Page 82 of Mex

He takes another step.

“I’m not lyin’. I mean it. You fuckin’ hurt me because...”

He trails off and takes in a deep breath.

“Because for some fuckin’ crazy reason, I care about you.”

My lip trembles.

“Please don’t say things you don’t mean just because I’m here, with a gun in my hand, threatening to end it all. That isn’t fair and I can’t deal with it. You don’t understand what it’s like for me, he was probably the closest thing to a father I ever had. I don’t even know who my real father is. I just killed him. I took his life. Like he never mattered, but the truth is, he did. Now,” I choke on a sob once more, “he’s gone. I don’t have anyone, Mex. Nobody in this world cares about me. So don’t you dare come in here and tell me something that isn’t real.”

Another step closer. “I care about you.”

“Why?” I cry out, looking up at him with tears streaking down my face.

“Because you’re a fuckin’ warrior. I’ve never met anyone like you. You’re not afraid of fuckin’ anything and you don’t let the world beat you. You’re beautiful and passionate and so damned feisty that I can’t get you out of my head.”

I cry out, the sobs causing my body to heave.

I’ve never cried like this in my life.

Not once.

Before I know it, Mex is kneeling down beside me, his fingers curling around the gun. He takes it from my hand, and I let him. He didn’t mean those words, I know he didn’t, but he is right about one thing, I am strong, and I can’t let this be the end of me, even if right now it’s all I want. I have to get through it, because Death gave up his life so I could live mine. The ultimate sacrifice.

I would be letting him down if I didn’t.

Handing the gun to someone, Mex reaches for me and scoops me up into his arms. Turning, I see Fury standing at the door, his eyes on me. They move to my shoe, which is soaked in blood. I don’t know how bad it is, but considering blood is dripping from it as Mex moves, I would say it’s probably not good.

“She needs a hospital,” Fury tells Mex. “We’ll deal with this. You go.”

Mex nods and strides out the door with me in his arms.

It’s only when the sunshine from the outside world hits my face, that reality truly sinks in and the pain appears in my body like a violent storm, crashing in and consuming me. My brain had blocked it out before, and now, it’s all I can think about. Crying out, I clutch Mex, looking up at him with desperation in my eyes. “It hurts. Mex. It hurts so bad. Please make it stop.”

“Hush, it’ll be over soon.”

Burying my face into his chest, I cry out as the throbbing pain shoots up my leg.

Mex takes me to his truck, but I can’t see what’s happening around. Somehow, they knew where to find me. I don’t know if Marek had a hand in that, or if they followed me. Either way, Mex was what I needed most in that moment, and he was there. His words replay in my mind, over and over, and I pray that he meant them. I’m terrified he was simply saying what he needed to make it all stop, but I’m clutching onto the hope that this might actually be something worth living for.

Placing me in the back seat, Mex looks down at me as he pulls the seatbelt on, maneuvering it as best he can over my body. Our eyes meet and without thought, I reach up and curl my hand around his cheek, cupping it and feeling the rough hair there. He turns his head into my hand slightly. “Tell me what your real name is?” I murmur, my eyes flickering as unconsciousness threatens to take over.

“Tai,” he whispers, low, running a finger over my lips.

“Well Tai,” I close my eyes and exhale, “I think I might love you.”

“Yeah,” He murmurs. “I know, honey.”

With that, the pain is finally whisked away by darkness.

At last.

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