Her hands tried moving across the satin white sheets of the hospital bed but it proved abortive. Every move from her partially numb fingers were been restricted by a severe pain that flowed through her battered body.
“Raph I’m scared. The car. I don’t want to die please”
Those words, like a dying cry, echoed through her mind followed by a vociferous crash which immedately made Nicole instantly feel a jolt like electricity pass through her body, shaking her entire being.
In a flash, she flew her eyes open only to be welcomed by a bright light. The searing bright light felt like a hot steel on her skin. It was awfully painful yet hospitable. It took a moment for her blurry visison to adjust to the oddly white hospital ward.
White ceiling, white walls, white bed, everything was white. Her breathing was painful with each rise and fall of her chest. It felt like her lung had been stabbed by a dagger repeatedly. Her eyes darted to the oxygen machine placed next to her.
So this was what was pumping air into her lungs… Nicole thought.
At least she was breathing. Oxygen was flowing into her system. Her eyes narrowed to the clock on the wall. It was ten on the dot. But was it ten am or ten pm?
Nicole felt something grasping onto her pale fingers. Her gaze whapped to it, her dark brown eyes focusing on the source of the touch.
A large hand was interlocked with hers, tattooed fingers left on full display. His dishevelled and messy black hair cascaded down his face.
Raphael.
His eye brows were creased deeply. It looked like he was tired. He was slumped on a metallic stool, his head resting against the wall and fast asleep.
He was in slumber yet he still managed to hold on to her hand. Nicole’s weak eyes observed Raphael’s rugged features. He always looked so peaceful in his sleep. Like he had not committed any sin.
“I’m alive…”Nicole murmured in a whisper.
It stirred Raphael out of his slumber. His eyes slowly fluttered open. They were dull and blue rimmed. They held so much pain and anguish.
Immedately his gaze landed on Nicole, his eyes widened and he immedately perched closer to her.
“Nicole”his groggy voice said.
“You are awake”he stated with a warm smile.
Nicole nodded her head slowly like it weighed a ton and tried sitting up but she couldn’t. A gypsum was wrapped from her wrist to her elbow. The pain felt piercing and excruciating irrespective of the countless drugs she was on.
“Don’t worry just relax”Raphael admonished softly after noticing how she struggled to sit up.
He looked at Nicole with a pained stare, her almost near death experience felt like a part of his soul had been ripped out and crushed to dust.
“I thought I lost you Bella. You made me so scared. I couldn’t even think properly Nicole. Nicole I’m so sorry”Raphael tearfully began.
Sorry? She wondered. Why was he sorry. “Why? W-why are you sorry?” Nicole managed to speak in one breath.
He gazed at her, his blue cold orbs peered into her pale soul. “You are my number one responsibility and I almost lost you. I couldn’t protect you”
Nicole gave a faint smile. Every breath she took felt so painful and she was finding it difficult to speak through the mask. “It wasn’t your fault Raphael. It was just an accident” Nicole slowly said.
Raphael exhaled and ran his hands through his dishevelled hair, roughing it more.
How could he tell her that it wasn’t an accident? How could he bring himself to stare at her brown eyes, those loving eyes and shake her to the core by telling her that someone was after her life?
In this her state, her fragile condition, he knew he couldn’t. It would worsen her condition. He couldn’t risk it. His fist balled up as he thought of whoever was responsible for Nicole’s near death experience.
“I promise you Nicole, I’ll find whoever did this to you and make them pass through hell. I promise. I’ll kill that bloody motherfucker”
“Nicole I love you and I promise nothing like this will happen to you ever again”Raphael lovingly reassured Nicole, his carouse hands caressing hers.
“I love you too”Nicole croaked with a smile. “How long have I been unconscious?” She added.
“Through out the entire day bella…” Raphael replied, cutting himself off as he exhaled.
“Nicole next time before you go out, you will inform me ok and you will always go out with some of my men following you ok” Raphael instructed, his voice turning cold.
Nicole had her brows furrowed. It was just an accident so why was he being so overprotective? The accident wasn’t even his fault so why was he biting himself up?
Nicole made an attempt to open her mouth and speak but she could only let out a pained moan.
“You need to eat gattina. I bought you food”
At that moment her stomach growled. Her pain had overshadowed her hunger and now it was awoken.
Raphael stood and grabbed a navy blue bag that was placed on one of the stools.
He brought out two plates of freshly cooked chicken marsala with water and placed them on the bed. He couldn’t think of leaving her side for a minute, the fear of loosing her was still shrouded in his mind so he called Aurora to prepare food and send it.
The elderly woman let out a shrill cry when she was informed of Nicole’s accident.
“They are too much”
Raphael smiled cooly and shook his head. “You need to eat to get energy ok”
Raphael at once helped Nicole to sit up straight. In between the procedure, she kept on wincing as a result of the numerous needles in form of injections piercing her skin.
Once done, he at once sat on the bed with her and opened up a plate.
The creamy, delicious aroma circulated the ward. Aurora was such a lovely cook.
Nicole took of her mask and he immedately began feeding her.
Nicole smiled deep within herself as she savoured the delicious delicacy. This man could be so caring and compassionate. She knew he had stood by her side through out the period she was unconscious and from the look of it, he probably hadn’t even eaten himself.
Nicole immedately held his hands, the spoon halting in the air.
“I’m sure you haven’t eaten. Why don’t you eat?”
“This food is for you my lovely wife. I’m not hungry”he replied calmly.
Nicole shook her head and pouted her lips at him, giving him puppy eyes. “Please eat Raphael. Please”
Raphael sighed and nodded.”Only when you finish eating”
Gosh. This man was so adamant. She thought.
The door then swung open and Thomas and Leila stepped inside.
Nicole’s gaze quickly landed on theirs and she flashed them both a broad smile.
“It took you two long enough”Raphael muttered as his face turned to face them.
“Thomas, Leila, what are you both doing here?”
Leila was the first to speak.
She moved forward to Nicole and held one of her pale hands.
“We heard of your accident Nicole. Raphael told us over the phone. I am so relieved you are ok”
Nicole smiled at her.”Thank you Leila. I truly can’t believe I’m alive”
“Neither can I” Leila thought within herself whilst still maintaining a soft plastic smile on her face.
Thomas patted Raphael’s shoulder as if to calm him. “Nicole we are truly glad you are recuperating. Your husband here was so worried”
Nicole felt her cheeks flush. “Thank you both for coming. Can you both please explain to Raphael that I’m fine now and he should go eat?”
Raphael chuckled. “Not a chance wife”
“Nicole is right. You look so tired Raphael. You should go home and freshen up. I’m sure you have been here throughout the day. I’ll stay and watch Nicole”Leila offered, fluttering her lashes at Raphael.
Raphael shook his head at her. “I can’t let you stay throughout the entire night in this hospital looking after Nicole ok. She’s my responsibility….” Raphael cut himself short.
“You know what? Thomas watch over Nicole ok. Leila you come with me. I want to discuss something with you”Raphael authoritatively commanded.
Nicole huffed. She didn’t need anybody to watch over her. She did not want to be babysitted like a toddler.
“I’ll be back sweetheart. I want to rush back home ok”Raphael added sweetly to Nicole before kissing her lightly on the lips.
“Look after her Thomas”
Thomas nodded at Raphael.
At once Raphael briskly walked outside the ward with Leila closely behind him.
Her heart thumped with her mind puzzled as she wondered why Raphael would want to speak to her.
Could he have figured out that she was the one who tampered with the brake pedals?
No it could not be…. she thought to herself. If Raphael had already figured out, she would have been dead by now.
So why did he want to speak to her?
She silently wished he had allowed her to stay with Nicole instead of Thomas. Heaven knew Nicole would not have lived to see another sunrise if she was the one that had stayed instead of Thomas. Leila would have made sure to end her.
She followed Raphael’s long, lean strides as they walked out of the hospital. The dark starry night and the elegant breeze welcomed them as they strode towards Raphael’s parked car.
Once they got inside, Raphael at once ignited the engine and pulled the windows of his car up, giving them enough privacy.
An awful silence consumed the atmosphere. Leila felt her insides churn with anxiety and knots getting tied up within her. She put up a stoic mask to cover up her discomforting emotions.
“Leila..”Raphael began breaking the silence. Leila let out a breath she didn’t realise she had been holding.
“What do you know about Nicole’s accident?”