Chapter 38: The Quiet After the Storm
(Keifer's POV)
The hospital room had finally gone quiet.
Not the tense silence from before.
Not the kind filled with fear.
This one was different.
Soft.
Warm.
Peaceful.
Jay was still in my arms.
Carefully.
Gently.
Like if I let go for even a second the universe might decide to take her away again.
And I wasn't ready to risk that.
Not again.
Her head rested against my chest.
The steady beep of the heart monitor filled the room, mixing with the slow rhythm of her breathing.
Alive.
She was alive.
That word kept echoing in my head like a miracle I didn't deserve.
Jay shifted slightly and winced.
Jay:
"Okay… that hurt."
Keifer:
"Don't move."
Jay:
"You're literally hugging me."
Keifer:
"And I'm doing it carefully."
Jay:
"You're crushing my lungs."
Keifer:
"Your lungs are fine."
Jay:
"You sound like a doctor now?"
Keifer:
"No."
I adjusted my arms slightly, loosening my hold but not letting go.
Keifer:
"I sound like someone who just watched you almost die."
Jay went quiet.
The sunlight outside the window had started to dim.
Evening was slowly creeping in.
The sky painted soft shades of orange and purple across the glass.
It should've felt peaceful.
But my chest still felt tight.
Because the memory of that moment in the warehouse wouldn't leave my mind.
The gunshot.
Her body jerking back.
The blood.
Her eyes closing.
I swallowed hard.
Jay noticed immediately.
She always noticed everything.
Jay:
"You're thinking again."
Keifer:
"I always think."
Jay:
"You're doing the scary thinking."
Keifer:
"That's not a category."
Jay:
"It is when your jaw does that thing."
Keifer:
"What thing?"
Jay reached up slowly and poked my face.
Jay:
"That thing."
I sighed quietly.
She was right.
Again.
Keifer:
"I keep replaying it."
Jay frowned.
Jay:
"The warehouse?"
Keifer nodded.
Keifer:
"The moment you got shot."
Jay looked down at the blanket covering her.
Jay:
"Yeah… that part sucked."
Keifer:
"Jay."
Jay:
"I'm serious."
She exhaled slowly.
Jay:
"I didn't even see it coming."
Her voice softened.
Jay:
"One second I was running toward the stairs…"
She paused.
Jay:
"Next thing I know I'm on the floor and everything feels cold."
My chest tightened again.
Keifer:
"You stopped responding."
Jay:
"I know."
Keifer:
"You passed out in my arms."
Jay:
"I know."
I rubbed my face again.
Keifer:
"You're saying that like it's normal."
Jay looked up at me with a small smile.
Jay:
"In our life?"
She shrugged weakly.
Jay:
"It kind of is."
I stared at her.
Keifer:
"That's not comforting."
Jay:
"It's realistic."
For a moment we both laughed quietly.
But the tension in my chest still hadn't disappeared.
Because the truth was simple.
If the bullet had moved one inch to the left…
She wouldn't be here.
Jay noticed my expression again.
Her fingers slid into my hand.
Jay:
"Hey."
Keifer:
"Hey."
Jay:
"I'm not going anywhere."
Keifer:
"You can't promise that."
Jay:
"I can try."
Her thumb traced small circles on my palm.
Jay:
"And for the record…"
She smirked slightly.
Jay:
"I saw you crying earlier."
I froze.
Keifer:
"You were unconscious."
Jay:
"I woke up for a second."
Keifer:
"That's illegal."
Jay:
"You looked very emotional."
Keifer:
"I hate you."
Jay grinned weakly.
Jay:
"No you don't."
I leaned back in the chair and looked at her.
Really looked.
Her hair was messy.
Her skin still pale from blood loss.
But her eyes were bright.
Alive.
Still full of fire.
Keifer:
"You scared everyone."
Jay:
"I got shot."
Keifer:
"Exactly."
Jay:
"That wasn't my fault."
Keifer:
"You ran into the line of fire."
Jay:
"I was chasing a sniper."
Keifer:
"You're impossible."
Jay:
"You love it."
I sighed dramatically.
Keifer:
"Unfortunately."
Jay smiled.
A real smile this time.
Silence settled again.
But it felt comfortable now.
Not heavy.
Just calm.
After a few minutes Jay spoke again.
Jay:
"So…"
Keifer:
"So?"
Jay:
"What happened after I passed out?"
I leaned forward slightly.
Keifer:
"You really want the story?"
Jay:
"Yes."
Keifer:
"It's not pretty."
Jay:
"I've seen worse."
I took a slow breath.
Keifer:
"Amy almost killed Yuri on the spot."
Jay snorted.
Jay:
"That sounds like Amy."
Keifer:
"Aries had to hold her back."
Jay:
"Did it work?"
Keifer:
"Barely."
Jay looked amused.
Jay:
"Good."
Keifer:
"Kuya Angelo tied Yuri up."
Jay:
"And now?"
Keifer:
"He's in one of our safehouses."
Jay's expression darkened slightly.
Jay:
"Alive?"
Keifer:
"Very."
Jay nodded slowly.
Jay:
"Good."
The room felt colder for a moment.
Because both of us knew what that meant.
Yuri wasn't finished yet.
And neither were we.
Jay exhaled slowly.
Jay:
"We'll deal with him later."
Keifer:
"Not today."
Jay:
"No."
She shifted slightly again.
Jay:
"Today I'm focusing on not dying."
Keifer:
"That's a good plan."
I leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead.
Keifer:
"You're terrible at resting."
Jay:
"I'm great at resting."
Keifer:
"You literally got shot yesterday."
Jay:
"Details."
The hospital door suddenly opened.
Amy peeked her head inside dramatically.
Amy:
"Are you two done being emotional?"
Jay groaned.
Jay:
"Amy."
Amy walked in with Aries behind her.
Amy:
"Good news."
Jay:
"What?"
Amy grinned.
Amy:
"Yuri's awake."
The room fell silent.
Jay's eyes sharpened instantly.
Jay:
"Perfect."
Keifer sighed.
Keifer:
"You just got out of surgery."
Jay looked at me calmly.
Jay:
"I didn't say we're going today."
She smiled slowly.
Jay:
"But soon."
Amy cracked her knuckles excitedly.
Amy:
"Oh I like that word."
Aries smirked.
Aries:
"Soon."
I looked at Jay.
Her eyes burned with quiet determination.
The kind that meant someone was about to regret their life choices.
And Yuri had no idea what was coming.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hey everyone!!
Check out my new book.
Keifer watsons only weakness. 🫶🏻🎀✨
I am going to keep a target on this chapter
🎯: 10 comments