Maria shudered and tried to comport herself
"What do you want from my family Leo" Maria asked with a slightly raised voice "we agreed to stay out of each other's lives more than 10 years ago" Maria said as she pulled Theodore and Irida behind her
"Oh yes we agreed to never cross paths again, but your darling husband has been secretly causing problems for me and because of him, I've lost everything and the fucking feds are like roaches on my tail" Leo said casually. He pulled out a gun and placed it on the table "I've got nothing left to loose Maria, first he took you from me, then he took away my business, my money, my fucking home, every fucking thing I have" Leo paused and looked at Maria with a smile "now I have to take something from him too, I know I'd probably get caught and I may never get to see the light of day but I have to make sure he's also never happy again"
"Mom, what's he talking about?" Theodore asked his Maria in fear
"I should have been your father" Leo sighed and said "I met your mother first, I loved her first"
"I never loved you Leo" Maria retorted loudly "I chose Andres because I loved him, it didn't matter who I knew first. Please just go, leave us alone" Maria said between sobs
Theodore suddenly heard distinct cat engine and knew his dad was close. Leo heard it too and he grew anxious, he stood up and aimed his gun at Theodore, he fired three shots. Maria blocked Theodore having two of the shots hit her and the last one hit Theodore on the shoulder
"Mama, Theo" Irida screamed as she watched both her mother and beloved older brother's bodies drop to the floor
Andres and some police officers ran in and immediately apprehended Leo and his men. Andres knelt down and quickly checked his wife and son's body before sighing heavily, he turned to his visibly shaken daughter and patted her head gently
"Princess, don't let your brother fall asleep okay"
"Yes daddy" Irida said shakily. She crouched down and placed her older brother's head on her legs "Theo, please don't fall asleep okay. Daddy has gone to get help, it won't hurt anymore soon okay"
"Okay princess, your big brother is strong okay, big brother with try to stay awake" Theodore said as he tried to give Irida his signature smile but it looked crooked
"Theo you'll be fine okay? You have to be fine okay? Irida promises to be a good girl from now on, I won't be a crybaby anymore, I won't be naughty" Irida said as she blinked her tears away, she couldn't let her big brother see her tears, she needs to be strong for her big brother
Theodore saw iris's stubbornly fighting her tears and trying to be strong and he broke him. Irida was their little princess, she wasn't meant to see such scenes or experience such pain. He cursed Leo again in his mind as he tried hard to fight the fatigue from his brows. Theodore could feel his consciousness slowly fading, he could faintly hear Irida's screams and words as she begged him not to sleep like mommy, he could faintly hear the sirens in the distance, he could hear his dad trying to call him
"Daddy, what about mommy?" Irida asked as she looked at her mommy's body. The paramedics were already helping her brother unto a stretcher "mama should also be taken to the hospital right, daddy always says hospitals can make everyone better. I ... Uhm can mama also be taken to the hospital. Will mama also get better?" Irida questioned
Andres knew Irida was scared and needed to be assured that her mommy would be fine, but he couldn't bring himself to lie to his daughter, his wife was never coming back and he has almost lost his youngest son. Andreas looked at his daughter who was heaving and still trying to catch her breath after such a shock, he saw her looking at him with hope and so much fear
"Princess, mama has gone to be with the angels now. She's gonna be the brightest star you see every night when you look at the sky" Andres explained with a sigh
"But..... Mama... I don't want mama to be a star..... Mama, she needs to be with Irida.... Daddy..." Irida choked as she threw herself into Andres's arms
"It's all daddy's fault, daddy is sorry" Andres said heavily as he patted Irida gently
"No, it's the bad guy's fault. Daddy is a hero, daddy saved Theo" Irida muttered as she slowly closed her eyes
Andres watched as his son was placed on the stretcher and wheeled away, he handed Irida to one of the paramedic nurses, sighed, wore his gloves and went back into the house.
Even at a time like this he couldn't be with his children, he had to gather evidence and finish everything before leaving
"Maybe it's time to retire " Andres muttered softly