Chapter Forty-Three: The Fortress

The hospital corridor erupted in chaos.

Heavy footsteps pounded against linoleum. Shouted commands echoed off sterile walls. The sound of tactical gear clanking with every urgent stride.

The SWAT team rushed in and grabbed both Blake and Delilah.

Delilah screamed over and over like a woman possessed. “I will never let you have my life!!”

I just knelt there beside Victoria on the cold floor, numb, in shock.

The paramedics worked frantically around us. Her blood had soaked through my hospital gown, warm and sticky against my skin. The metallic scent mixed with antiseptic and fear.

"Ma'am, we need to move her now," one of the paramedics said, his hands applying pressure to Victoria's chest wound. "She's losing too much blood."

But I couldn't let go. This woman—my real grandmother— a woman I’d never known all my life, had taken a bullet meant for me. For my baby.

And now, it looked like I was going to lose her before I even got to be with her. I wouldn’t even get to know her at all.

Sobs started to wrack my body when the door burst open.

Hiccuping and sniffing, numb from all the shock and ache in my body, from the strain on my soul, I looked up.

Dominic filled the doorway like a storm given human form. His expensive suit was wrinkled, his tie loosened, dark hair disheveled. But it was his eyes that made my breath catch—wild with panic and something darker.

Behind him came Jules, her small frame bristling with weapons. Then a flood of security personnel in black tactical gear, moving with military precision.

His gaze swept the room in seconds. Blake and Delilah restrained on the floor. The abandoned gun. Victoria bleeding out.

And me, covered in blood that wasn't mine.

“D-Dominic…” My voice came out as a stifled sob.

"Jesus Christ," he breathed, crossing to me in three strides.

His hands found my face, trembling slightly as he checked for injuries. "Are you hurt? Scarlett, look at me—are you hurt?"

"Its-It's not mine," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "The blood—it's Victoria's. She was protecting me when—"

"The baby?" His voice cracked on the words.

"Safe. We're both safe."

Relief flooded his features, but the tension in his shoulders remained. He pulled me against his chest, and I felt his heart hammering through his shirt.

"Sir, we need to get her to surgery immediately," the paramedic called out as they loaded Victoria onto a gurney.

I started to follow, but Dominic's arm tightened around me. "You can't help her right now. But you can help yourself by staying safe."

"Dominic," Jules appeared beside us, her expression grim. "Hospital's locked down. Every entrance secured. No one gets in or out."

"Good." His voice carried absolute authority. "I want a full sweep of every floor. Medical staff, visitors, janitors—everyone gets vetted."

"Already in progress," Jules replied. "But we've got another problem."

Of course we did.

"Blake's been talking," she continued. "Claims he has information about who's really behind this. Says someone's been pulling his strings from the beginning."

The words hit me like ice water. Victoria's warning echoed in my mind: The real threat... it's not Delilah. It's not even Blake.

Dominic's jaw clenched. "What kind of information?"

"He's asking to speak with you. Says he'll only talk to you directly."

"Absolutely not," I said immediately. "It's obviously—"

"A trap," Dominic finished. "But sometimes you have to walk into them to find out what's really waiting."

Jules nodded. "We can set it up. Full security, everything recorded."

"Do it," Dominic said. Then he turned back to me, his hands gentle on my shoulders. "I need you to get checked out by a doctor. Make sure the stress didn't—"

"I'm fine," I interrupted, but even as I said it, I could feel the exhaustion creeping in. The adrenaline that had kept me functioning was starting to fade.

"You're not fine," he said firmly. "You've been through hell tonight. Please, just let them examine you. For me."

The way he said it, the vulnerability in his voice, made my resistance crumble. "Okay."

Jules stepped forward. "I'll stay with her. Make sure she's protected."

"No," Dominic said. "You're coming with me to talk to Blake. I need someone I trust watching my back."

"Then who—"

"I'll handle it," a new voice said from the doorway.

We all turned to see a woman in her forties, wearing scrubs and a badge that identified her as Dr. Sarah White, Head of Obstetrics. Her expression was professional but kind.

"Mrs. Blackwood, I've been briefed on your situation. I'd like to run some tests, make sure everything is progressing normally after tonight's events."

I looked between Dominic and Jules, torn between wanting to stay close to the people I trusted and knowing I needed medical attention.

"Go," Dominic said quietly. "I'll come find you as soon as I'm done with Blake."

"What if he's lying? What if this is all part of some bigger plan?"

"Then we'll deal with it," he said, his voice hard as steel. "Together."

The word hung between us like a promise.

Dr. White cleared her throat gently. "Ma'am, if you're ready?"

I nodded, letting her help me to my feet. My legs felt unsteady, whether from exhaustion or delayed shock, I wasn't sure.

As we walked toward the door, I looked back at Dominic one last time. He was already deep in conversation with Jules, his face set in lines of grim determination.

The hospital around us had transformed. Security personnel at every corner, armed guards at every entrance. What had been a place of healing was now a fortress.

But as Dr. White led me down the hall, one thought kept circling in my mind.

If Blake was telling the truth, if someone close to us had been orchestrating this entire nightmare, if that someone really happened to be Lydia Blackwood, then even our fortress might not be enough to keep us safe.

The real war was just beginning.

And I had no idea who we were really fighting.