Reckless Kiss

“We’re going to see the mountains.” My voice breaks. “I’ll take you there.”

In the distance, I hear the wail of sirens. My heart is sick, and I can’t think of anything but making them hurry, making them get here before it’s too late.

There’s so much blood.

“I can’t breathe…” Her eyes are closed, and her pretty face is so pale.

The sirens grow louder, and I see the lights flashing at the end of the street. Beto limps to the edge of the driveway, moving into the shadows. I’m not interested in him. My entire focus is on my love, fading in my arms.

“Stay with me, Angel.” A hot tear hits my cheek. “Don’t fly away. Don’t leave me.”

The ambulance screeches to a stop, and the scene grows chaotic. A gurney appears, and people are running back and forth. I can’t take my eyes off Angel’s pale face, so relaxed and beautiful.

Two large men surround me. “We have to take her now, sir.”

“Let her go, Deacon.” Winnie’s hands are on my shoulders, but I can’t fathom her words. They’re the worst thing I’ve ever heard.

“She’s so warm.” I hold her closer to my chest, lowering my face to hers, unwilling to let her go.

“Deacon, you have to let them take her.”

“Sir, you have to let her go.”

My brain is reeling.

I can’t let her go.

They force my arms apart, and I think I’m losing my mind. My world is imploding, then my aunt destroys my soul.

“Please do everything you can… She’s pregnant.”

30

Deacon

My eyes ache, and I can’t stop my thoughts.

“What’s happening?” I growl, pacing like a caged tiger.

Winnie arranged for Angel to be taken to the private wing of the Methodist hospital, where our family is treated by private physicians. She brought me clean clothes, and we’ve been waiting ever since. It’s like being in a plush prison.

We rushed here from the mansion. I rode in the back of the ambulance with Angel, but I couldn’t get close for the paramedics doing everything they could to stabilize her, stop the bleeding, monitor her vitals.

Even though I was shoved aside, I was relived to be in the same space, to know she was alive, even if she was fighting.

“The bullet entered her shoulder.” One of the big male attendants was on the phone with the doctor the entire drive. “No exit wound.”

As soon as we arrived, she was taken from us, rushed to emergency surgery to remove the bullet and hopefully repair the damage to her arm and shoulder.

I think about her not being able to paint. I think about how she turned, putting her body between Mateo and me, and I realize I would be dead right now if she hadn’t. My face drops to my hands, and I fight the tears.

Clearing my throat, I look up at my aunt. “How did you know she was pregnant?”

Winnie shifts on the leather couch, adjusting the throw over her legs “She was sick at the house one evening. I took a guess.”

“You guessed she was pregnant?”

“Sit down, Deacon.” Winnie reaches out her hand. “You’ll make yourself ill.”