Dominic was immediately rushed off to New York Metropolitan Hospital. He was still alive, but the loss of blood had weakened him. According to the paramedics, the bullet had to be removed as soon as possible, otherwise he would not survive. Terrified for his life, Rachel left her nephew with Kate and rode in the ambulance with him. As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Dominic was taken to the operating room.

All alone in the waiting room, she kept pacing up and down for more than an hour, too anxious to even consider taking a seat. The scene of the shooting replayed in her mind, over and over again, serving as a painful reminder of his near sacrifice.

You come back, you hug me, you kiss me and they try to take you out. You were wrong, Dominic. No one tried to kill you, back in France. They were after me. And, for some reason I can’t understand, they tried again, just when you showed up. I’m going crazy here. I mean, why…?

The sound of the glass door being violently pushed open snapped her out of her thoughts. Rachel walked back to the wide corridor and glanced left. Four paramedics were rushing someone to the emergency room. She could not make out who he was, but she did recognize the tall, slender brunette following them: Melanie. Only when they passed her by did she get a chance to identify him. It was Jean. He was in a terrible condition indeed: His face was badly bruised, he had a cervical collar around his neck and his clothes were almost completely ripped.

Rachel and Melanie’s eyes met across the corridor, but the young blonde did not have the heart to address her. She kept her mouth shut and turned her back to her.

“That’s not the way to treat a friend,” Melanie complained, forcing her to stop. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m sorry,” Rachel said while her voice came out filled with sadness. “I still feel guilty over lying to you. Dominic’s in there, too.”

“Dominic?” Melanie squeaked, striding towards her. “Why? What happened to him?” She asked, spinning Rachel around to face her.

“He took a bullet for me,” Rachel whispered, blinking back tears. An expression of fear spread over Melanie’s face, as she covered her mouth with her hand.

“This means that…”

“He was never the target,” Rachel finished her sentence. “I was. Why’s your fiancé here?”

“That’s why wanted to know where he was going,” Melanie spoke in a faint voice, staring into the void.

“They?” Rachel squinted at her. “Who’s ‘they’?”

“Jean said that two men stormed into his room, a few hours ago,” Melanie said, her voice quivering. “They asked him if he was going to visit you, but Jean wouldn’t say. They beat him up and threatened to kill me if he didn’t tell them.”

“Oh, my God…” Rachel sighed, running her hand through her hair.

“Why would someone want to kill you?” Melanie asked. “What have you done?”

“Nothing,” Rachel’s response was sharp. “I wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

Melanie was about to speak, but, at that moment, a young doctor stepped out of Dominic’s operating room. The two women ran towards him, waiting to hear the news with bated breath.

“The bullet missed any vital organs,” He announced. “We were able to remove it. He was lucky; another inch further south and he would have been beyond our help.”

Melanie breathed a sigh of relief, as Rachel brushed past her. Much to the Frenchwoman’s surprise, she wrapped her arms around the doctor’s back.

“Thank you so much,” She whispered.

“Is this customary in the US?” Melanie’s question made the doctor’s eyes glint with amusement.

“Actually, no,” He laughed. “Anyway, he’s still under sedation. You can see him, if you like. Don’t stay too long. He needs to get some rest. Excuse me.”

“Doctor, what about the other gentleman?” Melanie inquired.

“I’ll let you know in a bit,” He replied, entering the operating room to the left.

Rachel started towards Dominic’s room, but, just as she did, her cell phone rang. It was Kate.

“Hey, what’s up?”

Baby Dominic’s cry was so loud that she had to pull the device away from her ear.

“He’s been crying like this for half an hour now. I’m sorry, honey. You need to get over here right now.”

“Okay, I’m on my way.”

“This is pretty much the dilemma you’ll be in for the rest of your life,” Melanie spoke in a calm, steady voice. “I wouldn’t want to be you.”

“I need to go home,” Rachel stated. “Tell Dominic I’ll come see him tomorrow.”

“Wait!” Melanie grabbed her by the wrist. “You can’t stay there anymore, don’t you understand? You need to go someplace safe.”

“I don’t have anywhere else to go!” Rachel spoke in frustrated tones, looking up at her over her left shoulder.

“Find a hotel,” she advised. “I’ll pay for it, okay?”

“Thanks,” Rachel said with a nod. “Goodnight.”

I hate to admit it, but she’s right. This is exactly what my life is going to be from now on. Unless Marianne wakes up, I’ll have to choose between taking care of my nephew and my personal life. The more I think about it, the more I believe I can’t have anyone. I’m so sorry, my king. I shouldn’t have you asked you ‘why’, back in my apartment. I knew… I just didn’t want to believe it.