Captivated Desires

47

"Azar murdered him for no reason!" I yelled.

Reign's frustration flared, his jaw tensing even more at the bluntness of my statement. "It wasn't 'for no reason,' darlin'," he shot back, his words sharp. "Azar had a reason, even if you don't agree with it. It wasn't an act of violence without intent or purpose."

He took a small step closer to me, his eyes narrowing. "But what's done is done," he said, his voice quiet but intense. "And you need to let me handle it. You have to focus on yourself now, get through this infection, and get home safe and healthy. Can you promise me you'll do that? Promise me you won't let this consume you during your recovery?"

I glared at him "Fine,". Reign let out a sigh, the tension in his body slowly loosening a bit. He knew I was angry and upset, and rightfully so. But he also knew I needed to let go of that anger and focus on my recovery. "Thank you," he said quietly, his voice softer now. He brought my hand up, placing a gentle kiss on the back of it. "Just... stay focused on getting better, darlin'. That's the most important thing right now."

Reign's expression softened slightly as I nodded, the tension between us visibly lessening. He leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead. "That's my girl," he murmured, his hand still holding onto mine. "Focus on getting better. I'm right here, every step of the way. You're not alone, darlin'. I'm not going anywhere."

He straightened up, his eyes watching me closely. "Is there anything you need right now?" he asked, his voice gentle. "Anything I can get you to make you more comfortable? You seem less agitated today, and it's early enough, so if you want, I can stay for a while if you want to chat or just have company."

Reign turned his head slightly at the sound of Azar entering the room. His expression remained neutral, but his eyes flicked over to his friend, silently acknowledging his presence. "Hey," he said with a nod, his voice holding a hint of tension.

Azar's expression hardened slightly at my silent treatment. His gaze flicked between me and Reign and the tension in the room was palpable. He moved to stand beside Reign, not directly opposite where I sat in the bed. Reign watched the exchange, the tension in his shoulders increasing as he sensed the building discomfort between the two of us.

"We need to talk," Azar said, his voice a little gruff but not confrontational. He kept his gaze on me, his eyes studying my expression. Reign shifted his weight slightly, a silent warning in his eyes. He knew this conversation was coming, and he knew he wouldn't like what was likely to follow. But he stayed quiet, opting to let me and Azar interact without his interruption for now.

Azar waited for a response, my lack of engagement only made his irritation grow. After a few moments of silence, he spoke again, his voice growing firmer. "You gonna keep giving me the silent treatment?" he asked, his eyes flashing with annoyance.

"Are you not going to listen to your boss's orders?" I retorted.

Azar's jaw clenched, my words hitting a nerve. He took a small step closer, his expression hardening. "I have my reasons," he said firmly. "And you don't have a say in my actions or my loyalty."

Reign watched the interaction, his eyes moving between me and Azar. He could see the stubborn determination in my eyes, the fire that was refusing to back down. But he could also see the stubbornness in Azar, the rigid loyalty to what he believed was right. It was a volatile combination, and Reign knew he needed to step in before things escalated.

"Fuck you dude,". Azar's eyes narrowed, his irritation flaring even more at my words. His hands curled into fists, the muscles in his jaw clenching and unclenching several times. Reign interjected, stepping between me and Azar. "Hey, whoa, both of you," he said, his voice firm but controlled. "Let's just cool it for a moment."

He placed a hand on Azar's chest, silently signalling him to give me space. Then he turned to me, his gaze locking onto mine. "You need to keep your cool, darlin'. Getting angry is only going to make your recovery harder."

"He is starting it, when he knows I need to recover, once again he isn't listening to your orders," I replied. Azar's eyes flared again, his temper starting to boil over. "I don't have to listen-" he started, but Reign cut him off swiftly.

"Yes, he does," Reign stated firmly, his voice brooking no argument. He turned to Azar, his gaze hard. "You do have to listen to me. And right now, that means backing off and not instigating things in here. She needs to focus on healing."

Azar looked like he wanted to argue, but the stern expression on Reign's face told him he wasn't going to win this. He huffed out a breath, stepping back, but the tension between us all remained high. 

Reign waited until Azar had taken a step back before redirecting his attention to me. "And you," he said, his voice softer this time, "You need to stay calm, darlin'. I understand you're upset, but getting worked up like this isn't good for you right now."

"Oh don't start with me when he is going around not listening," I folded my arms and sighed.

Reign let out a sigh, the frustration growing. "I know, darlin', and I'm handling it," he said, his tone firm but restrained. He shot a glance at Azar, his eyes silently instructing him to remain quiet. "But you need to focus on your recovery," he turned back to me, "Getting stressed isn't going to help you get well sooner. And I need you to get better, okay?"

I could see the worry in his eyes, the concern for my health clear on his face. He wasn't trying to dismiss my feelings or my anger, but he was also acutely aware of the delicate balance between my current condition and my emotional state.