Chapter 23 - Rhiannon
Rhiannon felt like she was floating in an icy haze, with a cold blanket wrapped around her, almost like a damp rug. She could barely catch the quick sensations—voices bouncing around her, urgent and sharp, breaking through the fog in her mind. One voice stood out amid the noise, calling her name in a way that felt both familiar and a bit strange, like a lifeline trying to pull her back to reality.
"Rhiannon! Wake up! Please!"
The shouting was frantic, matching the overwhelming hospital vibes—the strong smell of antiseptic, the hustle of doctors and nurses, and the distant buzzing of machines keeping track of heartbeats and breathing. Everything around her was flickering in and out, like she was losing consciousness bit by bit.
She caught snippets of conversations, each one adding to the confusing mess that surrounded her.
"I don't know how she's still holding on," someone said, sounding worried. She couldn't figure out who it was, but she felt the urgency in their tone. Another voice, more authoritative, chimed in. "The gunman admitted everything. He's revealed his employer…"
Her mind barely registered the words—their implications as they faded away into the fog. She could feel the weight of anger and pain in the air—Adrian's rage simmering just below the surface, a force she could sense, even though she couldn't wake up enough to acknowledge it.
Suddenly, she noticed other familiar voices. Val's laughter echoed in her mind, mixed with the deeper tones of the Nikolai brothers and Adrian's family. Yet, each voice washed over her like waves pulling back from the shore, leaving her stuck in her uncertainty.
The darkness called to her again—heavy and all-consuming—but just when she thought it would pull her under completely, a voice broke through, resonating deep within her.
"Rhiannon…" It was Adrian, closer than she'd ever felt him. His voice wrapped around her like a lifeline, filled with emotion. "Please, you have to wake up. I need you. I can't lose you to this. Not like this."
With every word, warmth surged in her heart, and she dared to lean toward the flicker of light she thought she saw in the distance. She could feel him reaching out to her, grounding her against the dark. "I love you, Rhiannon, Baby, please. I've loved you for months. You need to wake up. I need you to survive."
Rhiannon's thoughts drifted sluggishly, and something prickled her memory. Was there something she'd forgotten? But that thought slipped away, and she got distracted as the light grew closer and closer. There it was—the light was right there now, glowing, golden, and warm. Adrian's words pulled her toward it like gravity, urging her to rise.
The whispers of reality pressed against her, and she imagined she could see him standing there in that soft glow, pouring his heart out for her. "You can't leave me. You have to wake up." His voice trembled with intensity, making her heart ache. "You're stronger than them, Rhiannon; you're so powerful. You've got to show them what you can do."
Adrian's determination hit her hard, lighting a fire in her chest that pushed her to fight through the fog. "You can't go before you prove yourself to them," he insisted, his emotions filling the air around her. "You're meant to run the Irish side of the business, remember? Don't you dare let some motherfucker take you from me."
Each word was like a beam of light, brightening the darkness that threatened to swallow her whole. She was almost there—so close to breaking through the barrier holding her captive.
"Rhiannon," he pressed, his voice full of feeling, "please, Baby. You can't leave without knowing how much I love you."
Do you mean it? The thought bubbled up inside her, an echo of her desire to reach for him, to wrap her arms around the love that felt so near in this space between life and death.
And then the light surged, welcoming and bright, and suddenly, she saw his face before her—Adrian, his features sharp and clear but softened by concern and love. "You've got to wake up for me. Just open your eyes."
The light around him called to her as she leaned toward it, determination flooding her body. Rhiannon took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of his love surrounding her, and pushed against the darkness holding her back.
With a massive effort, she squeezed her eyes shut and made one last push against the shadows.
"Adrian!" she called, though she wasn't sure if it came out loud or just echoed in her mind.
As she opened her eyes, the warmth of the light exploded into brightness, and darkness faded away. She blinked against the brightness, and everything around her snapped into focus.
***
Rhiannon blinked against the bright lights, her vision slowly coming into focus. The harsh hospital lights lit up the white walls, and as she looked around, reality hit her like a tidal wave. She felt the cool sheets beneath her, the faint smell of antiseptic in the air, and then—there was Adrian.
He was right there, just inches away, his face filled with pure relief and emotion. The tension on his face eased a bit when he saw her awake, and in that moment, everything that had happened felt both far away and painfully close.
"Rhiannon! Baby," he breathed, his voice shaky with feeling. "You're back. Thank God you're back." He took her hand, his warm palm feeling like a lifeline she really needed.
"Adrian…" she whispered, her throat dry and raspy as she struggled to keep her eyes open, overwhelmed by it all. He looked tired, and through her hazy mind, she couldn't quite figure out why. The machines next to her beeped steadily, matching the quick pace of her heart at the sight of him. "What… happened?"
"You got shot," he said, his words hanging heavy in the air as fresh panic flickered in his eyes. "But you're going to be okay. They've stabilized you."
The memory of the gunshot hit her like a jolt. Bits of chaos flashed in her mind—screaming, an invisible weight pressing down on her—but now, she was still alive. Relief coursed through her, mixed with the fear of everything that had happened.
"Adrian," she murmured, trying to focus. "The gunman… did he—"
"Yeah, he confessed," Adrian interrupted, his voice tense but steady. "He admitted everything and named his employer, someone from another family linked to Aleksander. It's still unfolding, but we'll figure it out. Right now, all that matters is you."
Rhiannon felt a rush of emotions—a mix of gratitude, fear, and love that filled her heart. This was the guy who fought for her, who refused to let darkness take her. "I was scared, Adrian," she admitted, her voice shaking as the weight of her vulnerability hit her. "I thought… I thought I was losing you."
That wasn't all she thought she'd lost, but the other thing—God, what was it? She couldn't remember. Why couldn't she remember?
A flicker of pain crossed Adrian's face at her words, and he moved closer, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're never losing me. Not now, not ever." His intensity pulled her back into the warmth of their moment. "I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she fought against them. What they had shared in those moments between life and death had changed everything. "I love you," she said, the words pouring from her heart.
Adrian's gaze softened, the anguish of the past few hours melting away in his eyes. "I love you too," he replied, the honesty in his voice echoing their strong connection. "Honestly, I've been loving you for months now—I was just too caught up in everything else to say it."
Hearing that made her feel warm inside. "You've been watching over me?" she asked, feeling vulnerable.
"Yeah, Baby. I couldn't help it." A small smile broke through the tension in his voice. "You pulled me, and instead of keeping an eye on your family, I found myself drifting toward you each time. You made it impossible to look away."
Adrian's words wrapped around her heart, creating a warm cocoon of love and hope. "But what about the family? The business?" She cringed at the thought of her father's expectations looming over her life.
"Forget what they think for a moment," Adrian suggested gently, his thumb brushing soothingly over her knuckles. "What matters is that you're alive. We'll tackle everything else together."
Future… she frowned, her mind buzzing before suddenly everything went quiet, and she realized what had been bothering her since she'd heard him say that.
The sound of footsteps approached, breaking the moment's intimacy. Val came into the room, relief flooding her eyes as she rushed forward. "Rhiannon! You're awake! Thank goodness!" She wrapped her arms around Rhiannon, careful not to bump against the bandage that covered the injury. Rhiannon felt the warmth of her friend around her, a safe space against the lingering fears.
"Hey, Val," Rhiannon managed, her voice still weak but filled with gratitude. "I'm okay. Just… a little shaken."
"More than shaken," Val said, pulling back to look at her critically. "You've been through a lot. But the important thing is you're here now. We were worried sick."
Adrian interjected, "She's a fighter, Val. She pulled through." His eyes gleamed with pride as he glanced back at Rhiannon.
Rhiannon forced a small smile, feeling a grip of love and gratitude constrict around her heart. "Thanks to all of you," she replied, glancing between Val and Adrian, "for being here."
The atmosphere in the room shifted slightly, with the earlier fear easing, though Rhiannon could still feel the weight of what had happened. The worry on her friends' faces reminded her of the danger that still lingered.
"I'm just so glad you're awake," Val continued, her eyes brimming with tears of relief. "The police are investigating everything, and they've already caught the caterer who was involved. They won't let him go until they get everything out of him."
Her words pulled Rhiannon's thoughts away from her personal turmoil for a moment. "Was he working with anyone specific?" she asked, her mind racing. The implications of everything were daunting, intertwining her life and her family in troubling ways.
"From what we heard, he mentioned someone connected to Aleksander," Val replied, her expression tightening. "But it's all still pretty sketchy right now. Just so you know, we won't let you face this alone."
Rhiannon's heart ached at the support surrounding her. Her friends, her family—they were there for her. But as reality settled back in, the doubts and fears began to rear their heads again. "What if he wasn't working alone? What if this is just the start?"
Adrian placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, drawing her focus back to him. "We'll figure it out. You're one of us now, and the Nikolais always protect what's theirs. You deserve to feel safe."
As the room settled into a comfortable quiet, Rhiannon felt exhaustion wash over her. The adrenaline that had been pumping through her moments before began to fade, and the pain from her injury crept back in, reminding her of what she had been through.
"Get some rest, Rhiannon. The doctor will be here soon," Val said gently, noticing the weariness on her face. "And we're not going anywhere."
Nodding, Rhiannon allowed her heavy eyelids to close. She felt Adrian's presence beside her, a steady anchor in her swirling thoughts.