intrepidity

Chapter 46

Doctors crowded the bed. One climbed onto a stool, beginning compressions on Marcus's chest with brutal, clinical rhythm. Another was shouting numbers, calling for medication. The sound of the defibrillator powering up sent a sharp, piercing panic through Aurora's chest.

"Charging to 200!"

Her heart dropped.

A nurse finally pulled her fully from the room, arms wrapped tight around her. The doors slammed shut behind them, and Aurora just stood there, frozen in the hallway, her eyes glued to the small window.

And then—

"Aurora!"

Elias's voice cut through the noise. He came running around the corner like his life depended on it, hair disheveled, eyes already filled with dread. When he reached her, he cupped her face in his hands, gently shaking her. "What happened?! What—"

"He's coding," the nurse nearby said quietly, her voice heavy with sorrow. "They're trying to bring him back."

Elias paled. His knees nearly buckled, but he steadied himself, his hand tightening around Aurora's.

Roman was right behind him, face unreadable but pale. His hands were clenched into fists so tight they were trembling. He said nothing, just stared into the room, watching the doctors desperately fight for their brother's life.

Alec stumbled in next, wild-eyed, shoulders heaving from the sprint up the hallway.

"Where is he?!" His voice cracked. "Where is he?!"

He pushed forward, only to stop dead in his tracks when he saw through the window — saw Marcus lying lifeless, doctors pressing down on his chest.

"No." Alec shook his head violently. "No, no, no—he was okay. He was okay. Don't do this—don't—!"

He looked to Aiden, who had just arrived, eerily calm, too quiet. Aiden's eyes locked on the heart monitor. The flatline tone echoed faintly through the glass.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep—

BEEEEEEEP.

"Charging to 300!"

"Please—" Aurora gasped, her voice strangled. "Please don't let him die—"

Aiden said nothing.

He stood still, unmoving, his face carved from stone—but his eyes betrayed him. Red-rimmed. Glassy. Hollow. He wasn't the boss anymore, not right now. He was just a brother watching his youngest spiral toward death.

He didn't move when Elias collapsed to his knees beside Aurora, hugging her tightly, arms trembling as he held her like she might break too. His chin dropped to her shoulder, and he whispered words she couldn't hear, couldn't process, his voice thick with emotion, choked with helplessness.

He didn't move when Alec turned and punched the wall with a ragged scream, his knuckles splitting open against the concrete. He didn't even flinch when Alec hit it again—like if he just hit hard enough, he could somehow change reality.

Roman stood frozen by the foot of the bed, whispering a broken prayer under his breath, fingers clasped tight like he was trying to hold Marcus together with sheer hope alone. His lips barely moved, but his eyes never left his younger brother—like if he blinked, Marcus would disappear.

And then the twins stumbled in.

Antonio was the first through the door, his expression wild and panicked. His usual scowl was gone, replaced by something far more devastating—raw fear. He hovered near the wall, fists clenched at his sides, jaw tight as he stared at Marcus like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He didn't speak. He couldn't. He just stood there, trembling like a ticking bomb, trying not to fall apart.

Atlas followed close behind, slower, quieter. His eyes immediately found Aurora curled up against Marcus, and then the rest of his brothers—all of them unraveling in their own ways. He moved to Roman, standing beside him silently, like he could somehow lend his calm to the chaos. But his hands were shaking too. And his eyes were glassy, blinking fast like if he didn't cry, maybe it wouldn't be real.

And through it all, Aiden didn't move.

Because if he moved—if he even breathed too deeply—he wasn't sure he'd be able to hold the weight anymore.

All he did was stare into the chaos—willing his baby brother to stay alive.

"Clear!"

Marcus's body jolted violently.

No change.

"Again! Charging—clear!"

Another jolt.

Aurora's sob cracked out of her chest as she buried her face into Elias's shoulder.

"Please," she whispered. "Please don't take him away..."

And then—

Silence.

The heart monitor's scream faded.

A second passed.

Then two.

And three—

And everything faded to white.

author's note - i just a baby 👉👈

<3