The Brightest Star

90. Leo

Leo's POV

God, I felt sick. My stomach turned in various ways, and I wanted to rub it, hoping it would help settle the waves that ran up my throat, but my arms felt numb and heavy at the same time. I groaned in frustration.

"Leo?" I heard someone say, but I wasn't awake enough to really pinpoint who it was yet. "I'll get the doctor! I think he's waking up."

Doctor? Why? I wanted to ask, but my mouth wouldn't move. Everything came rushing in. The sound of the gun firing at me made me flinch, or at least, I think I did. That's right. King. Was he okay? That wasn't his voice asking for the doctor.

"Leo? Leo. Baby?" A warm hand ran over my face, making me sigh. That's the voice I was looking for. I could feel my heart start to calm in my chest. He was okay. He was alive. I was so scared. "Can you open your eyes for me?"

Damn. It felt like they were glued together. I'm trying to. I wanted to say to him, but my lips wouldn't move. He asked me to open my eyes again, so I'd have to do that first. I hummed again, feeling my eyelids flicker, the tiniest creak of light hitting my eyes, making them close again. Damn it!

"It's okay, baby. Take all the time you need," King said. His voice sounded far off, but I needed to get to him.

The warmth in his hand left my cheek, making me want to whine. "No," I yelled, I think. I needed his hand there again.

"What?" King sounded worried. What was happening? Warmth filled my cheek, closer to my neck, and I felt my lips move. Right? "I'm right here, Leo. I'm not leaving."

Please don't ever leave me. I tried to open my eyes again. This time, it is a little easier. The light was still blinding, but I was ready for the shock this time, fighting off the urge to close them again.

Everything was a blur at first, but after a few blinks, my eyes adjusted, and the red spot in front of my face turned into the beautiful man I loved so much.

"Leo." King's voice cracked as his other hand rested on my cheek. "It's okay, baby. I'm not leaving."

I wanted to reach for him and let him know I knew he wouldn't since my lips wouldn't move, but my body wasn't working yet, and my eyes started to grow heavier.

"He's awake so soon?" A voice came from somewhere else, but I didn't want to look away from King even as he started to blur again. "It's normal ... Let him rest."

I felt like I'd slept forever but was still so tired. Sleep was the last thing I wanted to do, but I couldn't fight my eyes to stay open.

—

When I opened my eyes again, the light in the room was much dimmer. I searched with my eyes for King again but couldn't move my head to see yet. My heart monitor began to beep faster as I licked my lips.

"King." Damn, my throat felt like sandpaper. It hurt just to move my lips. My body felt stiff like I hadn't moved for a while, but everything was too heavy. I didn't know what happened or why I couldn't feel my body, and it scared the hell out of me. I wanted King. King would make it feel better.

"Leo?" King's voice came from a place I couldn't see, making me suck in a shaking breath. "Baby. What's wrong? Does it hurt? Hold on."

His face finally came in front of me as I tried sucking in more air—my bottom lip trembling. Hot tears ran down the sides of my face. "King. You're ..." My voice sounded like I swallowed gravel, but he was here. He was safe.

The last thing I remember were those men holding him and guns pointing at his head. How did he get out of it? Did Uncle Ben see us and rush over? Was King hurt, and I couldn't see it? Whatever. I didn't care how he got out because we were here. Alive. Together.