Book 1: A soft spot for an Angel

Chapter 3: Drew

Anger boiled inside me. Braxton had returned and was after Kiara. The smug look on his face didn't help matters either. I held onto the front of his shirt with one hand, forming a hesitant fist with another. If I punched him out, it would keep him away for a while....at least until he decided to go after Kiara again. And if i set him free unscathed, he still wouldn't be out of her life for good. It was a lose-lose situation. "Must be a difficult decision to make if you're this silent,' he said smugly.

I softly grumbled, grasping the front of his shirt tighter. "Shut the fuck up, moron. Why are you really here for Kiara? And why are you involved with her mother?"

"Fuck," he scoffed. "Like that's any of your business. Do whatever you're going to do to be the hero. I'm running out of patience "

My fist met his right cheek, knocking him out slightly. I stood over him, watching him spit up some blood onto the ground. "It's idiots like you that really tend to piss me off. Get out of here and never show your face again"

He got up on his feet, cleaning himself off. "Another empty threat. Already told you and Emaly, neither of you can protect Kiara. See you around, asshole"

I headed angrily inside to check on Emaly and Kiara. They were sitting together on the couch, Kiara's eyes welled with tears. I joined them, ignoring the pain in my left hand. "Kiara, you're safe now. Dry those tears"

She lifted her head from Emaly’s shoulder to place it on mine. "Drew, this isn't over. This is just the beginning....for all of us. Please, please just let me go to end this"

Emaly’s eyes welled up with tears, as I glanced over at her. I held them both close to my chest, letting both of them crying into my shoulders. "Kiara, we will never let you go. How's your head after the fall? Are you still bleeding?"

She lifted her head, then placed her right hand on the back of it to check. Her palm was stained with blood. "Yes, I am"

I got up on my feet, pulling them both up with me. "We're going to the hospital.  I'll drive and Em? You'll watch over kiara"

Ignoring the speed limit, I got us to the hospital in seconds flat. Emaly and I helped Kiara inside. We stayed with her while the doctor checked her out and told us she needed stitches. Kiara didn't have a high pain tolerance, begging and pleading for him not to do it. Emaly held her in her arms, assuring her she'd be fine, but Kiara wasn't having it. "I have an idea," the doctor said. "Kiara, was it? I can give you some medicine to knock you out while I stitch up the back of your head. That way, you won't have to see or feel what's happening "

"But...but...but...." Kiara nervously stuttered.

Emaly pulled her in closer. "Doctor, Kiara has....issues when it comes to sleeping"

"Oh, I wasn't aware," he told us. "She is going to need stitches. We have two options: either she stays awake and I stitch her up, or we put her to sleep and she doesn't know what's happening. It's your choice, kiara"

"Knock me out, doctor," she replied a little more confidently. "I'll...I'll be alright for a little while "

"Are you sure?" Emaly asked her, noticing the worry in her eyes.

"Yes, Em, I'll...I'll be alright. As long as my brother and sister will be there when I wake up?" She glanced at Emaly and I with puppy dog eyes.

"Of course," we said in unison.

"Alright, Kiara get comfortable on the bed and I'll be right back"

The 3 of us were left alone, Kiara avoided any eye contact nervously playing with her fingernails. Emaly continued to comfort her, while I kept my distance and paced back and forth. "Drew," Emaly called. "Sit down, you're making Kiara nervous "