Reckless Kiss

Valeria holds my arm as we follow the doctor into a smaller room with a glass door. She closes it, and we take a seat, holding each other’s hands.

The doctor looks at Valeria, and I quickly explain. “This is my cousin. She helps take care of things.”

“I see.” The woman nods, her expression serious as she places X-rays on the black screen on the wall and flips on the lights behind them. My heart beats so hard, I feel faint. “Your brother is a very lucky man, Miss Treviño. The bullet glanced off his rib here…” She circles a white blob on the slide. “Otherwise, it would have been a fatal shot.”

“Otherwise…” Valeria repeats her words slowly. “Would have been… So he’s okay?”

“He’s not out of the woods just yet, but yes. He should make a full recovery.”

“Oh, thank you Jesus!” My aunt crosses herself.

My eyes close, and more tears stream down my cheeks.

“It’s very important never to clean a loaded weapon…” The doctor goes on about gun safety, a lesson I don’t need, and all I can think about is getting to Deacon.

Things have gone from bad to worse, and I need him to hold me. I’m so afraid.

“If you’ll just excuse me.” My stomach is churning. “I need to go to the restroom.”

I barely make it out the smaller room when I have to lean into the garbage can beside the door and throw up.

“Oh, Carmie!” Valeria is with me at once, sliding her fingers through my hair, pulling it away from my face. “Honey, it’s going to be okay.”

“I’m sorry.” I take the tissues the doctor hands me, using them to dry my face and wipe my mouth. “I’m so sorry. I think I’d better go.”

“Are you okay, Miss Treviño?” The doctor watches me, and I nod.

“I just need to lie down.”

Pulling out my phone, I punch up the Lyft app. As I do so, I notice the slight bruising around my forearm. Valeria notices it as well and steps between me and the doctor, who is explaining what comes next for my brother.

The bullet exited his torso, so he doesn’t need surgery. Still, the doctor says he’ll have to stay in the hospital a few days.

My phone pings the Lyft is here, and I head for the door. I’ve got to find Deacon before Mateo does.

A red bloodstain mars the fluffy white rug covering the dark wood floors of my bedroom. My brother’s gun is in front of the chair where Deacon sat. It brings on a fresh wave of tears, and I stumble to my bathroom to grab one of the thick white towels.

Placing it over the stain, I collapse to my knees, pressing my hand to my lips. Beto’s going to be okay, but I don’t know where Deacon is. Reaching out, I take the gun and carry it to my bed, pushing it between the mattresses.

I don’t know if the police will come here or if Mateo’s explanation will cover what happened. I know nothing about this man my brother wanted to set me up with—who he is or why he’s here.

My limbs are heavy as I crawl onto the comforter and lift the burner phone to try one more time. I dial Deacon’s number, and the robot voice answers. My hands drop, and my eyes close.

Pain twists in my chest, and I feel like I can’t breathe properly. “Where are you?” I whisper, turning my face to the pillow. “I need you…”

“Where is he?” The stern voice pulls me from a dreamless sleep, and I blink ar

ound my bedroom confused.

Sunlight streams through the window and Mateo stands over me. His eyes are red and lined, and his jaw is set.

“What time is it?” I can’t believe I fell asleep.

“It’s almost nine.”

Almost nine? I sit up too fast, and my head spins. Nausea rises in my throat, and I jump out of the bed and go to the bathroom, turning on the faucet.

Mateo is right with me. “Where is your boyfriend?”