“Sir, I’m sorry this is coming from in-house, but you have us who are loyal to you until the end, okay? Go get some rest.”
As usual, he knows what I need to hear, and I take my first deep breath since I heard the voice on the other end of that phone.
“Thanks, Yuki. See you soon.” When I hang up, I type out a text. I don’t need to read his reply to know he’s shocked. Putting my phone away, I head back inside, making sure the door is locked before I slip the pillow out of Nikko’s grip. He groans and rolls to his back, his hand searching my empty side of the bed, so I slide back in and let him pull me into his embrace. The safety I find in his arms allows me to finally slip into a restless sleep.
Sighing, I roll over, only for pain to stab through my arm and wake me up. Confused, I blink up at Nikko’s ceiling, seeing sunlight. I sit up, swing my legs off the edge of the bed, and check my phone, my eyes widening at the time.
It’s ten in the morning. I don’t think I’ve ever slept past eight, but ten?
Nikko appears in the doorway in a frilly apron and smiles softly as he crouches before me. “Hey, sleepyhead, how are you feeling?”
“Fine,” I say around a yawn.
“Good, the doctor is here to check your wound. Yuki must havesent him first thing this morning, since he was banging on my door at seven.” Nikko laughs, and my eyes widen, swinging to the door. “Don’t worry, he’s still here.”
“You should have woken me,” I rumble as I sit up straighter, “so he didn’t have to wait.”
“You pay him enough. He can wait all day for you,” Nikko replies as he helps me to my feet. I can do it alone, but I don’t argue as he takes me to the bathroom. Once there, he helps me wipe down my body and wash my hair and face before sitting me down then blow-drying and styling my hair for me. He dresses me in boxers and a sleeveless jersey so the doctor can see my wound. The entire time, he treats me like I’m something precious and breakable, pampering me at every step.
When he’s sure I’m okay, he lifts me into his arms and carries me into the living room. “I can walk,” I mumble.
“So? I can carry you,” Nikko retorts as he sits me down on the sofa and covers my legs with a blanket. I blink at Doctor Gregory. I could have called him last night, considering Nikko is right, I pay him enough, but it wasn’t life-threatening. “I’ll make breakfast. Greg, do you want another coffee?”
“No, thank you, Nikko. You’re very kind.” He inclines his head, and Nikko points in my face.
“Behave.” He heads back to the kitchen, and I wince as I meet Gregory’s eyes. He’s grinning.
“I like him,” he remarks as he approaches, his kit already out. “Okay, let’s see what trouble you got into now.”
I sigh. “Not my fault.”
“No, it was the bullet’s. You just got in the way,” he teases. He’s been treating me since I was a kid, and he’s friends with my father and also his main doctor. I have no doubt my father will hear about this, but the doc is the best for a reason. He’s also the one who tested me for STDs when I first found out about Faiz’s cheating, and he held me while I cried and waited for the results. He’s a good man.
He’s graying now but still handsome, and his face has more wrinkles than I remember. His thin black glasses complement hishandsomeness. He’s also built, since he surfs a lot. He even tried to teach me once, but I wasn’t very good at it.
“You did a good job on this. I’m just going to clean it, seal it, and dress it. You know the drill. Keep it clean and dry, and come in for checkups,” he lectures.
“Yes, sir,” I tease, making him huff.
“Still a brat, I see,” he replies as I wince in pain.
“Always, I’d hate to disappoint,” I retort, focusing on talking rather than the pain in my shoulder. No matter how many times I get shot, it still hurts like a son of a bitch. It’s better than being stabbed, though. I’ll give it that.
“He takes care of you,” he murmurs as he dresses my wound, his gloves warming up from my skin. “He’s better for you than the other one.”
“You barely know him,” I hedge.
“I don’t need to. I saw the way he looked at you. Besides, that man was ready to put me on my ass if I so much as dared to wake you this morning. Only love makes you that crazy. You deserve someone like that.”
“Crazy?” I joke.
“Loyal,” he replies as he looks at me, his glasses sliding down his nose. “However, I do know how to discreetly get away with murder, Zia, if you ever need it.”
I laugh, and when I glance up, Nikko is smiling at me from the kitchen. “Not with him, not ever.”
“Good.” He stands. “Nikko, I’m telling you because he won’t listen. Keep it clean and dry, and he needs a checkup every two days. If there is any pain, redness, swelling, or fever, call me immediately. He needs to rest that arm and drink and eat, and no freaky carnal activities that put it in a weird position.”
“Got it.” Nikko pulls his phone out, no doubt writing it down, not the least bit shy about what they are discussing.
