Page 82 of Psychological War

“You shouldn’t be out of bed.” Tyler appeared next to me. I wanted to tell him to fuck off, to just leave me alone. But I was in his house, and he also had been nursing me back to health.

After I showed up on his doorstep a little over a month ago, he had been nothing but nice and honestly a sweet person. After he and his husband got my wounds to stop bleeding, they put me under for two days so I would actually rest. When I had woken up it was to find Dimitri staring at me. After the argument we got into I hadn’t heard from him or anyone else. I ignored all of Aziza's phone calls. I knew she was with Killian. But besides her I hadn’t heard from anyone.

Shrugging my shoulders I gulped down most of my coffee before pouring even more in. I turned facing Tyler, who stood in his scrubs. Glancing at the clock, it read 6 pm. Which meant he was going into work soon, and right now he wanted to check my wounds and make sure they were healing correctly. After two days of telling him he didn’t need to check me, I finally gave up, and just let him do doctor things, because even though I had taken care of more accidents than I cared to admit, he was the doctor.

Rolling my eyes, I set my mug down and pulled my shirt off. It was easier than him trying to hold it up while checking. I began tearing off the gauze that was placed on my side when Tyler grunted at me. “Salem Gray!”

Shooting him a glare I ignored his growls at me, tearing off the rest of the tape.

“You’re supposed to wash your hands before doing any of that,” he muttered but still continued to check on my side that had been the worst. Being burned and then stabbed a few times will do that to you. I still had missing nails, and the gash above my eyebrow still had stitches in it.

“Alright your side looks good, but still apply that burn cream I gave you.” He looked over my face. “And your stitches can come out now.”

Nodding my head, I pulled my shirt back on before sitting down on the counter. Tyler had most of the supplies already in the kitchen, so it took him no time to pull them out. “The stitches on your stomach can probably come out in a few days. And I know I said you should be resting, but there’s someone here for you.”

Immediately, my body tensed, and I wasn’t even sure who it would be. If it were Aziza she’d march in here. Dimitri would honestly do the same. Zane would have lost his patience waiting out there.

“Please just hear them out?” Tyler smiled, kissing the top of my head before grabbing his keys off the counter and walking out of the back door.

Swallowing, I pushed away from the counter and walked into the living room. No one was waiting there for me, until I saw a tall figure standing on the front porch.

Killian.

Grabbing the throw blanket from the back of the couch I walked out. As soon as the door closed, he turned around and I felt the pity rolling off him. I wanted to scream at him, tell him to leave, and beg him to forget about me. I wanted him to just care for Aziza so that I could disappear.

Instead I stared at him.

“So it’s true,” was all he said.

What was true, I had no idea. I wanted to ask, but I didn’t. I kept my mouth shut.

“I swear you two are the most stubborn assholes I’ve ever had to deal with.” He swung around glaring at me. “If it weren’t for Aziza, I’d probably beat the shit out of you,” he grumbled to himself.

He could try, I wanted to say but didn't. But why would it be for Aziza…

“Holy shit.” I couldn’t believe it. “You’re him.”

“What are you referring to?” he asked, cocking his head to the side.

“The one she’s been in love with since, shit, forever, honestly.” I couldn’t believe it, and also couldn’t understand it. Killian and Aziza. Killian was her best friend from New York. The one who left.

It was him.

“She told us about what happened, and then finally yesterday Dimitri told us about Tobias.” Killian fisted his hand at his sides, ignoring what I said, but it gave me enough. It was him. “I don’t know where Zane is,” Dimitri said. He went off to find another Cartel after you left. He’s supposed to be back in a few hours. But he told me and Aziza about Tobias last night.”

I had no idea what to say to him. Killian and I never really had one-on-one time to talk.

“Dimitri’s pride won’t let him, but thank you.” He turned his full attention to me. “You made Zane into a person. Before he was a walking robot. And thank you most of all for saving them all. You saved Tobias, a few times from what I hear.” He smirked. I knew what he was talking about. Mila.

I got her out, and by saving her, I saved him. But I didn’t want to be thanked. It wasn’t why I did any of this. I didn’t save them to be thanked. I did it because I couldn’t save my own family.

“Aziza told us everything.”

I nodded my head.

“I know we don’t know each other much, but Zane does hate himself for leaving you. I won’t ask you to forgive him, what he said was inexcusable. But please understand wh—” The sound of his phone ringing cut him off.

“What’s up?” he answered, walking away from the porch and down to his car. Turning around myself, I began stalking back towards the front door. Just as my hand turned the doorknob, I heard Killian yell words I couldn’t understand.