[Trigger warning: violence and attempted sexual assault description]

   Em carried me in his arms all the way to the hospital.

   I tried to protest, but he made it clear that he'd never let me out of his embrace until he was sure I was ok. I was grateful for his determination because, although, I was going to do my best, I knew, I wouldn't be able to walk. The pain in my ribs was increasing by the second, making it hard for me to breathe.

   It's good that the hospital is only two blocks away from the University and there aren't too many people in the streets usually, at this time of the day. 

   The ones who passed by, were casting curious glances over their shoulders, but I couldn't care less, feeling that I'd lose consciousness at any moment.

   We were directed to the ER immediately. Doctors and nurses were bustling around me in a hurry, examining me and talking in the local language to each other and Em, who firmly refused to leave.

   I was given a handful of painkillers, went through the X-ray and got several stiches on my lip.

   I'm finally left alone with Em in a silent, white room, drowsy from the medicines, but squeezing his hand. 

   It's all familiar, the concerned faces, the people in scrubs, running around, the beeping equipment, the tears of my loved ones. 

   But still, it's so different than before. I'm not desperate. I haven't given up. The person I love didn't abandon me. He saved me. He's right next to me. It's crazy, but despite my awful situation, I'm happy.

   Em's looking at me, smiling softly, but his eyes are worried and glistening.

   "I feel better, Dārin," I barely utter. "It doesn't hurt anymore."

   My mouth and chin are swollen and plastered with gauze and tape, making it difficult for me to pronounce the words.

   "Shh, don't speak, love," Em interrupts me. "Just rest. Everything will be fine. The doctor said that you have a fractured rib, but no internal organs are damaged, so you'll only have to restrict movements to a minimum for a week."

   He smiles sadly and adds, "You'll also have to take only liquid food for several days and be careful not to tear the stiches and open the wound on your lip."

   I nod and, since I can't smile back, lift my hand and cup his cheek.

   Em kisses my fingers and says with a serious expression, "The nurse will bring some documentation soon. You'll have to sign 'Forensic examination of injuries' report. We're pressing charges against that bastard. I've already called the police. The doctor said that what he caused you is qualified as moderate bodily injury. Daniel can go to jail for five years."

   He huffs, "They'll probably give him less, but I guarantee you that, if I see him any time sooner, I'll kill him, without blinking an eye."

   "No!" I shake my head. "I don't want you anywhere near him."

   "Shh, don't worry, kitty. Nothing can separate me from you from now on, not even for a second. I'm moving to your apartment to take care of you for the next week." 

   Em presses his forehead to my hand and I feel wetness on my skin. My heart shrinks. 

   He sobs, "I'm so sorry, love. It's all my fault. I couldn't protect you. It's all because of me."

   I want to tell him that he's not right. He can't be responsible for what that jerk did. My heart is breaking, seeing him cry.

   Before I can do it, we hear a quiet knock on the door. Em quickly wipes his eyes and straightens. Emma, Jamie and Lucky enter the room.

   Emma sits carefully on the bed, next to me. Her eyes are puffy and red. I'm sure she's been crying the whole time since she saw me on that rest room's floor. 

   My brave girl still manages to smile. "How are you feeling, Sunny? My poor sweetie."

   I take her hand and show a thumb up. She bends and softly kisses me on the forehead.

   "It's all my fault," Lucky grunts. "I should've dealt better with that sickening scumbag. He deserved to go to jail even back then. What I did to him was too merciful."

   "If I hadn't shown up on time, you would've killed him. It was you that would've gone to jail, if I hadn't stopped you," Jamie interrupts him. "You couldn't have known that he didn't learn his lesson. It's no one's fault but his."

   I pat Em's hand with a pleading look. I need to know what they're talking about.

   Em nods and sighs. I can see that it's difficult for him to speak about it. The uneasiness is written on his face.

   "It was a year ago," he starts. "Daniel was able, somehow, to obtain a pass for the club, for him and his friends. Tony is the owner and gives VIP cards only to people he knows or are recommended. We don't wand drunkards, fights or other excesses. The atmosphere is quite liberated. We need to make sure that people can behave."

   "The bastard can be very charming," Jamie adds, "and persuasive when he wants something, not to mention that he's filthy with money. He found people to give assurance of him and we were all deceived."

   "Yeah, I was an idiot," Em frowns. "I didn't become friends with him. He was too sleazy to be my friend but, nevertheless, I lowered my guard. I even believed him that he's a fan and agreed to work with him. He suggested to fund a studio recording of one of our songs. He came at my house with a bottle of scotch that evening, offering a drink for the future success."

   "Scum!" Lucky hisses. "It was obvious that he had a crush on Em, but was too filthy to approach him as a normal person. When I heard that only the two of them were drinking, I crossed the town for less than five minutes. What I saw, when I got there, made me sick."

   He squeezes Em's shoulder, giving him the choice to decide whether to finish the story.

   Em puts his hand on Lucky's and nods, continuing, "I don't remember a thing. He had slipped something in my drink and drugged me. When Lucky entered the house, he saw me stripped to my boxers, sprawled unconscious on the sofa. The jerk was preparing to take advantage of me."

   "Oh, I made a bloody mess out of him. He would've been dead, if Jamie didn't arrive to stop me," Lucky  goes on. "We had to take Em to the hospital for gastric lavage. He wasn't coming to his senses, no matter how long we were splashing him with cold water."

   "The douchebag threatened to sue us for criminal assault," Jamie laughs humorlessly. "I couldn't believe his insolence and nerve, considering that he needed a month to recover, after Lucky beat the shit out of him."

   "I wasn't that stupid, though," Lucky sneers. "I've dealt with trash like him before. I took some pictures, before dealing with him, so it shut his filthy mouth up."

   All of us become silent. 

   My tears are flowing down my cheeks. Thinking of the way Em could be hurt, if his friends hadn't interfered, makes me feel nauseous. I understand why he hadn't let anyone else close, after what happened to him. 

   I see him in a completely different light now. My Dark Prince is just a vulnerable boy who loves his friends and cares about them. He needs protection, like all of us. 

   I am so privileged to be accepted in his life, to win his love. We'll take care of each other from now on. No one will ever hurt us again.

   I intertwine my fingers with his. 

   All five of us are looking at each other and I see it in everyone's eyes. 

   We're together. Friends forever. We'll stand against anyone that threatens to harm any of us, against the world, if it's necessary.

___________________________________

A/N

Hello everyone at the end of Chapter 73!

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See you in the next chapter.

Love: Anny