The Meeting
The sun is high outside the floor-to ceiling hiding mansion of the Drufts but Devon is still debating with herself whether to wake Daemon up or leave him in peace.
His men are outside clamoring to see his situation but Henry won’t allow them to see him. It was chaotic. Until now, they are still engaged in word war and she heard someone saying they have to decide who will be their new leader.
“Daemon…” she slowly nudged his thigh but he just moaned a little and went back into his deep sleep.
She sighed. He must have been so exhausted and besides that, he is still in pain from the bullet wounds. It would be cruel for her to disturb him.
But what if his men outside will kill each other? It’s not a farfetched possibility. Members of mafia groups duel it out especially now that their leader is in his weakest state to select a new one. She’s seen it. It’s bloody just like how her own father overthrew her own grandfather right in front of her eyes to demonstrate his thirst for power.
“Daemon! Wake up!”
The urgency in her voice must have woken him up. He opened his eyes and without a warning, pulled her into his body and crushed his lips into his.
Her body stiffened. His hardness molded against her softness, something wet seeped into her clothes. That’s when she got alarmed. Pushing him away with all her might did not work so she did the first thing that she thought. She bit his lips.
“Aww!” he growled and backed out a bit, giving her more space and momentum to scoot to the side of the bed.
“What was that, Dev?”
He dipped his finger into his lower lip where the blood pooled.
“I’m sorry for biting you but I have to do that. Daemon, everyone is here! Your men are demanding to see you but Henry would not let them. They’re outside… they’re angry and I don’t know what to do!”
She didn’t realize she was already panicking until she saw her trembling hands inside his big palms. Daemon is smiling as if none of this is even making him move a finger.
“Relax, Devon. What’s happening outside is just a meeting. Frat boys do it. Everybody does it,” he said and casually caressed her arm.
“Relax?!” She raised her voice a little bit higher than her usual tone. “How can I when every second that I breathe feels like our end? Each one of them has a gun there. One wrong move could start it all. A curse, an insult. Before we know it, everything could be blown out of proportion! Aren’t you thinking?!
She didn’t realize she’s already shaking and out of breath. If not for his dumbfounded face and gaping mouth, she would not notice that she’s going a bit overboard.
“I-I’m sorry. I… wasn’t thinking that much. Of course you know it. What am I even saying?”
Frustrated, she tries to get up from bed but Daemon is quick to pull her back into his side. That’s when she came into her senses. With wide eyes, she checked his side of the stomach where a decent amount of blood is gushing out.
“Your wound! You are bleeding again!”
Scrambling onto her feet, she quickly got the medicine kit to change his dressing.
“Let’s take you to the hospital! Quick! I can’t let you die from blood loss!”
His chuckle stopped her from heading to the door. She turned to him with her eyes red from unshed tears.
“What’s funny? You think this is funny? It’s not! You are bleeding! Maybe your wound is infected! I have to get you admitted!”
“Oh no, miss wifey. I certainly did not find you to be funny. I just find you cute.”
Her mouth opened to say a word but his un-seriousness in this kind of situation renders her speechless.
“Cute?! What the fuck, Daemon?!” she finally managed to say. “This is not the best time for joking. You were almost dead, your men are outside ready to blow on each other’s throats and yet you find me cute now?! What the hell!”
To her chagrin, he even smiled before propping himself to sit. “Ah, even your cursing is very refined. I don’t find you funny. I’m just particularly entertained by your nagging as my wife. That’s different, right? Please help me my dear lady.”
She is still in shock and in disbelief on how he treats this thing but she still helped him to stand up anyway.
“My doctor is coming later sweetie so no need to be too worried. A robe, please. I need one.”
She ran for the robe in the bathroom and helped him put it on.
“And your arm. I need your arm, Devon.”
Without question, he let him lean onto her, her arm on his waist for support as they made it out of the door.
“Thank you, Daemon. I know you’re ill, you’re bleeding but…” her voice trailed off.
“As you’ve said, I am their leader. It is my responsibility to instigate stability otherwise they will fire their guns and elect a new leader. I can’t let that happen. I can’t give you up to any of my men. I still want you to be my wife, Devon.”
He looked at her fondly, the first time he did since she married him.
“I’m sorry for being insensitive earlier,” he whispered in her ear before they reached the first step of the staircase.
Every man down under looked up and the chatter immediately died. Henry’s hand is on his gun, ready to fire anytime in case someone from the gang acts up.
It’s just impressive how his mere presence could unite these vicious men once and for all. No one said a thing. Everybody is just in a consensus when listening.
“I am still alive gentlemen so you can erase your dreams of being the next leader of my part of the district for another year. I am wounded, bleeding, but still breathing so kiss your ambitions goodbye for now. Save that up for my funeral.”
They kept quiet the whole time Daemon was speaking to them. No one questioned his authority, not even Henry who she supposed is the one Daemon grooming to be the next leader once he’s dead.
The thought sends a shiver down her spine. She trusted him that he would never let any man be her next husband. He’s the first and she’s praying he’ll be the last despite the consequences.
“Tomorrow, we will regroup. Be here again at the same time.”
He ended the meeting as if he hadn’t just stopped a bloodbath from happening. They walked back, still his weight on her side until they disappeared from the sight of everyone. Daemon just let out the sigh of pain when they reached the bedroom.
“Are we good?” he asked in between hard breathing when she’s changing his gauze again.
“I’m proud of you,” she blurted out, her cheeks reddening when she said that.
He laughed. “No need to say cheesy things. Not a big deal. I do that all the time.”
“But you were really cool back then. The way you say those things… you’re threatening them but it sounded like you didn’t… you…”
“Are you going to say I love you next?” he cut her off.
“No! Aren’t you being too boastful? I just told you you’re cool. That’s it.”
“Okay, okay. But your eyes say th—aww!”
“Sorry.” She pressed the cotton a little too roughly again.
“Christ! Aww! That hurts!”
“Stop whining! It makes you less cooler!”
“I don’t care. Devon! Aww!”
She scoffed, “You’re not really cool, scaredy baby,” she said, suppressing her smile.
