drawing his gun out and pointing at her head. She starts whimpering and releasing tears, but that doesn't faze me. "A wo..man w..as here and she t..old me to call her or she'll kill my s..ister." She shakily lets out, and I feel disgusted. "So you sold her out for what? to think she saved your pathetic ass." If it was not for Kay, this woman would be dead by now, but look at how she repaid her. That's why I always mind my shit; if they don't concern me, I let them die. That way, I don't have to worry about being bitten in the back. "I'm sorry, I didn't know," she starts crying, and I shake my head. "Lock her up, Nate," I inform him before roughly pushing her back on the bed. I need to see if Kay is fine. She's really worrying me now. I open her door, hoping for a miracle, but she's still in the same position. I don't like seeing her this way. If I could take her place, I would right now. " Go home, Ace. I will watch her," I tell the man who has been beside her unconscious body, continuously for three days. "You need rest too, carl," he whispers, standing up, and I squeeze his shoulder in encouragement. "I will be fine, go home, I will call you if anything happens," he nods, exiting the door, and I lower myself into his previous position. I look at the girl who hasn't opened her eyes for the third day and sigh sadly. I caress her soft, long hair and brush through it with my fingers. When she wakes up, I'm taking her with me to my house, and I'm never letting her out of my sight. Her house is no longer safe for her, and until that old man returns, I will have to be extra careful. "Please, baby, wake up," I mumble, stroking the tender skin of her cheek with my thumb. She's so beautiful. "Come back to me, please." I gently press my head on her chest, and for the first time in my life, I feel like crying. I feel helpless because I can't do anything to bring her back. It's as if my heart is being squeezed in my chest at the thought of her never opening her eyes again. "Please," I desperately beg, letting my tears flow down freely