Her Bodyguard, her lover (3)

Eloise POV

The sight of blood on my fingers made me nauseous, gunshots still rang in the room and Alexander pushed my head closer to him. There was a consistent whine ringing in my head, until finally the shots stopped.

“Are you alright?”

I could see his mouth move but I couldn't make out the words he was saying.

“The bullet grazed your ear, next time I tell you to get down you do it without questions, do you understand me Eloise”

I nodded my head even though the only part I had heard was the bullet grazing my ear. “Are we safe?”

Alexander stood up accessing the damage done to the room, glass shattered beneath his boots as he took long strides to reach his phone which was now on the other end of the room. I slowly stood up, raking my gaze everywhere, observing the damage the shooters had caused, bullet casings lay everywhere, broken glass and artifacts lay on the floor but none of that was my concern. The only question on my mind was how did they know I had been discharged from the hospital, I hugged myself tighter realising I was in deep shit.

The sound of a steel box hitting the counter brought me out of my thoughts, Alexander had somehow managed to locate my first aid box.

“Sit,” he pointed at the barstool.

Still shaken up from the shooting I sat down folding further into myself.

“The bullet just grazed your ear lightly, you're one lucky reporter Eloise, one would think you are the grim reaper himself”

“It's not funny” I stated blankly

“Definitely not, I'm not smiling or laughing, I'm just stating how incredibly lucky you've been. Makes me wonder if they are actually trying to kill you or just trying to scare you, this is going to sting”

“Ah” I cried out, as a burning sting swept through the cut, making me suck in a deep breath.

“And done, here,” he handed me his phone for me to see my reflection. It was just a simple cat bandage placed on the wound. “It'll heal in a day or two don't worry it won't ch–”

He was cut off by the ring of his phone. “Speak,” although I couldn't hear the voice on the other end I knew they had passed on good news. By the time he hung up his countenance had improved significantly.

“And you're happy because?” I had gotten tired of waiting for him to disclose the information and it seemed like he had no intention of doing such.

“We’ve caught someone who we believe to be the shooter”

“And who's we?”

“My friends in the police force, I'm going to be paying him a visit you just stay here and rest, I'll appoint one of my men, Nico to be at your door”

“In case I try to do something dumb? Trust me I have no intention of testing fate the third time”

“You're too shaken up to do something dumb, Nico will be there in case you need something and in case your biker gang is audacious to strike again”

“Oh okay” I responded, suddenly turning meek.

“You get some rest Eloise, it's been a long day” Alexander spoke kicking up from where he rested, grabbed his keys from the counter and escorted me to my room

I opened my room door and walked in and he still stood on the other side. “Are you going to kill him?” I asked, holding the door in such an angle that only a side of my face was visible.

Something flashed in his gaze. “Do you want me to?”

“No,” I whispered.

“Then l won't, get some rest, if you need anything ask Nico okay?”

“Okay”

“Good” he stated, then turned on his heels and walked out. I shut the door and walked over to my bed, got myself comfortable and soon everywhere went dark.

I woke to the sound of raised voices coming from downstairs. For a moment, I remained still, staring at the ceiling as I tried to figure out where I was. My body felt heavy, and a dull ache throbbed around my injured ear. Then another voice rose above the others, loud enough to pull me completely out of my sleep.

“I don't care what your instructions are. Move.”

I frowned, that voice.

“Ma'am, I can't allow you inside.”

“And I can't believe I'm standing here arguing with a man who apparently thinks he's the gatekeeper of someone's house.”

I pushed myself upright, wincing when the movement sent a wave of dizziness through my head.

“Lena?”

I threw the covers aside and carefully made my way toward the bedroom door. The argument continued downstairs.

“You're going to have to wait until Mr. Alexander confirms who you are.”

“Oh, wonderful. So while my best friend is recovering from being shot, I'm supposed to stand outside and wait for some man I've never met to decide whether I'm allowed to see her?”

“Those are my orders.”

“And I'm supposed to care because?”

I couldn't help the small smile that touched my lips, definitely Lena.

I opened my door and stepped into the hallway. “Nico!”

The voices downstairs fell silent, a few seconds later, Nico appeared at the bottom of the staircase and looked up at me.

“Miss Eloise, you shouldn't be out of bed.”

“I heard the commotion. What's going on?”

Nico glanced toward the entrance. “She says she's your friend, but after what happened last night, I can't let anyone through without clearance.”

“She's Lena.”

His expression remained cautious. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Let her in.”

He hesitated for another second before stepping aside, Lena immediately walked past him, but not before turning her head and flipping him the bird

“You know, for a bodyguard, you're remarkably annoying.”

Nico stared at her.

“I'll take that as a compliment.”

“It wasn't.”

She continued toward me, leaving him standing there, I almost laughed, almost.

The moment Lena reached me, her expression changed completely. The sass disappeared as her eyes moved over my face, stopping at the bandage covering my ear.

“Oh, my Lois”

I swallowed. “Hi.”

She stared at me for a few seconds, then she pulled me into a tight hug.

I closed my eyes, the warmth of her arms around me made something inside my chest loosen, something I hadn't even realized I'd been holding onto.

“You scared the hell out of me,” she whispered.

“I know.”

“No, you don't.” Her voice trembled slightly. “I heard you were in an accident, and then I heard there had been a shooting. Do you have any idea what that felt like?”

I shook my head.

“I didn't want you to worry.”

She pulled back and looked at me incredulously. “You were shot at, and your first concern was whether I would worry?”

“I wasn't exactly thinking clearly.”

“Clearly.”

Despite everything, a tiny laugh escaped me.

Lena looked at the band aid on my ear, and the amusement disappeared from her face.

“Who did this to you?”

My smile faded. “I don't know, Alexander said they caught someone who they believe is the shooter”

She took my hand. “And where is this so-called Alexander?” she asked, looking around as we walked into the room.

“He went to the police to interrogate the guy”

“Well that resolves it, I know where we're going.”

“I'm not supposed to leave the house Lena”

I sighed, already knowing the thoughts running through her mind.

“Oh please, we can take Nicky with us”

“Nico” I corrected smiling

“That's what I said, Nicky. First we go shopping, then we swing by the station”

“Shopping? Really? I'm not really in the mood”

“Well fuck me in the ass without lube, did the great Eloise Hale St Claire say no to a shopping spree?” Lena asked wiggling her eyebrows

“I'm not saying no necessari–”

“Bills on me, what do you say?” She asked, holding out a Gucci one piece she had picked from my wardrobe. “There’s this new Louis heels we both need to get it's limited edition come on”

I looked at her, and for the first time since the shooting, I broke into a genuine smile. She knew me so well, I would never say no to shopping and especially shopping for new heels. “Fine,” I started. “But only for an hour then we head to the station.”

She squealed, throwing the clothes at my face. “Get ready girl”

I laughed already feeling the excitement, I can't let the shooting and the crash deny me of my favourite pastime, besides what could possibly go wrong….