Page 48 of Game of Revenge

“It’s very hot seeing you in charge,” he teased.

I rolled my eyes but felt my heart grow a little. He must be fine if that was what he was thinking about. I followed his instructions and tried to keep him awake with incessant chatter. I talked about everything from my favorite ice cream flavor to my dislike of violent sports.

Finally, we got to a nice, gated house. Doctor Rodriguez was waiting for us at the entrance, and I stopped the car as close to the door as I could. Doctor Rodriguez helped me get Alejandro inside. He took us to the living room closest to the door.

“I don’t have much time, Rodriguez. We have to leave,” he explained as the doctor laid him on his back.

“What happened?” asked Doctor Rodriguez as he grabbed his tools.

“Got shot,” said Alejandro, lifting his hands from his stomach.

I took a few steps back to give the doctor space to do his work. He had everything ready on the table.

“You are going to need this,” he said, giving Alejandro a bottle of scotch.

Alejandro did not wait to be told twice. He grabbed the bottle and took a couple of gigantic gulps, wincing.

I was so scared I felt cold seep though my bones. I could not stand seeing blood. I could barely stand the smell, but I had to be brave for Alejandro. I brought a chair next to him and sat there. The doctor was at work, probing and cleaning. Alejandro seemed to be in terrible pain. He was wincing, growling, his eyes closed shut, his hands in fists. I would have given anything to take his pain away.

Doctor Rodriguez let me help with disinfecting the wound.

“I need you to go to the other room,” Alejandro said to me.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

How did he think I could just leave him there? I could barely move, terrified that something would happen to him, that he wouldn’t make it. I erased that thought immediately, my heart falling to my stomach just at the possibility of losing him. I didn’t think I could handle it. That realization was overwhelming—ridiculous, but very eye opening.

“I need you to go,” he insisted, his jaw tense, his pain intensifying as the doctor proceeded to remove the bullet.

Doctor Rodriguez eventually insisted that I go into the other room, per Alejandro’s request. I went out and pushed the door behind me, keeping it slightly open so I could still see.

I couldn’t move. He was suffering, grunting, knuckles white from the lack of blood. I stood there in tears, hearing him scream, unable to make his pain go away, feeling completely useless. Eventually, the bullet was out. I still stood there, watching over him from a distance, for as long as I could stand.

The doctor was still in there with him. It had been over an hour, and the anguish was killing me. I was realizing that if Alejandro died, a part of me would too. I needed him to survive as much as I needed air to breathe. He needed to be okay.

After an eternity, the doctor finally came to get me and take me back to the room. I rushed to Alejandro’s side, scanning him and desperately wanting to make sure he was okay. I tried my best to hide it, but I couldn’t, my emotions raw on the surface.

“I gave him some mild sedatives. He wouldn’t let me give him anything stronger, but he needs to rest,” explained Doctor Rodriguez.

I sat next to Alejandro, holding his hand in mine, unable to keep my eyes off him.

A few hours later, Alejandro finally opened his eyes. Seeing those dark eyes immediately released some stress off my shoulders. The confusion on his face didn’t last long as he fought me to sit up.

“You are lucky,” stated Doctor Rodriguez, rushing to his side. “No organs were touched. I disinfected and sewed your wound, but you will need a lot of care and rest. Normally, you would have to be in a hospital, but I understand that is not possible under the…circumstances.”

“Thank you, Rodriguez,” said Alejandro, trying to get up. I jumped to his side to hold his arm.

“You really should stay here, Alejandro,” said Rodriguez. “You are in no state to be on the road. You lost a lot of blood—”

Doctor Rodriguez stopped talking when Alejandro lifted his hand, clearly indicating that it wasn’t an option.

“Thank you, Rodriguez, but I’d be putting your life in danger as well. I already stayed here for way too long.”

I begged him for us to stay longer, but I knew better. “Doctor, what can I do? How can I help him in the coming days?”

Alejandro couldn’t stop looking at me, as if he was seeing me for the first time.

“Let me write you some instructions,” he said. “You will have to change his bandages a few times a day and watch his temperature. I have some painkillers I am going to give you and some bandage material. I don’t have a lot on hand, but it should be enough for the first couple of days or so. You will need to go to a pharmacy to get antibiotics.”