16. Chapter Sixteen #2
“I would die so I can no longer be your prisoner. It’s killing me inside. If death is my only way out, then I will take it. But I will not let you kill Leo. Not when I care for him.”
Emma’s words hit me right in the chest. She’s much more brave and strong than I ever gave her credit for.
“I can’t let you go,” Valentina says.
Emma grabs her mother’s gun with both of her hands. “And I can’t let you kill Leo.” Using her strength, she pushes her mother’s arm down until the gun faces the earth. “I am leaving.”
Emma turns to me and helps me get back on my feet. I’m ashamed of the way I lean my weight onto her but the blood coming out of me is making me weaker by the second.
“If you want him dead, you’ll have to kill me too. Which will it be?”
Valentina looks between me and Emma before backing away. Emma shuts her eyes for a moment before nodding.
Together, we walk back to my car. Valentina doesn’t come after us.
“I can drive,” I mumble.
“You can’t drive. You’re bleeding out.”
“Do you know how to drive?”
Emma hesitates. “No. But it can’t be hard. Can it?”
With a chuckle, I give her my keys. “Be careful. We don’t need to die on the way to the hospital.”
With my guidance, I help Emma start the car and drive away from the house. She gets the hang of driving fast.
“Are you ok?” she whispers, glancing at me. “You’re bleeding. A lot. And you’re turning pale.”
“Your mom shot me in the arm. Twice. It fucking hurts. But I’ll survive it. If only to make sure Matteo can’t come for you. Or your mother again. I promised that you’re no longer a prisoner. I will fight to make sure you’re not made into one again.”
She grips the steering wheel so tight, her knuckles turn white. “Thank you for that, Leo.”
“And thank you for saving my life. You put yourself in danger to save me. I don’t think anyone has ever done that for me.”
“Not even Gabriel?”
I scoff. “No. We may be friends but we both can be a bit selfish. He wouldn’t die to save me. I’m not sure I’d die to save him, especially since he wants to give you to Matteo. I will not let that happen.”
We arrive at the hospital. I step foot into the ER right before my body collapses. The last thing I see before I black out is Emma’s worried face above mine.
Emma
I pace around the hospital waiting room.
Leo was taken into surgery for his arm hours ago and I haven’t heard word since.
When I was given a clipboard to fill out Leo’s personal information, I realized I didn’t know any of it, except for his address.
But I have no idea if he has any previous surgeries or any medications he takes. Nothing.
I am married to a stranger and yet, Leo’s a man I have a deep connection with. One I gave my body to. One that has both hurt me and saved me. One that I could fall in love with and one that I should hate.
A doctor finally approaches me. “He’s out of surgery now if you want to go see him.”
I rush to Leo’s private bedroom where he’s asleep in the bed. A bandage is wrapped around his arm. An oxygen tube is in his nose.
“Leo?” I whisper, tapping his hand.
His eyes blink open and find mine. “Emma?”
I gasp. “You’re alive. Thank goodness.”
“I never thought I’d hear you say that,” he responds with a chuckle.
“Do you take any medications?”
He frowns. “What?”
“Do you take any medications?”
“Why are you asking me this?”
“Can you just tell me?”
He sighs, removing the oxygen tube from his nose. “No. I don’t take any medications.”
“Have you had any previous surgeries?”
“No. I’ve been fortunate to not get shot that many times. At least, none that required surgery. Why are you asking me all these questions?”
“Because there’s so much I still don’t know about you,” I say, wringing my hands together. “We’re married. I should know these things.”
“You’re right. You should know. I’m sorry that I never told you about any of this. I’m sorry I brought you into this mess in the first place. I’m so fucking sorry, Emma.” The sincerity in his voice is too genuine for me not to believe.
“Thank you for apologizing. I know you don’t want to hurt me again. I feel safe with you, Leo. It’s why I fought my mother to save your life. Just promise that you won’t get shot again.”
“I’m not sure that’s a promise I can make but I’ll try to stay safe.”
Gabriel bursts into the room at that very moment. “Leo. I heard you were shot.”
“How did you find out?” I ask. “I didn’t tell you we were here. You should go.” Knowing Gabriel wants to give me away to Matteo makes me distrust him.
“I have contacts everywhere,” Gabriel explains. “A nurse who works for me also works here. She called me. You were shot?”
Leo nods. “By Valentina. She was the one who took Emma. Not Matteo. Emma saved my life by getting me here.”
“Good.” Gabriel looks between me and Leo before sighing. “All I want is peace. I just want my wife to be safe. I thought giving Emma over to Matteo would do that but… I see that I was wrong. You’re not going to stop fighting for her, are you?”
Leo shakes his head. “Not one bit.”
“Then we’ll find someone else to give to Matteo. I promise you that. I see that you care for Emma. Enough to get shot.”
“I would die for her,” Leo answers with heat in his voice.
“Ok then.” Gabriel nods. “I’ll handle Matteo. I’ll promise him someone else. And Emma…”
I tense.
“I am sorry that you’ve been used a lot,” Gabriel says. “And thank you for helping Leo.”
“He’s my husband. It’s what a wife does.”
I know in this moment just how true that statement is.
Leo and me are bound together forever and I’m not going anywhere.