ACE

Chapter 98: Promises

Playlist for this Chapter: Hesitate by Jonas Brothers, Didn't I by OneRepublic.

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"Nico..." I hear her sniffle and get up from my seat immediately, alerting the doctors while she mumbles in her sleep as nurses rush in.

"Mrs. King, open your eyes." The doctor tries to wake her up but she shakes her head as I push them out of the way and hold her by the shoulders, hugging her to my chest.

"Dove, it's me, Jake, please wake up." I say softly, her cries softening before she opens her eyes slowly while I wipe her tears.

"It's me, Jake." I say when she nods slowly while a nurse offers her a glass of water. 

I help her sit up and help her drink the water before she places a hand on her stomach and looks at me worried.

"The baby's fine." I say and hear her sigh of relief before she sits up again.

"And Nico? H-he was shot, Jake. Is he okay? T-tell me he's fine." She says, her eyes glossy and I nod.

"He's okay, he'll be okay." I say as tears fall down her face.

"What happened?" She asks looking at my injured leg when I sigh.

"Nico got shot, lost a lot of blood but doctors say he'll be fine. He's in a coma right now, healing." I explained and saw her tense body relax.

"Are you feeling better?" I ask her and see her nod before the doctor asks her some questions and checks her vitals.

"You're doing much better, but we need you to stay a few more hours before letting you go home." He said and we both nodded before he left.

"Can I see him?" She asks looking up at me and I nod, making sure to ask the doctor if it's alright.

"You know, I could just carry you." I say pushing her wheelchair towards Ace's room when she looks back up at me and grins.

"And have Nico kill my best buddy? Nah. I like you alive, thank you very much." She says and I chuckle at her.

"How long was I out?"

"A day and a half." I replied, noticing her frown when she nodded.

"And is everyone else okay? I noticed your injured leg. What happened?" She asked worriedly.

"Yeah, some asshole stabbed my leg. A bullet grazed Matteo's shoulder, but he's okay now, I guess, and Stuart broke his hand fighting with some guy." I say and hear her gasp.

"My god, are they better now? What about Addy? Is she at home?" She asked and I smiled when she referred to Ace's place as 'home'.

"They're alright. Addy's pregnant." I say when she gasps quite audibly.

"Really?!" She exclaims excited when I chuckle and nod.

"Where were you then all this time I was out?" She asked when I looked at her curious expression.

"I uh... I went to visit my old house. Where I grew up. And my parents' grave." I said and saw her sad smile as a nurse opens Ace's room's door and helps us in because this leg sure hurts like a bitch.

I look back up at Dove after fixing my bandage, noticing the tears streaming down her cheeks as she strokes Ace's knuckles and kisses the back of his hand.

"He's going to be okay, right?" She asks me with teary eyes when I smile reassuringly.

"He won't die easily, he's too stubborn to leave you in someone else's arms. And I'd personally drag him back from hell if he did." I say nonchalantly when she smiles through the tears.