The Handsome Devil

Chapter 69 - A Family

It took whole eight hours for Cole to return to his room after they've rushed him off to a surgery, twelve before they proclaimed his state as stabilized, and then five long tormenting days before his eyes finally opened - to the relief of the whole gang.

During all this time, Deya refused to leave his side for a second.

Although such intention didn't go well with the devil and he tried to get her removed more than once, he also feared the scene she threatened to cause would make someone call the police. He might have bribed the doctors, but there was little power the mobster held over mere civilians so unless he figured out how to sneak her out through the window, she got the upper hand.

Therefore, she stayed, and after the second night in the uncomfortable chair for visitors, some blessed soul from the hospital team ordered for a spare bed to be placed in the room and she managed to get a couple of hours sleep.

Occasionally, when she woke up in the middle of the night, her eyes frantically searching for Cole to check on him, she would find Max sitting at his side instead, as if filling in for her absence.

Or does he just want to avoid me while visiting?

Despite the temptation, something always prevented her from letting him know she's awake and confronting him. Instead, her eyes opened ever so slightly, and used the unusually peaceful moment to observe his grim expression.

So much seemed to happen since their unfortunate meeting, and with all that she's learnt and experienced, she had no idea what to think about him anymore.

It is given that she'll never fully understand the darkness that made him want to lead this kind of life, and she might never find enough strength to completely forgive him. However, she'd lie if she said that learning about his tragic past left her image of him untouched.

Countless times she tried imagine herself in his position, but the mere idea of her own brother soliciting the murder of their parents made her nauseous.

And for nothing more than money..

Her mind instantly flashed to Gabriel and his parents, wondering how much can a bunch of coins and notes corrupt someone's character. How can it entirely blind them to the consequences of their actions and lead them to believe they are untouchable.

Well, no more.

It was during one of those nights that she made her mind. No matter what Max says, she'll help them to take Connor down. For him, for her dad, for Cole, and for everyone else that was unfortunate enough to cross paths with him.

Although the moment Cole regained consciousness was by far the happiest she felt since long before her father's death, it did little to change her intentions as she couldn't stop wondering whether the next victim would be so lucky.

All the stress and worry she went through in the hospital took a toll on her, and once she alerted the nurses and all the Bulldogs in proximity of Cole's regained consciousness, she allowed herself to back away from all the chaos and collapse on top of her bed.

Her eyelids became heavier by the second, but before they closed for good, she engulfed herself in the scene.

One after one, the rowdy men purred into the room, soon creating an impenetrable cheerful crowd around the entirely confused patient, much to the disapproval of the grumpy looking nurse that entered a couple of minutes later.

There was a lot of parent-like chastisement as she attempted to stop them from pulling the man into hugs and fist bumping him, but she quickly learnt that ruling the Bulldogs is an uneasy task and eventually gave up, which drew a small smile on the girl's exhausted face. Her duty here was done, and all she could think of were the words Patrick said when she inquired why he joined the gang.