Chapter 2
Zachariah
I smiled down at my phone, my heart full of hope and hurt at the same time. I knew what I was doing when I brought Avidya into my world. I knew the price it would put upon my head, along with hers. To me, the price was the same no matter what. I had enemies that wanted me dead, and they would stop at nothing to achieve that. I was used to it. I had to be.
I hated that Avidya had to go through so much already, so soon.
I was never more thankful that we were spared that day. Yes, I had more healing to do, but we were alive. Breathing, walking.
Alive.
Jonas was on watch duty at the house with my girl, and he made sure to keep me up to date on her progress as much as possible. It was the only thing that kept me calm and from discharging myself more than once.
Ihatedhospitals.
It wasn’t my first time here, and I knew it wouldn’t be the last. My job was not safe by any means.
I was the Don’s grandson; an easy target. I was the next in line if anything happened to my father. I knew what to expect; knew what would become of me if I ever had to take that role.
God, I hope I never have to. It was bad enough as it was now.
Clicking on the photo so it would cover my screen on my cell phone, I could see how tired Avidya was. She wasn’t the only one doing all the worrying. I knew she’d blossom in time with everything that would surely be put on her plate, just because she was now part of my family, even if she hadn’t figured that out yet.
She was asleep by the front window, the sun shining slightly through as it rose higher into the sky. The sun glistened off her hair that was almost pure white sometimes. I could see the dark circles under her closed green eyes. She needed sleep like me, but it wasn’t easily found.
She was my strength, my world.
She kept me going these last few weeks, and I could see how everything went smoother without her by my side. She was my everything.
I had wanted her to stay each night, don’t get me wrong. I would have liked nothing more, but she was beyond tired herself. I could see she was pushing herself too hard to try to take care of me, worrying about me.
So I demanded she went home each night with the help of my father, no matter how my heart tore in two at the words. I knew I could sweet talk the doctors to get her to stay, but she needed rest as much as I did. So, I let my mom stay, knowing that there was at least one or two men standing right outside the door to make sure no one could come back to finish off the failed hit.
I wasn’t sure if I was glad that I couldn’t remember much of the car accident or not. I don’t remember the crash, just the pain afterward, which was bad enough. Fuck, that first time I woke up, I could have killed for the strongest pain meds ever.
It wasn’t the first time, and I was sure wouldn’t be the last. The last time I was in such pain, I had been the one to cause the pain as I purposely crashed my car into a building that I needed to get into. The metal door was locked, so I drove around to the back and ran straight into the wall.
I accomplished what needed to be done.
From my father, I learned that the car crash was a setup that was meant to kill one of us, or maybe both. He assumed it was both because we were both shot at nearly point blank.
I never wished for my girl to feel such pain like that. I had promised to protect her, and I had failed.
I knew how a bullet burned as it pierced one’s skin. The deeper the bullet pierced, the stronger the pain would grow inside one’s body. I knew from experience how the wound would itch inside and out, even after it was fully healed.
Avidya didn’t like to talk about it, which I understood. She was more frightened than she was letting on.
While I was in the coma, I could faintly hear her every once in a while. It was her voice that drew me up to fight against the darkness that wanted to consume me with every beat of my heart.
If it wasn’t for her, I would have let the depression take me and never return to the earth as a man. If it wasn’t for Avidya, I would have gladly let my life slip away. I was so close to doing just that.
I could take whatever pain, deal with whatever, but knowing my girl was in the same predicament was what got to me. I was never happier that I got, the worse out of the pain. I so desperately wished with my entire being that she hadn’t had to feel anything like she did, though.
My father may be tracking down the fucker that tried to kill us, and the man that was behind it, but I would be the one that will pull that trigger that would end the hitman’s life. It was only fair in my eyes.
Avidya had talked to the police a few days after the accident, and apparently, she held up pretty well, despite the pain she must have been in. Travis had sat in with her, once more acting the part of a lawyer, while she retold the story.
I was glad that no one left her on her own. I had no idea what would happen to her if Cody, or anyone else, got their hands on her. I had no desire to find out, either.
