Wheel You Marry Me?

CHAPTER 28.

Opening my eyes, all I could see was blood. Theodore was bleeding from his chest, slumped against me, his weight heavy and unsteady. My entire body trembled with fear and adrenaline. He clung to me for a second, his breath shallow and ragged.

I looked up, my vision blurry, and saw Jeffrey standing in the doorway pale, shaking, a gun trembling in his hands.

"I... I'm so sorry, Aurora," he stammered, his voice cracking. "He was going to kill you. I-I had to... I didn't have a choice." Tears streamed down his face as the reality of what he'd done hit him.

Theodore's body gave out. He slipped from my arms and collapsed to the cold, tiled floor.

Moments later, Tyler stormed into the room. "What the hell is going on here?" he demanded, his eyes scanning the chaos.

No one answered. Silence screamed louder than words. When his eyes landed on Theodore's bleeding form, he exhaled sharply and turned to Jeffrey. "It's okay, son. Give me the gun."

Jeffrey didn't hesitate. His hands shook as he handed it over, eyes filled with panic.

"Everyone calm down," Tyler said, suddenly composed, a strange calmness in his voice. "I'll call my doctor. Aurora, try to stop the bleeding."

I nodded numbly and rummaged through the cabinet, finding a clean towel. Pressing it against Theodore's chest, I applied pressure, though my hands wouldn't stop shaking. Blood soaked through the fabric almost instantly. I could feel his life slipping away beneath my fingers.

Ten minutes felt like a lifetime.

Tyler returned. "The doctor's on the way," he said and crouched beside me, helping with the pressure. Theodore's face was pale, too pale. I swallowed hard. It reminded me of Skylar. That image was enough to make my stomach churn. I ran to the toilet and threw up.

By the time I returned, the doctor had arrived. He and his team lifted Theodore and rushed him into a private room down the hall, transformed into an impromptu operating room.

Ryan found me moments later, pulling me into his arms. His embrace was the only thing grounding me. "I'm so sorry, baby. I should've been there," he whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

"I'm okay. Jeffrey was there. He saved me," I said, my voice barely audible. My body was still trembling.

"I love you, Aurora," he whispered against my hair.

Tears stung my eyes. "I love you too."

After a few minutes, I pulled away. "I need to check on my brother."

Ryan nodded and let me go.

I found Jeffrey sitting alone on a wooden bench in the garden, curled up on himself, eyes red and distant. I sat beside him quietly.

"Hey," I said softly.

"Hey." His voice was hollow.

"Thank you... for saving me."

He looked away. "Am I going to jail?" His voice cracked.

I reached for his hand and held it tightly. "No. You were protecting me. You're not going to jail."

He looked at me, broken and scared. "What if he dies, Aurora?"

I paused, fighting tears. "He's going to make it. He has to. You did what you had to do."

He leaned into me, and I hugged him tightly, wishing I could take the fear away. After a while, he pulled back and said, "We should go check on him."

We went back inside, where the Tylers sat waiting. Eleanor's eyes followed me coldly, filled with something I couldn't read resentment? Fear? Guilt?

Time crawled. Hours passed. Tyler and Eleanor eventually left the room. Jeffrey asked for water, so I went to the kitchen. On my way, I heard voices from behind a slightly ajar door. I paused.

"Why did you invite that guy in the first place?" Tyler's voice was sharp. "I told you, don't bring your business into our home!"

"He came to collect his payment," Eleanor snapped.

"You couldn't wire him the money?" Tyler growled.

"We had other things to discuss," Eleanor shot back.

"Your dirty business is going to destroy this family," he hissed.

"Oh, please. Like you're innocent? What about your drug friends, huh?" she countered.

Footsteps. I rushed to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water, pretending I hadn't heard a thing.

Back in the living room, the doctor emerged.

Tyler jumped up. "Doctor? How is he?"

The doctor sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping. "I... I'm sorry, Mr. Tyler. We did everything we could. But the bleeding was extensive... We couldn't save him."

A heavy silence dropped like a curtain.

Jeffrey choked on a sob. I grabbed him and hugged him tightly, my own tears pouring down freely.

Eleanor stormed away without a word. Tyler stepped forward, placing a steady hand on Jeffrey's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," he said softly, voice heavy with regret.

Panic set in again. Will my brother go to jail? I held Jeffrey's face between my hands. "It's going to be okay. Breathe, Jeff. Just breathe."

I handed him the water and rubbed his back.

Ryan crouched beside him. "You did the right thing. You protected your sister. I'm proud of you, man."

To my surprise, Jeffrey hugged him tightly. I smiled through my tears.

Tyler walked over and looked at Jeffrey. "Let me make a call. We'll take care of this."

He walked away, phone already in hand.

The Next Morning

Sunlight spilled through the curtains. I woke up on the couch with a warm blanket draped over me. My neck ached slightly. I blinked and looked around.

Ryan sat nearby, watching me. His hair was damp, his aftershave fresh, his eyes warm.

"Morning, beautiful," he said with a soft smile.

"Morning," I replied, smiling sleepily.

He came over and kissed me gently. "Sorry I didn't move you. You were sleeping so peacefully."

"It's fine," I said, pulling the blanket tighter around me. "Where's Jeffrey?"

"He's with my dad and a lawyer," he replied.

"A lawyer?" My stomach dropped. "Why?"

"I'm not sure. But I think it's about what happened last night."

I stood quickly. "I need to find them."

I left the room and passed by the hallway. One door was slightly open. I heard quiet voices and paused.

"Will I go to jail?" Jeffrey asked, his voice barely audible.

"No. Never. I won't allow it. I won't let my own blood rot in jail," Tyler replied firmly.