Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 55782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
“I couldn’t find you,” is the last thing she responds before she passes out.
“WHAT THE FUCK!!” I yell shaking her trying to get her to open her eyes. My heart begins to skip beats, it’s life based on her heart working. The moment I saw her, my heart became entwined with hers.
“Step back primo, she is still breathing. I think she passed out from the blood loss and panic. The paramedics are on the way. Let me apply pressure.” She says, trying to move next to Lexi.
“Son, come. Let your cousin work on her.” My father says trying to move me back. I know I should listen, but there is no part of me that would be ok not touching her right now. Shaking my head no, I yank my arm from him and move back to her.
“Come on baby, open your eyes and look at me. Look at your Sexson, brat. Please be ok Lexi. I love you so fucking much.” I repeat this over and over, not caring about anything else right now except making sure she can hear my voice. I don’t know how much time has passed, before the ambulance shows up and lifts her into the truck. Turning back toward my family, all of them, wet eyed and worried, nod my head and load into the back of the ambulance. The sirens, drowning out my pain as I pray to the God who has no reason to listen to me, to please not take my heart from me. Unless he is going to take me too.
I have been at this hospital for what feels like forever. Immediately upon arrival they wheeled her back into surgery. I stood there by the door to the operating room, body numb, heart paused as it decides whether we will get to beat again. The only feeling still very viable is the rage burning inside me, cackling like a campfire, waiting to incinerate everyone who had something to do with this. My hands, clenching and unclenching are begging me to allow them to do something. Anything. Even if it is to bang on the walls in here and destroy everything in its path. Luckily, the rest of my family makes it into the waiting room before I completely go crazy.
“What are they saying son?” My father asks me, patting me on the back.
“Nothing right now. I am barely holding on dad.” I admit to him, knowing he will understand. His love for my mom is this all-consuming as well.
“She will be fine, my boy.” He stands to go to my mother who is sobbing, and Ramone and Julio take his place.
“I am not sure what you want me to say right now. I can sit here and say nothing, or I can take your mind off it for a few minutes. You tell me what you want me to do.” With my hands on my head, feeling the life drain out of me with every passing second, I turn to him.
“Take my mind off it, hermano. Did you recover the two fucks?” I need to make sure I will have somewhere to focus this rage when I know she is ok.
“Yes. They woke up as we were tying them up in the rathouse.”
“Excellent. Did they say anything?”
“They tried. I figured you would want first crack at them, so we didn’t stick around to listen. We covered their mouths and came here. Interestingly enough, I found one of their wallets in the back of the car. The one called Lairn, his last name is Smith.” Son of a bitch. I knew Ransom fucking sent them. I am about to respond and tell him to take Manny and go pick up Ransom and Tripp, Lexi’s dad, but the surgeon walks in.
“Mr. Maldonado.” He says walking into the room taking his cap off. Immediately my legs begin to cave in. I have seen enough movies to know they only remove their cap when the patient has died. I hear this wail, this high pitch mournful, scream rent the air, and it isn’t until the doctor helps me into the chair that I realize it came from me. “Mr. Maldonado, are you ok?” He asks me, flashing a light into my eyes.
“Doc just say it. He obviously believes you are coming to tell him she’s dead.” Ramone says to him, as he pats my back.
“Oh, my word. I’m sorry. No. Mrs. Maldonado is fine. The bullet went through her lower arm. Clean shot. She lost a lot of blood because it nicked an artery. Plus, we had to be cognizant of the anesthesia due to the baby, but otherwise, she is just fine. Both of them are just fine.” Baby! Did he just? I look up at him, my brain clearly creating words that aren’t said. I believe for a moment I am hallucinating until I hear Lara and my mother gasp.