20. Chapter 20
Chapter 20
STARLET
A fter spending twenty minutes deciding what to watch, Chloe and I finally decided on a horror movie. She came over with snacks and drinks—bourbon, of course, when the boys all went out to ‘take care of something’, whatever that means.
“You know, Star, I’ve known Argent most of my life and I’ve never seen him in love the way he is with you.” Chloe’s words caught me off guard, causing me to choke on air.
In love.
I nervously chuckled, dismissing her observation. “Oh, um, I don’t think it’s love, I mean—he’s never said he loves me. ”
Chloe smiled warmly, leaning forward to grab a bowl of popcorn. “Well, he doesn’t have to, Star. His actions speak louder than words—obviously.” It’s true. Everything he has done for me has shown what he feels, but if I’m honest—I wouldn’t mind hearing him say it.
Returning a slight smile, I direct my attention back to the screen. Before we could settle into the movie, the door suddenly burst open, startling both of us.
Adrian and Demitri stumbled in, breathless and wide-eyed. We rush over to them and I halt in my tracks as I see them covered in blood.
“What happened? Who’s blood is that?” Concern and confusion dripped from Chloe’s voice. I look past them at the door, waiting for Argent to enter—but he doesn’t.
Panic rises within me. “Where is he?” I demand, my voice cracking as I lock eyes with Adrian. Both of them fell silent, their stares piercing through me. “Answer me!” I yell, tears welling up in my eyes, terrified of the response I may get.
“He’s at the hospital, Star—” Demitri began, but I didn’t let him finish. Without hesitation, I pushed past them and raced towards the car .
No, no, no! This can’t be happening. I just got back to him. I can’t lose him. Please.
The car ride is enveloped in an eerie silence as we navigate our way to the hospital. The tension in the air is palpable, and I’m too terrified to break it by asking what happened.
I sit in the passenger seat, fixated on the road ahead, the flickering street lights momentarily illuminating the car's interior. Adrian’s hands grip the steering wheel tightly, and in the back, Chloe and Demitri whisper in hushed tones.
“What happened?” I manage to utter. Adrian shifts uncomfortably in his seat, clearing his throat before responding, “We... um, we found Zavier, but things spiraled out of control. Zavier shot him.” My head snaps towards him, scoffing in disbelief.
Hurting me is one thing, but now he’s crossed a dangerous line. I remain silent, redirecting my focus back to the road, but anger courses through my veins, threatening to consume me.
Minutes later, the hospital looms into view, and my heart pounds with anticipation. Without hesitation, I fling open the car door, leaping out before it comes to a complete stop. I sprint towards the entrance of the emergency room, desperation propelling me forward.
Bursting through the doors, my eyes scan the room, searching for assistance. A perplexed expression adorns the face of a lady at the reception desk as she gazes at me.
“Argent Pierce... I need to see him. Where is he?” I implore, my words tumbling out in a rush.
“Slow down, let me check,” she replies, her fingers swiftly skimming through the recent files on her desk. “Ah, yes. The young man with the gunshot wound. I’m sorry, sweetheart, but you can’t see him right now. They’re preparing to take him into surgery.”
Panic surges through me, and just as I gather my breath to protest, my attention is seized by the sight of nurses maneuvering a bed out of the emergency room doors and into a narrow corridor.
“Argent… Argent!” I yell, my voice desperate. He remains motionless. He lies still as they pass me by. Without hesitation, I sprint after them and as they enter the theater, the door shuts in my face .
I take a peek through the narrow glass in the door, witnessing them placing him on the operating table and cutting his shirt from his body.
His body is covered in a crimson pool of blood, flowing ceaselessly from the wound on his stomach. The sight pierces my heart, and tears stream down my face uncontrollably as I press my trembling hand against the cold glass.
“Please, don’t take him.”
Chloe and I have been sitting in the waiting room for a few hours now. Demitri and Adrian decided to head home to fetch fresh clothes and get us all something to eat.
As the minutes tick by, the silence becomes deafening, broken only by the occasional hushed conversation between nurses at the reception desk .
The clock on the wall reads past midnight, and exhaustion tugs at my eyelids. Chloe suggested we go home and rest, but I refused.
I am determined to be here when he wakes up, no matter how long it takes. I cling to the hope that he will soon open his eyes and everything will be okay.
Suddenly, my attention is captured by the approaching footsteps of what I assume to be a doctor. I anxiously gaze up at him from my seat, my heart pounding in my chest, hoping for news.
The doctor’s white coat rustles as he approaches us, his face a mix of concern and weariness.
“You are here for Mr. Pierce?” he asks, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
“Yes,” I reply eagerly, rising from my seat, my body tense with anticipation.
“He is awake, so you can go on through to see him,” the doctor says, offering a warm smile. But before I can take a step, he continues, “What is your relation to the patient?”
My mind races as I try to find the right words. We never really got around to putting a label on our relationship . “Uh, I’m his girlfriend,” I mutter, nervously biting my lip.
The doctor nods and gestures for me to follow him. We walk down sterile hallways, the scent of disinfectant growing stronger with each step.
Finally, we come to a stop in front of a closed door. The doctor opens it, revealing a dimly lit room with the sound of beeping machines filling the air. “Looking better already. You have a visitor.”
“Who?” Argent’s husky voice reaches my ears and I’m ready to push the damn doctor out of the way and get to him.
“Your girlfriend is here.”
I mentally slap myself and contain myself to not slap the fucking doctor. Stepping out from behind him, I see him.
Pale and weak, but still undeniably handsome in his hospital gown. His eyes meet mine, and a cocky smirk plays on his lips. The doctor excuses himself and leaves, closing the door behind him.
I can’t tear my eyes away from Argent as I approach him. I take in the sight of him, his disheveled hair and tired eyes. The smell of sterile linens mingles with the faint scent of his cologne. “My girlfriend, was it?”
“Oh, shut it.” I dismiss him as I quickly make my way to him. Without hesitation, I lean down and press my lips against his, desperate for the reassurance that he’s okay.
“What the hell were you thinking?” I whisper against his lips, my hands gently cradling his face. I have no idea what I would've done if I lost him.
Carefully, I lower myself onto the edge of the plush bed, mindful of not causing him any discomfort. However, he firmly grasps my arm and effortlessly lifts me onto the bed, pulling back the warm blanket and drawing me in beside him.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I manage to say, but my words are abruptly silenced as he fiercely presses his lips against mine, drawing me into an intense embrace.
“You can never hurt me, little star,” he rasps, his voice sending shivers of heat through my body, settling deep between my thighs.
For a few blissful moments, we lie in a soothing silence, gazing into each other’s eyes. I tenderly trace my fingertips along his cheek, tangling my hand in his silky hair.
“Please, promise me you won’t do something stupid again,” I earnestly plead, locking my gaze with his captivating green eyes.
“I promise, I’ll be a good boy, baby,” he replies, flashing me a dazzling smile. Without hesitation, our lips reconnect once more, this time with a sense of urgency as his tongue slips past my parted lips, eliciting a strained moan.
Despite his pain, he hungrily devours me like a famished predator. I gasp as I feel his hand venture between my legs.
“We can’t—someone can walk in.”
“Then you’ll have to be extra quiet. Can you do that, little star?” he softly murmurs, his grip on the nape of my neck pulling me back into his demanding kiss while his hand ventures beneath the waistband of my jeans.
“You’re injured, Argent,” I breathe, barely able to speak as his fingers slip into my underwear, spreading the wetness between my folds.
“I was shot in the stomach, baby. My fingers are perfectly fine,” he whispers against my lips as he pushes a finger into me, causing me to bite down on my lip, attempting to suppress the moan that threatens to escape. A mischievous smirk dances across his mouth as he maintains an unwavering gaze.
He adds another finger, curling them up and I cling to his arm, burying my face in his neck, muffling the moans that tumble from my lips. A simmering warmth intensifies inside me, coursing up my spine as my eyes flutter closed.
Just as I threaten to tip over the edge, he withdraws his fingers. I lift my head, breathless, and gaze at him with a perplexed frown.
He brings his fingers to his smirking mouth and sensually sucks them clean. “If I don’t stop now—I will fuck you on this bed and against every wall of this room and let everyone hear who you belong to.”