Page 31 of Bound For You

My knees go weak as Avery holds me up.

“The next forty-eight hours are going to be the most critical; she’s not out of the woods yet.” He clears his throat. “She is in an induced coma. We’ll try weening her out of it in three to four days, but I don’t know if she will wake.” Damian and Dimitri hold Al up, and the doc continues, “If she does wake up, we’re not 100% sure she will be the same again. Each time she had to be revived, she was losing oxygen to her brain. If she wakes, she may be awake but she might not be there, or she may not have her memories, or even her speech and motor skills. We won’tknow until she wakes up.” He reaches forward and squeezes Al’s shoulder as tears fall from my eyes. “I’m sorry, Alexandr, but her chances are not high at the moment. All we can do is wait and pray that she fights.” Then he turns to leave as Al roars in pain. I fall apart, sobbing in Avery’s arms while she murmurs against me, squeezing me tight. I hold on to her just as tight.

An hour later, we’re allowed to see Phoebe. Avery gives me a sweet kiss and says she’ll wait in reception, because only blood family are allowed in. I make sure Al goes in first with me, much to Basil’s disappointment. When we get to her room, I instantly sob. Al walks up to her, grabbing her hand, and kneels near her bed. I use to the door to keep myself upright. Her face is pale, and wires and tubes weave around her like spider webs. I shake my head and walk over to her. I lean down and give her a kiss on the forehead.

I whisper, “You have to wake up for us, we need you.” I walk over to Al and squeeze his shoulder, then leave to let Damian and Sofia come in next so I can get Avery home. As I head to her, I notice her sitting in a chair staring at the wall. I scrunch my eyebrows; she’s still acting weird since I left her in the Volkov’s care to call Juan. I shake my head; I can’t deal with whatever drama she has going on right now. It’s probably something pathetic anyway, because the Volkov’s are the best people I know.

I have to think of Phoebe.

I sigh, realizing I need to put the brakes on our relationship for a little while. She hears my footsteps and looks up to see me walking toward her, she gives me a small smile, but I don’t return it, knowing I need to distance myself from her for now. I take her hand, walking us out to my car. I help her in, then go round to the driver’s side, and for the first time in months, I don’t take her hand.

Forty-five minutes later, we arrive at her apartment. She furrows her brows in confusion. I sigh again and murmur, “I just need some time to myself.”

She looks at me and nods, pain lacing her expression, but I stay strong as she leans over, and places a gentle kiss to my mouth. I don’t return it. She nods again and gets out, knowing I’m not going to open her door for her. I feel like shit, not making sure to walk her to her door, but I just need some time right now. I rev my engine, and once she shuts the door, I speed off, heading back to the hospital.

I don’t know how long I sit here, watching Phoebe’s chest move up and down with the help of the ventilator, while Al holds her hand, keeping his head next to their joined hands. The door opens and a woman barges in. She gasps at the sight of Phoebs, her hazel eyes fill with tears, her black hair in disarray. A man, about my height, with my green eyes and my blond hair, walks in behind her, his eyes also fill with tears. Al lifts his head and nods at them, then he leans over and kisses Phoebe’s forehead, then looks at me, pain etched all over his face, but not just pain for his love, also for me because of who just walked in the room.

He gives me a nod and I nod back, and he leaves the room. Juan looks my way, and his tears fall when his eyes meet my cold ones. I’m not in the mood to deal with him tonight. His wife Valerie looks my way, and she gasps. I get she sees me as her son, but I don’t see her as a mother. I had one and a great one at that, I don’t want or need another one, though I know she’s innocent in all this. This man lied to my mother, got her pregnant, and left her. Valerie’s only crime was staying with the man. But I also know she would of tried to take me if she had known, and that is also a crime in my eyes; my mother was my world.

I shake my head at them. I can’t deal with this. I get up. and kiss Phoebe’s forehead. I whisper, “I’ll be back soon, Phoebe Pie.” Then I turn and walk out without saying a word to them.I nod to Peter, who was put on guard duty by Basil. Well, he volunteered.

I hear Valerie sob, but I keep walking.

sixteen

Avery – Three Months Later

I’m sittingin the cafeteria after my last class; its 6 PM, and I’m with Melanie who has become a great friend since my attack. I’m looking at my phone and she frowns at me.

“Still nothing?” I sigh and shake my head. She squeezes my hand in support, then turns back to her friend Lily, who frowns at me. Her clique wasn’t very happy about our truce, they were even more pissed when they realized we’d actually become friends, they know I was attacked but some don’t care. Lily was one of the ones who said I deserved it and most likely came on to the Professor. I try not to interact with her, especially when someone told other people she actuallydidsleep with him. I shiver in disgust and go back to my phone. I messaged Sergi to see if I’ll see him today, and there was no answer. It’s like I’m only his booty call now, and I don’t think I can put up with that anymore. I deserve more.

He’s been pulling away from me since Phoebe was nearly killed. She’s still in a coma and it’s looking more and more bleak.Last week, I asked Sergi what her chart said, and he bit my head off.

He screamed at me, “You’re not a fucking doctor, so keep your mouth shut and your opinions to yourself. It’s not wanted!”

Then he stormed out of my apartment, leaving me feeling crappy and alone. Not once did he apologize for his anger toward me. I haven’t stayed at his once since before Phoebe was attacked. He says it’s just easier for him to come to mine all the time at the moment, but everyday he’s more distant. He’ll come round and make me turn my back to him so he can use my body to get his rocks off, never letting me finish. I understand his pain, I really do, but with the way he’s going, it’s like nothing matters to him anymore. I’m trying to be strong for him, for our relationship, but he’s not making it easy. I’ve been physically sick because of how he’s been acting recently; I don’t know how much more I can take.

Lily sneers at me, “Aw, your boyfriend finally decided to leave you, good for him.”

I give her a cold stare, trying not to cry.

Melanie snaps at her friend, “Shut the fuck up, Lily. They’ve been together for over seven months, his cousin was nearly murdered and may not make it, so don’t comment when you don’t know the fucking situation.”

Lily pales, then nods her head. She grabs her tray and leaves.

Melanie sighs and says, “I’m sorry.” I give her a small smile that she returns.

“Thank you for standing up for me.”

She nods, then gets a serious look on her face. She says, “You know what? I understand he’s in pain, but you’ve gone through more pain than anyone I know. Grab your stuff and get to his place, he doesn’t get to treat you like a doormat or a booty call when he feels like it. You deserve more.”

I nod because—do you know what?—she’s right. I don’t deserve this treatment.

I grab my stuff, then I lean down and kiss her cheek. She smiles wide, and I leave.

I hear her shout, “Yes girl! Put him in his place, then get some.”

I chuckle, and jog out to my dad’s SUV, and head to Sergi’s, I know he may not be in, but I’ll just wait around until he is. He can’t keep treating me this way. I was pushed around most of my life, until my parents took me in, and I won’t do it again.