Page 47 of My Shining Stepbrother

I turn around to see Reese and Matty are pointing their guns at the men. They don’t care, though. I hear a gun go off, and panic hits me. I can’t think straight, but then another gun goes off. I feel a sharp pain in my stomach, but I keep going until I get her down. Another gun goes off behind us. I spoke to Rachel, but I couldn’t hear her reply. The last thing I see and hear is Reese running up to me, yelling. At the same time, Matty catches my sister from falling before everything goes black.

- Reese -

I could only shoot one of the guys, but the other shot Rose. She keeps running to Rachel, though. She is strong, but I need to get to her now. She could bleed out without any pressure on her wound. Matty takes down the guy who shot Rose as she gets Rachel down. She mumbles to her, but none of us can understand. I run over to her and catch her before she falls. Matty catches Rachel and turns her face away from us.

Her blood is coating my hands as I apply more pressure. My mind begins racing with images of our future being ripped to shreds. I have to think fast, or I will lose her.

“Call 911!” I shout to Matty with a creaking voice. I'm trying to hold the tears back, but it's getting more challenging as I see her skin turning pale.

“Reese…” He says it quietly, and I understand why but I don't care. They could find out who we are, but she is more important.

“Now! I’m not losing her yet! We have a life to live together!” The thought was breaking me but saying the words out loud caused me to start crying.

“Rose!!! You can’t go yet!!! I fucking need you!!!” Rachel screams out with a strained voice. She is sobbing uncontrollably, which breaks my heart even more.

The ambulance and police arrive, taking Rachel's statement. She tells them about her being tied to a pole before the two guys attack Rose and I, but they get away. She thinks of it so fast that I’m impressed.

They put Rose in the ambulance and took her away. They wouldn’t let me ride with her, which eats me alive. A cop is trying to get my statement, but I rush through it to get it over. I jump in my car and take Rachel with me, making a beeline for the hospital.

When we get there, I’m panicking. I don’t know what to do. Rachel needs to be seen but refuses until she learns how Rose is doing. I pace the waiting room trying to think of how I can talk her into going with the nurses and doctor.

“Rachel, get checked out. I’ll make sure she is ok and update you. I need to call my father. I will tell him your excuse so he can tell your mother if you would like, or you can tell her whatever story you need to.” I put my hand on her shoulder as a brother would, trying to talk sense into her.

“I will handle my mother; go call your dad.” I nod my head in acknowledgment. She walks with the nurse, and they take her back immediately.

I call my dad, and his voice starts to calm me. “Is everything ok?” Even when I know he is worried, he can stay so calm.

“No. Rose is in the hospital, dad.” My voice breaks as the pain rips through me again. “She was shot tonight. You can't tell Anita about this, please. Rachel wants to call her, but I need you to know the truth. Do you understand?” He gasps on the other end with sadness in his throat.

I tell my dad all the details, and he agrees that Anita cannot know. He tells me he is on his way, which makes me feel better. Next, I call Trigger so he can tell Rick and Ricky.

“Is everything good, brother?” His tone is full of questions itself.

“Rose was shot. I need you to stay with Ronnie but tell the guys downstairs, please. One of them is Rose’s father.” I wish this pain in my chest would stop. Every time I say she was shot, the image of her bleeding in my arms comes back to my head.

“Yeah, I got you, brother. Let me know all of the updates, okay?” He says it, but I'm sure if there is one person to see an update before me, it is him. He is probably already hacking into the hospital's system.

“I will, and don't forget to keep him alive.” An anger I've never felt before comes through my body and into my voice. “He is mine now, and I won’t go easy.”

“He will stay alive.” He says just before we hang up. “Now get back to Rose.”

I sit there with my face in my hands. My beautiful Rose…. My sweet, perfect Goddess… I can’t lose her now that I just found her. I love her more than this world and anyone in it. I will destroy this whole world if they take my Rose away.

Chapter 24

- Reese -

Sitting in this waiting room, the seconds begin to feel like hours. I see my dad come in, and I stand up before practically running to him like a kid giving him a big tight hug. It makes me feel like things might be okay.

He sits quietly until the doors swing open. They say Rose’s name to bring her family to attend. I don't waste a second as I stand up. The nurse asks if I’m her husband, which gives me stinging chest pain. I don’t hesitate and say yes.

She tells me it was touch and go, but they finally got the bullet out. They were also able to repair all the damage it caused. She will be out for a while, but she will be okay. She explains that they are taking her to a room now, but they will come and get me when she is settled. I feel a small glimpse of hope in our future again.

Once the nurse walks away, my dad elbows my arm, bringing my attention to him. “So you and Rose are getting pretty serious, huh?” He wiggles his eyebrows, causing me to smile.

“I love her with everything I have in me.” My dreams for our future flash once again. A big house with a big yard and kids running around. “I know everything has happened so fast, but I can’t help it. She is my soulmate.”

He clamps his hand on my shoulder with a proud grin. “I noticed the look between you guys when we went to dinner. You had an undeniable chemistry. I’m happy for you, son.” A tear glistens in his eyes, full of happiness.

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