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Chapter Forty-Eight
Maceo
When I wake, I’m on my stomach, surrounded by beeping machines and the strong smell of antiseptic. My back feels like it’s on fire. I groan in pain.
“No te muevas.”
Don’t move?As if I could try. My flesh was nearly flayed clean from my body.
A middle-aged man in a white doctor’s coat walks into my view. He clears his throat. “My name is Doctor Gomez. Your back has taken quite a beating. I’ve patched you up, but you’ll be uncomfortable ‘till your wounds heal. On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your pain with one being the lowest and ten being the highest?”
I say nothing to the doctor. As if I would admit weakness to Esteban’s minion.
Doctor Gomez senses my hostility. He sighs and sits on the rolling stool near my bed. “I was the doctor who looked after your wife while she was here.”
My ears perk up.Josephine—my Pixie.
“I did everything to help her stay calm under the circumstances. She was very distraught when she first arrived, and I feared for her and the babies. The level of stress she had was not healthy. Señor Moreno had no right to take her in that condition. But I promise you, I kept her and your boys healthy. She’s a strong woman, your Jo. There wasn’t a day she didn’t raise hell around here.” The doctor laughs before sighing. “I find it commendable that you switched places with her, and I hope she is someplace safe.”
If I had the strength, I’d weep. At least I know her medical needs were being met. I clear my throat. “Were the twins doing well?”
“Yes. They grew a lot while your wife stayed here. We did daily ultrasounds to monitor their progression. It seemed to be one of the few things which calmed her.”
“She was treated well while she was here?”
He nods. “Yes, like a queen. There were moments I feared for her mental and physical health, but I was there to help her through it. I’m surprised Señor Moreno was willing to give her up. He grew quite fond of her and was excited about having grandsons…”
A silence falls over the room. Only one thing would silence the doctor after speaking so freely.
“I’m still excited to be anabuelo.”
Rage filling my veins, I push myself upright to face him. “You stay away from them,” I hiss through the pain.
“Maceo, lay back down. You’re in no shape to move,” Doctor Gomez orders, his voice laced with unease.
I ignore the doctor, pointing at Esteban. “We made a deal—me in exchange for you leaving my wife and children alone.”
“And I’m keeping my word—for now. But I promise you, once you’re settled and adjusted to this new life, we’ll readdress bringing your family back—as they should be,” he says assuredly.
My jaw ticks. “No. They’re off-limits. You want me to work as your underling, then leave them be.”
Esteban paces the length of the office with his hands on his hips. “A wife should be beside her husband. Your children should be with you and under your tutelage. Don’t make the same mistake I did. I should have taken you when you were younger—a huge oversight of mine. I thought you’d be safer away from the drug wars, but I see how big of a blunder that was. Your substitute-abuelapoisoned you against me.”
“You poisoned me against you!” I seethe, fighting through the burning ache in my body. “Nobody had to say a damn word for me to know what kind of scum you are.”
The doctor lays a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Forgive him, Señor Moreno. He’s delirious with pain and speaking without coherent thought. He needs rest.”
Why the fuck is this doctor downplaying my anger? Is he trying to protect me? Why?
Esteban's hostile dark eyes dim. He sighs, running a hand through his thick hair. He looks back at me. “I’ll leave you in Doctor Gomez’s good hands.”
He makes his way to the door but stops with his hand on the knob. “Despite what you may think, I didn’t come here to fight. I bring news. Josefina has given birth.” He opens the door to leave.
I launch from the bed. Doctor Gomez catches me before I hit the ground. “Josephine? How is she? My boys?”
Esteban doesn’t stop to give me a backward glance, leaving me tumbling with crippling anxiety.
* * *
