Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“This morning, the agency was informed that ATF Agent Ricardo Martinez had been killed in the line of duty. He was on a special undercover assignment when he disappeared two days ago without reporting to his contacts. That is all. Thank you.” He moved to step away from the podium when the reporters shouted their questions.
“Do you have any suspects?” Sandoval asked.
“Nothing definitive. That’s all I can say.” He walked back into the building.
“Well, that’s all they are willing to share. We will keep you updated.”
“Oh my goodness. It’s him.” I watched in awe. We knew he wasn’t dead, but there was no way we could inform anyone. “We definitely cannot let on that he’s alive and here, or they’ll come finish their job. I hope he pulls through.”
“He will. His vitals are stable. His nasal passages and throat have been burned. I could only picture them stuffing his face in coke.”
“It’s possible.” I chewed on my bottom lip as I thought about what he must have gone through.
“Something is on your mind, sweetheart. Tell me.”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me. Please.”
“It’s strange, but I feel a connection with him. I don’t even get it, but I can’t stop thinking about him, and not as a patient. I wanted him to open his eyes so I can see those honey-colored eyes again. I’m sure you think I’m crazy.”
“No. I don’t believe you’re crazy.”
“No?”
“No. Sometimes fate brings people to us when we need them more than ever. Look at it this way— I found the handsome bastard in the middle of the ocean like he was a damn merman.” An image of him finding Aquaman flooded my mind.
I laughed so loudly, I snorted. Shaking my head, I sighed. “I’m falling in love with an unconscious man. I’m sure I’m crazy.”
“Well, embrace it, darling, and don’t dwell on it for now. You need to work on some patients today at the hospital.”
“Oh shoot. I have to get to work.” I jumped up out of my chair and raced to my room. I wanted to have a minute alone with my merman before I left, so I had to move my ass.
Chapter 3
Grace
When I returned from the hospital, I went to check on our private patient. “How is he?” my dad asked, stepping into the guest room where we moved him.
“Looks to be the same, but I’m sure you already knew that.”
“Still, two medical professionals are better than one.”
“Any more patients today?”
“Yes, two more. Why don’t you go shower? Dinner is almost done.” He slow-cooked a lot after my mother died. As physicians, neither of us had time to cook.
“I’ll be back to check on you in a few, Mr. Martinez,” I said before walking into my room and straight into the shower. I needed one after the long day I had. He couldn’t hear me, or, well, I assumed he couldn’t.
Some believed that the comatose patient could hear those around them. There were some studies saying it was possible, however, not true for every patient. My head nurse always told me that it was worth it to give them something to look forward to if they could. As she loved to say, “Kindness doesn’t cost a thing.”
That wasn’t something I believed. Kindness could cost someone everything. Right now, my father’s act of kindness could backfire on him if the cartel became aware of what my father had done. They’d kill us and the man they believed they’d offed once already.
I made quick work of getting clean and dressed. I didn’t know why, but I felt like I had to spend as much time with our patient as I could. I wasn’t due back at the hospital for another three weeks, which meant that I would take over primary care while my dad worked in the clinic.
I peeked into the room where our guest remained still. Tomorrow, I had to start on moving his legs. They were primarily unscathed in the attack. They’d went for his middle and head. I checked the monitors, and everything ran well. He was breathing on his own, but his injuries were enough to kill him.
Giving him one more look, I left him to join my father.
The next morning, I entered his room and prepared him for the day. My father did the shaving for me. I wasn’t great at it, and he didn’t need me to cut him. “Good morning, Ricardo. I’m here for your physical therapy. Those strong legs are going to be noodles if we don’t get them moving. Any questions? No. Okay. I’ll begin.”
I grabbed the heated towels, testing them on my arm first before I pressed them on his bare legs. I needed the blood flowing well before the risk of blood clots grew. We had to move him every few hours, but every day he needed an hour of stretching. He didn’t react to the towel, but I hadn’t expected anything else.