Page 47 of Unruly Protector
Arturo turns me and it ignites a flare of pain to shoot through my shoulder, making me aware I have a knife wound.Insane how the pain in my heart and head drove everything else to the back of my mind.
The thought of losing him created immense hurt to override the pain my body was already suffering.They drag my body toward a chair while my eyes stay with Clemente.I have to watch how they rush him out of the restaurant without me.It feels as if I’m unable to breathe.
“Focus, Caterina,” Arturo snaps and I’m forced to drag my gaze away from the door to meet his eyes.“The man asked you a question.And the sooner we get you patched up, the faster we can go after Clemente.”
“Right.Yes.Okay,” I mutter and try to answer the questions and bristle through the routine of the EMT in front of me.
It’s a dragging few hours before my shoulder is patched up and we’re waiting in a room at the hospital.They have rushed Clemente into surgery and the only thing we have heard is the fact he needs surgery to recover the bullet that’s done some internal damage.I really need to focus the next time they update us because all those medical terms fly right past me.Or my brain must be turned to mush since nothing makes sense.
There’s also a load of guilt ripping through me.
“Why the hell did I want the two of us in that restaurant?Risking all our lives.I’m so stupid.”Guilt weights heavy on my already tortured heart.
“It was the best and only plan to end this quickly.He’s been laying low and out of our reach for a while.And when he tortured and almost killed Ivy years ago it took a lot of work for the law to capture him too.Dustin made it a sick and twisted game to stay hidden and out of reach.You two heading in with three guys brought in from another territory as backup made it possible to slip underneath his defense.You didn’t just go in there because of a spur of the moment, brainless decision; it was planned and perfect.Clemente is still breathing, remember that.And the fact you helped clear up more than one issue off our plate.Not just the illegal gambling but you get to tell Beck the fact that the rapist of his sister is no longer walking the earth.The way I see it, we’re more than winning here.Well, maybe you’re complaining about the fact you only got to nail your hubby once.Once is never enough.And with him injured you have to wait a few weeks for some new action.Oh, now I get it...that’s what has your panties all bundled up, doesn’t it?”Leandro starts to laugh while I want to strangle him.With my hands or my freaking panties for all I care, as long as he stops laughing.
“Sit down,” Donya says with a firm tone.“And you, Leandro, shut up or I’m going to rat you out to Clemente the second he wakes up.”
Leandro grumbles something underneath his breath and it makes Arturo—who is sitting next to Donya—lean forward to ask, “What was that?”
“That was me shutting up,” Leandro huffs and lets himself fall back into the uncomfortable chair.
Another dragging hour passes until we’re finally updated.Clemente is out of surgery and out of danger.For now, since he has suffered a concussion when they crashed to the ground.It added to the trauma of the bullet wound he suffered causing his body to basically shut down.
Well, that’s what it sounded like to me when they explained how they stopped the internal bleeding, pulled out the bullet, and are also monitoring his vitals and waking him every few hours to make sure he stays noncritical.
Noncritical.I prefer that over critical and life threatening.
And seeing him lying in a hospital bed plastered with patches, wires, needles, it makes me realize how fragile the most important things you take for granted are.Your health doesn’t cost one damn thing and yet it’s your most valuable possession.
Though seeing the person you love—the most precious part of your life—almost slipping through your fingers really feels like your own heart is being ripped right from your chest.
“Mia cara,” Clemente croaks, lifting his hand from his bed with what seems like strained effort by the pained look on his face.
I rush forward and take his hand, placing my other on his shoulder to keep him pinned to the bed.“I’m here, everything is okay.”
“It is now.”His eyes go to my shoulder where the bandage is showing.“I told you not to risk your life for me.”
“And I could say the same damn thing,” I snap back.“You could have shot Dustin instead of launching yourself at him.”
He shakes his head.“Sofia was blocking a good shot.I could have killed her.”
I cringe, knowing he’s right.It was the same reason why none of us could interfere since we couldn’t risk either Sofia or Clemente.
“The dog,” Clemente grunts as he tries to shift his body.
“What about the dog?”I squeak, searching my mind about what could possibly be wrong with him.
“He’s been in the kennel for hours.You should go home and check.”
Oh, my heart.His first concern right after me is Rocco?Even if he’s still calling him the dog.I know he’s right to worry since it’s been a few hours since we left him at home, but that’s not the reason why tears are running down my cheeks.This man.He has such asshole ways and yet deep down he’s everything I could ever want and more.
“I will check later, I promise,” I tell him and still he has concern written all over his face.
His eyes flick over my shoulder.“Make sure she gets home and also eats something.”
I start to glare at him and he raises his hand to brush his thumb underneath my eye.“Don’t fight me on this.I need to rest anyway and I’m not liking how tired you look.I’ll sleep while you take a few hours to rest, shower, take care of the dog and yourself.”
“Fine,” I grumble, because who can argue with that?
