“Then you’ll have to kill me.”
“You would die for him?”
“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?”
