“Leigh says he’ll be fine.”
Leigh… Dr. West is a genius in her field. If she thinks Kao will be okay, then I’m hopeful he’ll recover fully.
Noah comes into the room, and my gaze darts to him. “Is your mom sure he’ll be fine?” I ask, needing to hear it from him.
Noah nods as he stops at the foot of the bed. His eyes drift over his best friend. “My mom assisted during the surgery. She said they repaired all the internal injuries. He has a hairline skull fracture, but the CT scan showed no damage to his brain. He’s just out of it because his body needs to heal.”
My gaze returns to Kao, and I take in every inch of his face. Seeing him so still is scary as hell, but I feel better after what Noah just said.
“Kao,” I murmur, hoping he’ll hear me. “It’s Fallon. You need to wake up soon so I can see your eyes again.”
I use the bed to pull myself back up, and leaning over Kao, I press a kiss to the corner of his mouth, then whisper, “Get better. Please.”
I feel a hand on my back. “You need to get back to bed,” Hana says.
I stare at Kao for a moment longer, wishing I didn’t have to leave at all. “Please let me know if there’s any change,” I say as I straighten up. I glance from Mr. Reed to Noah. “Please.”
“I will,” Noah answers.
Jase helps me back into the wheelchair, and as he pushes me out of the room, it feels like a shadow falls around my shoulders. It’s heavy and gloomy.
Kao’s silent strength has always been there to keep me standing during hard times. Seeing him in such a fragile state… kills me.
KAO
Coming to, a pounding headache greets me. It’s sharp, then dull, then intense again, like a heartbeat.
I’m nauseous, and there’s a concentrated smell of sanitizer hanging around me like a thick cloud.
My body feels like it’s been shredded to pieces, but through all the pain, one thought screams for attention. For some unknown reason, I need to make sure Fallon’s okay.
I pry my eyes open, but I can’t see anything.
My lips part and I suck in an agonizing breath before I’m able to murmur, “Fallon.”
Is it night? What happened? I can’t remember shit.
I move my right arm, trying to feel where I am, but I only find empty air and then a bed. Beeping from a machine close to me grabs my attention.
Am I in the hospital?
“You’re awake,” I hear Noah say, relief coating his words. “Finally. You had me worried.”
“Noah?” Confused, I mutter, “Turn on a light.”
He doesn’t answer me, and I try to move into a sitting position. Pain sears through my stomach and chest, and it increases the pounding in my head.
“No, stay still.” I feel his hands on my shoulders.
“What?” There’s a flutter of panic in my chest. “Where am I? Why’s it dark?” As I ask the questions, my mind fights the worry back, refusing to even think it.
“Shit,” I hear Noah mutter. “Just stay still. I’m going to call the doctor.”
Doctor?
I hear movement, then Noah says, “He just woke up.” He continues to whisper something I can’t make out.
I feel strong fingers wrap around mine. “Hey, my boy,” Dad’s voice quivers.
I shut my eyes tightly as the realization becomes impossible to ignore.
God. Please.
Was I in an accident?
My lashes lift slowly, anxiety building unbearably when I still can’t see anything.
“Dad, what happened?” I whisper, my voice filled with apprehension. “I can’t see anything.”
I feel him move, guessing he’s sitting on the bed next to me. His fingers skim the right side of my head. “Don’t panic. You and Fallon were in a car accident. You took a blow to the head, and it’s probably only temporary. Fallon’s okay.”
Temporary?
Fallon?
What the fuck happened?
I suck in a painful breath of air as everything spins into chaos inside me. Shutting my eyes, I try to focus on the headache, on the dull throb in my stomach and side.
I try to focus on anything but the stark reality that I can’t see.
Dad presses a kiss to my temple, and I feel his lips quiver against my skin.
Fuck. No.
Please.
No.
The beeping begins to increase as my heartbeat speeds up.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” Dad murmurs. “I promise.”
Slowly, I shake my head, and it feels like I’m losing grip with reality as the words fall over my lips, “I can’t see.”
I hear someone come into the room, and Dad pulls away from me.
“I thought there was no damage?” Dad grinds out, clearly upset, and it rips through me like a tornado.
“The CT scan showed nothing,” a foreign voice answers. “The brain is complex. We’ll do more tests now that Mr. Reed is awake.”
A hand settles on my shoulder. “Mr. Reed, I’m Dr. Davis. Can you open your eyes for me?”
A part of me refuses to believe that I might be blind, and it keeps me from doing as the doctor asked.
“Kao?” Dad takes hold of my right hand. “Open your eyes.”
I suck in a breath and hold it as I slowly open them.
Nothing.
God.
There’s nothing.
Instantly, I’m thrown into a pit of despair as the breath rushes from me.
Dr. Davis does his checks. He talks with Dad, but I’m unable to take in anything. I hear more voices. Some panicked, others filled with devastation.
I remain still, blankly staring into a black chasm where no one can reach me. Time wraps into something incomprehensible.
Seconds. Minutes. Hours. They’ve all lost meaning.
Then a soft touch feathers over my left hand, and a familiar delicate scent chases the smell of sanitizer. Fallon. She presses a kiss to my cheek, and then I hear her whisper, “I missed you.”
My eyes drift shut, and I desperately want to follow her voice to the light.
“Fallon.” Her name is nothing more than a whisper, carrying the intensity of a prayer.
“I’m here.” Her palm rests against my cheek, and she presses another kiss to my temple.
Through my despair, my worry for her still triumphs. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just whiplash and a little concussion. How do you feel?”
Her voice wraps me in a sheltered cocoon, where the truth of my situation can’t follow me.
“Kao?” Her voice is gentle, and I can clearly hear her love for me. “How do you feel?”
Weird
Scared.
Weak
Lost.
My lips part. “Okay.” I suck in an agonizing breath. “I’m okay.”
I feel her move closer again. Her left cheek presses against mine, and her silky hair gets stuck on the scruff on my jaw. Then she whispers, “Thank you for waking up.” Her breaths drift over my skin and ear. “Thank you for keeping me safe.”
Fallon’s okay.
But you lost your sight.
Fallon’s okay. She’s all that matters.
“We need to take Mr. Reed for a scan,” a woman says.
Fallon begins to pull away, but with my right hand, I grab hold of her arm. “Wait.” I pull her closer to me until I can feel her breath on my face again.
I try to lift my left arm, but the pain increases in my side, and it has me freezing for a moment. I breathe through it, then turning my head toward her, I ask, “You’re okay, right?”
“Yeah,” her answer flutters over my cheek.
I wish I could see for myself that she’s not hurt.
I move my right hand up her back until I reach something that feels like foam and rubber instead of her neck.
“It’s just a brace for the whiplash,” she immediately answers.
My fingers skim over the foam until I feel her left ear, and then I move
my hand into her hair and pull her closer. When her lips touch mine, I soak in the feel of them for a moment.
She’s safe.
I cling to the relief as I let go of her.
“I’ll wait for you to come back,” Fallon says.
I open my eyes hoping – praying I’ll see her beautiful face – but still, there’s only darkness.
Shutting them again, I nod. “Later.”
Chapter 4
FALLON
I stare at the covers on the bed as a nurse removes the neck brace.
Kao can’t see anything.
The thought shudders through me for the hundredth time since Kao woke. They’ve done numerous scans and tests but haven’t found the cause yet.
God, what if he’s permanently blind?
I shove the thought away as soon as it pops into my head. They’ll find out what’s wrong and fix it. They have to.
Whatever the outcome, I’ll be there for him.
I’ll take care of him.
The nurse peels the bandage away from my skin on my neck. “The cuts are healing nicely. No infection.”
“Good,” I murmur. I haven’t seen the gashes yet. I can’t bring myself to look at the mess on my neck and face.
The nurse cleans the wounds and changes the dressings, and when she doesn’t put the neck brace back on, I ask, “Am I done wearing the brace?” I freaking hope so. I’m tired of how scratchy it makes my skin feel.
“You’ll need to wear it until your neck’s better,” she answers.
“Can I take a little break, though?”
“Just for a short while.”
One small mercy, at least.
I let out a relieved sigh. “Thank you.”
Dr. Menard, the plastic surgeon, will come to see me next Tuesday. I’m just hoping he’ll be able to remove the scarring.
“It looks much better,” Mom says, giving me a comforting smile.
Not wanting to talk about my injuries, I mutter, “I’m worried about Kao.”
Mom reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze. “I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
“I’m going to check on him.” I slip off the bed.
Mom glances at her watch. “I’ll head out then. I need to stop by the store, or your brother won’t have anything for dinner.”
“Forest’s visiting tomorrow, right?” I ask.
“Yes, Aria and Carla will probably come with him.”
The corner of my mouth lifts slightly because anything more will painfully pull at the cuts on my face.
I hug Mom before we leave the room. Walking down the hallway, I feel a little dizzy. The nurse said the sensation will come and go, but it will get better.
I push Kao’s door open, and then I hear the doctor say, “Both corneas were damaged during the accident. It’s probably from the force of the airbag deploying.”
My gaze darts around the room, and I see Mr. and Mrs. Reed standing on one side of the bed. Noah and his mom, Mrs. West, is on the other side, with the attending doctor at the foot.
I slink into the room and softly shut the door behind me.
“Do you have corneas in the hospital’s eye bank?” Mrs. West asks.
“I’ll have to check, but if we don’t, we can get a pair from another hospital,” the doctor replies.
“Let me know. I can check with other hospitals as well,” Mrs. West offers.
Kao lets out a bitter sounding chuckle, and everyone's eyes snap to him. His voice sounds deadly calm as he asks, “Can everyone leave?”
There’s a moment's silence, then Mr. Reed places his hand on Kao’s. “We’re discussing the treatment.”
Kao pulls his hand free, and there’s no emotion on his face as he snaps, “I want to be alone. Just for a minute.”
“It’s all overwhelming, I know,” the attending doctor sympathizes with him.
“Oh, do you?” Kao asks, his voice tight with anger. “I wasn’t aware you’re blind.”
He doesn’t get angry easily, so seeing him like this is unnerving.
“Let’s give him a moment,” Mrs. West says.
I stand to the side as they all file out of the room, then glance back at Kao. His eyes drift in my direction, and for a moment, it feels like he can actually see me.
My heart skips a hopeful beat, only to shatter once again when there’s no recognition in his gaze.
“Should I leave as well?” I ask softly.
Please say no.
Emotion ripples over his face, then he asks, “Has everyone left?”
“Yeah, It’s just me.” I walk a little closer. “And you.”
Kao lifts his right hand, reaching in my direction, and it makes me dart forward. I take hold of him and ask, “Want to talk about it?”
He shuts his eyes and shakes his head, letting out an exhausted sigh. “I just… it’s too fast, too much. I need to think.”
“My hermit,” I tease as I sit down on the side of the bed. “You’ve never liked a lot of people hovering around you.”
The corner of his mouth lifts. It’s only for a second before the hard lines are back. I lift a hand to his face, and when my fingers touch his jaw, he jerks.
I pause, and it makes him whisper, “Sorry.”
He lifts his left hand and places it over mine, pressing my palm to his jaw.
“Open your eyes,” I whisper.
Kao shakes his head, a pained look tightening his features.
“Please.”
His lashes slowly lift, and I get to see the clear blue I love so much.
“They say they can do a cornea transplant,” he murmurs.
“I heard. That’s good, right?”
It looks like he's caught in a daydream, his eyes not moving at all.
“Yeah,” he mutters, but there’s no conviction in the single word.
I swallow hard as a lump threatens to push up my throat. I wish I had the power to heal him.
“If I focus hard, I can see a million tiny lights… and streaks,” he admits, his voice hoarse with hopelessness. “It’s like I just closed my eyes.”
I lean closer. “You’ll see again. It’s not permanent.”
His right hand takes hold of my waist, and he pulls me against him. I wrap my arms around his neck, and we hug for a moment, then Kao turns his face toward me. “What’s on your neck and face?”
I pull back a little, instantly feeling self-conscious.
We’ll really be beauty and the beast now.
“Just bandages,” I murmur.
Kao pushes me further back, and his left hand bumps into my arm before moving up to my neck. When his fingers brush over the dressing, a frown forms between his eyes.
“You said you didn’t get hurt?”
“It’s nothing,” I lie to put him at ease. “Just a couple of cuts. My dad got a plastic surgeon. I’m meeting with him on Tuesday.” I swallow hard as apprehension fills my chest. “It’s no big deal.”
Kao’s hand falls to his lap, and for the longest seconds, he doesn’t move. His voice sounds pained when he finally says, “Cuts? Surgery?” He begins to shake his head. “You got hurt.”
I reach for his hand, but the moment I touch him, he jerks his hand away. My heart begins to beat heavily. I’ve never seen Kao react this way. Not even when Mila was attacked.
Oh, God. He’s not going to want me anymore.
“It’s nothing,” I lie again, hoping to set him at ease. Maybe I’m lucky, and the surgeon can remove all of the scarring before Kao has his sight back. “Don’t worry about it.”
“You got hurt,” he bites the words out.
“Yeah, but it’s not serious,” I keep lying.
My gaze is locked on his face, and I watch as a pained expression darkens his features… and then he shuts his eyes.
“Leave,” he grinds out between clenched teeth.
Shock shudders through me, and my lips part on a gasp, “What?”
Kao’s breathing speeds up, and then he shouts, “Leave, Fallon!”
Recoiling, I gasp, “Kao?” My heart is kicking against my ribs. I can’t believe he’s treating me so harshly. Kao was never a vain person. Having him react so strongly because of the cuts has my heart shattering into a million pieces.
“Get out,” he barks.
I flinch away and getting up from his bed, the broken pieces of my heart rattle in my chest.
I watch his hands clench tightly into fists, and then Kao shouts, “Stop staring and get the fuck out!”
My hand flies to my mouth and shocked by his extreme behavior, I rush toward the door.
Before I can open it, Noah comes in. “What’s going on?”
“He found out about the cuts on my face and neck.” I shake my head, still shocked by Kao’s reaction.
“Noah?” Kao snaps.
Noah gives me a worried look, then he answers, “Yeah, I’m here.”
“Make sure she leaves,” he orders.
“Go,” Noah whispers, and lifting his hand, he gives my arm a squeeze. “I’m sure he’s just wound tight from everything that’s happened. Don’t worry.”
I nod and glance back at Kao before I step out of the room.
Standing in the hallway, I try to make sense of what just happened. Kao’s never talked to me like that. He’s never raised his voice.
Until I visited with Kao, I still felt hopeful that the plastic surgeon would be able to fix me. But now that I’ve seen Kao’s anger and… revulsion? I’m not sure anything can repair the damage done.
KAO
Fallon got hurt.
Because of me.
Cuts?
Seriously? Fallon talked about it as if it was nothing. I felt the bandages. It covered the whole right side of her neck and face.
Just fucking cuts?
She’ll have to go for surgery. That means more pain.
It’s no big deal?
Is she fucking kidding me?
Noah lets out a sigh, and it has me snapping, “Leave!”
“Is that your new favorite word?” he asks, sounding bored as fuck.
Frowning, I turn my head in his direction. “Don’t start with me,” I warn him.
“I’m not starting anything. You have the losing your shit part all handled.” The sarcastic tone in his voice only makes me angrier.
“Just get out,” I grind the words through clenched teeth. Getting into a fight with Noah is the last thing I have strength for.
Defiant Heir Page 3
