42. Annalise

42

ANNALISE

M y eyelids flutter open, and I’m immediately assaulted by a sharp, throbbing pain in my head. I wince as I try to take a deep breath, but it feels like an iron band is wrapped around my chest, making it nearly impossible to breathe. My body feels sore and heavy, as if I’ve been hit by a truck.

“Annalise, you’re awake,” a familiar voice murmurs soothingly. I blink away the haze in my vision and find Nikhil’s piercing blue eyes staring at me, filled with relief and concern. His dark hair is neatly styled, but there’s an uncharacteristic tension etched on his handsome face.

“Wh-what happened?” I rasp out through the tightness in my throat. Memories begin to flood back—my daughters, the danger we were in…and then nothing.

“You were drugged, Annalise,” Nikhil explains gently, his tone protective. “We found you just in time.”

“Who found me?” I ask, confusion clouding my mind as I struggle to piece together the events that led me to this place.

“Damian,” he replies, a hint of unease in his voice. Hearing his name sends a shudder down my spine, and I can’t help the disbelief that colors my thoughts. Damian, the man whose presence alone has always unnerved me, was the one who saved me?

“Damian?” I echo, my voice gaining strength as I frown, trying to process this unexpected information. “But why? He…he doesn’t care about me.”

Nikhil hesitates before meeting my gaze again, his expression unreadable. “You might be surprised, Annalise. People can change.”

I’m not sure what to make of Nikhil’s words, but something nags at the back of my mind, urging me to dig deeper. The complexity of my relationship with Damian is a tangled web I’ve yet to fully unravel, and his involvement in my rescue only adds another layer of confusion.

“Perhaps,” I murmur, but the doubt lingers. I can’t help but wonder what truly drove Damian to find me, and what it means for my future—and the future of my daughters.

My heart races as the lingering doubt consumes me, but before I can voice my concerns, Nikhil’s words slice through the tension. “Annalise, we all care about you,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine. “More than you might think.”

“Really?” I whisper, hesitant to believe him. The sincerity in his gaze stirs something within me, a glimmer of hope that maybe they truly do care, but the fear of vulnerability holds me back.

“Truly.” His voice is adamant, leaving no room for doubt. Any further questions die on my lips as the door flies open, revealing Damian in all his imposing glory.

His wild eyes scan the room, landing on me with an intensity that leaves me breathless. Relief floods his features, and without a word, he strides toward me. My pulse quickens, unsure of what to expect from this man who has always been shrouded in mystery.

“Annalise,” Damian murmurs, his voice rough with emotion. He reaches out and takes my hand, his touch far gentler than I ever imagined possible. Surprised by his tenderness, I can’t help but stare into his piercing blue eyes, searching for answers amidst the storm of emotions swirling within them.

“Damian,” I breathe, my heart pounding against my chest. A thousand questions dance in my mind, but as his thumb strokes the back of my hand, I find myself drawn into the depth of his gaze, forgetting everything but the feel of his skin against mine.

“Thank God you’re awake,” he says, his voice cracking slightly. It’s so unlike the stoic, unyielding man I’ve come to know, and a part of me wonders if this is all just a dream.

“Thanks to you,” I reply, unable to keep the gratitude from my voice. Yet, even as I say the words, I can’t help but question his motives. Why would Damian, of all people, go to such lengths for me?

“Damian?” My voice trembles with uncertainty as I search his eyes for an answer, desperate for some semblance of understanding amidst the whirlwind of emotions that threaten to consume me. “Why did you…?”

“Because,” he interrupts, his gaze unwavering, “I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.”

“Wait,” I say, my voice trembling as I try to process his words. “What about your marriage plans? Aren’t you supposed to marry someone else?”

Damian’s eyes darken, and he shakes his head, gripping my hand tighter. “None of that matters now. All I want, all I’ve ever wanted, is you.”

My heart races, torn between hope and fear. I can’t deny the desire burning in his gaze, but I know it won’t be easy to trust him after everything we’ve been through. His declaration sends a shiver down my spine, as if acknowledging the magnitude of his confession.

“Damian, I…” I struggle to find words, my thoughts a chaotic mess as I try to make sense of this new reality.

“Annalise,” he growls, frustration etched across his face. “Why did you go out alone? You’re pregnant! Do you have any idea how worried we were?”

I narrow my eyes at Nikhil, who smirks at me with a sly grin. He had mentioned my pregnancy without missing a beat, clearly enjoying the shock on Damian’s face.

“Look, I didn’t mean to cause any trouble,” I say defensively, my heart pounding in my chest. “But I needed some time to think, and…and I didn’t think anyone would care enough to come after me.”

Damian’s features soften as he gazes into my eyes, his grip on my hand gentler now. “We care, Annalise. More than you could ever know.”

The weight of Damian’s hand on mine is grounding, a comforting anchor amidst the whirlwind of emotions. I watch as realization dawns on his face, his eyes widening in shock at Nikhil’s revelation.

“Annalise,” he murmurs, “you’re pregnant?”

I nod hesitantly, unsure of what to expect from him. His expression shifts, a smile slowly spreading across his rugged features. “That’s… that’s incredible news.”

“Really?” I ask, my voice wavering with uncertainty.

“Of course,” he confirms, his blue eyes shining with warmth. “It means you’re carrying our future, Annalise.”

A surge of relief washes over me, but it’s short-lived as another thought crosses my mind. My gaze darts around the room, settling on the empty space where Cassius should be.

“Where’s Cassius?” I ask, anxiety creeping into my voice. “Why isn’t he here?”

At the mention of his name, both Damian and Nikhil’s faces turn ghostly white. It’s as if the air has been sucked out of the room, and I can feel my chest tightening with each passing second.

“Wh-what happened to him?” I stammer, struggling to maintain my composure.

“Annalise, please don’t panic,” Nikhil pleads, his voice strained. “Just try to breathe, okay?”

I attempt to sit up, my heart hammering against my rib cage. The room spins as I push myself upright, but I refuse to back down. “Tell me,” I demand, my voice cracking under the pressure of my mounting fear. “Tell me what happened to Cassius.”

“Annalise, please,” Damian urges, his hand pressing against my shoulder, trying to ease me back onto the bed. “You need to stay calm for the baby.”

“I can’t stay calm until I know!” I cry out, desperation clawing at my throat.

“Okay, okay,” Damian relents, his own voice breaking. “Cassius…he was shot.”

The world comes to a screeching halt. Every breath, every heartbeat seems to cease as the enormity of his words crashes down upon me like an avalanche, threatening to bury me alive in a torrent of grief and anguish.

The room feels like it’s closing in on me, suffocating my every breath as I search their pale faces for answers. My heart pounds in my chest, fear slithering under my skin, tightening its merciless grip.

“Annalise,” Nikhil pleads, stepping closer to the bed and taking my trembling hands in his. “You need to breathe, okay? Deep breaths, in through your nose, out through your mouth.”

His eyes are dark pools of worry, urging me to listen, to find some semblance of calm. Forcing myself to inhale deeply, I attempt to focus on the sensation of air filling my lungs, pushing the panic back into the shadows, if only for a moment.

“Good,” he whispers, offering a small, reassuring smile. “Just like that.”

“Damian,” I croak, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my own heartbeat. “Tell me what happened to Cassius. Please.”

“Anna…” Damian hesitates, his jaw clenched as he struggles with the weight of his words. His eyes, usually so fierce and unwavering, are clouded with pain.

“Tell me!” I demand, desperation clawing at my throat.

“Annalise,” Damian exhales, finally meeting my gaze, his voice laden with sorrow. “Cassius was shot.”

The world shatters around me, shards of glass slicing through my heart as I gasp for breath. Tears spring to my eyes, hot and unrelenting, spilling down my cheeks as I choke on the truth.

“Shot?” I repeat, the word feeling foreign on my tongue, my mind unable to wrap itself around the devastating reality. “But…how? Why?”

“Shh, Anna,” Nikhil murmurs, his strong arms wrapping around me, attempting to shield me from the crushing weight of my grief. “It’s going to be okay. We’re here for you.”

“Is he…dead?” I choke out, my voice breaking.

“No,” Damian answers quickly, his eyes locked on mine, a flicker of hope igniting in their depths. “He’s alive, but he’s in critical condition.”

My vision blurs as the tears continue to flow, each one a testament to the love I hold for Cassius, for all of them. And in this moment, my heart is a fragile thing, held together by the thinnest of threads—the hope that Cassius will survive, and the knowledge that these men, these dangerous, powerful brothers, are here with me, fighting for us all.

“Promise me you’ll save him,” I whisper through my tears, gripping Nikhil’s arms like a lifeline. “Please, promise me.”

“We’ll do everything in our power, Annalise,” Damian vows, his voice steady and unwavering. “We won’t let him go without a fight.”

And as I cling to their words, to the strength they offer me, I can only pray that it will be enough.

The room swims before me as I struggle to process the devastating news, my heart aching with each ragged breath I take. Tears stream down my cheeks unabated, and I can barely find my voice.

“Tell me everything,” I whisper, my words choked by emotion. “I need to know what happened.”

Damian’s jaw tightens, but he nods, determination etched on his face. “We’re not sure of all the details yet, but Cassius was ambushed while trying to gather information for us. They shot him, but our men got there in time to intervene and bring him back here.”

I close my eyes, my mind conjuring images of Cassius, vulnerable and bleeding, fighting for his life. A sob escapes my lips before I can contain it. How did things spiral so far out of control?

“Is he going to be okay?” My voice trembles as I ask the question that has been haunting me since I learned the truth about his condition.

“We don’t know yet,” Nikhil admits, his own voice laced with pain. “The doctors are doing everything they can, but it’s too soon to tell.”

“Can I see him? Please, I need to see him.” Desperation gnaws at me, driving me to push past the limits of my own body.

“Annalise, you need to rest,” Damian implores, concern glinting in his eyes. “You’ve been through a lot, and your health is important to us.”

“Please,” I repeat, my voice barely audible, lost amidst the storm of emotions raging within me. “I need to see him.”

“Alright, love,” Nikhil concedes, giving Damian a meaningful look. “But you have to promise to take it easy. We can’t risk anything happening to you or the baby.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, nodding my agreement as they help me to my feet.

As we make our way to Cassius’s room, I can feel the weight of their concern pressing down on me, but it does little to quell the storm inside. I need to see him for myself, to find some semblance of hope amidst this darkness.

The door to his room swings open, revealing a sight that steals my breath away. Cassius lies motionless on the bed, his face pale and drawn, hooked up to a myriad of machines that beep and whir in a morbid symphony. My heart clenches painfully in my chest, and I can’t tear my gaze away from him.

“Anna,” Damian murmurs, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Remember to breathe.”

“Right.” I swallow hard, forcing air into my lungs as I step closer to Cassius’s bedside. “Breathe.”

“Talk to him,” Nikhil encourages softly. “It might help.”

“Hey, Cas,” I whisper, reaching out to grasp his cold hand in mine, trembling fingers brushing against his skin. “You have to fight, okay? We need you here with us. I need you.”

My voice cracks, and I feel a fresh wave of tears threatening to overtake me. But I push them back, focusing all my energy on the man lying before me, willing him to open his eyes, to give me some sign that he hears me.

“Please, don’t leave us, Cassius,” I beg, my heart breaking anew with every word. “We love you.”

And as I stand there, holding on to the fragile thread of hope that binds us together, I pray that somehow, someway, he can feel the depth of my emotions—and that it will be enough to bring him back to us.