CHAPTER XXIV
“ W hat the fuck was that?” I ran my hands through my hair, pacing the hallway with the doctor.
Jesus. I’d never heard someone scream that way. It was as if wild animals were tearing her apart.
“It’s not uncommon for trauma victims,” the doctor replied. “When she came to, her mind was still trapped in the grave.”
“What will happen when she wakes up again?” I asked.
“Every patient reacts differently. Some may relive their trauma, while others might not. It’s unpredictable.”
Just then, the doctor’s beeper went off. She reached into her white coat pocket and pulled it out, glancing at the screen. “I have to go. Please let the nurse know if she reacts this way again. I’ll come back as soon as I can,” she added, offering me a reassuring smile and walked away.
I turned around and stepped back into Gigi’s room. As I settled into the chair by her bed, I released a deep breath, rested my head against the back of the chair, and closed my eyes.
When Gigi cried that she couldn’t breathe, I could taste her fear and pain like smoke was filling my lungs.
Her cries were like scorching flames. I could feel every bruise, every shard of pain that my girl endured, slowly burning my flesh.
I was fucking useless, trapped by the heavy chains of my guilt.
I didn’t know how long I sat there when a groan pierced the silence. My eyes flew open, and my gaze locked onto Gigi. Her eyes flashed with a rage that sent shivers down my spine. It was a look I’d never witnessed from her.
“Stay the hell away from me,” she rasped.
“I’m not leaving this room,” I replied. Searching for any hint of mercy in her steely gaze, I found nothing but an impenetrable wall.
She averted her eyes, her voice dripping with contempt. “Well, tough shit. I don’t want you here. Just leave.”
“No.”
She turned to me, her eyes blazing with disbelief. “You are unbelievable. Do you realize what you’ve put me through? You accused me of being a traitor.” The words lashed out like a sharp whip.
My heart sank as guilt consumed me. “I know. Fuck, I know.”
“You did it without a second thought,” she spat. “No matter how many times I told you it wasn’t me. That I would never do something like that to you.”
My hands were itching to hold her, but she recoiled when I reached for her. “Angel?—”
“Don’t call me that,” she cut me off, her voice rising.
“You will always be my angel.” I gave her a hard look. “I let you down, I know that. I’ll get on my fucking hands and knees and beg for your forgiveness if that’s what it takes.”
Her bitter laugh turned into a painful grimace, her hand pressing against her injured ribs.
“Baby, please be careful.” I stood up, my heart tightening as I noticed her flinch in pain once more.
“Would you fucking stop moving?” I snapped.
Her eyes narrowed into a fierce glare. “Fuck you,” she snarled.
My lips curled into a smirk. I leaned closer, placing my hand on the bed frame just inches from her face. “If you insist.”
She shook her head and scoffed. “You will never touch me again.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
Our eyes locked in an intense stare down.
“You’re delusional. I can’t forgive you,” she said, her voice devoid of emotion.
“Don’t say that.”
“You abandoned me, Nico. You broke your promise to keep me safe,” she accused me, tilting her head slightly. “Do you know what they did to me?”
I clenched my jaw tighter, knowing exactly what they had done to her.
A twisted smile curved her lips. “They burned my skin with a fucking lighter.”
“Stop,” I growled, my fists balled up so tight my nails dug into my palms.
Undeterred, she continued. “They used a taser on me. More than once.”
“Please, stop.” I wasn’t sure how long I could hold back the tide of wrath begging to be unleashed.
“They beat the shit out of me until I was unconscious.” She struggled to hold back her tears. “I lost my…my baby.”
“Gigi, please stop talking.”
“I was raped!”
My rage exploded, and I hurled the water bottle against the wall. “Stop!” I roared. “Just fucking stop!”
I was panting, my chest rising and falling rapidly.
“No, you stop!”
“I know what they did to you,” I managed to spit out, my jaw clenched tight enough I could feel my molars threatening to crack under the pressure.
“I don’t need a fucking recap.”
I looked at her, but she no longer looked broken; she looked like a warrior primed for battle, an avenging angel ready to unleash hell.
“I can’t take back what happened to you,” I said, forcing myself to hold her gaze, even as a wave of guilt threatened to drown me. “I hate myself for what I did to you, for what they...” I paused, shutting my eyes briefly, biting back the surge of anger that rose in my throat.
“But I promise you”—I opened my eyes, steeling myself— “they will pay for what they did to you. Every single one of them will pay. I swear it.”
She laughed, but it sounded empty. “It doesn’t matter, Nico,” she said quietly. “The damage has been done. You can’t undo any of it. No one can.”
“I know, but I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it right. I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness.”
Once burning with rage, Gigi’s eyes were now void of emotion. “And what about the next time, Nico? Can you be sure you won’t throw a tantrum and screw me over?”
Her sass almost made me smirk, but I fought it down. I caged her with my hands on either side of her head, desperate for her to see the promise in my eyes. My truths.
“Trust me when I say I’ll never doubt you again. I’ll fight for you. I’ll die for you. I will protect you. No one— no one —will ever lay their hands on you again.”
She seemed to weigh my words, and then she delivered the death blow. “It’s over between us. You made it clear that I wasn’t enough for you,” she said, her voice flat. “I won’t risk my heart again. You broke me, Nico. You shattered my trust. You could never earn that back.”
I inched closer, my lips nearly brushing against hers, and a small gasp escaped her lips. It was a flicker of hope, a spark I refused to ignore.
“You are more than enough. I won’t fuck you over ever again,” I promised, my eyes locked with hers, fierce and unwavering. I pressed my lips against hers, but she jerked away. I grabbed her chin, forcing her to face me. “You and I will never be over.”
I hesitantly released her chin and stood tall. “And you’re not broken,” I said, my voice firm yet gentle. “Your wings may be clipped, but they will grow strong again.”
Moments later, the nurse stepped into the room, a warm smile spreading across her face.
“Oh, look at you! How are you feeling?” she said in a cheery tone.
“I’ll be better once he leaves,” Gigi said curtly.
I crossed my arms, and her eyes focused on my bicep. I flexed it, making her blush. At least her color was returning.
“Oh, is everything okay?” the nurse asked her while checking her IV bags.
“No, everything is not okay. I want him to leave,” she repeated.
The nurse sent me a nervous glance, and I smirked.
“What’s so funny?” Gigi asked, looking between us.
“I own this hospital.”
Her eyes bugged out like a cartoon character’s. “What? Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious. You can hate me, but I will never stop loving you. I’ll leave for now, but I am not giving up,” I promised.
She didn’t say anything, but I could sense her eyes following me as I walked out the door.