Chapter Forty-Five
Roaring into the parking lot, Mia threw the helmet off and tucked it under her arm, racing back into the ER. The same nurse was behind the desk, another man talking to him. Mia moved to the side, trying to catch his eye. He looked at her and raised a finger, smiling.
Mia shifted her weight impatiently, unable to contain her urgency. Finally, she stepped forward.
“I’m sorry, but where is he?”
The nurse cleared his throat, apologizing to the man at the desk before focusing on Mia.
“He is not allowed visitors,” he said simply.
“What?” she replied, her face twisting with disbelief and rising anger.
“Ma’am, he is a wanted criminal, and the police are on their way,” the nurse said calmly, genuinely sorry. Mia’s tears fell freely now.
“Please,” she begged. “I need to see him. I promise I won’t break him out or anything. I just need to know he’s alive.” The nurse hesitated, then glanced beyond her. He nodded toward the hallway to the right and winked.
“Thank you,” she mouthed, moving toward the door. She heard him quietly say, “Ma’am, you can’t go back there,” but she was already slipping into the ER, a small smile on her lips. She wiped her eyes, determined to find Aurelio.
Curtains closed off various beds as Mia rushed through the ER, peeking behind them for any sign of Aurelio. Finally, she heard his rumbling voice telling a nurse he was fine. She leapt on the curtain, pulling it back quickly. There he was, face bruised, a bandage on his nose and over one eye. A large purple bruise marred his cheek, but he was there—sitting up in the bed, hospital gown on, a blanket pulled to his hips.
“Mia,” he breathed, his expression blank, eyes wide as they met hers.
“Hello, handsome,” she replied, smiling, her heart racing. She moved further into the room, setting the helmet on a counter to her left. Aurelio laughed, his face breaking into a smile before grimacing, a hand going to where he had been shot.
The nurse glanced between Mia and Aurelio, unsure what to do. She was young, maybe twenty or twenty-one, and smiled shyly at Mia.
“Hi,” she said, waving to get Mia’s attention. “He is not allowed visitors,” she said, smiling sadly.
“Please,” Mia insisted. “I can’t leave him.”
“Well,” the nurse replied after a moment of consideration, “just be quiet and no funny business. Those are fresh stitches.” Mia nodded, and the nurse slipped out, pulling the curtain closed.
For a moment, they just breathed, eyes locked on each other.
“Are you real?” Aurelio finally asked, his voice filled with disbelief. “Really here, beautiful?”
She laughed. “Yeah, like you could keep me away.” She moved to the edge of the bed, their fingers interlocking as she gently sat on the edge. Aurelio stared at her, his eyes filling with tears as he took in her face. He lifted his hand from hers, cradling her face with a cool touch that felt so different from the warmth he usually radiated. He brushed his thumb under her eye, wiping away her tears.
“God, I love you,” he said quietly. Mia leaned closer, resting her forehead against his.
“I love you,” she whispered back, inhaling his scent. Beneath the hospital’s sterile smell, she caught a faint whiff of leather, grease, and pine. Her eyes closed as she breathed him in. He was here, alive—beaten and bruised, yes, but alive.
She felt his arm wrap around her gingerly, pulling her closer to his chest. Her eyes opened as he did, his gaze intent on hers.
“Beautiful,” he whispered, his lips brushing against hers. She let him kiss her, her own lips caressing his. She was gentle, careful, as if he might break beneath her touch. But he wasn’t satisfied; his lips pressed further, tongue seeking entrance. She pulled back lightly, and his hand tightened around her waist, his tongue grazing her lips until she relented, opening her mouth to him. She tasted him, savoring the moment. After a heartbeat, she pulled back, his strength unable to keep her there. He frowned, his hands still resting on her waist.
She smiled at him and placed her hands under his chin, cradling his face. “Aurelio,” she said softly, “what happened?”
He nestled into her touch, his eyes fluttering shut. She could feel him breathing heavily, his hands tugging her closer. After a moment, he opened his eyes, and she moved a little closer, her bottom resting on the edge of the bed as his hands tugged her lightly to lay against him.
“Aurelio, I can’t lay on you,” she said, seeing his frown.
“I just want you as close as I can get,” he replied, pulling her again.
“You were shot,” she pointed out, indicating the bulge beneath his gown. “Right there.”
“Trust me, I know,” he said with a small laugh, causing him to grimace.
“Then let me be here—close, but not causing you pain.” She rested her hands on her lap, one of his arms draped across it. Aurelio nodded, closing his eyes again for a moment.
“I had given up,” he began, eyes still closed, head tilted back against the bed. “I knew the only way to keep you safe was to stay away, to shut up, and do the jobs.” He sighed deeply, shaking his head lightly as a tear fell. Mia felt the heavy air between them, the silence speaking volumes.
“I threw myself at the boss, wanting nothing more than to rip him apart. But instead, I settled on Dominick.” Aurelio opened his eyes, fury flashing within them as he recounted his story. “And I almost killed him. I felt it in my fists as I pounded on him. I wanted to kill him. But the boss called me off him. Dominick won’t be okay for a while, but it’s still less than he deserves.”
Mia placed a hand on Aurelio’s chest, his eyes finding hers. She gave him a soft smile, nodding her understanding.
“Because I had put Dominick out of commission, the boss gave me his crew and jobs. The first big job was that night. The one you came to.” Aurelio locked eyes with Mia. “I was done fighting until I saw you. I saw you there, fighting for me, and I knew I had to do the same. The fact that you hadn’t given up on me brought me back.”
Aurelio leaned toward her, his hand reaching up to her neck, pulling her close. She leaned in, allowing their faces to come close.
“Thank you,” he whispered, kissing her lightly. Mia pulled away before they got carried away, and Aurelio grinned, releasing her neck and settling his hand back on her hip.
“When you said the buyers were cops, I knew this was my chance to finally put him behind bars. But shit went sideways; the boss got twitchy during the final negotiations. The buyer was asking too many pointed questions. The boss pulled a gun and shot one of them, and then the cops descended. He was going to get away, and I couldn’t let him.”
His expression darkened. “I grabbed him, pinning him down, but he shot me, and his men started beating me. But it was enough time—it worked. The cops got him, and while they were taking down him and his bodyguards, I ran.” He sighed heavily. “I drove Baby to the safe house and hoped on the bike, riding to you.” He caught her gaze again. “Then, as I made it up the stairs, I could feel the blackness closing in. I had to tell you that you were free—free from all of it. I was dying, and that was fine because you would be able to live.”
Mia leaned into him, kissing him deeply, overwhelmed. “I don’t want to be free if you’re not,” she said through tears. “You deserve it so much more than I do.”
“No, beautiful,” he replied softly. “I’ve done bad things. I deserve to face the repercussions of my actions.”
“But none of it was of your free will!” she insisted, sitting up again.
“Mia, it doesn’t matter,” he replied. “The boss is going down, and all of us with him.” Aurelio lifted her chin to meet his gaze, his fingers brushing lightly against her face. “And if me going away means he is never free again, then so be it.”
“No, I won’t let that happen,” she said, shaking off his grasp. “I don’t care what it takes; you are not going to jail. You are a good man, Aurelio.”
“Oh, beautiful,” he said, smiling sadly. “Only because of you.”
Before Mia could respond, the curtain was pulled aside. Two uniformed officers entered, eyeing the two of them.
“Morning,” one said, his gaze slowly shifting between Mia and Aurelio. Mia went to stand, but Aurelio’s hand held her fast. She looked at him; his expression had hardened.
“Hello, officers,” Aurelio greeted, his tone steady.
The other officer moved to the opposite side of the bed, pulling out a pair of cuffs and looking at Aurelio. With a sigh, Aurelio moved his hand to the side of the bed, allowing the officer to cuff him. Mia watched in anger as they did.
“Is that really necessary?” she demanded, Aurelio stroking her arm gently with his free hand.
“It’s okay, beautiful,” he said softly, smiling at her. “It is.”
“Thank you for cooperating,” the officer replied, a pad in his hand. He pulled a pencil from behind his ear and looked at Mia. “I know his name, but what’s yours, ma’am?”
“She isn’t involved,” Aurelio said quickly. Mia turned to him, her brows furrowing.
“My name is Mia Thorne , and I am very much involved,” she asserted, turning back to the officer. Aurelio exhaled deeply, a soft growl escaping him. He was mad at her, but she was determined to stand by him.
“Okay, Mia,” the officer said, writing her name down. “Tell me, what’s happening here? We know why Aurelio is here, but why are you? How are you involved?” Aurelio made a noise, but Mia shot him a silencing look, and he shrugged, closing his mouth.
“Aurelio and I have been dating for a while,” she began slowly, “but the man Aurelio was working for was using our relationship to blackmail him.” The officer raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
“Really?” he asked. “Are you saying that Mr.Valen here is only involved in this mess because he was being blackmailed into it?” His skepticism was palpable, and the other officer stood with his hands on his hips.
“Yes,” Mia affirmed, nodding. “There is sure to be proof of the blackmail. I know it. The guy in charge was threatening to hurt me if Aurelio didn’t work for him.”
“Mmhmm,” the officer said, scribbling notes. “And how long have you two known each other?”
“Forever,” Mia replied, looking at Aurelio, who smiled back at her.
“And dating?” the officer pressed, still writing.
“Well,” Mia said, her brain scrambling. “We’ve only been official for a few months, but Aurelio and I have known each other for years. He always kept his distance despite the spark we felt for each other. And now,” she locked eyes with Aurelio, “I know why.”
“Okay,” the officer said, looking up from his pad as Mia turned to meet his gaze. “So you’re saying that for years, Aurelio has been forced to work for Mr. Hernandez against his will to keep you safe?”
Mia paused, aware that she was about to cross a line she could never uncross. She took a breath and looked directly at the officer as she responded. “Yes, officer,” she nodded. “That’s exactly it.”
A brief silence fell between the two police officers, who exchanged glances as if engaging in a silent conversation. Finally, the other officer turned to Mia. “Yeah, that’s what we heard from another kid.”
Mia released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, and Aurelio did the same. “What?” he said, his mind racing. “What kid?”
“Mackenzie McGuire,” the officer with the notepad replied, flipping back a page. “He called into the station around four AM, convinced by his girlfriend to come in and talk. I guess he had been working with one of the higher-ups before he disappeared right before the big bust last night.” He watched Mia and Aurelio for their reactions. Aurelio remained stoic, his face impassive, but his grip on Mia tightened. She struggled to maintain her composure, shocked but aware that everyone could hear her heart pounding in her chest.
“Well, Detective Daniels asked us to swing by,” the officer continued, closing the notepad and sliding the pencil behind his ear. “He’s occupied at the moment but should be here soon with your deal.”
“Deal?” Aurelio said, furrowing his brows in confusion. “What deal?”
“Your deal—immunity from prosecution in exchange for your cooperation,” the officer who had cuffed Aurelio explained. “He has to get it signed by the D.A., and then he’ll be over here for you to sign it.”
“What…” Aurelio started, but Mia placed a finger on his lips, her eyes pleading with him to let it go.
“What about the cuffs?” she asked, glancing at the officers.
“They have to stay on until then. Protocol,” the officer with the pad said apologetically. “Sorry. He should be here in a few hours, and the doctor said you’re not going anywhere for a few days anyway.” Mia nodded as the officers tipped their hats and slipped out. Aurelio’s gaze drifted, lost in his thoughts.
“Hey,” she said softly, pulling him back to her. “You okay?”
“I don’t know,” Aurelio replied, his heart beginning to race. “A deal?” His eyes locked onto Mia’s. “What is going on?”
“I’m not sure,” Mia said, shrugging as she placed her hand in his. “But we’re facing it together.”
“I love you, beautiful,” Aurelio murmured, leaning closer.
“I love you, my Aurelio,” she said, meeting his lips in a kiss that sealed their future.