Nikolai's pov

She collapsed.

"Fuck. Baby wake up please." I cursed looking up only to see Ajax fighting Louis while my men are taking care of the remaining guards. Mila had the guard who was holding her in a chokehold and Ronan and his team are still outside the warehouse keeping an eye if someone tried to run away.

"Go I will be there as soon as I take care of it" Ajax shouted

"Pavel. Tell them to get a car ready in front of the warehouse ASAP" I said in the earpiece, picking an unconscious Astrea in my arms and running out of the warehouse knowing Ajax and the others will be fine.
Outside the warehouse, I saw Ronan waiting anxiously.

"I want Louis and anyone else who hurt Astrea and is still breathing in the dungeons" I ordered him, running towards the car waiting for me " your sister is okay" I called out knowing he is worried for her

I take my seat at the back with Astrea's head on my lap.
"Drive towards the hospital. Fast" I ordered the driver who nodded and drove as fast as he could. I looked down at my hands that are red with her blood and her skin that is tainted with new scars. My heart hurt for her. She is the purest soul I have ever known but god decided to give her the most pain just because of the people who love her.

For the first time in my life, I prayed
I prayed to god to take all her pain.
I prayed to him to keep her alive.
I prayed to him to let her be happy without any suffering for once.

I occasionally checked her pulse just to make sure she is still with me and felt relief and anxiety at the same time when my fingers found her low pulse.
"Please be okay angel" I whispered in her ear and kissed her forehead "I will die if anything happened to you" I said as a tear trailed down my eye hitting her cheek

"We are here boss" the driver interrupted parking in front of the hospital which is owned by me. I picked her up and placed her on the stretcher as several doctors and nurses came to assist her, taking her to the operation theater.

"You can't enter the OT Mr Dimitriev," a nurse said stopping me from entering the ER
"The fuck I can't" I muttered ready to push my way through before Ajax who just arrived pushed me back.
"Let them do their work son" he muttered eyeing the door where his daughter was taken too

I took a deep breath

"She better not die" I threatened the nurse in a deadly voice and she nodded along with a shaky "yes sir"
I slumped down on a bench with Ajax doing the same beside me. His expression is solemn and He is wearing black clothes that are probably drenched with his enemy's blood while mine is drenched with his daughters.

"She'll be okay. She is strong and she is a survivor" he assured me and himself and I am reminded of her past. Of how she survived after being raped and abused for two years.

She is strong and she is a survivor
Yeah, she is.
I'll be here to support her this time. In any way, I can and we will heal together. I just hope she is strong enough to pull through this.

"I hope so" I answered Ajax

.......

Two and a half hours later and we are still sitting here waiting for the doctor to come out. Maia had fallen asleep next to Ajax after sobbing for an hour. Ares and Apollo just arrived. The former is right now pacing while the latter is lost in his own world thinking god knows what. Mila is sitting on another bench stress eating after being patched up.

Ryan and his boyfriend Daniel are also here with Daniel comforting a shaken up Ryan who just yelled at me for several minutes for endangering Astrea. I know it's partially my fault but Astrea was born into this. There is no way to keep her away.

"Here" a coffee appears in front of me and I take it from Ronan gratefully, still staring anxiously at the operation theatre door wanting to know what is happening.

A few minutes later, the door opened and a doctor came out causing everyone to spring up. His expression is unreadable and my heartbeat fastens at that.

Please be okay. Please be alive

"Mr Andino and Mr Dimitriev," He said professionally although fear seeps through his voice
"Her condition is stable," he said and I let out a sigh of relief before I sensed a huge but coming.

"But?" I murmured
Hesitantly he started "she had a few cuts from glass and knife and some of them may scar. She lost a lot of blood so she will be weak for a few weeks and..." He stopped before continuing reluctantly "her knee cap is fractured. She will need physiotherapy but there are only 50 per cent chances that she will be able to walk again"

My heart shattered.
I fisted my hands, wanting to go to the dungeon and strangle Louis to death along with that fucker who shattered her knee cap from what Mila told us

"Can we see her?" I asked him
"She will be awake in about 11-12 hours but you can see her only two at a time." He answered "but there is something else," said and I groaned. What else?

"The event can cause trauma and PTSD so it would be best to enrol her for therapy. And she'll need all the love she can get" he said and I nodded. Seeing her previous tormentors might have been so traumatic for her. I can only guess how bad her mental condition will be.

"Good luck," he said leaving us alone
"You can go see her first son. We will give you privacy" Ajax said patting my back and I nodded gratefully at him before entering her room

My eyes sting at the sight. So many wires are hooked to her. Her skin is pale and her radiance is missing. I sat on the chair beside her bed. She looks almost dead. Taking her hand in mine, I brought my lips to her palm, brushing them against her knuckles.

"Hi my love" I whispered, removing her hair from her pale face "you had been so strong all your life but don't worry, I will fight for you from now on"

"I love you" I kissed her forehead
"It will be a long road to healing but we are in this together. I will always hold your hand and guide you. Come back to me please " I pecked her lips letting silent tears fall from my eyes