THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 256: TRAUMA BOND

Chapter 256: TRAUMA BOND

The door opened again at the same time the gun went off, and Landon walked in with Leighton beside him.

His eyes scanned the room quickly, taking in the chaos it presented.

On one end of the room, Martin laid on top of Renee.

Directly in front of him, Fay stood covering a screaming Dream.

Cam was dashing forward, towards the spot where Ace laid on top of Reign.

Around them were splatters of blood.

His feet moved before he could think, and ended up reaching Ace at the same time Cam did.

"Ace!" He screamed, dropping to the ground beside him.

Behind them, a shuddering Fay did her best to calm her screaming daughter.

She closed her eyes, not wanting to see that mental image of Ace laid helplessly on the ground.

She didn’t want to think the worst, but he wasn’t saying anything. He was quiet. Why was he quiet? Her mind screamed.

"I’m fine," Ace muttered.

"But I’m not!" Reign suddenly screamed.

Landon’s gaze found her thighs, and noticed she was bleeding. The gun was just beside her.

"Get me to a hospital!" She cried. "I’m dying."

Getting over the shock of the gun going off, Ace began to straighten up.

"Get me to the hospital, Ace. This is all your fault. Just get me to the hospital," she cried over and over again.

"Hey, let me help you up."

Cam joined Landon, and together, they lifted Ace to his feet.

His body was soaked with Reign’s blood. He took a step back, so he could see her clearly.

"Call the cops," he mouthed to Landon.

"They’re already on their way," he replied.

Ace nodded, then turned to Cam. "Call an ambulance."

"Okay. Cam swiftly turned around.

"Get me to a hospital, Ace. I’m dying. Do you want me to die? Do you want me to die just like that? Get me my daddy. I want my father," Reign cried uncontrollably.

Ace turned his back on her, at the same time Fay opened her eyes.

Their eyes met, and he saw relief pass through hers.

The police siren began to blast, just as Leighton tapped Fay.

"Let’s go upstairs," she said, very much shaken.

Still holding on tightly to Dream who hadn’t stopped shaking, she allowed Leighton carry her up the stairs.

"What are you going to do with her?" Martin, who had risen with Renee in his arms, asked.

"Go to your rooms. I’ll deal with this," Ace replied.

"Are you going to be okay?" Renee asked.

"I’ll be fine, thank you."

She closed her eyes, and said a little prayer for him, before she followed her husband to their room.

"What are we going to do now?" Landon asked him.

"Just get me to a hospital," Reign cried faintly.

She was losing a whole lot of blood, and by the sound of her voice was growing weaker.

Cam returned to the room before Ace could speak.

"The cops came with an ambulance," he announced.

"Good," Ace took a step towards the door, but Landon stopped him.

"Let me speak to them. It would be confusing to reveal yourself so soon."

"Are you sure, Lan? You don’t have to do this, you know? I can handle it."

"No, I have to. You go check on Fay, and Dream."

"Okay."

His eyes went to Reign, wondering if this was going to be his last image of her.

"I hate how much I love you, Ace," he heard her say, right before she went totally silent.

Taking a deep breath, he turned around, and walked up the stairs.

He drew closer to the room he heard voices, and stopped right at the door.

Dream was still crying hysterically. She kept screaming, she was scared, and wanted to go home.

His hand reached for the door, but the overwhelming feeling that he wasn’t enough stopped him.

Turning around, he swallowed the pain in his throat in the form of saliva, and walked to his own room.

He went straight to his bed, and sat on it. Burying his head in his palm, he surrendered himself to the misery that encircled him.

That position was his abode, and his hell, until much later when the door opened again.

He had no idea anyone was in his room, content to just remain in that position.

Fay paused at the door, and just stared at him.

Her heart was pounding fast and hard against her chest.

It didn’t matter though. All she knew was that she had to know he was fine.

She continued walking, until she stopped before him.

He still didn’t know anyone was in the room.

She allowed a few seconds to pass, before tapping him gently.

At first, Ace thought the touch was just a product of his imagination.

Perhaps, his demons had come to him in the flesh, ready to devour him whole.

But when he perceived that scent he knew, and loved with all his heart, he had to lift his head.

The misery she saw in his eyes made Fay stagger back.

"Ace–" she called with a shaky voice.

Taking deep breaths, she drew closer to him again.

"Ace?" She called, much more in control of her emotions this time around.

He forced himself to smile. "Hey," he replied.

She drew even closer to him. His brow lifted, as she lowered her body until she was sitting on his lap.

She held his face with one hand. The other she trailed all over his face.

"Does it hurt anywhere?" She asked.

"No," he shook his head. "It doesn’t."

"I don’t believe you. When I walked in here, the look in your eyes. Ace, please talk to me," she pressed him.

His hand went around her waist, positioning her properly on his lap.

"No matter what it was, I’m much better now."

"No," she insisted. "You have to talk to someone. Maybe a professional. You can’t just get over such trauma on your own. I’m seeing a doctor, Ace. Maybe you can talk to her."

"Is that what you want me to do?" He asked.

"Ace, this isn’t about what I want you to do. This is what you need to do."

"Okay," he nodded. "I’ll see a doctor. And you? How are you holding up? It must have been traumatic having to shield Dream from crazy Reign," he said, and scoffed bitterly. "It’s my fault, and I’m sorry for that."

"No, don’t do that. Leighton, and Landon are with Dream. Everything went well with the cops. Reign is out of our lives forever."

"Dream," he whispered her name. Can I see her?" He asked, his voice choking.

"You will. I just wanted to ensure you’re okay first."

Her eyes went to his hand as she spoke, and it was trembling.

It made her heart twist painfully. He was putting on an act.

He clearly didn’t want her to be worried about him, so he was pretending.

It broke her heart to the core. She knew there wasn’t much she could do to make him bare his soul to her.

Instead of continuing to push, she leaned into him, hugging him tightly.

Ace closed his eyes, and inhaled her scent. He wasn’t fine. He didn’t think he would be fine for a while. But Fay was here.

His daughter was also in the same building as he was.

Landon, and Leighton were also present. Because of all these facts, he was going to get better.

It was that thought that gave him all the strength he needed to wrap his hand around her.

A soft knock sounded on the door minutes later.

"It’s Landon. Dream wants to come in."

Ace pulled away first, forcing Fay to follow suit.

She looked up at Ace, and when he bobbed his head, she rose to her feet, and walked to the door.

She opened the door, and Landon handed Dream over to her.

"She wants you," he said.

"Baby, are you okay?" She bent, so she was levelled with the child.

"No mummy," the girl cried. "Let’s watch a movie."

Fay sniffled, and smiled. "I have something even better."

For how smart her daughter was, she couldn’t believe she hadn’t still figured out her father was present.

Or maybe she had, but the trauma wouldn’t let her process it.

Landon stepped away, and Fay closed the door behind.

Dream had barely taken a step inside the room, when her eyes rested on the figure on the bed.

She was about to scream out, when she looked again, and recognition flickered in her little eyes.

"Daddy!" She screamed, and ran to the bed.

Ace was an emotional mess as he opened his arms.

He picked her up from the ground, and embraced her as if he’d never be able to after this moment.

"I told mummy. I said you’re alive," she said over, and over again as they hugged.

"Yes I am baby," his eyes watered, and his voice broke. "I am, and I’m never leaving you again."

From the door, Fay watched on. The problems in their life were still far from over. But in her heart she knew peace wasn’t far away.

She knew that together, they would overcome even the harshest storm.