Page 96 of Sinful Hearts

“Neither the midwife nor Angelica answered their phones,” Emilio snarls at him. “And it seems you were out playing target practice—you being the fucking target.”

“You’re lucky she’d care if I murdered your ass,” Andre says, flexing his jaw.

“Same,” Emilio says. “We’re wasting valuable time arguing.” He whistles, pointing at me. “Bullet. Out. Now.”

Andre pushes to his feet again. “She can do it on the drive to the hospital.”

I quickly shake my head.

Not freaking happening.

I’m not about to play Operation while Emilio swerves through traffic.

“If we’re going to the hospital, they can stitch him up there,” I say, suggesting the obvious.

“No,” the man grinds out. “If they stitch me up, I won’t be with my wife. And I don’t like hospitals.” His face hardens as he eyes me down. “Who are you?”

I shift from one foot to the other. “Liliya.”

“Russian.” His gaze flicks to Emilio. “This the wife?”

Emilio tensely nods.

“Andre,” the man introduces before pointing at the burly guy. “This is Opal.”

“Now, let her get that bullet out of you,” Emilio tells Andre. “If you waste another minute, I’ll have her push it in you deeper.”

Andre nods, and I eye the first-aid kit on the table.

They clearly planned to take care of the gunshot hole themselves.

Andre is sweating bullets as I dig the tweezers inside his wound, trying to find the bullet.

“There,” I whisper to myself when I find where it’s lodged.

I’m surprised he doesn’t wince or scream as I carefully pull the bullet out.

It’s covered in blood as I drop it onto the table.

He snatches the bullet, slipping it into his pocket.

As soon as I’m finished stitching him up, he stands. “Now, take me to my wife.”

32

When we arriveat the hospital, I pull up to the entrance.

“Keep us updated,” I tell Andre as he steps out. “Don’t you fucking leave her side.”

He scoffs, as if it’s an insult to even tell him that.

He limps toward the entrance, looking a hot mess, all bloody and bruised.

I don’t know what they’ll do when he walks into the hospital like that, but I’m sure with what I’ve seen from Andre, he’ll make them bring him straight to his wife.

I appreciate the way he cares for and protects her.

I could never repay Andre for what he’s done for me.