Captivated Desires

48

"Okay, look Azar I'm sorry okay? I just wish Josh didn't die... I was closer to him than any other bodyguard, he was like my brother," I said quietly.

Azar's expression softened slightly at my words, my apology defusing some of the tension. He looked at me, his usual hardened glare replaced with a hint of understanding. "I'm..." he started, his voice gruff. "I'm sorry too. But I had my reasons for what I did."

Reign watched the exchange, his eyes darting between the two of us. He was visibly relieved that the situation was cooling off, but the issue at hand wasn't resolved. He knew that Azar's reasons had led to a significant loss for me and that wasn't something that could be easily forgiven, let alone forgotten. But he also knew that I was on the road to recovery and needed to prioritize healing over anger.

"Look," Reign interjected, his voice firm but steady. "This isn't something that's going to get figured out right now. You both have valid reasons to be upset, but right now, the focus is on getting Reina healthy again."

He looked at both of us, making sure he had our complete attention. "After that, we can address everything else. But right now, what's important is her health. That's everyone's priority here. You got that?"

Reign's attention was immediately drawn to the sound of Willow's footsteps, the sight of her small frame entering the room without Olympia's permission. His protective instinct kicked in, but he tried to keep his expression calm, not wanting to alarm me. "Willow," he said, his voice gentle yet firm. "You shouldn't be in here by yourself. You know that."

"Mama," Willow said gently. Reign's heart softened at the sound of Willow's small voice, the endearment tugging at his heartstrings. He knelt to be at eye level with her, a small smile forming on his face.

"Hey, baby girl," he said softly, his voice affectionate. "You need to be careful, okay? You can't just come into Mama's room like this. She's still sick, remember?" He reached out, gently ruffling her hair affectionately before lifting her into his arms. Willow wrapped her small arms around his neck, pressing her tiny body against his chest.

 "Now, let's get you back to Olympia, okay? Mama needs to rest," Reign said, his voice still gentle. He started walking towards the door, holding Willow carefully in his arms.

"Wait, let me give her a little kiss," I said gently. Reign nodded, turning back towards me with Willow still in his arms. He moved closer, positioning her next to the edge of my bed. "Be gentle, okay?" he said to Willow, his voice firm but warm.

Willow nodded as she kissed me, I smiled softly "I'll be back in no time, be good for Auntie Olympia and Uncle Azar okay?" Willow nodded again, her small eyes wide and earnest. She understood the importance of being good for Olympia and Azar while her Mama was unwell. Reign smiled at the exchange, his heart swelling with affection for me and the small child in his arms.

"That's my girl," he said, ruffling Willow's hair once more. "I'll make sure Mama gets better soon, and then you can come see her whenever you want, okay?" He looked over at me, his expression a mixture of love and reassurance. He knew I was in good hands, and that Willow would be taken care of while I focused on getting better.

Azar looked at Willow's small, outstretched arms, hesitating for a moment. He glanced at me and Reign, his expression flickering between reluctance and acceptance. Reign gave him a small nod, silently urging him to take the toddler. Azar sighed softly, slowly reaching out and taking Willow from Reign's arms. She settled against his chest, her small hands grabbing onto his shirt firmly.

"Thank you for looking after the children... Tell Olympia that too," I said gently. Azar nodded, his expression still serious but with a hint of warmth in his eyes as he held Willow. Reign smiled slightly, his gaze drifting from Azar to me and back again. "We've got everything covered, darlin'. Just focus on getting better, okay?"

He gave me a reassuring nod before gesturing for Azar to follow him out of the room. Willow looked back over Azar's shoulder, her small face turning to give me a little wave before they disappeared into the hallway, closing the door quietly behind them.

The room returned to silence, the only sound being the soft hum of machines surrounding my bed. Reign's reassuring presence had left along with his support, and I was left alone with my thoughts once more.

I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me, the knowledge of Josh's death and the tension between me, Reign, and Azar adding to the overall stress. But I knew I had to stay strong, for my own sake and the sake of my children.

I was suddenly pulled from my thoughts, my hand reaching up to touch my ear. As I felt the sharp sensation on the back of my ear, a wave of confusion and alarm washed over me. Instinctively, I tried to reach behind my ear to see what was causing the uncomfortable feeling.

My heart thumped in my chest as I pulled the GPS tracker from my scalp. The small, smooth device slipped easily out of my skin, leaving a small, almost imperceptible cut in its wake. Shock and confusion washed over me as I stared at the device in my hand. Who put this here? And why? The implications of the tiny tracker sent a shiver down my spine.

My steps were unsteady, but adrenaline fueled my determination as I pushed myself out of bed and made my way towards the waiting room. As I entered the waiting room, I found Reign, Olympia, and Azar, engaged in conversation. They all looked up as soon as they noticed me, surprise and concern immediately taking over their faces.

"What are you doing out of bed?" Reign was on his feet instantly, moving closer to me with a mix of alarm and worry etched on his features.