Bleeding

CHAPTER 5: BLEEDING 

Sam's POV 

The air still buzzed with tension long after the last gunshot had echoed through the gala hall. My ears rang, heart racing, but all I could focus on was the blood soaking through Teddy’s white dress shirt. He didn’t flinch much, just gritted his teeth like he’d seen worse.

Delilah stormed toward us as the security team cleared the area. Her heels clicked sharply across the floor, and the moment she laid eyes on Teddy’s injury, her expression darkened into something murderous.

Then her hand connected with my face.

The slap was loud, sharp, and stung like fire. I didn’t react, just stared at her, stunned.

“You were supposed to protect him!” she screamed, voice shaking. “Not the other way around!”

I didn’t say anything. What could I say? That I froze? That I hesitated for a second too long? That the man who took the bullet was the one I was beginning to understand the least?

Gaston appeared and immediately moved to Teddy’s side, helping him up carefully. Teddy gave me one last glance before Gaston and Delilah half-carried, half-dragged him to the waiting car outside. I followed without being told.

The drive was silent. Delilah didn’t even look at me.

I thought we were headed to a hospital , anywhere that could stop the bleeding. But instead of speeding onto the main road, Gaston veered through a hidden path at the back of the estate, returning to the compound. My brows pulled together.

"What the hell—"

Then I saw it. As soon as we entered the gates, a group of men in scrubs were already waiting near one of the secluded buildings. They didn’t waste time. They opened the car, pulled Teddy out on a stretcher, and wheeled him inside without a word.

No sirens. No flashing lights.

Just silence.

I stood there frozen for a moment. That’s when it hit me.

They had their own medical facility. Hidden right within the compound. How deep did all of this run?

I turned around and walked quickly back to the dormitory-style building that held our rooms. My thoughts were scattered. I kept seeing the flash of blood. The slap. The bullet wound. Teddy shielding me.

Eli was sprawled across his bed, half-asleep, but sat up the moment I stepped in.

“You look like crap,” he said, yawning. “What happened?”

I sank into the edge of my bed. “There was an ambush at the gala. Gunfire. Teddy got shot… grazed on the shoulder.”

Eli’s eyes widened. “What?! You okay?”

“Yeah,” I muttered. “But Delilah wasn’t having it. She slapped me. Said I was supposed to protect him.”

“She slapped you?” Eli repeated, incredulous.

“Right in front of everyone. Didn’t even wait for an explanation. And they didn’t even take him to a hospital. There's a whole medical building here.”

Eli whistled. “Damn. They really are their own country.”

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “I think Delilah’s going to punish me.”

Eli looked at me, suddenly serious. “She probably will. She’s not exactly known for… grace.”

A knock echoed on the door, but before I could move, it was kicked open with a loud bang.

Gaston stormed in, face set like stone.

“Up. Now.”

He didn’t wait. He marched straight to me, grabbed me by the collar, and yanked me up. My back hit the wall hard as he shoved me out of the room.

“Hey! What the hell—!” Eli shouted behind me.

But Gaston didn’t stop. His grip tightened around my arm like a vise.

“You’re in deep mess now,” he growled, dragging me through the hallway.

I didn’t resist. There was no point.

“Delilah’s ordered your punishment.”

My stomach dropped.

Not because of fear.

But because I knew, whatever it was, it was going to hurt.

Bad.

___

They dragged me into a dark, cold cellar.

My knees hit the ground first, but the pain from the punches landed harder. Gaston didn’t hold back, and neither did the two others assisting him. The sting of every blow pulsed through me like fire under my skin. My arms were tied behind me, and my head spun from the last hit to my jaw.

Delilah stood at the doorway, arms folded and eyes burning.

“I told you,” she said, voice sharp and cold, “you were supposed to protect him. Not let him get shot.”

I coughed, tasting blood. My cheek was swelling fast, and the side of my ribs ached like something had cracked. “He jumped in front of me,” I managed to mutter.

“That’s not an excuse.” Her heel clicked against the stone floor as she stepped forward. “You are not to be close to him again. You hear me? I don’t care what orders Teddy gives , your job is to serve, not to get in his way. Understand?”

I didn’t answer.

Delilah crouched in front of me and grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking my head up to meet her eyes. “You might think you're clever, Samuel, but around here, that gets people killed. I see the way he looks at you. Stay away from him.”

Her words were bitter. She didn’t care about Teddy getting shot , she cared that Teddy noticed me. It made my stomach twist.

Suddenly, Gaston’s phone rang.

He stepped away to answer. I heard only murmurs at first, but then his voice sharpened. “Yes, sir. He’s with me right now.”

Delilah stood up, brushing her hands on her black coat. “What is it?”

Gaston hung up and turned to her. “He’s awake. Teddy wants Samuel brought to him.”

Delilah narrowed her eyes, her jaw tightening. “Of course he does.” She looked down at me again. “Let’s see what punishment he has in mind. I’m coming with you.”

Gaston and the others yanked me up, my body protesting every movement. Blood trickled from my mouth, and I limped as they forced me up the stairs, Delilah walking behind us like a queen following her prisoner.

We walked across the courtyard and into the compound . They didn’t take me to the common infirmary. Instead, we entered a restricted corridor, a place I hadn’t been before. White floors. Glass walls. Security at every corner. It was a private medical wing, hidden within their organization.

They led me to a room where Teddy lay shirtless on a reclined medical bed, his shoulder bandaged. He looked paler than usual, but his eyes were sharp, alert, and fixed on me the second I entered.

Delilah stepped ahead. “He’s here. I’ve already disciplined him. He’s learned his lesson.”

Teddy didn’t even look at her. His gaze was solely on me. “What did they do to him?”

“I handled it,” she said, a touch too fast. “He needs to be reminded of his place. He let you get shot.”

“I told you to bring him,” Teddy said, voice cold. “Not break him.”

The room fell silent.

Delilah opened her mouth, but Teddy raised a hand. “Leave us. All of you.”

She blinked. “I—”

“Now.”

Gaston hesitated, then nodded toward the guards. They released their grip on my arms, and everyone filed out, Delilah the last to leave, glaring at me over her shoulder.

The door shut behind them, and I stood there, bloody, bruised, aching.

Teddy leaned back on the bed, his expression unreadable. “Sit.”

I didn’t move.

He nodded to the chair beside him. “Please, Sam.”

That was the first time he ever said my name like that.

I walked to the chair and sat slowly, wincing. My chest throbbed.

Teddy looked at me for a long moment. “I told you to come with me to the gala because I trusted you. And when everything went to hell… you didn’t run.”

“I couldn’t,” I said bitterly. “I was too stunned.”

“You stayed. That matters more than you know.” He paused. “You’re not in trouble with me.”

“Then why am I bleeding?”

His jaw clenched, eyes narrowing. “Because they follow her lead when I’m not conscious.”

“So what now?”

He reached out and placed something on the table beside me, a silver pin in the shape of a falcon. “Now… you work directly under me.”

I stared at it.

Everything was about to change.