S7VEN (La Familia Kingpin Series #1)

57. Status: Together

SEVEN

I DON'T remember passing out. But the dream won't let go. Santy's scream, the explosion. Blood. My wife's helpless and bloodied figure made me trash hard against the bed, fighting the nightmare that was suffocating me.

Santy. I need to be with her.

The same thought is on repeat mode since that damn needle kissed the back of my neck. I growled. I'll strangle Otto later. Pangahas.

Where is she?

I jerked upward, wincing when my wounds sting. Sapo ang balikat, I throw my feet on the side of the bed. Saglit kong binistahan ang ayos. Malinis at maayos na ang suot ko kumpara sa duguan kong mga damit kanina. I think Bob's resposible for this one. Kinapa ko rin ang tiyan, pinalitan na nila ng gasa at kung tama ang hinuha ko, the doctor did some artwrok on my sides. I puffed my cheeks, another addition to my collection of scars but this one is special. I'll wear it as a reminder of how I fucked up and of course like always, it's my pride.

My eyes roamed around the stark white room that I'm currently in. The disinfectant hangs in the air but I only crave one, in particular, a unique combination of jasmine and vanilla. Hindi naman ako nabigo. My eyes landed on the lone figure that was sleeping on the bed beside mine.

"Santy," I murmured, briskly pulling the IV off my right hand totally ignoring the pain.

Tumayo ako't akmang lalapitan ang asawa nang may isang bagay ang pumigil sa kaliwang kamay ko. Kunot-noong nakatitig ako sa posas na naroon. Mas lalong lumalim ang gatla sa noo ko nang makitang mahaba iyon at ang dulo'y nakakabit sa kanang kamay ng asawa.

"What the fuck?"

"Even in your drugged-induced state, you still manage to threaten everybody. How very you. Magpapagamot ka, but they need to shackled you and Santy together. How fucking sweet, naiyak ang mama at ang buong female population," pumapalatak na sagot ni Otto sa malamig na tono. "Here I am, thinking I'm the kinkiest of the bunch. You put every BDSM bastard into shame, Seven."

"Fuck off!"

"I will. Kung 'di lang ako tinakot ng mama, nungkang bantayan kita."

"How long was I-i out?"

Hindi ko pinansin ang patutsada ng kapatid. Despite feeling nauseous, I managed to transfer from my bed to hers. The damn organ inside my chest cartwheels then it stops altogether with my lungs when my hand touched her face. She's in one piece.

"Twelve hours, give or take."

"WHAT?"

"Sssh! You'll wake her up. Sabi ng doktor, kailangan niya ng total rest."

Guiltily, I looked at Santy. Tulog pa rin ito.

A big lump formed in my stomach as I slowly drank every inch of her sleeping figure. From the messy brown hair that looked like a halo against the white pillow, down to the blue scrub she was wearing. May maliit na gasang naka plaster sa noo nito habang sa kaliwang kamay ay isang suwero ang nakakabit. No blood, thank freaking god. She's clean now though the bruises are more noticeable and that made me boil with rage. Pero dahil ayokong magising ang asawa, I shoved that anger away.

"Just so you know, you've been in and out for the past twelve hours. Tatlong beses mong pina-ikot ang p'wet ng mga tao rito. The second time, you pulled a gun at Bob and the poor fella decided to obey your order. Thus the handcuffs."

That sounds like me, I scoffed inwardly. Ngunit hindi ko napigilan ang murahin ang sarili nang mapanisng nanginginig ang kanang kamay kong ngayon ay pisil-pisil ang kamay ni Santy. My heart is beating dangerously against my chest. Hindi pa rin ako kuntento na nasa tabi ko na siya't nahahawakan. I need to be sure so as creepy as it may appear, I focus my attention on her chest. I can't tear my gaze away from the up and down motion she's doing. Hell, I even put my left hand there just to be sure.