When I was fully released, I sprinted towards Nick and shielded him from his dad. I felt the first painful strike from the shard of the bottle on the back of my shoulder. Nick pushed me to the side while Hussaini looked down at us in disgust. He tossed the bottle away and reached for his gun inside his jacket and aimed at us.

"I was proud of you, kid," Hussaini growled. "You hone skills needed for the job but I'm disappointed that you wasted all that for a fucking imbecile girl. For what?!"

"She has nothing to do with this. I want out," Nick corresponded.

"So, is it okay if I kill her?" he hovered the gun, aiming at me.

"You don't need to kill her to kill my spirit, Dad," he said breathlessly. "You've already done that when you killed Mom."

Hussaini stood silent, eyes widened like he just heard a ghost name. "Don't talk to me about your mother–"

"You fucking killed her!" he roared. "It was never Mo, you caused her death. You wanted us to die because we're a burden. You left so you don't have to see her die!"

"I said shut up, kid!"

"You're a fucking coward and I fucking hate you! I wish Mo killed you instead of Mom," Nick bit back.

Hussaini threw a couple of vigorous kicks on Nick's face causing his nose to crack and his mouth spurted blood. I reached out to stop them but Hussaini's swift kick forcefully pounded onto my chest, I was thrown a few feet away, jolted in pain.

Hussaini seized his son by the collar and aimed the gun at his face. "If you talk bullshit once again, I won't hesitate to pull this trigger. Either that or your partner dies."

Nick's weary expression turned calm as though he surrendered. He forced his lips to move and finally muttered, "I'm not an animal like you. You kill her, you kill us both."

Hussaini's ferocious face turned resentful with hatred. His lips quivered angrily, and wasn't able to contain the wrath over his son. His body trembled violently that the gun he was holding began to shudder unsteadily.

Suddenly, Hussaini aimed the gun on Nick's left thigh and pulled the trigger. The loud banging sounds from the fired gun was able to shake off the silent night. Nick screamed in pain when the bullet penetrated into his flesh. I screamed out of shock and went up quickly, aimed to attack Hussaini but my captor managed to stop me again and had me in a headlock. As I struggled in between his arms, I saw Hussaini kneeling down towards his depleted son on the ground and whispered something into his ear.

As soon as I was being released and Hussaini's men quickly retreated into their respective vehicle, I rushed straight to Nick and frantically assessed his injured leg in between my cries and screams.

"Oi, you!" Hussaini called out to me before returning into his vehicle. "Don't be a daft, call the paramedics."

I obeyed and immediately pulled out my phone to dial 999 to lodge the report while Hussaini and his men drove away swiftly, fleeing the scene. I followed the dispatcher's specific instructions, removed my sweater, and put pressure on his wound to stop the bleeding.

Nick's distressing groan turned into sudden chuckle and giggle, observing my agitation and distress attempting to save him with whatever sources I had. He reached out for my phone and drop the call.

"Why the hell did you do that?" I asked anxiously.

"Zahida, stop. They're coming, you already gave the address. Let them handle this, not you," he said wearily. "Come sit next to me."

"No, I can't," I cried while determinedly pressing the wound with my sweater. "If they're not coming, I'll lose you."

"Haha! That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard," he giggled and grabbed my hand, pulling me to his side.

I moved around behind him and sat behind his back with my legs spread apart as he slowly leaned against my chest into a spooning position. His raspy breathing grew louder as he coughed, groaned and wheezed. I propped my both hands on the ground, allowing him the space and comfort to rest on me.

"There you go," he said, lifting a ruby studded yellow gold ring over his shoulder towards me. "My mother's ring."

"Where did you get this?" I asked, picking up the ring from his fingers.

"From Dad. He asks for first born son. Dream on!" he panted. "Now, propose me again so I can reject you."

I was rather confused as to how I would react to his statement, so I mouthed, "Okay" and he shuddered into laughter. I followed, giggling behind him in hope that having him occupied with the conversation would divert the pain of his leg.

"Why are we laughing?" I asked again.

"All this hassle for the love of an eccentric woman," he breathed out and winced in pain. "Congratulations, you achieved your resolution in time."

"What was my resolution again?" I queried, wasn't able to make any recollection of my memories at this point of time.

"Ensuring sure we sustain," he replied before slowly withdrawing his breath and closed his eyes.