Never Judge

Cedric ran for cover as he heard bullets being shot, he was sure that they were coming from both sides. Aiden's men were trying to cover for him while his own men were trying to take Aiden's helicopter down.

He was so close to his car when Cedric fell to the ground and he felt a pain in his shoulder and he fell to the ground.

No one in particular was shooting at him, Aiden must have ordered his men not to, but a bullet had stayed and hit him. He saw the door to his car open slightly.

"No! Don't!" Cedric shouted over the noise, it seemed whoever had tried to open the door had heard him and closed the door once again. 

Cedric got up and ran to his car, he managed to lean against the car and was using it as a shield against the bullets. 

As he took shelter another bullet hit him in the leg, he struggled to power through the pain as he resisted crying out. He knew that if the people inside the car heard him they would risk themselves and open the door.

He noticed that Aiden's men had begun retreating, some that had been shot, injured or killed, stayed in place, while those that were able drove away.

Eventually the shooting stopped and the barricade that was blocking Cedric's car was gone, save for a few cars whose occupants were now dead or dying.

Cedric could feel himself growing faint, he had lost a lot for blood from his two gunshot wounds and was barely holding himself together.

"Miguel!" Cedric shouted as he called for his friend.

It seemed that the others had seen him take the shot as the last thing his saw was Miguel running over with his first aid kit.

The next moment Cedric saw nothing but darkness. 

"Adrianna stay in the car with Emilio!" Alexi shouted as he watched Miguel try to stop the bleeding.

"Alexi what is happening?" Adrianna shouted through the slightly opened door.

"Cedric was shot, twice." Alexi quickly answered. "Yoyo, doesn't have to see this." 

"How is he?" Adrianna asked in a worried tone. She swore she would not cry, she was worried, but she had to stay brave for her son.

"Mommy, daddy will be fine." Emilio said as he looked up at his mother. 

Adrianna was shocked with what her son said, she didn't think he understood the situation. Even earlier when the little boy had tried to open the door for his father she was shocked, he had the presence of mind to try to let Cedric back in.

"I know Yoyo." Adrianna said as she hugged her son tightly.

"Daddy wanted me to close the door to protect us, I know daddy wouldn't have liked it if anyone else got hurt." Emilio said, once more shocking Adrianna.

"Yoyo, you're such a smart boy." Adrianna said as she kissed her son. 

She looked out the window and saw Miguel and Ray placing Cedric into Miguel's car before driving off in a hurry.

Adrianna wanted to ask the driver to follow them, but she also wanted to make sure that everyone was safe. Cedric was in good hands, Ray and Miguel were with him and there was nothing else that she could do.

"Adri." Alexi said as he opened the car door. "Miguel and Ray brought Cedric to the hospital, Nicole is also with them."

"Is anyone else injured?" Adrianna asked. 

"Some of the security team, Leon is badly hit, he was in the car tailing you that exploded." Alexi said with a frown. "We thought no one had survived, but it seems that Leon got lucky."

"Cedric would have been devastated if Leon had died." Adrianna said with a frown.

"His injuries were bad, but Nicole said he will survive." Alexi explained. "We were able to get to him before Cedric so he is already on the way to Saints for treatment."

"Alexi, how are the others?" Adrianna asked, worried about her friends, her parents and her in-laws.

"Thankfully no one else was injured." Alexi said with a sigh. "There were no deaths here on our end, but there were massacres in all the safehouses."

"So Aiden got Jen?" Adrianna asked. 

"Most probably, I have someone confirming it now." Alexi explained.

"Why would he attack all the safe houses if Jen was at the Reyes Mansion?" Adrianna asked.

"Adrianna, only the Reyes Mansion was spared." Alexi said with a frown. "We moved Jen to a different location since keeping her at the Reyes Mansion was an obvious choice."

"But Aiden was one step ahead of you guys." Adrianna added.

"Yes he was." Alexi nodded in agreement.

"Will we bury mom in the mausoleum first?" Adrianna asked as she looked at the cold structure that stood on a hill.

"If that's what you want." Alexi said. "Ayanna and Uncle Emilio said to ask you and Cedric what to do, but Cedric is injured at the moment."

"I think Cedric would want his mom laid to rest first." Adrianna said.

"Let me ride with you then." Alexi said as he climbed into the car. 

"Please drive us up." Adrianna told the driver, who simply nodded and did as she asked.

When they arrived at the mausoleum Selina and her brother Helios suddenly ran over to the car, but they headed to the front passenger's seat.

"Dave, bro, are you alright?" Helios asked in a worried tone.

"Yes, Mr. Reyes saved us." Dave said with a thankful look in his eyes.

"You know each other?" Adrianna asked Dave and the twins.

"Yes Adrianna." Selina said with a nod. "Dave is my brother's best friend from University. Didn't Cedric mention it to you?"

"It wasn't something worth mentioning." Dave quickly injected. "It's my personal life Selina, I don't mix it with work."

"I thought Dave was just some rich kid Cedric took pity on and hired." Adrianna admitted. 

"Adri, it's much more than that." Ayanna said as she approached and pulled her sister-in-law into a hug. "My brother will be fine, have faith."

"Daddy said uncle Miguel is the best doctor in the world, if anyone can help daddy it will be uncle Miguel!" Emilio suddenly said from inside the car.

Adrianna turned and smiled at her son, she was thankful for his positivity. She picked him up and let him run over to his uncles and aunts.

"Adri, I think Cedric would want Priscilla laid to rest first." Emilio Reyes said as he approached his daughter-in-law.

Adrianna looked at the man and nodded. In just a few days Emilio Reyes had aged, it was clear how heartbroken he was over his wife's death. His hair had turned gary and the wrinkles in his skin had begun to appear, gone was the once youthful glow that came from his smile.

"I think he would have wanted that too dad." Adrianna added.

"Shall we then?" Emilio Reyes said as he led the way into the mausoleum.

Inside, Adrianna almost broke down when she saw where Mia had been interred. It was right next to where Pricilla Reyes would be placed to rest.

"Cedric asked if Mia could have that spot." Emilio Reyes told Adrianna. "She died protecting you so she deserves a place of honor." Emilio said as he nodded in agreement.

"The elders of the Reyes Family are alright with this?" Adrianna asked.

"They didn't have a choice, Cedric's word is law now." Emilio said with a smile. "Mia had a long life ahead of her, it was unfairly taken away. Priscilla on the other hand, well, she knew her time was coming soon. She was sick and she wanted to go on her own terms. She left me heartbroken, but I understand what she did."

Adrianna hugged her father-in-law as he said this. She felt the tears trickle down from her cheek as Ayanna joined as well.

The group laid Priscilla Clarin - Reyes to rest as her son fought for his life in the hospital.