Page 176 of Morally Corrupt

Vlad's been the only one relatively calm throughout all of this, but even he averts his eyes when he sees the amount of blood flooding the room.

With measured strides, he puts a hand on Marcel's shoulder. Marcel flinches slightly, but he's too busy mourning his brother.

"He was dying anyway," Vlad comments. "He had Multiple Sclerosis."

"You knew?" Marcel's appalled look doesn't intimidate Vlad as he continues.

"Valentino knew he was going to die all along. But he wanted to avenge Romina first and clear his name."

Adrian gasps for air, struggling to keep his eyes open.

"Shh… it's okay," I try to tell him, focusing my strength on his bleeding wound.

"Hang on, please," I plead again, and Vlad gives me a tight nod of assurance.

"The ambulance should be here soon," he says and then leaves the room.

I cradle Adrian's head to my chest, while Marcel grieves for his already departed brother.

* * *

After the paramedics arrive, I don't exactly know what happens. They try to separate me from Adrian, and I just can't let go.

"Miss, please let us do our job," someone says to me, but I just shake my head. "No…"

"Miss." They repeat and wrench me from Adrian's side. His eyes are closed, and I don't see any sign of life on his face. My breathing grows laborious.

"Please, help my husband," I say between pants, and one of the paramedics takes me aside while they load Adrian on a stretcher.

"Miss, look at me." My eyes are unfocused, and my chest feels constricted. There's a faint noise in my head, and everything is distorted.

"Miss, please breathe. You're having a panic attack." I can't focus on what he's saying. I can't concentrate on anything but the thought of Adrian dying. The idea of a world without him. My breaths become even sparser, and one hand clutches at my chest while the other digs into the paramedic's arm.

"Miss, stop, or I'll have to sedate you." I don't know what's happening, but I can't stop. The only time I catch my breath is to yell Adrian's name. I'm so focused on getting to him, making sure he'll be all right, I don't realize when they inject me with something. Suddenly, my lids feel heavy, and I go under.

* * *

My eyes flutter open. I'm disoriented for a few seconds before everything comes back to me. Adrian!

"Where's my husband?" I jump up from the bed I'm lying in and yell. I take in my surroundings and see I'm in a hospital. There are a few rows of beds around, all of them filled with patients. I look at my arm and notice an IV drip, probably with fluids. I wrench the needle from my skin and go towards one of the nurses at the end of the station.

"I'm looking for my husband," I tell her.

She looks me over in a bored fashion and just says, "Don't know," then turns around, leaving me there.

I yank her arm with all my strength and back her into a wall.

"Where is my husband?" I yell at her, and she retaliates by calling security. They tug on my arm to release her, but I keep on crying out, "Where is my husband?"

Finally, after one security guard restrains me, a doctor comes by.

"Your husband is Theodore Hastings?" the man asks, and I give a swift nod.

"He's still in surgery. Here, let me." The doctor gives the guard an okay look and takes me back to my bed.

"Tell me," I beg him, and he sighs.

"Your husband suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Luckily, the bullet only grazed his temporal bone and didn't lodge itself inside."

---