The promise

NIKOLAI'S POV:

My eyelids reluctantly lifted and I found myself in the hospital.

I sat up, leaning my weight on my elbow as my vision adjusted to the lights around me.

I recognized Kwame and Vladimir guarding the room.

They were seated beside me, their head bent and arms folded.

"What are you monkeys doing here?" I grumbled, my voice husky.

The boys looked up sharply at my direction and stood up.

"Boss, you're awake," Kwame said, sounding concerned. "We thought you'd never wake up."

"I feel like hell," I sat up properly. "What the hell happened?"

"You're in the hospital, boss," Kwame filled me in. "We found you in the alley after that thug shot you."

I traced my hands to my right chest where I got shot. I could feel the wound inflaming inside me.

"How long have I been here?" I asked quietly.

"Three days. You're a miracle, boss," Kwame replied in awe. "The bulletproof vest you wore inside mitigated the damage the bullet could've caused, but it did knock you out though."

I rubbe