*

F*cking hell!

It's been a whole f*cking seventeen hours.

Seventeen hours and still I don't have any idea how's she. I've been trying to calm and convince myself that nothing will happen to her but with every second, I'm getting more unnerving. Only if I hadn't left for the search of my pathetic brother, I'd have been with her.

I f*cking promised her that I'll not let anyone hurt her as long as I live but I broke the promise.

She, on the other hand, kept it with her life.

Her life.

"I promise you with my life, I won't let anything happen to her, you're present or not." Jesus Christ! I'm longing to hear her voice, I'm dying to listen to her cursing me.

"Nicky uncle.", Kia came up to where I was sitting like a depressed soul." Will Ari die like my mommy?", My heart went into a spin when I heard her voice.

"Kia.", mama yelled at her startling her. She wrapped her little arms around my neck, her tears soaking into my shirt." Don't say that. Nothing will happen to Ari."Mama said but Kia's question somewhere screwed with my brain.

A fear I had been trying to suppress the whole day came to life.

What if?

No. No. No. Shut the f*ck up Nicolas Arnold. Nothing will happen to her.

"Ari found me.", Kia mumbled and my whole body tensed up."That bad uncle was going to kill me.", my arms tightened around her little body, "Nicky uncle.", Kia faced me, her whole face shining with hope."Promise me, Ari will never leave."

I wiped her tears."Ari will never leave us." I promise you Kia and I promise myself.

I peeped into ICU where she was shifted after the operation. According to them, if she doesn't get her consciousness back within the next twenty-four hours, I don't even want to imagine the consequences.

For the first time, I feel so helpless. It's like I'm in the middle of a hurricane, with no means of survival and no direction to go to in a world gone insane.

My all money, all wealth seemed like a joke. How would I spend my f*cking life without her?

Stop it, Nicolas! She'll be fine.

She has to be.

For Kia.

For me.

"Promise me, you'll keep her safe in my absence?", his steel-grey eyes were shining with hope.

"I promise with my life. I'll keep her safe, you're present or not."

"You're going to die little baby and I will enjoy every single scream of yours." He inched towards Kia's face. Keeping the bloody knife against her neck, he smiled wickedly at me and without a warning, he dragged the knife across her skin.

Kia!

She died because of me.

"Kia." A scream ripped my voice and I screamed.

My eyes shot open. My chest was heaving up and down, lungs gasping for air. My face was covered in moisture and I felt sweat beads on my temple.

A nightmare? A f*cking nightmare! I looked around, white walls, white ceiling. Where was I? What was I doing? I was in a hospital, why me?

I got up, my heart pounding, screaming in pain and fear. Oh, God! Where is Kia? As soon as I tried to stand, a harsh pain shot through my abdomen. I looked down, and sure enough, blood started seeping through the hospital gown staining my hand but right now all I cared was about Kia.

I can't fail again.

I couldn't save my Mumma. If anything happened to my Kia, I'll never be able to live with myself.

I just couldn't let that happen.

I tried to get up again but this time the pain multiplied exponentially and a loud scream tore through my throat. I fell to the ground crying like a baby, my legs no longer able to support my weight.

The door to my room flung opened and two nurses and a doctor came rushing towards me. They looked so panicked that I was sure they were going to drop dead right there in front of me. Behind them, I saw Nicolas and he had Kia in his arms, tears running down her face.

Kia? I looked at her, she was breathing. She wasn't hurt.

Kia was safe. I felt relaxed.

My eyes blurred as I tried to speak something. I couldn't even make a sound. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen and I screamed again.

The nurses held me and with a dazed look, I saw him shouting, it felt like more than me he was in pain.

"If something happens to mi amore, I myself will make sure you all see hell." He tightened his hold on Kia, and the last thing I saw was the anguish in his eyes. I wanted to tell him I was okay but my eyes didn't have the strength to stay open any longer.

The only thing that mattered was, that Kia was safe.

He was safe.

They were safe, and so was I.

The next time I woke up, I was not alone. A warm hand was clasping my hand. Nicolas' hand to be specific.

It still feels weird when I say his name.

He was looking at my fingers. My heart was swelling with warmth, for the second time, he was beside me. He sure didn't leave me alone.

He didn't even realize I was awake until the time I intertwined my fingers with his.

Instantly his eyes lit up, and my heart filled with happiness seeing his little antics, he really cared for me. He turned to me and his face made me frown.

"Jesus Christ! Finally."

"You look like sh*t.", I blurted. I expected him to scowl at me but instead, he smiled a gentle smile and kissed my forehead.

I felt my heart go haywire. His lips felt so soft against my forehead.

Hashtag Perfetto!

"Are you feeling any pain?", his eyes were sparkling with concern. He looked at me as If I was made of glass.

I shook my head, my heart racing seeing him. It felt like he hadn't taken rest in years. The hair I dared to touch was messy and the bags under his eye had darkened.

"You scared me, amore.", he whispered, eyes glistening with tears. He was crying.

For me?

I tried to bite back the hiss that was threatening to escape my mouth as I lifted my hand to wipe the single tear that was running down his cheek."I'm fine now."

"You had to be." My heart skipped its beat as I heard him. His voice was soft and a little bit raspy like mine."I had to make sure you were."

"Why?"

He froze as he realized my question."Why not?", he countered back.

Before I could say anything, a lady came inside the room. She was so beautiful, her hair was black and wavy in nature and very thick may I add. I mentally took a note to ask for her hair care products later. She looked like she was just in her 30s. She had a beautiful pair of steel grey eyes. She was smiling at me.

Who was she?

"Mama.", He got up. Mama?

Oh!

Mama!

His mama. Aww! How sweet he was a mumma's boy.

But one second, if she was his mama. She had to be at least in her early 50s. Bloody hell!

What's this santoor soap sh*t?

"Nico, go home and take a shower. You f*cking stink." My eyes widened at her words and I couldn't stop the chuckle that emerged but I winced as soon as a pain shot through my gut. Bloody hell!

Nicolas looked alerted, "Where does it hurt, amore? Should I call the doctor?"

I shook my head."I just laughed."

He looked confused by my words making me roll my eyes."Just go and take a shower. You really stink." Which was a complete lie since his cologne was literally on my nose and it was soothing.

He raised his eyebrow and without a second thought leaned towards my face. What the hell was he doing? His mother was right in front of us for God's sake. He kissed my forehead and caressed my cheek with his thumb.

"Oh, I will make you pay for saying this.", his eyes were though red due to the lack of sleep, he looked happy.

I rolled my eyes."We'll see."

"Sure will."

"Ahem.", a throat cleared and I couldn't help but feel embarrassed. I gave him a death glare that said I'll-kill-you-Nicolas f*cking Arnold. He surprisingly understood and raised a brow at me.

"Ahem", his mother cleared her throat again and I pushed him looking away."Nico, get home. Now."

I poked my tongue to my inner cheek to stop myself from laughing at his face, which had gone red in embarrassment."Yes Mama.", he said and walked away giving me a wink.

A bloody wink!

What's up with his antics today?

His mother came and took a seat near me. She lovingly stroked my hair."How are you feeling dear?"

"I'm okay Mrs Arnold", She smiled at me warmly and shook her head." Just call me Mama."

"But...but how can I?", I frowned in confusion.

"I insist. Aiden and Evans also call me the same and you, my dear have the right as you're soon going to be my d-", she bit her tongue stopping herself in mid.

"Your what?"

"I'll tell you later. First, you tell me, do you need anything?"

"How long was I out?"

"More than eighteen hours after you got your sense back. Nico had gone insane when you screamed in pain.", she said and I don't know my heart picked its pace at his name."Uh, How's Kia?"

She looked surprised by my statement."Kia is absolutely fine, all thanks to you."

"It was my duty."

I had to keep her fine. I had to keep the promise I made to him.

***