You Are Mine

Conscious

Adrian 

My eyes felt heavy like I had weights on them. Every breath came out through a struggle and my entire body felt weak and cold. I could vaguely remember the sounds of a bullet fired through the air, terrified and shaky hands clutching my shirt as the psychopath pointed the gun at her and then pain. 

Deep piercing pain. And then pitch-black darkness. 

But before that darkness, I could not forget those eyes. Tear filled, narrowed in horror and pain and uncertainty. They were her eyes. Forcing my eyes open, I grunted at the bright lights in the room where I lay, and almost immediately, my eyes snapped shut. 

"You're awake," a soft, hopeful voice said in the distance. It was familiar, but the way it dripped with pain was completely unfamiliar to me and it sent dread racing through me. 

"Adrian?" the voice spoke again, a plea, along with a soft squeezing on the small fingers that I had not noticed were locked in mine. 

This time, my eyes fluttered open, and I forced them to stay open as I took in the surrounding. I realized that the lights earlier were from the white ceiling tiles that greeted me first. 

With a groan, I tried to push myself to sit up, but I felt a large hand holding me back down. "Two seconds after you wake up and you're already thinking of new ways to murder yourself." Doctor Raymond's thick, harsh voice spoke, and I looked beside me to see his standing next to me, a chart in hand. 

The man had terrible bedside manners, but he was an expert I could always count on to make the right choices for me and my men when the need came, and with discernment, as regards my line of work too. Considering that I was awake and breathing even after being shot, I was reassured that I had not made the wrong choice with him. 

"Nicole," I said simply, pushing his hand off me and forcing myself to sit up, despite the pain that rocketed through me from my abdomen. I realized that I had been breathing through a mask, and lifted a hand to push it off, but not before she stopped me. 

"You need to have that on," she said getting to her feet.

She wore a nervous expression across her face but still managed to force a smile as she looked down at me. She dug her hand softly in my hair and leaned down to kiss my forehead. "You really scared me," she mumbled with her lips on my head. 

When she straightened, I realized immediately that she had been crying through the time I lay here, unconscious. Her eyes were puffy, nose red and worry lines had formed on her beautiful face. "You were crying, you should be glad to see me." 

"I'll remember to do that when my mind is not going crazy thinking when you would wake up," she choked out, forcing a smile as a streak of tear rolled down her cheeks. 

"Hey," I reached my hand up to wipe her cheeks, ignoring the stab of pain. That pain was nothing compared to the pain from knowing I had put those tears in her eyes.

"I'm fine," she pulled back, taking my hand and dropping it back carefully.

"I cannot say the same for you though," Anderson's familiar voice sounded from the door. 

"And if you rip your wound open with your stubbornness, I will not be so kind with fixing it a second time," Doctor Raymond spoke with a stern voice and a hand holding me down from moving further up. 

"Adrian you should lay back," Nicole said in a pleading voice, "your wounds are still very fresh, and..."

She did not need to say more, I had troubled her enough for one night and if it would make her feel better to see me follow the doctor's orders, I gladly will. Plus there was the fact that I felt more relaxed now I knew she was here. I collapsed down back to the bed, tightening my fingers around hers. 

"What's going on with me?" I turned to Raymond, pushing off the oxygen mask. 

Raymond raised a brow, but instead of reprimanding me, he shook his head and spoke, "You're lucky, the bullet narrowly missed your vitals, there was a whole lot of bleeding though and before I forget, you have your lovely wife here to thank for saving your ass with her blood," 

My gaze flashed to her, and she gave an embarrassed smile, forcing her eyes to stay locked on mine. Despite the tears in her eyes and her sulky face she was still the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, and now she was my lucky charm too, but most of all she was mine, my beautiful, stubborn, defiant, wife. 

I circled my thumb over her hand in gratitude, and she brushed a light kiss on my lips. "I'm just glad you're fine." 

"Not yet," Anderson's voice interrupted what was about to be a moment with my dear wife. "There's still the fear of having an infection if the wound is not properly taken care of, and I cannot emphasize enough the fact that it will rip open again if you decide to be careless with it."

"He won't" Nicole spoke, and all heads swiveled to her, "I'll make sure he doesn't."

"And some prescriptions," Raymond stretched out a list of a prescription in his hand. 

"I do not need those," I growled, giving Raymond a scowl, "you know I just need a few painkillers. I'm fine," 

"No you're not," Nicole said in an icy voice, snatching the paper from him, "he'll take them. Every single one of them."

"I knew I would always like you as my sister-in-law," Anders grinned as he gave her a proud look. 

"What else?" 

"Nothing else," Raymond said shoving his pen in his picket, "no stress on the wound or it'll bleed again, and make sure he takes every dose laid out on that paper." he shot me a scowl, "he's a stubborn ass," 

"I'm right here," I glowered. 

"Clearly," he gave me a look that said he gave not one f**k, and continued, "but I do not need a third eye to see that you can handle this. He will take a few days, maybe weeks to heal, but I'm sure you can let him go back into his battlefield after a week." 

"Thank you so much," Nicole breathed and walked around the bed to hug him. It was then that I saw that she was nearly covered completely in blood. 

"Well I'm being paid thousands of dollars to take care of this family," Raymond chuckled, but still hugged her, "you're welcome anyway." he released her and headed for the door, "I'll make arrangements to get you moved upstairs."

"You're soaked in blood," I said as the door shut.

"Your's, not her's," Anders said, taking Raymond's place to hold me back. "she stayed here all night, refusing to go change." 

"What time is it?" I asked Anders. 

"It's almost noon," he gave me a charming smile. 

"Noon?!" Nicole and I asked at the same time. 

"'Afternoon," he clarified. 

"The last time I checked it was almost morning," Nicole said scrambling for her phone in her back pocket, she checked the time on it and gasped, "whoa, that late?" 

"Yes, it is, which is why you need to go upstairs and freshen up," he took the seat by my bed. Nicole made a face, but Anders held a hand up, I had a feeling they had gone over this a few times between last night and now, "you have been down here all night Nic, I'm worried about you and it's not healthy to have so much blood all over you for so long."

She frowned, taking my hand in hers, "but I don't want to leave him," 

"Kitten, I know you're worried, but I'm fine." I stroked my palm over her neck. She was hiding it well, but I could see the tiredness in her eyes. "you need to rest too."

"And I'll be right here with him," Anders chipped in, "we'll move him upstairs before you even finish getting dressed."

She chewed on her lips, probably contemplating what to do, "Okay," she finally said, "but I'm only leaving because now I remembered how much I cannot stand blood." she looked down at her clothes in disgust and I could only wonder how she had managed to stay that way all night and still be conscious. Leaning down, she pressed a soft and long kiss on my lips. 

She pulled away when Anderson groaned next to my bedside. For a second, I wanted to punch my brother for his interruption. "I'll see you soon," she promised, before reluctantly heading for the door. 

"She's just as stubborn as you are," Anders noted the moment she left. 

"Trust me, my wife is even more stubborn than me," I said drily, sinking down into the bed. "where's mom?" I did not bother asking about Chelsea, she was probably celebrating a new victory now. 

"She spent the night with Chelsea in the chapel," he said with a hint of amusement that deepened as I shot him a surprised look, "yes, Chel was also worried sick about you too, our sister might have a degree in bitchery, but she's not an evil witch with no feelings." 

"You would have had me fooled," I snorted, looking away. 

He gave me a light punch in the arm, and I turned to him sharply, "you do realize I'm the patient here," 

"Haha very funny," he mocked, "that's for being an asshole and the next one will be for not telling me the truth about how you really got shot." 

I had been hoping he would not ask that question, but apparently, luck was not on my side today. "what did Silas and Edward tell you?" 

"You got shot while trying to save her," he said simply in a tone that betrayed no emotion. 

"My men did not say that," I said looking away. 

"They didn't," he got to his feet "and even though Nicole had not told me, your reaction right now is enough for me. What the f**k is wrong with you man?" 

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I shrugged. I knew I had f****d up, but the last thing I needed was a lecture from my baby brother on how and why. 

"Since when do you put yourself in harm's way for someone else?" he barked, getting to his feet. 

"First, keep it down," I said harshly, "second, my wife is not just anyone else." 

"You married her as a way to get dad from jail," he reminded me, "but that will not count if you go getting murdered carelessly." 

"He was going to shoot her," I barked, groaning at the pain that shot through me, "what was I supposed to do, throw her to the wolves." 

"There could have been better ways than taking a f*****g bullet for her!" 

"I brought her into this!" I moved to sit up but his hand shot out to hold me down again, I pushed it off and sat, "I took her away from her very peaceful, normal life into our very shitty abnormal life. So it is my duty to see that she at least makes it alive. I will do whatever I need to do to protect Nicole, do you understand me?" he nodded stiffly, "it's not the first time I have been shot and if I decide to get shot for her, I f*****g will!"

With a sigh, he raked his hand through his hair and sat down again, "Look, man..." 

"You're her friend," I interjected, "you should be glad she's safe." 

"I am!" he yelled back, "but maybe you forgot the part where I'm supposed to look out for my brother first. It's family first, before any other relationships." 

"I would have thought I made it clear that she was family when I married her," I said in a clipped tone.

"You said you got married to her to get dad out of jail," he raised a brow. "that does not involve getting shot for her." 

"Well change of plans, because I don't mind taking another bullet for Nicole." 

"What are you saying man?" he gave me a suspicious look, I knew he could tell what I was going to say next, and just like me, he probably dreaded my answer too. 

"I'm saying I love her," I said without missing a beat, "get that sunk into your brain." 

There was a long silence, most of which I spent thinking if I had made a choice telling my brother how I really felt about Nicole. "You know what that means for her Adrian, don't you?" he asked when he finally spoke, his voice was solemn and I could see the concern for Nicole in his eyes, "she will become a target," 

Tell me something I don't f*****g know. 

"Too late," I groaned, "Ricco came for her last night and I know too well that it would not be his final attempt." 

He opened his mouth to speak, but the doors burst open, revealing my mother and dear sister. "My son!" mom cried, rushing over to me. Despite the tiredness and worry that played across her features, she still managed to look graceful and undaunted. I had never met anyone that could hide their emotions better than my mother. 

"Don't tell me you have been crying," I chuckled, pointing to the tears brimming in her eyes. Chelsea followed behind her, looking just as terrified.  

"I am Eveline Davonte," she said tipping her head up, "I never cry."

"Somehow that's even more hurtful," I shook my head, somehow finding the strength to be amused. 

She dug her fingers in my hair, smoothing her hand over it gently, "I love my daughter-in-law, but right now I'm upset at her, she vehemently refused to let me see you." 

"You know that's not true mom," Chelsea said, rolling her eyes.

"Well she refused to leave even for a second, I felt like a stranger the whole time I was here." 

"Are you not supposed to be happy that she cares so much?" Anders chuckled. 

"I would be happy if I were not worried sick about my son." she frowned, as she gave me a thoughtful look, "how do you feel child?" 

"I'm fine mom," I took her hand and kissed it, "it's just a bullet wound, I'm okay and alive."

"Good," Chelsea retorted, "because I have better things to do than cry my eyes out all night in worry for you."

"Always a b***h," I muttered, managing to hide my amusement. 

"Said something?" she glared at me. 

"Come here, Chel," I stretched a hand out and she took it, hugging me as she shifted closer. 

"I thought something bad would happen to you," she sobbed on my chest. It felt like ages since I heard my sister cry so much. 

"I can't die yet," I laughed, "I have not completed my mission of making you loathe me through your teenage years."

"Very funny," she straightened and wiped her eyes. "You better be careful next time you decide to go throwing bullets everywhere. I'm not shedding a tear the next time your sorry ass gets shot." 

"Language," mom and Anders admonished at the same time but did nothing to hide their amusement. 

"Aye aye captain," I said with a light chuckle, leaning back into the bed. 

**********************************************************************

The next three days were the most infuriating, yet the most enjoyable three days of my life. It was not the fact that Nicole was always by my side every time I turned my head, that part was actually my favorite part about getting shot, but my anger lay in the part where I was treated like an injured 6-year-old. 

Nicole took care of my wounds every day as she expressed her concern about me getting infected, and the worst part was the medicines. The damn medicines. 

They had the most awful taste, smell and they made me feel weak as f**k. Nicole though was persistent and would resort to the pettiest stunts such as sulking and trying just to see them run down my throat. Feeling guilty for worrying her so much in the last few days, I would always let her childish stunts win and take the medicines without a fuss.

I could count though on the soups she made every evening. Every time she disappeared into the kitchen and walked back upstairs with a bowl of soup for me in her hands I would wonder why I did not get shot every day. Along with a skill with brushes and paints, she had a great skill in the kitchen too and it made me feel guilty for taking that away the first time she had made breakfast. 

"You should cook more often," I said as she blew on a spoon full of soup from where she sat next to me on the bed. Did I forget to mention the part where she made sure to feed me by herself every day? Do not blame me for wishing to delay my recovery a little more.

"Funny," she shot me a rueful smile, "I wonder who took that opportunity from me."

"I'm giving it back to you now," I reached a hand out and stroked her cheeks. "you're so good at it." 

"It's my mom's recipe," she said 

"Still," I sat up, tilting my head to get a better view of her beautiful face, "I apologize for a chance to thank you and apologize," 

"For?" 

"I apologize for putting you in such a dangerous situation," I let my hand trial lower to her neck, leaving my touch light, but still firm. I loved the way her breath slowly hitched up at my touch.

"It's not your fault that psychopath was out to kill me," yes it is, "so no need to apologize. Though I think I would rather not go out of the house for the next few weeks, I never want to be in that situation again." 

"I'm sorry Kitten," I pushed myself forward and closed my lips over hers. "and thank you for staying by my side all night." 

"I'm you wife Adrian," she reminded me demurely, deepening our kiss. God, it felt damn good to hear her say that. "I was simply taking my place."

A knock sounded at the door, and I huffed in annoyance, then yelled at our intruder, "what?" 

My brother's voice sounded from the door, "Kenan is here," he said hurriedly, "and she's not alone,"