Chapter 26 - Piotr

Heading out, I heard Ashan’s men shouting at the people inside. Pain radiated through my entire being with every step I took. Looking at Alyssa, the thought of nearly losing her scared me more than I had thought it would. I decided I had to tell her how I felt.

I had to make her stay. I would not survive if she left. My heart wouldn’t be able to take the pain. I had no issue with physical pain; my body would heal. But when it came to my heart. I was sure it wouldn’t recover.

I saw Konstantin’s car close to the door as we exited the corridor. Moving to it, we leaned against the side. My breathing was labored. As the adrenalin wore off, I could feel the aches stirring up.

Mila was the first to come out. She looked at us with wide eyes. “Are you two okay?” she huffed.

Glancing at Alyssa, I turned to her. “Princess, look at your face. Are you okay?”

“Let me grab the first aid kit from Leon’s truck. I’ll be right back,” Mila added as he walked away.

Alyssa tried to smile but ended up uttering under her breath. “No, don’t do anything. Just keep still. Mila will get you fixed soon.”

She touched my chest, softly moving her hand up to my shoulder. Tracking her movement, I saw the blood was still flowing. Slower than before, but there was still movement. “Yeah,” I breathed out. “I’ll be fine.”

“Right,” Mila said, placing the kit on the bonnet. “Who do I patch up first?”

Mila smiled as I pointed at Alyssa, and she was pointing at me. This made us laugh but then caused both of us to winch. The two women exchanged a look I didn’t understand. As Mila spoke, looking at me, I knew what it meant. “Right, you’re first then.”

She cut my shirt and removed it. Both women gasped at the bruises displayed across my body. Looking down, I smiled a little as I spoke. “Naw, that’s not so bad. They missed all the vital organs, or I would be dead now.”

Mila gave me a disapproving look. Alyssa squeezed my arm lovingly as I gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m good, really.”

After wiping the holes in my shoulder and side, Mila covered it with gauze. “Hold here,” she ordered as she fetched the medical tape. “We’ll need to take you to Ashan’s place. These wounds need stitching,” she added.

Once she ensured both injuries were covered, she turned her attention to Alyssa. Mila inspected the bruises and swelling on her face and neck. “Most of these seem to be damage to the skin, but it would be better to have you checked out,” Mila said as Konstantin headed our way.

“Wow, look at the two of you. You look like you fought a war.” Konstantin said jokingly. “I take it you need a ride?”

Turning to Alyssa, I took her hands in mine as I spoke. “I love you princess. I want you to choose a life that makes you happy, whatever that may be. However, if you decided to stay, you would make me the happiest man on earth.”

I could see tears forming in her eyes. Alyssa pressed my hands as she replied. “I love you too and want to stay with you, Piotr. You are my happy place.”

Feeling my chest swelling with warmth, I took her in my arms and kissed her deeply. I didn’t care about the pain. My heart was whole, and that was all I needed. Our lips had barely met when Konstantin cleared his throat and interrupted in an annoying voice.

“Aww, how cute. The tough guy is actually a fluffy,” he said, opening the car door.

I replied as I threw him the middle finger. “Shut up and take us home.”

“No, no, no,” Mila interrupted. “You are to take them to Ashan’s. I will arrange for him to contact his doctor. They both need treatment.”

Alyssa and I both got in the back seat. As Konstantin closed the door, he mumbled under his breath. “Now I’m driving cabby.” He got in on the driver's side, glancing at us in the mirror as he continued his bantering. “Now, kids, behave back there. I don’t want to clean up any funny stains, you hear me?”

At this remark, Alyssa giggled and I couldn’t help but smile at him. “You’re something else, you know,” I replied as he pulled out and headed to Ashan’s gambling den.

Upon our arrival, Mila and Cindy were waiting outside with the men. They took Alyssa inside while I stopped to talk to Leon and Ashan.

“Ouch,” Ashan remarked. “You look painful.”

“Yeah, I didn’t feel much earlier, but it is starting to dawn on me as my muscles cool down. Plus, I’m feeling a slight dizziness coming on,” I replied, grinning.

Leon chuckled a little as he took my arm. “Right, let’s get you inside so the doctor can have a look.”

“I’m not staying here,” I added as we walked in.

“Right,” Ashan replied. “Up to my office then.”

They assisted me up the stairs to Ashan’s office. He threw a sheet over the leather chair before allowing me to sit. “I’ll get the doctor,” he said as he left.

After a couple of minutes, he returned with the doctor in tow. The doctor placed his bag on the table and took out a syringe. “Right, let me see,” he mumbled as he turned to me.

“I don’t need those,” I said holding out my hand to stop him.

The doctor took my arm, looked at me sternly, and stuck the needle into my arm. “Young man,” he said, looking over his round glasses. “I say what you need and what not.”

He turned back to his bag. This time, he brought out a large bottle and a cloth. He removed the tape and gauze Mila had placed over the wounds and continued to clean them. Once that was done, he started stitching me up. By this time, I was glad he had given me the pain meds.

I felt very little as he worked on closing the holes in my body. But knew once the meds worked off, it would pain like hell. Needing to stay awake and clear, I struck up a conversation with Konstantin. “Hey, brother, when will you get hitched? You’re the only single one now.”

Ashan, Leon, and Konstantin all burst out laughing. Konstantin shook his head. Glancing at Leon, he replied, smirking. “It seems like trouble. I think I’ll stick to playing in the bundle. Seems safer, don’t you think? Look at what you guys went through. Nope, I don’t want any part of that.”

This made me chuckle as well. “Damn, that hurts.” I spouted, holding my side. “I almost forgot I was stabbed. Thanks for the reminder.”

“All done,” the doctor said, collecting his things. “If you notice coloration or swelling, please give me a call,” he added before leaving.

Ashan poured us a stiff drink before we headed back down to see where the ladies had gone. We found them in the dining hall. They were seated in one of the booths at the back, and the doctor was there.

I listened as he gave Alyssa instructions on drinking her meds. He handed the prescription to Mila and told her to ensure Alyssa took them as directed. He nodded at me as he came out of the booth and left.

“Right then,” I said, stepping inside. “Time to go, ladies.”

After saying our goodbyes to Ashan and Cindy, we headed home. For the next two weeks, we would nurse each other back to health. Once that is done, we can focus on family and work.