Nick’s POV
Dad’s gaze swept across each of us, lingering on Georgia and the longest.
"So until the police dismantle every piece of his operation, we don’t let our guard down. No complacency. No solo errands. No unnecessary trips. And Georgia"—he softened slightly—"you especially need to prioritize rest."
Georgia gave a small nod, though I could see the lingering tremor in her shoulders. My arm instinctively tightened around her.
Dad clapped his hands together lightly, like sealing the conversation. "Alright. Enough for today. Let’s all go ho. Let Nick and Georgia rest—they’ve been up since dawn."
Liam opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, but Dad lifted a hand.
"We’ll figure things out. After Raymond and Nancy get their sentence—soon, from the looks of it—then we can breathe a little easier. And once that happens..." Dad’s face broke into a tired but warm smile, "we can focus on planning Liam and Ella’s wedding without any shadows hanging over us."
That earned the first genuine smile from Liam since we got to the hospital.
Dad moved toward the door. "Co on. Let’s not keep digging into this today. We’ll tackle everything again when we have clearer heads."
Everyone slowly filed out of the office. I stood up, helping Georgia to her feet. Her hand slipped into mine, cold but steady.
As we stepped out into the hallway, I glanced back at my father—strong, composed, but more protective than ever.
He was right. This wasn’t the ti to relax.
Because if Dante had n still out there... This war wasn’t done, surely they will get back to us.
And protecting my wife—and our unborn child—was no longer just a priority.
It was everything, and that doesn’t an that my now extended family is of any less, they are just as important, and I will not let anything happen to them.
Vicky was already teasing Liam and Ella before they even reached the foyer, her voice echoing playfully down the hallway as we follow behind.
"So," she began with a wicked grin, looping her arm through Liam’s, "now that you two are officially engaged, does that an I get to boss you both around for the wedding preparations? Because I have a whole Pinterest board ready. Color-coded."
Ella flushed, groaning softly. "Vicky, we just got engaged."
Prudence chid in instantly, "Oh, sweetie, that just ans his torture from his sister starts early. Welco to the family."
Dad burst into warm laughter, shaking his head. "Leave the poor boy alone. He already looks terrified."
"He SHOULD be terrified," Vicky replied proudly. "He’s marrying Ella, and Ella deserves everything a lady can get, princess treatnt, like that."
Ella smacked her shoulder. "Hey!"
They all laughed—loud, light, a welco distraction from the tension that had been weighing us down for days. For a mont, it felt normal. Like we really were just any other family, heading toward the front door after a long day, ready to finally rest.
Georgia and I broke away from the group, heading toward the stairs. Her steps were slow, still groggy from sleepiness from her unpredictable hormones. I placed my hand low on her back, steadying her, guiding her gently.
"We’ll rest together," I murmured. "You need it."
She smiled tiredly. "Only if you don’t sneak out of bed the mont I fall asleep."
I was about to promise her that, about to tell her everything was fine—
When Nora’s voice ripped through the air like an alarm.
"Oh my God! Everyone, DON’T GO, STOP!"
We froze.
"You must see the news!" she shouted again, panic slicing through her tone. "THERE’S A SHOOTOUT IN THE HOSPITAL—AND ATTORNEY OLIVER MORRIS IS ON TV, AND HE GOT SHOT!"
Everything in my body went cold.
Vicky was the first to move—she bolted, sprinting toward the living room so fast that her heels clacked violently against the floorboards.
"What? WHAT?!" she yelled as she reached the TV, fumbling for the remote.
The rest of us stumbled after her, crowding into the room.
And there, on the screen, chaos.
Police cars. Sirens. Flashing lights. The hospital entrance was taped off. Reporters shouting over each other.
And then—
A stretcher is being pushed past the caras.
Oliver.
Blood staining the side of his shirt. His head was lolling. A dic pressing sothing to his ribs.
Vicky covered her mouth with a shaking hand. "No, no, no—"
Dad imdiately pulled out his phone. "I’m calling his assistant."
Liam was already dialing. "I’m calling my head of security. We need to go there—we need to help Oliver’s team NOW."
My heart hamred against my ribs. I grabbed my phone and barked into it the mont my head of security answered.
"CALL EVERYONE. All teams, all units—NOW. Full lockdown drills. Coordinate with Liam’s team. Secure the entire property. EVERY ENTRANCE, EVERY GATE. I want the house impenetrable tonight."
[Yes, Sir.]
"And call my driver. I’m leaving in three minutes."
Georgia’s fingers gripped my arm, trembling. I cupped the back of her head and kissed her forehead quickly, grounding myself—grounding her.
"This isn’t your fault," I whispered. "And I promise—I’ll co back."
My driver called to confirm he was outside.
I turned to Dad. "We’re going to Oliver—"
"I’m coming with you," Dad said, stepping forward with that familiar domineering presence. "He’s like a son to . I’m not staying behind."
But Vicky spun around and grabbed his arm with both hands, gripping tightly as tears stread down her face.
"Daddy..." Her voice cracked. "Please... let go. Oliver... he needs . And Mom—Mom needs YOU here. Georgia and Ella need you. Everyone is scared. You have to stay. They need a man with them. Let go with Nick and Liam."
Dad’s expression shifted—shock, pain, then an understanding so deep it almost broke .
He rested a hand on the side of her face. "Be safe, my baby girl."
Vicky nodded rapidly, wiping her tears, swallowing the sob building in her throat.
I helped Georgia sit down on the couch so she wouldn’t faint from the panic washing through her.
"I’ll be back soon, my love," I whispered against her temple.
She held onto my shirt, eyes glossy. "Nick... please don’t get hurt."
"I won’t," I promised. "I can’t. I’m coming back to you."
I kissed her—fast, firm, a promise sealed in urgency, and pulled away before I could second-guess leaving her during sothing this terrifying.
Liam, Vicky, and I rushed toward the front door. My driver was already out of the car, holding the door open.
The mont we stepped outside, one thing beca painfully clear:
If this is Dante’s doing, then he just declared war against the Knights.
*********
Thanks for the Golden Tickets!
kashvi14
KATHLEEN_COLL
Remi_Biyi
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