𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚
Me and dad went inside an hour ago. We were able to see Creighton, but just for a short while. I feel numb while walking out of his hospital room.
The memory of him- pale, injured, attached to many machines and unconscious will haunt me.
I didn't notice that I straightly walked into Vaughn.

"Hey, you okay?" He asks me. His voice soft and caring.
I just bury my face in his chest and wrap my arms around him. Vaughn wraps his arms around me in return, holding me tight and protected in his strong arms.

"He's going to be okay, 𝗺𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹." He whispers against my hair, while stroking over my back. I melt into his embrace. I want to believe him, want to think positive, but I can't. I don't even have to response, Vaughn knows what I'm thinking about right now and squeezes my waist lightly.

My mind and feelings are a complete mess. Creighton is because of Annika here, because she shot him, on the other side she had no choice. One part of me understands her decision, the other part hates her decision. I feel the headache building behind my eyes. This day is just too much.

I close my eyes and lean my face against Vaughn's chest. His strong arms encircling me in a warm and protective embrace. I love this. I love him. But would I shoot him if I were in the position of Annika? No...
I couldn't. She had the courage to do it. She protected her own brother but hurt mine in the process. My head hurts. I understand both sides. I couldn't pull the trigger on a single human.
Could I shoot someone for my brothers? Would I shoot Vaughn? I most likely would've start crying and shaking, not able to pull the trigger.

I look over Vaughn's arm, that is still holding me, seeing Annika. She looks pale and worried and is that... regret? And fear? She looks like a wrack. Adrian seems to  barely hold her together. Where is Jeremy?

And can I hate her? Gosh, my head hurts. I can't help but feel empathy for her. She really looks bad and regretful.

Adrian Volkov notices my gaze on his daughter. My blood runs cold. This man is one of the most imitating people I ever met. His gaze is intense but doesn't give any hint of what he's thinking or feeling.

Vaughn notices my tense body and looks over the cause of it. He tightens his arms around me. How must he feel? He know Adrian and his children. He told me that his dad and Adrian are alleys- the closest thing that is considered as friends in the bratva. He know the Volkov's, they're practically family and now his girlfriend's family- the King's and the Volkov's have a thick wall of tension in between them.

I'm not in the state to hold Adrian's gaze, I burry my face again in Vaughn's chest. His presence and embrace being my only save heaven from all this chaos. But I also can't forget in what position I'm bringing him into this whole situation.

"Vaughn?" I look up at him, his gaze shifting from Adrian to me.

"Yes, 𝗺𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹?" His soft and tender voice sending butterflies through my stomach.

"Am I brining you into a bad position? I don't want to cause you problems with-"

He cuts me off, his voice still soft but with an underline of determination.
"You're not causing me any trouble, don't think like that."

"But-" I try to protest but he cuts me off again.

"No." It's an simple answer but his voice is determined, so deep and his gaze so intense. My stomach tingles while a shiver runs down my spine. This damn deep voice.

I nod and whisper "okay.."

He already noticed my body reacting and smirks. There it is. That mischievous smile I love so much. He always has this expression when he teases me.

"Was that a shiver, 𝗺𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹?" He whispers low into my ear and another shiver runs down my spine. Asshole.

"Tease." I grumble. He knows exactly that I react to him in every possible way. We'd probably would do something naughty if we wouldn't stand in the middle of an hospital hallway in a messed up situation. He chuckles, deep and so sexy. Another shiver runs down my spine.
He pulls me closer by my the hips, and my stomach tingles again. He leans down to my ear but before he can tease me again, mom's voice cuts through the hallway.

"Elena." Her voice is soft. I look over my shoulder to her and see the weary and exhausted look in her eyes. This day has really taken a toll on her.

"Yes, mom?"

"Let's go home, honey. Creighton needs to rest." Then dad appears behind mom and wraps his arms around her, his eyes dart to Vaughn. I see the dissatisfaction in his eyes that he's trying to hide for me.

I sigh and look back at Vaughn. He already understands and kisses my forehead. I close my eyes, savoring the moment.

"Good night, 𝗺𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹. You can call me at any time if you need anything. Go rest now, you need it." His voice so tender but protective and caring. I smile and hug him one last time.

"Good night." I look up at him and he cups my cheeks into his hands, smiling back. I love to see him smile, it's the most beautiful thing I ever have seen. I see his dimple, the best thing about his smile. I feel my heart melting. He strokes with his thumb over my cheek. I look up into his beautiful hazel eyes, not even wanting to hide a smile.

"I love you."

"I love you too, 𝗺𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹."

We stay like this for a heartbeat before I reluctantly have to pull away to go to my family. Only then I realize that most of the others are gone. Uncle Levi, Brandon, Landon, Adrian and Annika aren't here anymore. The only one that remained is Kirill, waiting for Vaughn.
I look at Mr. Morozov, he really looks so much like Vaughn. His gaze doesn't show any emotion or anything that would let me know what he's thinking. It's making me nervous. After all he's my boyfriend's father. I don't even know if he likes me.
Oh Gosh, I'm so shy when it comes to that.
"Good night, Mr. Morozov."

I see a flicker of something in his emotionless gaze, he even nods at me. Is that a good sign? I look at Vaughn, seeing him smile, nodding as in saying that this is in fact a good sign. I sigh in relief.

Then I walk to mom, dad and Eli. Dad looks displeased but still tries to hide it for me.
"Let's go." He says and leads mom out of the hospital, his arm still around her shoulder. I follow him with Eli beside me.
Time to go home and sleep.