Chapter 113
Fuck. Why did this have to happen to her? Who would dare do this to Sophia? Were there signs I missed? Was she in danger, and I was too blind to see it?
The questions pounded in my skull as Sebastian sped out of the underground parking. If she was hurt because I failed to protect her, I’d never forgive myself.
"Is she alive?" The words clawed their way out of my throat, thick with fear.
She had to be. She just fucking had to.
Sebastian shot me a sideways glance. "She's alive."
Barely.
He didn’t say it, but I heard it anyway.
I’d seen the footage. Whoever did this wanted her dead. Wanted to make sure she didn’t walk away. Two bullets had hit her—maybe more. I didn’t know how bad it was, but I knew it was bad.
"Which hospital?" My voice was rough, barely recognizable.
I hadn’t even asked. All I could think about was getting to her.
"Avenue Hospital," Sebastian said. "I called around. They took her there."
At least it was the best in the city.
I tried to steady my breathing, to push back the panic threatening to drown me. But it was impossible. I wouldn’t breathe right again until I knew she was okay.
"She’ll pull through, Ethan," Sebastian said after a long silence.
I wanted to believe him. But I couldn’t. She might survive—but the baby? The fall alone could’ve been enough. If she lived but lost the child, it would destroy her. I knew Sophia. The grief would shatter her.
"Drive faster," I snapped.
Every second felt like an eternity. Why did time crawl when you needed it to fly?
"I’m going as fast as I can."
"It’s not fast enough. I need to be there."
What if she woke up alone? What if she needed me?
I should’ve trusted my gut. That gnawing dread I’d ignored—I should’ve acted. Should’ve made sure she was safe. Now she was paying for my mistake.
"Any idea who did this?" Sebastian asked.
He was trying to distract me. But there was no distraction from this.
"Damien Slade," I growled. "He’s the only one with a motive."
If it was him, he’d won. He’d gotten his revenge. Nothing else could hurt like this.
"What about Liam? You have to tell him," Sebastian said.
Fuck. I’d forgotten. He adored his mother. This would break him.
"How?" My voice cracked. "How do I tell him his mother was shot? That I failed to protect her?"
The weight of it crushed me. But I couldn’t fall apart. Not now. Liam needed me. Sophia needed me.
"It wasn’t your fault," Sebastian said.
I wanted to believe that. But the guilt was a fucking avalanche.
I stayed silent. There was nothing left to say.
Minutes later, we reached the hospital. I didn’t wait for Sebastian to park. I threw the door open and ran inside.
"Sophia Sterling!" I barked at the nurse’s station.
One of them nodded. "She’s in the ER. Follow me."
"How is she? The baby?"
"I’m sorry, Mr. Blackwood. The doctors are with her now. You’ll need to wait."
I bit back a snarl. Yelling wouldn’t help.
She led me to a waiting room filled with faces I barely registered. My mother, my father, Natalie, Isabella, Nathan, Victoria—everyone was here. Except Liam.
"Ethan." My mother’s voice was soft as she wrapped her arms around me.
I didn’t trust myself to speak.
"She’ll be okay," she whispered. "Have faith."
Faith? Right now, all I had was rage and fear.
"Any updates?" Scarlett asked.
I shook my head. "Have you told her parents?"
"They’re on their way back from their trip," Nathan said. "Four hours, at least."
Liam. He couldn’t hear this from someone else.
"Sebastian," I said hoarsely. "Get that video taken down."
"Already on it." He stepped away, phone in hand.
"I need someone to get Liam," I muttered, staring at the ER doors.
Natalie nodded. "Lucas is bringing him."
Isabella stiffened at the name, but I didn’t care. Her issues with him didn’t matter right now.
The ER doors burst open. A doctor stepped out, his face grim.
"Family of Sophia Sterling?"
"Yes," I said. "How is she?"
"Her injuries are severe. The main concerns are the baby and the bullet lodged in her skull."
Gasps filled the room. I barely heard them.
"She’s unconscious. We need permission for an emergency C-section."
"But she’s only six months along!" Natalie cried.
"The amniotic sac ruptured. If we don’t act, we’ll lose the baby."
My lungs locked. This was worse than I’d imagined.
"Do it," I said.
The second the words left my mouth, an alarm blared. The lights flashed red.
Code fucking red.
A nurse rushed out, whispering frantically to the doctor. His face paled before he turned to us.
"Sophia’s heart stopped. We’re doing everything we can, but… we may need to make a choice."
The nurse stepped forward. "Given her injuries, we might not be able to save both. If it comes to it—who do we save? The mother or the baby?"
The question hit like a bullet.
How the hell was I supposed to choose?