“She stays,” a scratchy croak comes from Marco’s lips. His body is taped to a board, and it’s the only part of him moving.
“Ambulance is on its way, Son. Hang in there.” Marco’s dad chokes out. “Try not to move.”
“Oh my God, is he going to be okay?” I cry when Marco’s dad wraps his arm around my shoulder.
“I need to talk to Mila,” Marco rasps, locking eyes with me. “Everybody out.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” one of the guys mumbles, standing over Marco. “You need help first.”
“Out! I need one fucking minute with my girl!” he screams in an agitated voice.
Marco’s dad leans down and kisses him on the forehead. “Don’t move your body until the EMS get here. We’ll be right outside.”
“Come here,” Marco mutters. I inch closer to him, afraid to touch him anywhere. My heart falls to the ground when I look at his swollen eyes. His face is a bloody mess, barely recognizable to the handsome man I know. “Hold my hand.”
I cautiously place my tiny hand around Marco’s fingers, and he squeezes it. “I’m sorry…I disappointed you, Angel.”
“Marco,” I stifle a sob. “I’m so proud…the man you are. I love you.”
“I’m so glad you came into my life, Mila. I love you.”
“We’re like one big happy family, lately.” Louis breezes into the room with a belt in one hand, and a vile smirk on his face.
“You!” I cry out. I pace toward him with fists punching at his chest. “You did this.”
“I’ll never let you go, Mila. Not to this chump,” he says with a menacing laugh. I continue to pound my fists on him. He stands there, taking each blow like they’re a simple brush of the skin. I’m expecting him to retaliate with a smack or a punch any second.
“Get the fuck away from her!” Marco screams.
Next thing I know, Matteo strolls into the room, and I’m being restrained by one of his massive goons. “Relax, little lady.” He holds his arms around my waist.
“Hello, Louis.”
“Who the fuck are you?”
“We need to have a talk. Trust me; you don’t want to say no.” Matteo opens his jacket a few inches, revealing a revolver holstered to his shoulder. “Let’s go.” He motions to the burly goon with a nod, and they walk Louis from the room quietly. What the hell is going on?
I catch Marco trying to move off the stretcher out of the corner of my eye. He winces in pain, and I rush to his side. “You have to lie still.”
“It’s not that bad, Angel.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I feel the pain everywhere.”
“Fuck, Marco,” I sob.
“Hey, it’s okay. Look at me. I’m going to be fine.”
“What happened? What’s going on?”
“I threw the fight.”
“What? Why?”
“For you. For us.”
“Why would you do that?”
“We never have to worry about him again. You don’t have to spend the rest of your life living in fear.”
“I don’t understand…how is that going to help?”
“Matteo just made a ton of money and now he owns Louis. He can have his shot at being a legendary fighter but I’m sure he’ll fuck it up. If he ever bothers you again, he’ll be outed as an abuser. The threat of a scandal should keep him at bay.”
“What if it doesn’t?”
“Oh, it will. He has a fairy godfather looking after him now. I don’t think we’ll ever have to worry about him again, which is fine by me. We can focus on the future.”
Marco tries to move, and I place my hands on his shoulders. “Dammit, Marco, stop trying to move. You have to lie still until you get to the hospital.”
“Fine. Get my bag over there.” I eye him curiously, and he chuckles. “Get the bag, Mila. There’s something I want to give you.”
I reach for the duffel sitting in the corner, still eyeing him to make sure he doesn’t move a muscle.
He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, and I know it’s killing him to be immobile. “In the side pocket.” A tear slides down the side of his face. “I didn’t want to do it like this.”
I pull out a small octagon box, shaped like a cage, from the bag. Marco nods when I hold it up and show it to him. “Open it.”
My heart hammers in my chest. Could this be? I lift the lid, revealing a smaller black velvet box inside.
I don’t move. I can’t.
“Open it.”
“Marco,” I whisper.
“Please.”
When I lift the lid, the sparkling diamond shining back at me makes me dizzy.
“I wanted to be on one knee. I wanted to get you naked, and finally, make use of that damn waterbed,” he says, making me chuckle. “I promise to make it up to you. Come over here. At least let me put it on your finger.”
“Is this because of the baby…”
“Fuck, no! I bought it weeks ago…before I even knew about the baby. Holy shit, I can’t believe I’m going to be a father,” he scoffs out a harsh breath. “Put the ring in my hand, Mila.”
Inching closer, I place the ring between his two fingers.
“I love you, Mila. I want you to be mine forever. I’m sorry you’re disappointed in me.”
I gently frame his face with my hands. “Shut up, Marco. Nobody’s ever fought for me before…the way you did tonight. Everything you did was for me. It was such a selfless act.”
“It was a little selfish, Angel. I want you all to myself,” he chuckles.
“Marco…I…”
“I know you hate my bossiness, but…slide the damn ring on your finger, Mila. I want everyone to know you’re the one when they carry me out of here.”
“I love your bossiness,” I admit, grinning wide as I slip my finger through the ring. “I’m yours, Marco.” I run my fingers through his damp hair and kiss him softly on his lips, my tears dropping onto his cheek. “I love you.”
Whatever life has in store for us, I will stand by his side.
I love my cocky contender.
Epilogue
We exit Dr. Fisher’s office, my orthopedic, and I can’t stop grinning like a fool. I snatch Mila’s hand as we stroll to our car in silent joy. She unlocks the doors with the key fob to her new Jeep Cherokee. I open the driver’s door, planting a firm kiss on her lips before she hops in. Boy, was she pissed when she found out I traded in her old clunker for this beauty. We argued, but I insisted we needed something safer and roomier for our new family. She still acts pissed over it, but I can see how much she enjoys driving it.
It’s been a long, frustrating two months after the fight. I’ve been in a back brace for the past eight weeks, which I only take off when I shower and sleep. It’s finally off, thank God. The small fracture in my back wasn’t permanently debilitating. I had more pain from the two broken ribs. No surgery was required, I just needed to remain in a brace, and inactive, for two months.