But then, in a surreal twist of fate, Charlie rebounds from the floor with a surge of resilience. She propels herself forward, her determination radiating like a force field as she tackles Debbie, their bodies entangled in a fierce struggle. A mix of relief and awe floods my senses as I witness her unwavering determination.

Debbie fights back with a ferocity that I never knew she possessed. Her eyes, once filled with cold calculation, are now clouded with desperation. They dart around the room, searching for an escape, for a way to regain control. Every movement Charlie makes is precise, calculated. With a speed and agility that belies her petite frame, she disarms Debbie, the gun clattering to the ground with a metallic thud.

Time slows once again as I watch Charlie's quick thinking. She swiftly pulls off her belt and, with a practiced ease, binds Debbie's hands behind her back. The sound of the leather tightening around her wrists is almost deafening in the sudden silence that has settled over the room.

Suddenly, the studio doors burst open, and the guards, armed and ready, rush in. Their faces are hard and set, their eyes focused and unyielding. Their presence is a stark contrast to the disarray that still lingers in the air.

Charlie knows what she has to do. With a fierce determination, she hauls Debbie off the floor, her grip unwavering despite the pain that must be coursing through her. Debbie's eyes widen in fear and shock, her struggle weakened by Charlie's strength

The hands of the guards reach out, their fingers curling around Debbie's wrists as they secure her, removing the makeshift belt that Charlie had used.

For a brief moment, relief washes over me like a cool breeze on a sweltering day. Charlie has neutralized the threat, restoring a semblance of order to the chaos that had consumed us moments ago. But just as quickly as the relief comes, it dissipates when I catch sight of the blood staining Charlie's shirt. It seeps through the fabric, spreading like a blossoming flower of crimson. Panic rushes back to suffocate me, my breath coming in shallow gasps as I realize the gravity of the situation.

"Charlie!" I cry out, my voice tearing through the chaos and reaching her ears. She glances at me briefly, her eyes filled with determination and pain. Her lips form a grim smile, masking the agony that courses through her body.

My heart sinks as I see the blood loss has taken a toll on her strength, the once vibrant color draining from her face, leaving her looking weak and pale.

Without a thought, I race forward. As I tear across the carpeted floor, I can feel the blood pounding in my ears, urging me closer to Charlie, who looks like she's fighting a battle on her own. A wave of guilt washes over me, knowing that I could have reached her sooner if not for the security guard.

"Stop!" I command harshly. "Get out of my way, can't you see that she's hurt?"

The guard, taken aback by my abruptness, hesitates for a moment before shaking his head. "Sir, I can't do that. The situation here is too volatile and unpredictable. We need to maintain order until we have everything under control."

I grit my teeth and glare at him, knowing that the longer I stand here arguing with him, the more Charlie will continue to lose blood. With a final, desperate plea, I lunge for the guard, but he stops me easily.

"They're already taking the crazy bitch out of here!" I point out with exasperation.

Debbie, now securely bound and subdued, watches us with a mixture of fury. She starts kicking her legs and screaming. "I hope she dies! I hope she bleeds out right in front of your pathetic eyes!"

The guards exchange glances, their faces betraying their unease at this turn of events. But they can't argue with the urgency of the situation, and I know that they'll understand my intentions once they see the extent of Charlie's injuries.

"Just look at her," I plead, gesturing behind them. "She's bleeding out, she needs medical attention."

The guard gives me a very mocking, very doubtful look. "Are you a doctor?"

I raise my chin. "You think I could dabble in regenerative medicine if I wasn't? Move. Out. Of. My. Way."

I'm not a medical doctor. But that isn't the point here. What matters is that the love of my life is bleeding out alone on the floor.

59

CALEB

Istorm up to the guard. "You'll let us pass or you'll find yourself at the unemployment office," I threaten icily. "Do we understand each other?"

Finally, the man moves out of Jackson's way. We rush forward, falling to our knees beside where Charlie sits on the floor, sweaty, bloody, and panting.

"Are you crazy?" Leo hisses angrily. "Have you seriously lost your mind- what the hell were you thinking? You almost died."

Not able to take it any longer, I grab her face and kiss her fiercely. She leans into me immediately, kissing back with just as much passion.

"You scared the shit out of us, beautiful," I tell her, pressing my forehead against hers.

She pulls back, eyes narrow and accusing. "Says the three of you! What were you thinking? Do you realize how dangerous this little stunt is? How much worse it could have been? I can't even fathom-"

Cutting herself off, she winces and shakes her head. None of us want to think about it.

"Don't try to twist this," Jackson grumbles. "We didn't throw ourselves in front of a crazy woman with a gun."