KALEN

Chapter |13| Daisies

K A L E N ' S P. O. V

I can't stop seeing the blood. It stains my hands still even though I've already washed them a dozen times. The busy hospital setting is somewhat calming to me now.

I've been here so many times, sat here so many times whilst someone I've loved has been in danger. It's all just normal to me.

It's sick. I shouldn't feel like this, yet I do.

Tessa's mother is giving blood. I wasn't a match, I knew that before, but the fact that I can't do anything to help her is killing me. My ass is glued to the tiny plastic chair that sits outside her room.

The doctor managed to remove the bullet and stop the bleeding but she lost a lot of blood. He said without the transfusion, she would have died.

I knew if she had, I would follow her. Living without Tessa isn't an option. The near experience of almost losing her makes me realise just how precious she is to me.

"Anymore updates?" Kiara sinks into the chair besides me. Her bridesmaid dress is stained the same way mine is and she exhales a heavy sigh, proving just how much of a burden this day had been on us all.

"No. Tessa's mom is still in there."

Kiara finds the strength to bark out a laugh. "She's going to hate you now, you know that? If I know anything about that woman, it's that she knows how to hold a grudge."

"How do we explain this? How do I?" Then it hits me. I hadn't even thought about that possibility. Tessa hates the violence, the death. She almost died because of her association with me, with my family.

What if this was it? What if her mother manages to convince her to divorce me already?

No. I can't f*****g think like that. I have to faith in our love.

"Don't worry. Dad will fix it. He fixes everything."

"You didn't see her Kiara. She knew. She said she would take Tessa from me. I don't think she'll be easily convinced."

"Dad will fix it." She assured, resting a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You know, it's weirdly nice to see you so broken up like this."

"What the f**k?"

"I just mean...it shows you care, it shows you love her and while I'm completely terrified of something happening to my best friend, I know that you're right for her. I admit it, I had my doubts at first. Tessa is my person, and to see her hurt by my own brother would destroy me because how could I ever take sides?"

"I would want you to take hers." Tessa needs Kiara. They're weirdly linked with a creepy psychotic bond.

She grins. "That's how I know you're perfect for each other. The Kalen I grew up with was never this selfless."

"She's the best thing in my life. If I lose her..." I break down into tears at just the thought of it. Kiara tries to comfort me the best she can, but I can feel her visibly shaking too.

I wrap my arms around her tight, and let her cry with me. She almost lost her daughter. Now her best friend is in the hospital. My little is so grown up, it's easier to forget she's just twenty.

"How's Stasia?" I brush a kiss against her head.

"I just managed to put her down before I got here. She was screaming. Screaming, not crying. She was terrified. I don't think the image of her covered in someone else's blood will ever leave my mind."

"Would you ever leave?" She stiffens slightly, but doesn't move away.

"No. Aaron and I are too involved in this world. Even if we wanted to escape, we couldn't. It would just follow us. You and Tessa though...you can be free after this. You know this wasn't targeted at you."

She's right. It wasn't because we were getting married. It was just the right people happened to be here.

***

Ten hours later and my wife is awake. The worst part is, I've not even been allowed in yet. Tessa's mother practically shoved me out of the room, before I could my wife and slammed the door in my face.

My dad told me to wait. To give them time.

I can't afford time. I almost lost my wife and now minutes are wasting away where she could be held in my arms. I pace the hallway back and forth, hearing the odd word, or sobs coming from her room.

They're like tiny stabs to my heart. She could be convincing Tessa to divorce me right now. Tessa may not even want to see me.

Fuck. I'm turning crazy. My mind is cluttered with so many thoughts, so many ways this could go wrong and I just don't know what to do.

I don't know what to f*****g do.

"Have faith." My dad comments. I look up, and realise I was speaking out loud. "Son, that girl loves you. It's a love that rivals my own for your mom, and you know how f*****g much I love her. Don't let other people dictate your relationship, own your mistakes and apologise and if it's meant to be, she'll forgive you."

I nod, taking in his words. He's right. I make my own f*****g destiny.

I storm towards the door to see my wife when it opens instead. Tessa's mother appears on the other side, her lips tilted down in distaste. "My daughter wants to see you. Why? I have no clue."

As she pushes past me, I glance back at my dad and gesture for him to speak to her. If anyone can get through, it's him.

The room is flooded with light. A stark contrast to the dreary hospital hallway. Flowers are littered everywhere. An array is orchids, roses, tulips...I absentmindedly touch the bouquet still stuffed inside my pocket.

"Kale," Her voice is so quiet and soft. I don't know whether she's preparing me for bad news or she just physically can't spikes any louder.

"Tess," I sink besides the bed, clutching her small hand in mine and press a kiss to it, so light, it barely brushes the skin. Tears rub down my face, wetting her hand, but she just clutches onto it tighter.

"Kalen look at me." I force my head up and visibly gasp.

She looks like a f*****g angel. And it's no exaggeration. The light enhances her heavenly beauty, highlight the natural glow she exudes, her soft smile, the faint roses that blooms on her cheeks.

"Are those for me?" She eyes the crumped flowers and I hesitantly pull them out to give them to her. Then she smiled. Her eyes watering. "Daisies? Our favourite." She laughs quietly. I laugh too.

It feels so f*****g weird to laugh. My muscles aren't used to it.

"I love them. They're the best ones." They are definitely not. My slightly bent small daises are nothing compared to the extravagant bouquets that surround us. "Hey, they really are. And they're going right here." She places them in the cup besides her bed.

I can't help but laugh again. It looks ridiculous. Then again so completely perfect.

I swallow hard, knowing I can't ever lose her.

"Don't divorce me. Please I'm f*****g begging you."

"What?" She frowns.

"Look, I don't know what your mom said and she's probably right. I'm destructive and dangerous and I should be locked up for the sins I've committed." I quote her directly. "But that doesn't change the fact that I'm changing. That I want to move away, I want us to start over. Tess, I thought you died and I didn't know how to live. I don't see a future without you in it. Please,"

I just like an i***t. Begging on my knees. Sobbing like a child. Yet I've never felt such fear before. Such powerlessness.

"Kalen. Kalen stop. Come here." She tries to pull me up but winces. I quickly move besides her and scan her wound. It's not bleeding. Thank f**k.

"I'm okay, and I'm not divorcing you. The fact you thought I would hurts Kale."

"I'm sorry Tess."

She just smiles. "Kalen, you know what I thought when I was lying there bleeding out? I wasn't thinking I can't wait to divorce this man when I wake up, or that I'm finally going to start listening to what my mother says." We both share a laugh. "I was thinking I can't wait to start my life with my husband. I can't wait to live a life with no regrets. I knew I wouldn't die, because I'm not done living with you Kalen."

"There's so much left for us," Tears continue to stream down my cheeks, and this time she's the one to wipe them away.

"We haven't bought a house together yet, or honeymooned, or...had kids." Kids. Multiple.

We've talked about it of course, but it was always just fictional. This feels different. We're husband and wife, she might still be twenty and me, only 23, but this had changed us. In the span of a day, we were suddenly all grown up.

"I found a house. I don't know how, but...I turned on my phone in the waiting room for a second, just a second, to check the time and a notification popped up from that app. Remember? A four bedroom house on the coast, beautiful beach views, a garden as well...it was yet so perfect, and then I realised my life didn't fit into that utopia, at least not then."

"Bid for it."

"What?" She becomes eager and wide eyed, attempting to snatch my phone to do it for us. I quickly give it to her before she can hurt herself. "Kalen! That's a f*****g sign. I can't believe you didn't bid, I hope it's still on market."

"Baby, one I thought you were dying and two, you haven't even seen it. We haven't, not in real life, I barely caught a glimpse."

"A glimpse and it's perfect? Kalen, can't you feel it? I know I haven't seen it and it's crazy but this feels right. I feel excited. I'm in so much pain right now, but it numbs it. Baby, we need this house."

I watch as she puts in my phone password and scrolls to find the app. The house is still on the market, not surprising since it's price range into the millions. Her face lights up, swiping through every picture. I admit, I'm excited too. The prospect of this place being our home, our children's.

Then her eyes land on the price and she hesitates.

"Tessa, do you love it?" I ask her gently. Her eyes well up with tears, matching my own, and she nods.

"Then let's get it." I press the bid button and within five minutes there's a response from the realtor to arrange a meeting.

"Kalen. Can afford it?" I never want her to worry about money. Even now that I'm jobless, I have so much saved up, from working and various jobs I've had in the past.

"Yes. We can. I have enough Tess."

"I want to contribute too."

"Let me buy this one. Don't forget we have a lifetime together, I'll let you buy the next when you've sold your paintings."

She snorts. "Kalen they're worthless. I'll get like ten dollars at best."

"Hey, they're priceless to me and that ten dollars can buy us a lot baby."

As I pocket my phone, I notice her smile fade. "What happened to everything? The house, the guests, was anyone killed?"

"A few injuries, but yours was the worst. The house is a mess, but my dad has people manically running around to fix it. The police believe it was just a robbery gone wrong. Our wedding was always going to be a grand affair and my family is well known, it was an obvious target."

"What really happened?" My lips downturn, and I try to suppress my anger.

It isn't his fault. I keep repeating. They're Kiara's words. So foreign for my own mind because internally I blame Aaron Black for this. For ruining my wedding, almost killing my bride.

"Kalen?" She presses.

"The Russian mafia attacked. Aaron was involved with them previously, apparently he was engaged to marry the daughter, and then obviously he withdrew when Kiara came back with his child. They attacked in retaliation."

"You're angry."

"Of course I am Tess. Without him, you wouldn't be in pain and neither would my little sister."

"I get it too Kalen. I've never been his biggest fan. You know that, but he makes Kiara happy in ways no-one else can. You can be angry at him, just don't let it fester into something deeper. He's your niece's father and most likely he'll be your brother in law one day."

I reluctantly agree even though I know it'll be hard to forgive. Tessa smiled brightly. She really is my guardian angel, saving me from self inflicted damnation.

I rest my chin on the edge of the bed, listening to the rapturous sound of her voice, as she lists off everything she's going to do to make our new house, our home.

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A/N: What did you think??

Thoughts on Tessa's mother?? On the daisies ??