41. "That I get to die in your embrace."
Only God and I knew the intense fear and remorse I felt. Surrounded by those guys, knowing that I was at their mercy.
I was shocked when Aiden actually showed up. I was surprised to see that he still cared, even after learning that I was the daughter of the man who had killed his family. I didn't blame him for lashing out on me anymore. How else was he supposed to react?
Up until his arrival, I felt like I was in a dark and bottomless well with no escape or hope. But when he showed up, a ray of hope bloomed within me. That I could be saved after all.
What surprised me the most was when he dropped onto his knees for me. To protect me from being a toy in those twisted guys' hold.
The most powerful and feared man in the country was on his knees because of me.
My skin crawled as I sat in fear of what might happen next.
"Oh wow. I didn't think you cared about her that much," Liam uttered. "You look good like this... is this giving you deja vu, Aiden?" He laughed.
I bit my lip, watching Aiden's eyes darken and his jaw clench, but he remained quiet.
"Beg, Aiden. Beg us not to have our way with her." Liam smirked.
I sucked in a breath, my stomach churning. His humiliation was equally embarrassing for me.
Aiden's adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed his pride. "Don't touch her... please."
"Is that the best you can do?" Liam mocked.
He took in a sharp breath. "I'm begging you, don't touch her."
I cringed as the words left his mouth.
"Nah, I'm not getting the vibes I want..." said Liam, walking up to me. I stiffened, wondering what he was going to do. My eyes widened in repulsion and fear as he brought his mouth closer to mine.
"No!" Aiden screamed desperately. "Don't do that! I'm begging you! Please let her go!"
Liam chuckled in amusement, moving away. "That's better... keep going." He started walking towards Aiden.
"Liam, let her go! Please!"
Liam chuckled yet again, our misery and humiliation a source of constant entertainment for him.
I looked at Aiden, right into his eyes, before dropping my gaze to Liam's hand for a moment. His eyes looked right into my soul as he concealed his emotions.
Please understand.
I took a deep breath, turning my attention towards Liam. "Who are you fooling with your empty threats, huh? You're a coward. And if you aren't, then come touch me! You stupid, worthless rat!" I exclaimed, glaring at him.
His eyes filled with anger, but before he could react, Aiden jumped to his feet and surged towards him, taking hold of the gun in his hand. He put an arm around his throat and the gun at his temple.
It was now Liam's turn to struggle.
"Let him go or we'll—"
Before anyone could even blink, Aiden had pointed the gun away from Liam's temple and shot the two guys behind me. My heart hammered erratically in my chest as the gunshots echoed in my ears and I heard their bodies drop to the floor.
"Yours isn't going to be so easy." He said to Liam before shooting him in the leg.
Liam dropped to the floor, uttering grunts of pain as he held his wounded leg.
Aiden came running to me, untying me and freeing me from the ropes. I launched myself into his arms, allowing myself to cry for the first time since I had gotten there.
He held me tight, kneeling on the floor, afraid to let me go. I felt his body emanate the same fear I had been feeling, as his arms tightened even more around me. "I'm so sorry." His voice broke as he whispered in my ear, rubbing my back.
I pulled back, tears glistening in my eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't know my dad—"
He pressed a finger to my lips, silencing me. "Shhh. It's not your fault. It's mine for holding you accountable for something your father did."
I sniffled, watching his broken gaze trail down to my body. He wiped my tears with his thumbs before starting to unbutton his shirt. I sat quietly, wondering what he was doing.
He quickly pulled his shirt off and covered me with it, as the upper part of my shirt was torn.
I teared up again. "Shhh," he wiped away the newly spilled tears from my eyes. "No more crying. It's over now."
He lifted me off the ground and carried me out of the house, before safely placing me in the passenger seat of his car. He closed the door, then pulled his phone out and called someone. I sat wondering why he wouldn't just drive us out of there.
I stepped out, wrapping my arms around his torso while he spoke to someone on the phone. I was afraid to be apart from him for even a minute after what had happened. I needed his warmth. I needed him to comfort me and to help me forget the disgusting touches of those men that burned my skin.
One of his arms snaked around my waist, holding me close. "Yes, hurry up." He spoke before hanging up.
He caressed my cheek. "Are you hurt?"
I gulped. "More emotionally and mentally than physically."
He sucked in a breath, opening his mouth to reply, but a gunshot sounded, startling us both.
I gasped as I felt something warm and wet on my hands where they had wrapped around his back. "N-no... not again." I uttered, fear consuming me.
I dropped to the ground with Aiden as I refused to let him go. He pressed his lips together, his face contorting in pain. His grip on my waist tightened as he pointed to the car with his other hand.
"G-gun." He stuttered breathlessly.
Whimpering, I looked behind him where a limping Liam was staggering towards us, his eyes glaring with revenge. I unwrapped my arms from around his body before opening the car door and quickly retrieving his gun from the dashboard.
Pulling the trigger, my eyes squeezed shut as the bullet pierced through Liam's abdomen, making him drop to the ground yet again.
Then I quickly removed the shirt Aiden had covered me with and compressed his wound with it. "Aiden, you're going to be fine." I told him, frantically searching his pockets for his car keys.
"Where are the keys, Aiden?!" I demanded, growing more scared and desperate.
I looked inside his car again, but the keys weren't there either.
"Aiden!" I clutched on to his body, tears spilling out of my eyes. "Hang in there. You're going to be fine."
"Not this time." He said hoarsely, burying his face in my neck.
"Don't say that!" I chastised, my heart breaking. "You'll be fine."
"You know what makes me... happy?" He groaned as he squeezed words out of his throat. "That I get to die in your embrace."
My heart twisted. "You're not going to die!"
"Serves me right. For all the times I was an asshole to you... and for... ugh... for this situation I drove you into."
More tears poured out of my eyes as I hugged him. "Aiden, please, no. Don't leave me. I need you."
He lifted his face to look at me, before touching his nose to mine. "Please kiss me."
I whimpered, pressing my lips to his in a gentle and loving kiss before pulling back.
He rested his forehead against mine. "Aysel?"
"Y-yes?" My lower lip quivered.
He rolled his lower lip into his mouth, bowing his head as the pain became more intense.
"A-Aiden." I sobbed.
He looked into my eyes again. "You... you brought... sunshine into my... dark and unhappy life... you made me feel alive again..."
"Please save your energy." I pleaded.
"You need to know this.... I love you, my little doctor. I'm madly, deeply, hopelessly in love with you."