Page 18 of Outcast

Then he turned and walked to the wall, propping himself up against it as his gaze stayed glued to me. I burned from the inside out for so many reasons. Now wasn’t the time to examine any of them.

"Okay, Ms. Aguilar," the same doctor panted as he came rushing out of the hall. "Follow me."

I didn't give Esteban another thought as I followed the doctor through the double doors.

"Mr. Aguilar has just started to wake up. His vitals are good. You can sit with him until we move him to a private room." The doctor scanned his badge and another set of double doors opened. A nurse was waiting and pulled the curtain back on a bay right next to the nurses station.

Good. They were taking this seriously and watching the hell out of him.

I wished they had let him wake up in a private room, but maybe this was better. Safer for him.

"Thank you," I murmured as I pulled the one chair in the curtained area right next to the bed.

The steady beeping from the machines hooked up to him was comforting as I took his hand in mine. It was warm and dry. A reminder that he was still here with me. His eyes fluttered slightly, but he didn't seem coherent yet.

My breathing turned shallow. Seeing him in this bed made it all real. He wasn’t invincible like I’d always thought.

I'd just talked to him yesterday. He was fine. Now he was laid up in the hospital and it killed me to see him like this. He’d hate being seen in a gown like this. It didn’t scream head of the Dirty Dogs.

Five more minutes passed before his head rolled my way and he seemed to see me.

"Margarita?" His voice slurred and his fingers twitched in mine as if he only now realized I was holding it.

"Papá." I scooted to the edge of the chair.

"Wha–what happened?" He tried to glance around, but he couldn't. He didn't have enough energy for that yet.

His skin was sallow and for the first time in my life, heappeared weak. I sucked in a sharp breath. He needed to get out of here, then he’d be back to his old self.

"You had a heart attack." My voice was so thick, I hoped he could understand me. "They said you had a blockage and it needed to be removed. They did a surgery, but you're going to be okay now."

"Damn," he cursed.

"No more fried food or beer for a while. Doctor's orders." I made that up. They hadn't said that. But they would. I'd watched enough TV to know what they recommended for people after heart attacks.

He tried to laugh but made a pained sound.

"Shhh...don't laugh. Don't try to move." I got so close to the bed, my chest pressed against the rails. "You don't want to cause yourself any harm."

Papá'seyes started to close. "So tired."

"I know." I smoothed my hand over his white hair. "But stay awake just a little longer. For me?"

"I'd do anything for you," he sighed. His eyes still closed but they reopened a few seconds later. "I thought Matías would help me."

My chest squeezed uncomfortably.Papáalways had a soft spot for Matías. I had too. It was like fate that I'd loved the man my father had taken under his wing. Until fate broke my fucking heart.

How couldPapátalk about Matíasnow? When I was here in front of him?

I wasn't jealous. I knewPapáloved me more than anything in the world. But the one disappointment I'd ever had for my father was when he refused to cut off his relationship with Matías when he kicked me aside.

He'd sighed and smoothed his hand over my hair like I was ten years old all over again.

"There are some things you're lucky enough not to understand."

That was all he'd said on the matter.

I'd hated him for days. Maybe even a few weeks. Then I realized how stupid I was.

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