Novel Ships
27
New York, Mia
The sound of gunshots had shattered the tranquility of my apartment, and fear had gripped my heart like a vice. Without a second thought, I had dialed 911, my voice trembling as I reported the horrifying incident to the operator. The words came out in a panicked rush as I explained that the security guard had been shot, his life hanging in the balance.
I couldn’t bear the thought of going outside, not knowing if the shooter was still lurking outside. I rushed to find Bella, who was already trembling with fear, her face pale. We shared a glance that spoke volumes, our mutual terror mirrored in each other’s eyes.
“We can’t go outside,” I whispered to her, voicing the unspoken concern that had paralyzed us both. What if the shooter was still out there, waiting for another opportunity to strike?
Our hearts ached for the security guard, a man who had been entrusted with our safety and had paid the price for his dedication. The guilt gnawed at us, knowing that we were the intended targets of this menacing threat.
Minutes felt like hours as we waited anxiously for the police to arrive. When they finally did, their presence brought some measure of comfort. They assured us that they would handle the situation and instructed us to accompany them to the hospital. The security guard was in no condition to speak, and his life hung in the balance.
We drove to the hospital in the company of the police, my heart heavy with dread. Tears streamed down my face, and Bella reached out to offer me a bottle of water. She understood the depth of my fear, and her presence was a source of solace in these trying times.
As we sat in the hospital’s emergency room, the minutes ticked by like an eternity. The sterile surroundings felt cold and unwelcoming, and the uncertainty of the situation weighed heavily on us. It was a stark reminder that our lives had been irrevocably altered by the presence of a menacing stalker.
My phone rang, and Sebastian’s name flashed on the screen. Relief washed over me at the sight of his name. “Thank God you called,” I said, my voice hiccupping with emotion.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
“I heard,” Sebastian replied, his voice filled with concern. “I’m on my way there. Are you all right?”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to convey the depth of my fear. “Yes,” I stammered. “I was already in bed and drifting to sleep when I heard gunshots.”
The anger in Sebastian’s voice was palpable as he responded, “These motherfuckers… I swear, if I find out who did this to us, they’ll be ten feet under.”
I clung to his words, the promise of his protection providing a glimmer of hope in the darkness. “Please, just hurry up and be here,” I implored, my voice quivering with fear.
“I will be there soon, okay,” he reassured me, his voice softening. “Hold on.”
“Okay,” I replied, my gratitude for his unwavering support evident in my voice as I ended the call.
Bella joined me, offering a bottle of water to help calm my nerves. “Drink… it will help you calm down,” she advised gently.
I took a sip, the cool water soothing my parched throat. Bella’s presence was a comfort, and I appreciated her more than ever in this trying moment.
“I never realized how bad the situation was until now,” Bella whispered, her voice heavy with sorrow. “I am scared for your safety, Mia,” she admitted.
I nodded in understanding, tears welling up once more. “Me too,” I whispered, my gaze fixed on the blank wall in front of us. The weight of the situation had become undeniably real, and the fear for our safety was a burden that neither of us could ignore any longer.
I sat there in the sterile hospital waiting room, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The events of the night had left me with more questions than answers. Who could have been so malicious, so ruthless, as to orchestrate this terrifying ordeal? My thoughts turned to my father, a man who might despise me but would he go as far as to take my life? I doubted it. His concern for reputation and status outweighed any personal vendetta.
Bella and I sat together on the cold hospital bench, seeking solace in each other’s presence. The silence between us was heavy with unspoken fears and uncertainties. We were both lost in our own thoughts, grappling with the enormity of the situation that had unfolded.
Who would have thought that an innocent one-night stand could spiral into such a nightmarish bloodbath? It was a cruel twist of fate that had led us down this dark and treacherous path.
As I wiped away tears that had escaped my eyes, I felt the onset of a light headache. The stress and fear were taking a toll on me, both physically and emotionally. Bella’s comforting presence beside me was a small but significant source of solace in these trying times.
“I hope they catch the shooter fast,” Bella whispered, her voice filled with a longing for peace and safety. “I really want our peace back.”
I nodded in agreement, my own desire for a return to normalcy mirroring her sentiments. “Me too, Bella,” I replied, my voice trembling. “I want this all to be over real quick. I’m so scared, for my life and that of my baby’s. It’s a cruel world out here.”
Just as I uttered those words, the door to the operating room swung open, and a doctor emerged. His white attire contrasted starkly with the grimness of the situation. His eyes betrayed no emotion as he regarded us.
“Are you his family?” he inquired, his tone detached.
“We are the ones he was standing guard for,” I replied, “My…” my voice faltered as I struggled to find an appropriate way to address Sebastian in this context. Friend? Boyfriend? Man from a one-night stand? “Uhm, Sebastian Thornton, his employer already notified his family and they are on their way here.”
The doctor nodded, his expression unchanging, and proceeded to deliver the news we had been anxiously waiting for. As his words sank in, a wave of shock and devastation washed over me, leaving me no choice but to collapse to the floor. The world around me blurred, and the weight of the news threatened to crush me.
As the devastating news from the doctor washed over me, threatening to drown me in sorrow and despair, I suddenly felt strong hands wrap around me. Startled, I looked up to see that it was Sebastian. His presence, his embrace, was a lifeline in the sea of grief that threatened to engulf me.
Tears streamed down my face like a waterfall, and I couldn’t contain the overwhelming wave of emotion that had been building within me. I cried uncontrollably, my sobs coming in powerful waves that seemed to wrack my entire body. I hiccuped and gasped for breath in the midst of my tears, unable to find solace in the face of this heart-wrenching news.
Sebastian held me close, his arms a protective shield around me. His strong and reassuring presence was a balm to my shattered heart. He gently stroked my hair, his voice a soft and comforting whisper in my ear.
“Breath. I’m here,” he whispered, his words a soothing mantra as he pulled me even closer to him. In that moment, I clung to him like a lifeline, seeking solace in the warmth of his embrace.
My heart was in pieces, shattered by the devastating news of the security guard’s death. I couldn’t comprehend that this was happening, that someone had paid the ultimate price for our safety. I looked up at Sebastian, my tear-filled eyes meeting his. I could see the fear and anguish in his eyes, but he was trying valiantly to stay strong for both of us.
“He’s dead,” I choked out.