MAFIA'S ANGEL

CHAPTER 19

Pain is merciless - capable of breaking and shattering the strongest. It sears through the body like a storm, sweeping away the sane thoughts, taking everything that is good and twisting it against you. 

It makes you beg not to feel. 

Her eyes opened to white ceiling and distant cracking of fire. The light glow danced at the side of her vision. Angelique had been slipping in and out of unconsciousness. First time she awoke was in a car. She was laid out on the backseat, her head cradled by warm, strong embrace. The second time, everything was more blurry. There were a lot of white, blinding lights and mix of voices she didn't recognize. She was being rushed to somewhere and she could clearly remember a man in medical mask peering down at her. 

And the third time was now. The panic and commotion was gone. There was only the distant sound of fire blazing across the room. 

Her mouth felt dry and her body was stiff. 

"What happened?" The raspy whisper pushed past her chapped lips. She wasn't sure if anyone heard it, or if there was anyone in the room with her in the first place. 

Then there was shuffling from other side of the room, followed by heavy thumping of footsteps. Dazed, she followed the source of the sound. A tall, huge man approached the bed, his movements a tad awkward, like the room was spinning and he was just barely keeping from toppling over. 

"Angel." His voice was gruff, thick with accent. The man stumbled into her sight, glazed over grey eyes staring down at her feeble form. Nikolai slumped down on the bed, careful not to bump against her. An empty whiskey bottle was clutched in his one hand, bits of amber drink swiveling at the bottom. 

He's dead drunk. She noted. This was the first time she had seen Nikolai, the fearsome mafia leader come unhinged. Angelique had seen him drink many times, but never get bombed. 

"What happened?" The young woman repeated, getting used to the dryness in her throat. "My...shoulder hurts." 

"You got shot." 

"Shot?" Her voice broke off into a croak. 

"I wasn't careful." Nikolai slurred, staring down at her pale face. "It was a sniper. The bullet was meant for me, but got you instead." Slowly he reached out to tuck a loose strand behind her ear. He was being so gentle that this might as well be a dream. "It struck your shoulder." He explained, "Doctors said it's flesh wound." 

Hurts anyway. 

"I see..." She wasn't certain how to react to this. "How long...was I out?" 

"Two days." 

Nikolai inched closer when she made a move to sit up. "Don't." He growled. Even when tipsy, his voice rung with the type of authority that didn't allow to disobey. 

She winced, hand coming up to caress the bandage wrapped around her shoulder and chest area. "Do you know who did it?" 

"Not yet." His eyes blackened dangerously. "But when I will, God better have mercy on them." 

Angelique swallowed. "I need-" Before she could finish the sentence, Nikolai had already reached for a glass of water set on the nightstand. His large hand slid under her head. Carefully he put the glass to her lips. The water soothed her dry throat. She gulped it down hungrily.

"Thank you." She murmured when he pulled the empty glass back. "Why are you here?" Angelique blurt out. The question had been bouncing back and forth in her head. "Irina could've helped me." 

"I refuse to leave you alone until I find who harmed you." His voice was serious, and his words final. There was no changing his mind no matter what she said.