Chapter 408: Take mine
Chapter 408: Take mine
Dominion wasted no time.
They rushed Tommy to the nearest hospital while Warriyo administered first aid in the back of the vehicle. As the only one with advanced medical training, he did everything he could to keep Tommy alive.
Tommy had suffered two gunshot wounds to the back, and even before they reached the hospital, Warriyo knew how critical his condition was.
He just didn’t have the heart to say it.
Now, outside the emergency operating room, Liza paced back and forth along the hallway.
Her entire body trembled. Her complexion was pale, and her hair was disheveled.
Standing nearby was Lucian, leaning silently against the wall.
The others were already on their way to the hospital. Lucian had instructed them to take Ashley, Primo, Shyaan, and Ramirez home first. Deep down, however, he knew Ashley wouldn’t simply leave.
Right now, though, he had no time to think about that.
His gaze remained fixed on the blood staining his hands.
"Get out of here. Take your wife and child... out of here."
Tommy’s final words before collapsing echoed endlessly in his mind.
So did the image of Tommy throwing himself in front of him.
Lucian swallowed hard, his throat tightening.
Tommy had once been someone Lucian considered a potential enemy if things ever went south between them. That had been his impression even before they met.
But during their first dinner together, Lucian realized Tommy wasn’t merely a former kingpin who had chosen to retire from the underground.
He was a man who had fought tooth and nail simply to give his wife the peaceful life she deserved.
A man... Lucian hoped to become for Ashley and Primo.
Yet never—not even once—had Lucian imagined Tommy would one day shield him with his own body.
And instead of worrying about himself, the first thing Tommy had done was remind Lucian of his duty as a husband and father.
Lucian slowly clasped his bloodstained hands together.
Now I understand.
He finally understood why Ashley adored the couple so much.
Not just Liza.
Tommy as well.
It wasn’t that Lucian hadn’t understood before.
But after tonight, he understood it on an entirely different level.
Now he knew why Ashley and Primo had grown so attached to them so effortlessly.
Lucian lifted his head.
Across the hallway, Liza slowly sank onto a bench.
The corners of her tear-filled eyes had turned red. Distress was written all over her face as she stared helplessly at the operating room doors.
"Sorry," Lucian said quietly.
Since only the two of them occupied the hallway—aside from the Dominion guards securing every entrance—his voice echoed louder than intended.
Liza swallowed and looked at him.
Her lips parted as though she wanted to speak.
But no words came.
Instead, she looked away as another tear rolled down her cheek.
"Don’t," she whispered, her voice trembling.
She clasped her hands tightly on her lap, desperately trying to keep herself together.
Liza wanted to tell herself this was no different from before.
Being Tommy’s wife had always meant moments like these.
There had been countless times she had found him injured. Sometimes he hid his wounds so well she only discovered them days later.
Getting shot wasn’t new.
But it was something she would never get used to.
Especially after living such a peaceful life these past few decades. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to wait outside an operating room.
Lucian lowered his head.
"I’m... sorry," he repeated.
He would understand if Liza blamed him.
Those bullets had been meant for him. Tommy had simply gotten in the way. Lucian had no excuse.
Whatever anger Liza directed at him... he would accept it.
She drew in a shaky breath, her eyes never leaving the operating room doors.
"I want to tell you it isn’t your fault," Liza whispered as another tear slid down her cheek. "Because I know it isn’t."
Her voice cracked.
"And I want to tell you it’s alright... but I can’t." She sniffled before finally looking at him. "Because it isn’t."
She held Lucian’s gaze.
"I wanted to be angry," she continued softly. "But I know my husband."
A bitter smile tugged at her lips despite the tears.
"He’s just... like that. And I’m angry because even now... he’s still like that."
She wiped away her tears, only for more to replace them.
"And sometimes..." she choked. "I hate that the very thing I love about him... is also the thing that hurts me the most."
Her eyes drifted back toward the operating room.
A bittersweet smile remained on her lips.
"I’m sure that idiot is relieved it was him instead of you... Ashley... or Primo." She let out a quiet laugh through her tears. "That selfish husband of mine... is probably happier knowing I’m the one crying instead of someone else."
"He can be so heartless sometimes."
Lucian studied her profile.
Ashley had cried before as well, but this was different.
Liza looked so fragile. Yet somehow, she had never looked stronger.
And you’re just as selfless, he thought.
But he kept those words to himself.
Silence slowly returned to the hallway. The two of them simply stared at the operating room doors.
Waiting.
Waiting...
Until finally, the doors opened.
Both of them hurried forward.
"How is he?" Liza asked, clutching her skirt so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Lucian stood just behind her, watching the doctor with the same anxious expression.
The doctor let out a heavy sigh, and their hearts sank.
"We managed to remove the bullets," he began. "But one of them came dangerously close to his spine."
He looked from Lucian to Liza.
"Thanks to the first aid he received before arriving here, we were able to buy him enough time. However... he has lost too much blood."
He paused to let them process it. "The patient has a rare blood type—"
"I know he has a rare blood type," Liza interrupted desperately. "The moment he started bleeding, our men had already prepared blood for a transfusion."
She wasn’t wrong.
Because Tommy had such a rare blood type, their team had always maintained an emergency supply.
It might have seemed paranoid.
But everyone close to Tommy knew why.
The doctor nodded.
"Yes. But even with the units your men brought in... it isn’t enough."
Liza’s face turned pale.
"We’ve already contacted nearby blood banks and affiliated hospitals," the doctor continued grimly. "But it’ll take time."
He hesitated before asking,
"Do you have an immediate family member who might be compatible? Statistically, your child has the highest chance. If your child is here, we can test them immediately."
Silence filled the hallway as the doctor just hit Liza with some harsh reality, which he had no idea of.
"How..." Liza whispered. "How could it not be enough...?"
She had never imagined the emergency blood they had prepared would still fall short.
"What blood type does he need?" Lucian’s expression hardened. "I’ll get it here as soon as possible."
Liza looked up at him.
"AB negative," the doctor replied grimly.
Lucian’s brows knitted together.
Before anyone could speak again, Ashley’s frantic voice echoed through the hallway.
"Lucian! Auntie!"
The three of them turned.
Ashley came running barefoot, clutching the hem of her gown until she finally reached them.
"How’s Uncle Tom?" Her anxious eyes darted from one face to another.
Liza opened her mouth to answer.
But Lucian spoke first.
"He needs blood..."
His words barely left his mouth before Ashley stepped forward and held out her arm to the doctor.
"Take mine." She didn’t hesitate. "I’m O negative. If Uncle Tom needs blood... use mine."