Lori and Lauren had tried their best to comfort me in the past few hours since Roman had been away. He had left that morning with a single kiss and some comforting words, but the worry in his eyes could never escape me.

"Roman’s a tough cookie," Lori said comfortingly. "He’ll get in and get out with that piece of sh*t boss in handcuffs, and you two will be done with this whole situation for good." I nodded my head as I tried to pay attention to her words.

I tried to believe in what she was saying. It wasn’t that I doubted Roman’s capabilities or him, but this entire situation was like something out of a horror film. I hated every minute of it. The suspense and the uncertainty of it all were going to kill me.

This entire situation was frustrating. I felt like, as soon as we finally were able to catch a break and the end was in sight, another calamity seemed to befall us, and we were thrown back to the beginning again.

Heaving a deep sigh and let my hands run through my head and nodded it gently. I accepted the glass of water that was given to me and turned my head to the sound of my phone ringing on the coffee table.

Lauren handed it to me quickly. Without even looking at the caller ID, I answered the phone.

A strange man’s voice was on the other end. My blood ran cold as he spoke. "Is this Hannah Macalester?"

Breathing out a shaky breath, I answered the man. "Yes, this is she. Is something wrong?" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"I’m sorry to inform you of this situation Ma’am, but your husband has been shot."

My breathing stopped altogether. It was like Murphy’s Law had taken effect and everything that could go wrong had. My mind was trying to comprehend and keep up with what was being told to me for a long time before I could finally come to terms with the information.

I didn’t respond to the man on the other end of the phone. It was like all the words and comprehensible sentences I knew or was able to make just got caught in the middle of my throat. It felt like I was being choked with them.

"I’m afraid I can’t speak about the details of the situation over the phone," the man continued. "Could you come down to the hospital on main so I could explain it more clearly? Your husband was asking for you before we had to put him under."

I was out of the house before the call ended with Lori and Lauren hot on my heels. I threw the car keys to one of them and got inside the passenger seat. My head was too clouded to even think about driving straight.

At the hospital...

Once we arrived at the hospital and told the receptionist of our situation, we were quickly guided up to the second floor and to the back of the building where the ICU for Roman was being kept.

In front of the room, nearest to the wall, was a tall, greying man in a white coat. He approached us as we came clearer into sight. He had a grim look on his face.

I stood there for a long moment, just staring at the doctor and the room I had no doubt held an injured Roman. I could feel my heart beating in my chest, loud and unyielding. It was like it was going to burst through my chest at any given moment.

"Are you Hannah Macalester?" I nodded slowly. Not trusting my words or my voice at that point, it was all that I could do to affirm the doctor’s question.

"Your husband is in the operating room right now," he began to tell us, "along with another male in a different room who had been shot as well. I am unaware as to his condition at present due to various reports coming in at the same time."

My breathing hitched as I knew my eyes were pleading for even an atom of good news about Roman’s safety.

"What happened?" Before I knew it, the questions began pouring out of me. "How did he even get hurt? Weren’t there guards with him? Where–"

Before I could continue, the doctor held up a hand to stop me and shook his head. "I’m afraid I cannot answer any of your questions pertaining to the details of the surgery. I also don’t have information on what had happened that brought Mr. Thaddeus here, but–"

"Okay," I said as I shut my eyes, not being able to handle any more information about Roman’s situation. "Can I... Is it possible for me to see him?"

The doctor gave me a grim look before shaking his head. Just as he opened his mouth, what looked like an assistant walked out and whispered something in his ear.

After she left, the doctor turned to me and nodded his head before motioning for me to follow him. I let go of Lori’s hand that had been gripping mine tightly and looked at the two women who had accompanied me.

"It’s okay," Lauren said as she nodded. "Go see him. We’ll wait here."

"I..." My throat ceased up, and I found it hard to speak. "I don’t know if I can, Lauren. I can’t... I can’t see him like that I–"

My rambling was cut short when Lori grabbed me by the shoulders. The look on her face was fierce. "Whatever is going through your head right now Hannah, forget it. Roman needs you in there and you’re going in, okay? You’re going in, and you’re going to be strong."

Sobering up, I nodded my head as I stared down at her. There was a brief moment of clarity and realization as I came to understand just how much Lori had grown and matured over these past few months.

Blinking away the tears that threatened to escape as I looked at their devastated faces, I followed the doctor inside the operating room. We stopped in a room that led to the main area where I could see a huge machine hanging over a bed.

The doctor led me right and there. Through a glass window, I saw Roman.

A tube was stuck down his throat providing what I assumed was oxygen. Another one was in his nose, and God only knew how many wires were attached to his wrists and fingers. Each and every one of those mechanics, as well as the various amount of eyes, were set on Roman at the center of it all.

Roman, who was being operated on, had his stomach sliced open with metal tools moving his organs around in search of the offending item that may or may not have him stop breathing.

I was shaking before I realized it, My eyes watered. My hand covered the whimpers that escaped my mouth as I looked on at my entire world on the teetering edge of life or death. How did this happen? Who let this happen?

He was supposed to be protected. He was supposed to be careful...

I tried to take steady breaths as I stared down at the man I love being operated on, but it seemed like the entire world was caving in on itself. Still, I stayed in that operating room as the surgeons and assistants pulled the bullet from his wound.

I heard the harsh clank of metal on metal as the bullet was placed into the metal bowl container and watched, however teary-eyed, on the small screen as they sewed back his skin and closed him up.

When they were finished with the operation and wheeled him out of there into his room, I followed behind them. I refused to leave his side after they had placed him carefully onto his bed and walked away.

I heard Lauren and Lori talking to the doctor outside, but I stayed at Roman’s side as I held his hand.

He looked tired and pale, like someone who had been to hell and back. It was only then, much to my own self-loathing, that I noted how truly and awfully this entire situation had impacted him.

Roman was always putting on a brave face and taking care of everyone, but it seemed so rare that he allowed anyone to take care of him.

I cursed as I came to this realization. I should’ve been there for him more. I should’ve taken care of him as much as he had taken care of Lori, Lauren and I.

I brought his hands up to my lips and laid gentle kisses there. I swore then that I would take better care of him, I would force him to accept care for others, even if it took the rest of my life. Roman needed to know he was loved—he needed to know he was able to rely on other people.

Steeling my resolve as I stared down at him, I made the promise quietly to myself.