ANGEL

28 •

Valerie

"Angel." He whispered.

"Mateo?!" My voice breaks. Vanessa & Rosa stare at me with worried eyes, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Mateo please answer me." I whisper.

"Valerie meet us at the hospital. Mateo has been shot." Apollo speaks & my heart shatters. I watch as Rosa's face drops, her eyes widening.

"W-What?" My bottom lip quivers, goosebumps forming on my skin.

I stand from my seat & head out of the restaurant, rushing over to my car. Rosa & Vanessa follow behind. My hand trembles as I try to unlock my car door.

"Hey I got you. I'll drive you, love." Vanessa whispers & I nod my head. I back away & she opens the driver's seat. I walk around the car & step into the passenger seat, Rosa getting into the backseat.

Tears fall from eyes, my heart pounding against my chest in fear. I shut my eyes & say a silent prayer, hoping that God will hear me & heal Mateo.

"God please tell me he will be okay." I whisper to myself, tears flowing down my cheeks.

...

I barge through the hospital doors & run up to the receptionist, she stares at me in worry as unending tears flow down my face.

"I'm looking for Mateo Valentino." I whisper & she nods her head quickly typing on her computer.

"He was just rushed into the OR." She speaks & I shut my eyes, my heart aching at the thought of him not making it off the table.

"Valerie?" Apollo calls out & I turn around. Vanessa pulls away from him & allows him to rush over to me. He pulls me into a protective hug, loud sobs leaving my lips as my body shakes in his arms.

"I got you." He whispers softly. He rests his chin on my head.

I feel a pair of strong arms wrap themselves around me from behind & I smile at the familiar scent. Leonardo.

"Hey Leo." I whisper. Apollo pulls away & Leo turns me around, tightly hugging me & rocks me side to side.

"I missed you." He whispers & I smile softly.

"I missed you too." I sniffle. He pulls away & wipes my tears.

I sigh & take a seat on the chair beside Rosa. I grab her hand & she interlocks our fingers making me smile. Vanessa sits beside me & rests her head on my shoulder, she grabs my hand & also interlocks our fingers.

The last word he said to me was Angel.

...

I pace around the waiting room, a groan escaping my lips. We've been waiting for 4 hours. Vanessa & Apollo went home to their kids. Now, it's just me, Rosa & Leo. Also, I've been told that Milo is on his way back from Italy.

"Valentino family?"

I've never moved so fast. The way I turned so quickly, I almost fell on the ground but the doctor caught me in time.