Chapter 953 - The music stopped

"How touching…", a cold voice from few steps away made Sarah and Aiden jerk their heads in that direction.

Both Sarah and Aiden observed an unkempt woman. Her short gray (maybe blonde, if clean) hair is messy, and her clothes are old and dirty, torn in few places. She looks like a homeless person. What does she want from them? Money? It's one skinny petite woman… if she wants money, shouldn't she be more polite?

After few seconds of looking at the woman in front of them, Aiden straightened his posture and pushed Sarah behind him. "Evalina…"

Sarah's eyes widened when she heard him say that name. Sarah is not good in remembering names, but name 'Evalina' is one she will never forget. She scrutinized the woman. What happened with long wavy blond hair? Her dirty appearance aside, she lost weight. And those dark circles under her eyes are showing that she is not having an easy time.

Aiden felt that Sarah wants to stand by his side, but his arm in the back held her in place. He still remembers all the craziness and threats that left Evalina's mouth when he saw her last time. And she wanted Sarah dead.

"What do you want?", Aiden icily asked while his eyes didn't leave Evalina. He was observing her slightest movements. Aiden can see a deranged look in her eyes, and he does not know what all she is capable of.

Evalina chuckled. "Is that how you greet me after all this time?"

"I don't want to greet you at all. Why are you back?"

Sarah can feel that he is tense. But she can't understand why. She is only one woman. They can take her on if she goes crazy, right?

Sarah can tell that Aiden wants her to stay behind him. She obeyed because she understood that he is overprotective because he thinks that she is pregnant. She leaned her forehead on his back to let him know that she is there and took a deep breath inhaling his woody-flowery scent while lyrics flowed from the earbuds toward both Sarah and Aiden: '…I'd spend every hour, of every day keeping you safe…'

For some time, other than the soft music from the earbud Sarah didn't hear any other sound. She can imagine that Aiden and Evalina are engaged into some staring contest. Sarah wondered, will Evalina just leave by herself? Or will Aiden need to make her leave?

His broad shoulders felt like an impenetrable wall, shielding her from any harm. Sarah felt a bit guilty that she can smile at this time, but Aiden makes her feel safe and the fact that he is protecting her warms up her heart. 

"I see that there is no other way." Evalina's hysteric voice got Sarah's attention. "If I can't have you, no one will."

Sarah craned her neck to see Evalina and her heart stopped at the sight of a gun pointing at Aiden.

Sarah realized that he is not moving because she is behind him!

Evalina's manic expression told Sarah that she is not giving empty threats. She could practically see Evalina's index finger applying pressure on the trigger.

"No!", Sarah screamed and pushed Aiden to the side with all her force.

It all happened in a second or two. 

Sarah heard Aiden call her name while pulling her in his embrace, shielding her with his body… three gunshots… stinging pain in her left forearm which expanded into something excruciating… her legs gave up because he leaned on her, and it was too sudden... both of them on the sidewalk… she was hugging his back and felt something warm spread over her arms… 

Sarah looked toward Evalina and saw satisfaction mixed with crazed panic in her expression for a moment before she ran down the street.

"Aiden!", Sarah called, but he didn't respond.

Red, blood… was it hers or his? Why is he not responding? And her left arm hurts so much that she can't move it.

"Aiden..." She wondered why is her voice so weak… and why is everything dark? The music was the only thing left: 'I'd climb every mountain, and swim every ocean, just to be with you…'

And the music stopped.

…

Few minutes earlier, in front of the coliseum.

Four men are sitting in a van which is parked on the street, nearby entrance to the coliseum.

The driver is tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, the man sitting next to him is looking at the entrance of the coliseum, and two others are in the back, playing games on their phones.

"Do we need to sit here?", the driver asked. "We know that they will go to the parking lot, and drive home. We are wasting our time here."

Man sitting next to him gave him a side-glance. "Marko, the orders to follow Milena's youngest daughter and not to leave her out of sight came from the King himself. Are you going to explain to him if young missy decides to stop for an ice-cream and we didn't know about it?"

"I see your point, Vaso.", Marko had to admit. As much as he is bored of sitting in a van, they must do it. That is the destiny of branch families: obey the main family. But if they perform well, they might get promoted.

Vaso and Marko perked up at the sight of Sarah and Aiden walking out.

"Look! She is out!", Vaso exclaimed. "Let's make sure she gets into her car, and drives home, and our job for tonight is over."

Marko hummed in approval and started the van. They followed them slowly from the distance.

All four men watched in disbelief when Evalina pointed a gun and shoot at Aiden and Sarah.

"Let's go and get them!", Marko commanded.

"Our job is only to observe!", one of the men from the back reminded him.

Marko sneered. "Stupid! If she dies, our necks are on the line! Or do you have an explanation for the King how this happened on our watch?"

Marko stopped the van right next to Sarah and Aiden.

"We can't be seen!", Vaso reminded them before they opened the door.

"We have everything we need!", Marko said and gestured to the metallic suitcase.

Two men from the back of the van understood. They got from the suitcase a bottle of some liquid and two fabrics. Two pieces of fabric were soaked in the liquid before men from the back leaped out and rendered unconscious Sarah and Aiden by placing the cloth over their faces. When they were certain that Sarah and Aiden are non-responsive, they dragged them into the van.

"He is bleeding a lot. Should we just dump him?", one of the men suggested.

Marko thought for a second while driving. "No. Apply pressure on the wound. He was with Milena's daughter. Unless King says it's OK to dispose of him, we should do our best to save him."

Vaso moved in the back to help apply pressure on Aiden's second wound.

"How is she?", Marko asked.

"She is shot in the left arm. She will live. What's next?", the man from the back responded.

All three men looked at Marko. It's obvious that he is the leader.

Marko has a plan: "We are taking them to old bolnica* for emergency care. Once we confirm their condition, we will call King to inform him that we have them. He will tell us what to do next."

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