A Breath Away From Death Chapter 04
The atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically as my father burst through the entrance, flanked by a cadre of men whose very presence exuded an air of menace. The party, filled with laughter and light moments, fell silent, the joviality replaced by a palpable tension.
Charlotte and her friends, caught off guard, froze in place like deer in headlights, their eyes widening at the sight of the guns that glinted ominously in the dim light. In an instant, they released their hold on me, panic etched across their faces, their fear palpable as they recoiled.
My father pushed his way through the throng of partygoers, his gaze locking onto me with a ferocity that sent chills down my spine. The fury in his eyes ignited, a fiery red that mirrored the depth of his anger as he took in my weakened state, blood seeping from my wounds, and my body trembling from the pain.
With a swift motion, he swung his silver cane, the metallic glint catching the light just before it connected with Charlotte’s leg. Her cry of anguish echoed through the room, sharp and piercing, as she crumpled to the floor, knees hitting the ground with a thud.
I felt my own strength waning, my body betraying me as I succumbed to the overwhelming fatigue. Drenched in sweat and reeling from the pain, I collapsed into my father’s waiting arms, seeking solace even amidst the chaos.
“Amelia! My baby!” he exclaimed, his voice a mixture of panic and desperation.
His eyes, wide with fear, quickly fished out an emergency pill from his pocket and pressed it to my lips. It was in that moment, as the bitter taste melted in my mouth, that I felt a flicker of hope, a narrow escape from the clutches of death.
The commotion had summoned Ethan and his men, their entrance marked by a blend of anger and confusion. His brow furrowed as he scanned the room, his voice booming, “Who dares make trouble on the Rolling Stones turf?”
“Ethan! Save me!” I cried out, my voice trembling, a plea escaping my lips.
Charlotte, upon spotting Ethan, transformed into a picture of desperation, her fear palpable as she darted behind him, seeking refuge.
Yet Ethan remained frozen, his eyes widening as he caught sight of the pill in my father’s hand. “A heart medicine… Amelia really has a heart condition!” The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning, draining the color from his face as he absorbed the gravity of the situation.
His gaze shifted to the cuts adorning my arm, deep and raw, the crimson stains a stark contrast against my pale skin, the liquor that had spilled earlier only serving to amplify the sight.
My father’s expression hardened as he took in my injuries, his demeanor shifting from protective to lethal. He drew his gun, aiming it squarely at Charlotte. “You hurt my baby! I’ll take your hands for that!” he growled, his voice a low, menacing rumble.
“Baby?” Charlotte stammered, her voice quaking with fear as she pressed further behind Ethan.
Ethan stepped forward, his brow furrowing in confusion and reproach. “Who are you? How dare you call my fiancée your baby?” His misunderstanding of my relationship with my father was evident, a misinterpretation that only fueled the tension.
He clenched his jaw, struggling to contain the storm of emotions brewing within him. “Amelia, my love, I was wrong about you. You’re hurt. Come back to me. I’ll take you to the hospital right now.”
For three long years, I had been with Ethan, and during that time, he often accused me of being narrow-minded, unable to accept Charlotte’s presence in our lives. He believed our arguments stemmed from jealousy and pettiness. Yet now, witnessing his reaction, it was clear that he too was grappling with emotions he had once dismissed in me.
“You fool!” my father sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. He brushed aside my damp bangs, a fleeting hint of pity crossing his features. “This fool is the reason you hid your identity and refused to come home?”
Weakly, I shook my head, my voice barely above a whisper yet unwavering. “Not anymore… I want to go home… back to the Reece family.”
“Reece… the top mafia family in the country? Amelia’s connected to them?” The revelation hung in the air, heavy and charged.
A collective gasp rippled through the room as everyone processed the implications. Charlotte and her friends trembled, their fear palpable, while Ethan’s expression morphed from shock to disbelief as he turned to my father, who radiated an undeniable authority.
“Who are you? What’s your relationship with my fiancée?” he demanded, his voice firm yet laced with uncertainty.
Charlotte clutched at Ethan’s sleeve, her grip trembling. “That old man must be Amelia’s sugar daddy! Ethan, didn’t the boss of the Reece family help you take over the East District? You know Mr. Reece, and he values you so much. You have to save me!”
Ethan stood frozen, the weight of her words crashing over him like a tidal wave.
The Reece family was a sprawling empire, their influence stretching across the nation. Ethan, once the leader of a ragtag group of thugs, had risen to power three years ago with the unexpected backing of the Reece family’s don. He had taken control of both the East and West Districts, transforming the Rolling Stones into a formidable force in the underworld.
It was no surprise that Charlotte assumed my father, a figure rarely seen, had a close relationship with Ethan.
My father, with a steely resolve, carefully handed me over to his men, standing tall and unwavering as he turned his cold gaze toward Ethan. “Three years ago, you saved my daughter, so I gave you a gift. I, David Reece, consider my debt to you, Ethan Cross, fulfilled henceforth.”
His voice took on an icy tone as he raised his gun, targeting both Charlotte and Ethan. “But someone has to pay for what my daughter suffered today!”
“D-David Reece?” Ethan stuttered, the realization dawning on him like the first light of dawn breaking through the darkness.
“You’re Mr. Reece? Amelia is your daughter?” The shock rippled through the crowd, leaving them in stunned silence.
Ethan, grappling with disbelief, took a step back, his world tilting on its axis as he processed the truth laid bare before him.
