Cruel Lover
It’s mine.
He yells in pain as his hand goes limp, the gun falling from his grip. And my own fingers are waiting. As Roxie rushes across the room, barreling right for his groin, I catch the gun, shift it in my hand, bring it up under his chin and fire.
It’s all over. I know it’s all over. I watch as McKenzie goes limp, collapsing to the floor.
And I follow. I can’t keep on my feet any longer. My legs go weak and I fall.
Right into Malta’s arms.
Chapter Thirteen
Malta
“He’s awake!” I shout, wiping the tears from my face. I don’t think it’s been dry these past twelve hours. “Please, someone!”
The nurse is there, smiling, in an instant. She’s already told me he was going to be OK. She told me to go home and come back later. I ignored her.
“Well, Mr. Volos, you’re quite the hero,” she says, starting to take measurements I don’t understand.
He ignores her, searching around, but I take his hand, squeezing, and sense him calming as his one good eye falls on me. The other is under a patch, like some sort of pirate until they can get him fitted for a prosthetic.
“I can’t see properly,” he says, and I draw a deep breath. No time like the present.
“You were shot in the eye,” I tell him. “But all that matters is you’re alive. And I’m alive thanks to you.”
He pauses for a moment, taking it all in. “Roxie?”
I laugh. “The nurses wouldn’t let her stay. She’s at home with Brian. I’m going to represent him when he tells the police what was going on.”
“He’s agreed to do that?”
“Uh huh. He isn’t a bad person, just a weak one.” I squeeze Oz’s hand. “But none of that matters. You’re OK and I’m never letting you out of my sight.”
“Aren’t I supposed to say that to you?”
“I’m not the one missing an eye.”
He chuckles, nodding. The nurse finishes taking measurements and looks pleased.
“That bullet should have killed you. If it hadn’t ricocheted off your eye socket it would have. One in a million chance,” she says. “You’re a lucky man, Mr. Volos.”
“Don’t I know it?” he says, staring at me, and smiles.
And I feel like I just inherited the earth.
“I need a phone,” Oz says, holding out his hand. “I need to do this right now. There are things that have to be said.”
I’ve only just got back to the hospital after taking my father home and packing a few things. Winston is out of the woods, and I’ve told him I’m moving out. He also knows this is the last chance saloon. If he wants to have a relationship with me, he’ll quit the gambling for good.
I frown as I hand over my cell phone. Oz’s got smashed in the fight.
“You’re sure you want to do this now?”
“He needs to know, Malta. This has been a long time coming.”
Oz dials the number and puts my phone to his ear. “Hi Naomi, it’s me. Is my dad there?”
A short pause. I hear her voice on the other end of the line, but I don’t care about her anymore. She has nothing and I have everything.
“Dad, I’m in the hospital. I was shot.” He waits, and I wrap my hand into his, feeling him squeeze my fingers. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Look, I’m not going to sugar-coat this. I’m leaving the organization. Today. Yeah, well you should have thought about that years ago when you left me to fend for myself for three days because of some beef with Winston Green.”
Oz reaches for my face, and I snuggle into his fingers. I know his father is angry, I can hear it in the voice coming through from the other end. But he’s right. This is necessary.
“No, it’s not in the past. She’s back in my life now and I’m never letting her go. I don’t care, I have some money saved and I’ll get a job. A normal one. That’s all I called to say. Goodbye, Dad.”
He ends the call and hands me back my phone.
“What did he say?”
“He said we’re on our own. And right now, nothing could feel better than that.”
“You know the Feds are waiting to speak to you?”
Oz nods. “I’ll speak to them. I won’t betray any secrets, but I’ll speak to them.”
“What will you do now that you don’t have your family business?”
“I don’t know, baby. But so long as I have you, I know everything will be OK.”
Chapter Fourteen
Epilogue
Malta
Three months later
“No!” I hiss, grinning as I bat Oz’s hand away, looking around the room at the guests sitting at tables, chatting as they eat. “There’s still speeches, dancing, cake, mingling. You’re just going to have to wait.”
He grunts, frowning. Then reaches back under the table, pressing the white dress hard in between my thighs. And I laugh, struggling, then draw a breath as his fingertips connect with my hot button.