Intoxicated || An Eminem Fanfiction

Chapter 78

Marshall's POV

Hospitals have a way of dragging time, stretching every second into a slow, relentless ache. I sat in the hallway, staring down at the pale tile floor, the antiseptic smell heavy in the air. Leila was still in surgery for her collarbone, and every moment from the fight replayed in my head—the crash of glass, the thud of her body against the coffee table, the look in her eyes when pain took over. She was in that room because of me. And the weight of it sat heavy in my chest.

The sound of doors swinging open yanked me out of my head. Alec strode in, his face dark and fists already clenched. Alec wasn't just any guy—he was a legend on the streets. When things had gotten serious between me and Leila, Trick had warned me plain and simple: Alec was the kind of dangerous you didn't cross. Even after he'd retired from dealing, he was still respected and feared. Standing at 6'4" with a build that could rival a cage fighter, Alec had a reputation for getting results, no matter the cost. He'd been one of Trick's most trusted enforcers, someone who protected his family without hesitation. He was always strapped. Always ready and he feared nothing.

And today, all that fury was aimed at me.

Before I could stand, his fist smashed into my jaw, sharp and punishing. Pain shot through my face as I staggered back, barely catching myself against the chair. Alec didn't let up, his eyes locked onto mine, blazing with anger. His fist drove into my ribs next, the impact forcing the breath out of me, leaving me doubled over. But I didn't fight back. I couldn't. Hell, I deserved every bit of this.

"That's for putting her here," he snarled, his voice low and deadly. "The only reason you don't got a bullet in your skull is 'cause she loves you."

I wiped the blood from my mouth, nodding slowly. "I know," I managed, the words rough in my throat. "That's why I called you. She... she needs you."

People in the hallway had stopped, staring wide-eyed, whispering to each other, but Alec didn't care. His gaze was locked onto me, anger radiating like a live wire. His voice dropped lower, simmering with a rough edge.

"Do you get it, Marshall?" he demanded. "Leila's not just anyone. She's family. Me and Tommy did everything we could—sacrificed whatever it took—to make sure she could have a real shot. A shot at a better life. And now, she's lying in a hospital bed because of you. I told you what would happen if you hurt her."

I forced myself to hold his gaze. Alec's anger wasn't just rage—it was loyalty, built over years of watching out for her, of fighting for her. Leila was more than just a cousin to him. She was a promise he'd kept to Tommy, a promise to protect her with everything he had left.

Before I could respond, a nurse approached, gripping her clipboard tightly as she glanced between Alec and me. "Mr. Mathers?" she asked cautiously.

I swallowed hard, ignoring the ache in my jaw and ribs. "Is she... okay?"

"She's stable," the nurse replied, offering a small, practiced smile. "The surgery went well. She'll need time to heal, but... there's something else." She hesitated, glancing down at her clipboard, choosing her words. "Her hCG levels are elevated, which indicates early pregnancy. We estimate she's around eight weeks along."

The floor seemed to drop out from under me. Pregnant? Leila was pregnant. The nurse continued, explaining something about monitoring her closely and bringing down an OB-GYN, but her voice faded into the background and then she disappeared up the corridor.

Beside me, Alec's fury sharpened. I could see the flash of anger turn to something else as he absorbed the words. But before I could process it, he clenched his fist again, his arm shooting forward. This time, his punch landed hard against my ribs, the force doubling me over in pain again, my breath ripping from my lungs.