Chapter 21

Alejandro finally instructed me to turn into what looked more like an actual neighborhood. We had been driving for an hour or so, and I was glad when he said we were getting closer.

I drove up a narrow, barely lit road. Thankfully, the skies were clear, the moonlight lighting the path for us. I could smell the ocean as we had rolled the windows down. I finally stopped in front of a brown gate with a security checkpoint. Alejandro told me the code to enter. The gate, he explained, would open and close by itself.

I took us down a fairly short road and parked the car as close to the entrance of the house as I could. The house looked quaint, two floors, very spacious with a white exterior and light-green shutters and doors. It was the perfect beach house—at least based on what I could decipher in the dark.

Alejandro grabbed some keys from the glove compartment and accepted my arm as he got out of the car. I opened the double doors to a gorgeous foyer with a small table and a gorgeous blue orchid plant. Alejandro pointed me to the staircase. We went up the stairs very slowly, so as to not strain him, and I stared at his face to watch for any sign of discomfort. I opened the first room as indicated.

I walked Alejandro to the bed and slowly let him down. I quickly but tenderly took off his shoes and what was left of his shirt. Doctor Rodriguez had run the bandage all around his waist, but it looked like he was still bleeding through. I went to turn on the light.

Before me was a gorgeous bedroom, all white, with a simple, gray wood king-size bed and a gorgeous window I imagined opened to a view of the water. The room was a coastal decor dream. The moon was high and full as it shed some light inside the room, and I could hear the sounds of the waves hitting the beach with all their strength.

"I am going to go find the kitchen," I told Alejandro. "You need some water to take your medicine."

"Come here," he said, lifting his arm toward me. I went to him and grabbed his hand.

"How are you feeling?" he inquired, searching my face for an answer.

"I just want you to be okay," I admitted, avoiding his gaze, my voice cracking.

"I am going to be just fine," he said sweetly, "all thanks to you." He paused. "Thank you."

I cleared my throat in an attempt to push down the rush of emotions that were going through me. I needed to be strong in the moment and think later. I quickly got up, wiping my eyes as I turned away from him.

"I will be back as soon as I can," I announced before I left the room.

I rapidly went down the stairs. The house was very spacious, clearly built to maximize the view of the ocean from every room, even though I couldn't quite see it in the dark. I passed what looked like a very relaxing living room and dining room then finally got to a gorgeous kitchen with white countertops and gray cabinets.

I proceeded to the big, stainless steel fridge in the kitchen. It was empty, but I found a box of frozen chicken wings and frozen fries in the freezer. The expiration dates had thankfully not yet passed, so I put both in the oven.

I sat down on one of the chairs by the kitchen island. My brain was still trying to process the day. Everything had changed in just a few minutes. I could still hear all those gunshots. It had felt like I was in a war zone, and I really thought I was going to die. But at the last minute, Alejandro protected me.

I had instinctively wanted to protect him, but he chose to put his life at risk for mine instead, literally covering my body with his and taking a bullet in my stead.

That memory made my blood rush, my body overtaken by a chaotic combination of fear and hope. He turned around and took a bullet that was, for some reason, meant for me. I was torn between the overwhelming joy I felt at knowing that he would sacrifice himself for me and the simmering dread I felt at the idea that he wouldn't make it. The sharp pain and panic I felt at the idea that I might not see him again overpowered my being, fear shaking me to my core.

I had to tell him eventually—about the cop and Karina. The sooner, the better. Because Karina, as his girlfriend, probably knew of this house and seemed to be part of a plot against him or me, so he should know as soon as possible.

When the food was ready, I put it all on a plate, got some water and a bottle of Italian wine I had found and took it with me to his room. Alejandro was dozing off when I went in, but the smell of the food woke him up. I helped him sit up a bit and put some pillows behind him for support. I brought him the food and gave him the painkillers.

"Ah, you found something," he said.

"Yes, the only food there is in the whole house."

"I don't come here often," he explained.

"Where are we?"

"This is my childhood house—or I should say, neighborhood. When I went to college, developers, in conjunction with the government, forced people to sell their land at ridiculously low prices to build vacation homes. They kept some walls but destroyed everything. I bought it back, and some of the other houses, and gave them back to some of the people who used to live here." Of course he did.

"That was very nice of you."

"It was the right thing to do," he corrected.

I had to encourage him to eat a little more. He was trying to put on a good face, but I could see him wince or his lips tighten with every movement. The painkillers were probably wearing off. His color was coming back, at least.

"I have to go to a pharmacy tomorrow and a grocery store."

"No, I don't want you leaving the house."

"I have to. We have nothing to eat, and the doctor gave you some medication that you need for inflammation and infections."

"Amelia…"

"Please, Alejandro, I have to, and in your state, we both know you can't stop me." He shot me a death stare, but I was right.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that."

I rolled my eyes, sighing frustratedly at him.

"They could find you."

"Who else knows about this place?" I asked.

"Only my mother and Dolores," he admitted.

"Dolores is out of town, and I heard you call her and tell her not to go back to the house. So that leaves your mother, who I assume has no idea what is going on since she is currently in Hawai, as you had told me."

Alejandro shook his head, out of a retort.

"There is a store named Casa del Carmen. They sell everything, and there is also a pharmacy inside. I will go with you when they open."

I remained silent but took his plate away from him and refilled his water cup. He would eventually fall asleep, I thought.

"Do you know who attacked us?" I asked.

"Not very sure," he said.

"I have something to tell you," I confessed hesitantly. "This morning, I saw a man in a cop uniform come to the house. He was with Karina, by the pool. They looked suspicious. It seemed important to them that they were alone. I think…I think it was that same cop who…tried to kill me."

Twisting my ring nervously, I sat by him on the bed, studying his reaction. His jaw was stiff, his nostrils flaring, his eyes suddenly filled with anger, as a shadow crossed his face. I hated the idea that he might be jealous, but it had to be done.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I know she is your girlfriend, but I saw them from my window. I couldn't hear what they were talking about, but I certainly saw them. They also…kissed," I said in a lower voice, my head bent.

"Bring me my phone."

I got up and took the phone from the table where I had set it to charge.

"Look at me," he said.

I looked up, hoping he couldn't see the thunder pounding inside of me.

"For the record, she is not my anything. I've told you. I don't have one of those—yet."

I didn't say anything but was quite aware that he was studying me for a few seconds longer, then he turned his gaze from me to the phone in his hand, a frown on his face.

Alejandro called Marcos and shared the information, asking Marcos to call him back as soon as possible.

"You look awful," I told him once he hung up. "You need to sleep."

"You certainly know how to charm a man."

"I am not trying to charm you, Alejandro."

I sighed but relaxed when I saw his mocking smile, reassuring me.

Alejandro protested, but the state of his body and the narcotic medication were winning this battle. I removed the pillows and arranged them to make him comfortable. Alejandro was fast asleep within five minutes.

I got up to take a good look at him. I was admiring his long eyelashes, his straight nose, his sensual lips, that jaw that flared with frustration at me so many times, those crazy curls he didn't bother to tame anymore, that strong neck, and those shoulders I enjoyed the strength of. I tenderly slid my fingers through his hair and gently kissed his forehead.

Catching myself in the act, I decided to bring the dirty plates to the kitchen and quickly wash them. I made sure all the exit doors on the first floor were locked. I got myself some more water and went back to Alejandro. I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to check his temperature every hour. I felt like if I closed my eyes, something bad would happen to him. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if he died.

This stranger had somehow filled a hole in me, a hole I thought had disappeared some time ago. The idea that he would cease to be alive wasn't something I could even contemplate. And that was a new reality I needed to deal with.

I grabbed a blanket from the closet. The temperatures were a bit cooler here by the beach. The sound of the waves was calming me down, and since it was late in the night, I knew the sun would rise in only a few hours. I wrapped myself in one of the blankets and sat on a chair next to him, the rise and fall of his chest settling me.

I spent the rest of the night falling asleep for a few minutes, waking up confused, my back and neck hurting, with a slight headache. I checked on Alejandro, made sure his bandage looked good and that he didn't look uncomfortable. I would wipe his forehead when it seemed a bit wet.

I realized that I was covered in blood, so I went to the bathroom and washed my white shirt the best I could. Now it just looked like it had gotten discolored in the washer. I spot-cleaned my jeans to try to get rid of more blood stains. I almost cried when I found a toothbrush and a hairbrush in Alejandro's bathroom.

Reality started sinking in when I saw my face in the mirror, dirty with blood and dried tear drops creating lines on my cheeks. I found some soap and quickly washed my face, trying to take away the memory of the warm blood of that man all over me. I washed my hands, cleaned under my nails, and scrubbed my arms the best I could.

I was in dire need of a shower, but I didn't have the time or the energy for that. I had never in my life gotten ready so fast. The doctor had told me to watch for fever because it could indicate infection, and that would complicate things. All I wanted to do was keep taking his temperature and never leave his side.

Alejandro woke up in pain, so I gave him more medicine. He had asked me to sleep by his side, so I got onto the bed next to him and kept my hand in his until he fell asleep again. I intended to lie there for only five minutes, but I ended up falling asleep as well.