Chapter 64

The car came to a screeching halt, the sudden stop jarring everyone inside. Dan was out of the vehicle almost instantly, his worry evident as he raced to help.

The moment the doors swung open, the hospital staff hurried over with a stretcher, their expressions a mix of urgency and compassion.

“He’s been shot in the chest!” Dan said, addressing the staff. “Left side, entry wound only, I think.” They pulled Tyson from my arms, and I stumbled out after them, my legs almost giving out. Dan caught me before I fell.

My hands were stained red with, and my dress clung to me; that's how much blood he had lost. “Ma’am, you can’t go past this point,” a nurse said, blocking me as they wheeled him through double doors.

“I’m coming with him,” I snapped, unaware that the whole hospital was looking at me strangely.

“You need to wait—”

“That’s my family!” My voice cracked loudly in the sterile hallway.

Dan appeared at my side, grabbing my shoulders gently but firmly. “Emerald.”

“They have him,” he said quietly. “Let them work.” I caught one last glimpse of Tyson through the swinging doors, oxygen masks were strapped over his face, and his chest was rising too slowly for my liking.

Then the doors shut behind the nurses and doctors, and the hallway felt so bright that it gave an eerie feeling. I was shaking in fear of what might happen to him.

Dan noticed immediately, and he pulled me into a hug. I didn’t fight it, I pressed my face into his chest, not caring that I was staining his shirt too.

“He can’t die,” I whispered. “He won’t,” Dan said, but his voice wasn’t steady. Luca stood a few feet away, pacing, running his hands through his hair. “Who the hell shot him?” he muttered. “Why would they wait for him to get to your house, then shoot him?"

Dan’s expression hardened instantly. “That wasn’t random,” Luca added. "No, it's not, but can we please focus on Tyson getting back, then the investigation can go forward after he makes it?" I said, looking at them with half an annoyed expression.

"You need to go home and change," Dan said, signaling to my bloody dress. "Thank God, I wore black, right?" I said, looking at Luca, who sighed and nodded, seemingly not interested in anything.

"But we can't leave yet without seeing the doctor. Let's wait, maybe they will let us know once they have stabilised him." I said, looking at Dan, who was pacing up and down the corridor.

"Wow, you are really worried about, huh?" Luca said, a mix of confusion and amazement in his voice. I couldn't help but feel a flush of embarrassment as I recalled my history with Tyson and considered how Dan might interpret it.

"Of course I care about him, he is my husband's brother," I said, shooting a glare at Luca for trying to throw me under the bus.

Dan knows what happened between Tyson and me; that's the whole reason why we ended up killing a woman. Now he thinks it's clever that he should say that in front of my husband? He is just being an ass, trying to sabotage my marriage.

The heavy double doors swung open an hour later, though it felt more like twenty years had passed. The clean, white waiting room was filled with an uneasy tension as I watched the doctor approach, his expression grave.

“Family of Tyson Cross?” he asked, scanning the room. Dan, sitting beside me, shot up from his chair, his eyes wide with concern. I could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on us.

“He’s in surgery,” the doctor continued hastily, his voice steady yet sympathetic. “The bullet punctured his lung. He lost a significant amount of blood.” Each word was like a punch to the gut, sending a wave of dread washing over us.

Silence enveloped us as we waited for him to tell us the bad news. It was as if time had come to a standstill, and we were all caught in a moment of anxious tension, like jurors holding their breath, waiting for the judgment that could change everything.

“But,” the doctor continued, “You got him here in time.” I felt my knees buckle again, and I released a deep breath I didn't even know I was holding.

“He’s critical,” the doctor said. “The next few hours are important.” I closed my eyes, pressing a trembling hand against my stomach. "Thank you, doc." The doctor nodded and walked away.

"Can we go now? So you can get off that dress and get some rest?" I nodded at Dan, and he grabbed my hand as we headed for the exit. It wasn’t until we were almost there that I noticed Luca wasn't following us.

"You're not leaving?" I turned around, and he was still sitting in the chair with his face buried in his hands. He instantly looked up and gave me a small smile, shaking his head.

"Okay," I said, reluctantly confused about why he would be the one staying behind; they barely know each other. "Luca is acting out of character. I don't like it." Dan said with a straight look on his face, and I scoffed in disbelief, looking at him.

"What do you mean? You think he shot Tyson? He has no reason to." I said, defending Luca, who is probably acting weird because of shock. "I hope so, because I will have to shoot him myself if he did." I gulped, praying that it's not him because by this straight look, this man is not playing around.

"You were very emotional today." I rolled my eyes, already knowing what was going to come of the conversation.

"I have never seen someone with a gunshot wound close, and Tyson and I were close at one point," I said, feeling my face getting heated from having this conversation.

"For him?" Dan asked, stepping into the car. I felt myself boil with anger. Does he really think this is the right time to be having this conversation?

"No! Can we please drive home and stop talking about this? I don't love him, okay?"