Chapter 53

                                    

                                          

The sound of approaching cars roared in the distance. Reinforcements. Rhythm's head snapped toward the road, and she saw the headlights of a fleet of SUVs racing toward them. Humza's reinforcements had arrived. His arm was like iron around her waist, holding her tightly to him as he maneuvered them toward the SUVs. 
Rhythm was trembling, her mind spinning with a whirl of fear and adrenaline. The gunfire was still going, but it was starting to die down now that Humza's men had the upper hand. Yet, the fear didn't leave her. The sight of Osman's bloodied body was burned into her mind, and the terror of losing him gnawed at her insides.
"Humza..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over the chaos. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear and pain. His face was grim, his dark eyes colder than ever, yet there was a flicker of something else beneath the surface—a protectiveness, a need to keep her safe.
"Trust me," he said, his voice low and fierce. "I won't let anything happen to you."
But Rhythm wasn't thinking about herself anymore. Her eyes darted back to Osman, who was being loaded into one of the SUVs by Humza's men, his face pale, his breathing weak. She couldn't lose him. 
She couldn't.
The roar of the SUV engines cut through the noise as Humza's men secured the area and prepared to evacuate. The last of the attackers had either fled or been neutralized, but the threat was far from over. Whoever had come after them wouldn't stop—not until Humza was dead. Or worse, until Rhythm was caught in the crossfire again.
As Humza pulled her into the SUV with him, his arm still around her, she couldn't shake the feeling that their world was about to get a whole lot darker.
**
The drive to the hospital felt like an eternity, the air inside the SUV thick with tension. Rhythm sat stiffly beside Humza, her thoughts consumed by worry for her brother. Osman was always the strong one, her protector, the person who'd never let her down. The thought of him lying on a hospital bed, his life hanging by a thread, made her heart twist painfully in her chest.
Humza's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his dark eyes focused on the road, but Rhythm could sense the shift in him. His usual coldness seemed even more pronounced, and yet, there was a protectiveness in the way he kept glancing at her, his jaw clenched in silent frustration.
"Osman will be fine," Humza said, his voice firm but carrying an edge of tension. "My men are taking him to the best hospital. They'll make sure he gets the care he needs."
Rhythm barely heard him. Her mind was racing, flashing back to the sight of Osman collapsing after the bullet hit him. The blood, the look of pain in his eyes—it was all too much. Her stomach twisted painfully, and she felt an overwhelming urge to be by her brother's side.
"I have to be there," she said softly, her voice trembling despite her attempts to remain calm.
Humza's jaw tightened. "You're staying at home, Rhythm. It's not safe."
Her head snapped toward him, eyes wide with disbelief. "What do you mean, I'm staying at home? My brother is in the hospital, fighting for his life, and you expect me to just sit there? No way, Humza! I'm coming with you."
Humza's grip on the wheel tightened, his knuckles white. "It's not safe for you to be at the hospital right now. We don't know who attacked us or why, and I'm not going to risk your life again."
Rhythm shook her head, her emotions bubbling to the surface. "I don't care about the danger! Osman risked his life for me. I can't just sit at home while he's lying there, possibly dying! You don't get to make this decision for me."
Humza's eyes narrowed, the coldness in his gaze sharp as a blade. "You'll do as I say, Rhythm. This is for your own safety."
She glared at him, her frustration and fear boiling over. "I'm not a child, Humza! You can't control everything. I have the right to be with my brother."
They locked eyes for a tense moment, the atmosphere in the car crackling with unspoken tension. Humza's jaw flexed, and for a moment, Rhythm thought he would argue further. But then he exhaled slowly, his eyes softening just enough for her to see that, underneath all his coldness, he was trying to protect her in his own way.
"Fine," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. "But you'll stay close to me at all times. Do you understand?"
Rhythm nodded, though the fire in her eyes has not dimmed. She wouldn't back down on this—not when her brother's life was at stake.
As they pulled up to the hospital, Rhythm felt her heart start to pound even harder. The sterile lights of the emergency entrance blazed against the night sky, and Humza's men were already standing guard outside, their expressions grim and focused. Without wasting a second, Humza guided her inside, his hand on her back, protective but firm.
The hospital smelled of antiseptic and cold, sterile air, which only heightened her anxiety. As they approached the front desk, Humza quickly took charge, his deep voice cutting through the silence.
"My men brought in a gunshot victim, Osman Hussian. Where is he?"
The nurse behind the desk, clearly intimidated by Humza's commanding presence, quickly checked her computer. "He's in surgery. You'll have to wait in the family room for updates."
Rhythm's stomach twisted at the word "surgery." It made everything more real—too real. She couldn't shake the image of Osman bleeding, his life draining away as they sped through the night. Humza's hand remained firm on her back, steering her toward the waiting room, where they sat down. His men stood nearby, silent but watchful.
The minutes stretched into hours, each one more tortuous than the last. Rhythm paced back and forth, unable to sit still. She kept glancing at the double doors that led to the operating room, her heart in her throat, waiting for any sign of a doctor.
Humza, on the other hand, remained still, his expression unreadable. He sat in one of the chairs, his legs spread wide, hands resting on his knees, his eyes never leaving Rhythm. There was a quiet tension in him, as if he were holding himself back from something—whether it was from comforting her or protecting her from the truth, she couldn't tell.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the doors swung open, and a doctor stepped out, still wearing his surgical scrubs. Rhythm's heart leaped into her throat as she rushed forward.
"How is he? Is he okay?" she asked, her voice shaking with fear.
The doctor looked at her with a calm but serious expression. 
"He's my brother. Please tell me, is he okay?" She asked, her voice desperate. 
"Your brother...." the doctor began, sighing deeply with sadness in his eyes. 
IMPORTANT AUTHOR NOTE.
Hey guys, Hope you like the chapter. 
So, I noticed that there are very fewer comments and votes for previous chapters. 
Unlike my other books, this book is free until completion. There was a time when I wanted to give up on this book, but I didn't because of you guys, my readers. I'm finding time in my busy schedule and writing the chapters for you, but such a low response on the chapters is very discouraging and disappointing to me. So because of that, I would like to put a target on the chapter before updating the next chapters. 
If this chapter reaches 150 votes, 50 comments and atlest 10 follows to my profile. I will update the next chapter, which will be a bit longer than this. Just remember, I'm not asking to pay for this book or chapters, I'm just asking for your comments, votes and follows I hope you understand. 
Insta;- S.N_NINA_ARTHUR. 
Fb:- S.N NINA ARTHUR.