Chapter 71
I was already planning to try to do something- anything to stop this dreadful thing from happening when we heard a loud gun shots and watched as Lucas gasped before sliding down and taking a now screaming Nicole along with him, I glanced beside me and saw the masked man fall to his knees before Aria, almost falling on her but she pushed him until he fell backwards on his legs, I glanced towards the dark hallway and watched as Nicolas walked out with two guns in his hands- the guns I left with him last night in preparation for whenever the said Russian group comes for us, not knowing that they was no said group after us, except Lucas.
I forced my legs to move as I quickly went towards Nicole and immediately wrenched her away from Lucas hold, even in death, his hold was still quite strong. Nicole threw herself into my arms and sobbed heartbrokenly while squeezing me tight, I felt a tear slide down my cheeks but I quickly brushed it away as I squeezed her against my chest.
“I’m so sorry, Nicole. I’m really really sorry for dragging you into all these, I really am. I’m sorry I couldn’t do a thing when you needed me most, I’m so so sorry…” I trailed off when my voice cracked.
There were so many emotions swirling in my head right now, guilt, remorse, relief, anger, and more unidentified emotions which were all choking me with so much intensity all at once. A tap on my shoulder brought me out from my head and now blinked at our savior, Nicolas.
Knowing without words that he wanted his twin, I pulled a sniffing Nicole out of my arm and she flung herself into Nicolas immediately. I stood still for a few seconds and took deep breaths while reminding myself to breath out and not hold the breath in like I was underwater, I noticed Tristan kneeling beside a crouched Aria and all thoughts about breathing flew out the window as I quickly walked up towards them and crouched down beside them.
“She’s not responding to me,” Tristan said to me before I could ask while gesturing at Aria helplessly. I knelt down before and watched her for a few seconds. Tears were streaming down her face while she stared ahead and I was sure she was currently seeing nothing since she didn’t register my presence. I felt Tristan pushed himself into his full posture as he walked away from us to give us privacy.
“Aria?” I called something but she barely moved a finger, her hands were still wrapped around her knees which she hugged to her chest while lost in her head with tears still pouring down her face.
I unwrapped her hands from her knees and held them in mine, her hands were currently quivering uncontrollably, an obvious sign of anxiety overload.
Oh Aria, I’m really sorry for pulling you into this mess. I said to myself in my head as I cupped her face and rested my forehead against hers.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
“Aria,” I called and after a few more seconds she blinked once then twice, her eyes roaming over my whole face with tears still leaking from its sides.
“I’m so sorry for dragging you into this mess, Aria.” I whispered to her and I watched as her lips quivered without any control.
“Ni- n- Nicole?” She stammered out and I nodded in encouragement, “She’s safe just like you. Nicolas came in and saved the day,” I whispered to her and watched as tears filled her eyes once again.
“I was so scared, it felt like I was reliving one of my most dreadful moments of my life,” Aria whispered and I knew what she was talking about immediately, the immense anger I felt rush through my veins only fueled my unsettled emotions and they all swirled uncontrollably throughout my whole body.
I never wanted to let her go, I want her to always be safe, and never to be put into this kind of position again.
“I’m so sorry baby, it’s all my fault, I trusted him too much, I’m so sorry for causing this.” I whispered to her, glad that she was at least responding to me.
“It was three men…” Her voice broke and I pulled her into my arms while she cried against my chest, her hands squeezing my shoulders as she clung desperately to me, not like I was letting her go, because that’s definitely never happening. I wrapped my arms around her back and over her hair, whispering words of comfort and apologies into her ears.
“I love you, Aria. I love you so goddamn much and I promise you that you’d never have to go through something like this under my watch.” The words were out my mouth and in her ears the moment it crossed my mind, not that I minded this time.
She choked on her sob and climbed into my laps, her legs wrapping around my waist, I felt my shirt start to get wet from the tears seeping into it which was starting to get me worried.
“I love you too.” She whispered into my ear, her limbs tightening more firmly against my waist and shoulders and I dropped my head into her shoulder as I breathed in the familiar scent of her hair into my lungs before pulling her face away from my neck slowly.
“It’s going to be alright, okay?”
She nodded her head and sniffed, her hands going up to wipe against her swollen eyelids, a few more teardrops managed to slip out before she finally stopped crying.
I know it can’t be easy as it sounds, and that it was going to be emotionally traumatizing for Nicole after what happened to her today and with what happened to Nicolas, they were all going to need time to heal, as expected.
But we were all going to work on everything together, and hopefully we’d become the quiet content and peaceful family that we once were until last week’s Thursday. Only this time, someone who means so much more than I can start to explain, is going to be joining the family…