Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 542 -

*Natalia*

The morning light from the window was blocked by the dark curtain over it, though I could still see peeks of it pouring from under it. I sighed, having been in and out of consciousness all night, as the doctor finished up his exam. He checked over the IV and beeping monitors hooked up to me one last time, making sure all was in proper working condition before he smiled and said, "You should try to get some rest. It'll make you heal faster. Is there anything else I can get you before I duck out?"

I stared at him, half-delirious from the pain medicine and half-delirious from the exhaustion and pain. I opened my mouth, intending to say thank you, or something meaningful perhaps, but all that fell out was, "Quack." "Noted." The doctor chuckled, nodding to himself as my cheeks burned bright red in embarrassment.

"Sorry," I mumbled to myself, wishing I could sink into the hospital bed and disappear.

"It's no problem. It's not the weirdest thing I've heard from a patient on such a high dose of pain medication." He laughed to himself. "Why, I remember Tallon had asked me out on a date as soon as he came out of surgery once, to repay me for my services he said."

"Tallon did?" My eyes went wide, my heart lurching as I latched onto the small anecdote. Just the sound of his name was enough to send pangs of longing through my chest. I wondered where he was now, what he was doing. Why wasn't he here with me?

"Yes, Ma'am. But don't tell him I told you." He winked then glanced down at my wound, surveying the extra padded bandages all around my chest. "Everything looks good for now, but I'll be back to help redress your wound in a few hours, okay?"

"Okay." I nodded obediently, watching the doctor as he waved to me, a comforting smile on his lips before he disappeared behind the door.

I heaved a sigh once he was gone, finally laying back to relax only to wince at the sharp pain from my shoulder.

The pain was excruciating, I had to admit. I never imagined what being shot felt like, only what I'd seen in the movies or read in books. But nothing could prepare me for the aching pain that lingered after the surgery.

Even wrapped up and half-delirious from the anesthesia, I could still feel the stitches pull with every micro movement. Being still had never been my best quality and I struggled just to breathe without tugging the damn stitches.

I was lucky, the doctor had told me as soon as I woke up, that I hadn't been awake for the actual sewing. That would've been even more painful. If this was how I felt afterward, I could only imagine the pain I would've felt.

I had a new healthy and terrified respect for Tallon and everything he and his men went through. How many times had he been shot, I wondered as I lay exhaustedly in bed. I could barely open my eyes as images of Tallon taking bullets like falling rain upon him, simply ricocheting off his muscles like he was invulnerable entered my brain.

It probably wasn't like that but still, it was fun to imagine, just to get my head off the soreness of my body. I was wrapped up like a mummy, or so it felt, like my entire upper torso and right arm were covered in the heavy bandages. With the matching bruises on my wrists and arms, I surely looked like I had been through hell. And maybe I had.

My uncle... my cousins... I didn't know where they were now, or what Tallon was planning to do to them.

All I cared about was that my mother and I were safe or as safe as we could be, considering everything. I drifted off into a faint sleep, just lingering beneath consciousness as my exhaustion caught up to me.

Before I could drift any further, however, I heard the faint shifting of the door being opened, and heavy steps on the floor approaching my bed. At first, I guessed it was just the doctor, keeping my eyes shut as I tried my best to keep resting like he had ordered.

Until I caught the faint scent of something familiar, something I knew better than myself, and my eyes flashed open, my body jerking out from unconsciousness and I swallowed my groan at the tugging and sudden pain in my shoulder. I turned my head, blinking slowly as I saw the person I had wanted to see the most standing right beside me.

He looked horrible, his clothes rumpled and still covered in red splotches, a five o'clock shadow on his jaw, and a miserable look in his eyes that made him look like a depressed and lost puppy. But despite everything, he still looked handsome

to me.

"Tallon," I murmured, not even realizing I'd said his name aloud until his eyes locked on mine, going wide in sheer surprise and ever-growing joy.

I gave him the smallest hint of a smile, the best I could muster with how horrible I felt and next, I knew, he was by my side, his warm hand in my freezing cold one as he brushed a hand through my crackly and dry hair. I no doubt had some blood still stuck in there, but I didn't really want to move to take a shower right now, especially with a hole in my body.

My smile grew a bit wider and my eyes fluttered shut as he leaned over the bed and placed a soft and tender kiss on the middle of my forehead. I felt his lips more than heard him as he murmured the words I'd longed to say to him. "I love you."

The sheer warmth and joy spread from every inch of my body and I gripped his hand in mine, a beaming smile coming to my face as tears of relief spilled out of my eyes. I couldn't stop the giggle that burst forth from my lips, the happiness more than I could contain in my small and broken body.

"I love you, too," I told him, as loudly and as confidently as I could, grabbing his exhausted face in my bruised hands as I gently ran my thumb under his eyes, catching the little tear that threatened to fall.

He gave me that grin I loved so much, a new brightness behind the exhaustion in his eyes, and then his lips were on mine. I shut my eyes tightly, grasping his face so gently as he kissed me like I was something breakable, something about to fall to pieces at the slightest pressure.

But I wasn't having any of that.

Knowing that he still loved me, that I could still be with him after all I had done, though I knew I still had a long way to go to earn his trust and forgiveness back-I couldn't contain the rush of love and adoration.

We were here, together and alive, and I had never felt more like I was living in a dream than I was now. Everything I wanted was right here in the palm of my hands and I couldn't help surging toward him.

I kissed him with everything I had, wrapping my arms around his neck as I pulled him into me. He lost his balance with a small gasp into my lips and barely caught himself as he fell half on top of me.

I burst into giggles, finally breaking apart as he sent me a grin, now twisted on top of the bed. He rolled his eyes, still smiling fondly as he slid to get more comfortable, grabbing the nearby chair and sitting in it. He was still close enough that I could feel his body heat but no longer crushing my aching legs.

But the high wouldn't last forever. The guilt of what I did hit me as soon as we heard a chime from his phone. He frowned staring down at what was no doubt a text from his family-the people I had betrayed.

I swallowed, remembering how they had come to my rescue, how Tallon had almost handed himself over to my uncle just to save me. I didn't deserve him.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Tallon gently squeezed my hand, a worried look on his face as he flicked his eyes to my shoulder, a little fear appearing in his eyes. "Does it still hurt? Should I get the doctor-"

"No." I shook my head, giving him a sad smile. "I just... I'm so sorry, Tallon, for what I did. I never meant any of this to happen and you still... you still came to save me, after everything."

Tears fell down my cheeks, the memory of that night burning itself in my eyes. More than the pain of the gunshot, more than being beaten and kidnapped by my own family, what had broken my heart more was the desperation on Tallon's face, the sheer willingness he had to give up his own life for me.

If I hadn't done what I did, I had no doubt my uncle would've killed him.

"I don't deserve it," I sobbed. "I'm so goddamn sorry. I have no excuse for what I did and you shouldn't forgive me-"

"Hey, hey," he shushed me, gently wrapping his hand in my hair as he pulled my face into his chest. I clutched at his shirt, still stained with my blood as I sobbed into his chest. "It's okay, Natalia."

"No, it's not!" I pushed him back, giving him an incredulous stare. "How can you possibly forgive me for what I did? I hurt you! You-"

"I love you," he interrupted me, rather firmly, the honesty in his eyes overpowering the words I had wanted to spit out. "I love you, Natalia."

"I-"

My lip trembled, but there was nothing more to say. He smiled at me, tilting his head softly as he brushed his fingers across my face like he was still reassuring himself that I was here and alive.

I couldn't believe how goddamn lucky I was to have a man such as Tallon, who loved me this much. I would spend the rest of my life making sure he was the happiest man in existence, protecting that smile of his. Loving him.

Tallon stayed for a bit longer, making sure I had everything I needed but the anesthesia was wearing off, unfortunately, and soon, it was getting difficult to keep my eyes open.

"Sleepy princess," he cooed, brushing my hair from my face. "I'll let you sleep."

"No," I whined, reaching for his shirt but he expertly dodged.

"I have to go handle some things, alright? But I'll be back as soon as possible okay?" He smiled, giving me a placating glance and with how tired I was, I didn't want to fight him on it.

I couldn't even if I tried. Handling some things no doubt meant my uncle and his followers, and it scared me to think he was going to face him again but we both knew it was necessary.

He leaned down to kiss me on the lips, lingering sweetly before he pulled away. I couldn't hear him exactly but I saw the word "bye" on his lips before he left. I watched him leave, shutting the door behind him before I shut my eyes, sighing to myself.

I couldn't believe everything that had happened but now, it was finally almost over.

Our lives-our real lives without any of the lies or secrecy-could begin.