Indebted to the Mafia King

*Cal*

My ears pick up murmurs around me, but I can't force myself to open my eyes. My entire body is sore, and the pain in my abdomen feels like someone is pressing and squeezing all of my organs together. It's hard to breathe, but I force my lungs to receive as much air as I can inhale.

My back hurts, so I try to adjust myself on what feels like a bed, or maybe a couch, but the smallest movement makes me grunt with pain.

"Easy there, boss. You have a hole in your stomach," someone warns, their voice distant but somewhat playful.

I groan again, frustrated at not being able to move. My eyelids seem to weigh a ton, but I need to see what's happening around me. I need to know where I am and why. Images of the confrontation in my bar come back to me in snippets. I don't remember the details about what happened, especially how I got shot, but I do remember seeing Milo. I have no idea how much time has passed, and I also don't know the outcome of the fight, so I need to make sure my men are okay and that Heidi is safe.

"Are you feeling all right?" the same voice asks again, this time closer to me.

I try to open my eyes, but the brightness that hits me makes me close them again in a hurry. I try again, blinking slowly to adjust to the room's illumination. I find myself staring at a white ceiling. Then my gaze roams over a bedroom that I don't recognize. There are two open doors on the wall opposite me that lead to a closet and a bathroom. There's a table on one side of the room and a desk on the other side. I'm lying on what looks like a king size bed. It's a nice room, but I have no fucking idea whose house this is.

When I turn my head to the side, I spot Tony staring down at me, a small grin spread on his face. "Glad to see you're alive," he says.

"Am I though?" I retort, my voice hoarse. "Why does it feel like I died then? Everything fucking hurts."

"Ah, always in a great mood," Tony remarks with a smile, pulling a chair to sit beside my bed. I now realize the room is only dimly lit by a lamp on the nightstand, even though it seemed like the sun itself was in here a minute ago. I take him in; his shirt is stained with blood, his right eyebrow is covered by a small bandage, and his hair is disheveled and slightly wet from what I assume is sweat. "You look like shit," I note. "Thanks. You too," he replies, leaning back in the chair. "How are you feeling?" I shrug, making sure I don't move my torso too much. "Like I've been shot."

"Hm, and pretty bad I'd say. The doctor barely managed to pull the bullet out of you without taking you to the hospital. Thankfully, it didn't hit any vital organs. You're not out of the woods yet, though, so make sure to stay put and keep your ass on this bed."

I should be a bit more concerned about my well-being and my health, but right now none of that seems important. "What happened? Is everyone okay? Did anyone die?" I ask, dreading his answer.

Tony shakes his head, his expression calming me immediately. "Not on our end. Ian was shot in the shoulder, but he's fine. I can't say the same about Milo, though," he tells me. "You killed him."

My brows shoot up in surprise.  "I killed him?" I repeat, making sure I heard him right.

"Yeah. It was just like an old western. You two pulled the trigger at the same time, but thankfully, your aim was better. He still managed to shoot you in the stomach, but well, you're here and he's not, and that's all that matters."

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. It's over. The boss of the De La Cruz cartel is dead, and we don't have to worry about them anymore.

"They won't come after us now," Tony reassures me as if I am struggling to put two and two together. "I made sure of it."

I nod, staring at him. "Thanks. I realize I never got to say how grateful I am for your friendship. It really means a lot," I tell him honestly.

Tony grimaces, but a small smile curls his lips. "Ugh, did the bullet turn you into a fucking baby? Shut up, man. I hope you're feeling well enough for visitors because you've got one on the way."

My heart rate increases at the mention of a visitor. My delusional brain can only think of one person I want to see, but I must be out of my mind to even consider that Heidi would want to come here, especially after what happened at the bar.

"What are you talking about?" I ask, suspiciously.

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Tony gets up from the chair and puts it back against the wall. "Your lady is coming."

As if on cue, I hear footsteps approaching in the hallway, and even though the bedroom door is closed, I can already sense it's her.

Tony gives me one last smile and turns toward the exit, making sure to leave the door open behind him. Not a second later, Heidi appears, and I'm left speechless. She looks like an angel.

Sure, she's wearing sweats, her hair is tied up in a messy bun, strands falling around her face, her cheeks are flushed from the cold weather, and her eyes are watery, but she's never looked prettier.

"Cal?" she calls softly, so quietly that I barely hear her.

But it's more than enough for me. This is exactly what I needed to hear. Now I know I'm alive, though it's hard to believe I'm not dreaming.

She takes a few cautious steps inside the room, her eyes glued on me. I know I must look like shit, but I can't find it in me to care. I wish I could move so I could get out of this bed, take her in my arms, and make sure she never leaves again. But, unfortunately, that's not going to happen right now.noveldrama

Heidi strides across the room, and within a second, she's by my side, her fingers tracing over my cheek, gently, while she studies my face and body.

"What happened to you? Are you okay?"

"I am now," I tell her.

She chokes on a sob and covers her mouth with her hand. The tears pooling in her eyes before are now sliding down her cheeks, and I reach up to wipe away.

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"It's all right. I'm okay now." I try to reassure her. Tony said I'm not exactly out of danger, but the simple fact that I'm alive is enough for me.

"You don't look fine. I was told you were shot, and that they couldn't promise anything, and-" she cries, finally allowing herself to break down.

I remain silent, caressing her hair and patting her shoulder to comfort her. It's the only thing I can do from this bed, in this position. I'm just so thankful that she's here.

Once Heidi composes herself, she pulls over a chair, sitting down with a sigh. Her gaze

is hard on my face, her eyes and nose red from all the crying. It's endearing, just like everything else about her.

"How did you even get here?" I ask curiously.

"Your friend Tony called me," she explains. "He thought you'd want to see me when

you woke up, and that I might want to see you one last time too, in case "

She starts crying again, and I shush her, trying to comfort her once more.

"I'm so relieved you're okay," she carries on. "I was really scared. I...I thought I'd never

be able to see you again, and all I could think about was how I left your office like that... I "

"It's okay, sweetheart. I know, and I'm truly sorry for putting you through this," I reply, grabbing her hand and squeezing it in mine. "But it's over now. They won't come after us again."

She seems to consider what to say next, but then she shakes her head as if whatever it was is not worth mentioning.

Heidi takes a deep breath and clears her throat. "Look, I thought a lot about our argument and everything I said to you. It wasn't fair of me to ask you to give up something you've fought for your entire life. I know you won't leave this life behind, no matter how much I ask you to or how much it pains me to see you like this," she says, her eyes never leaving mine. "But I also realized after all that's happened I can't live without you. I love you, Cal. And if that means accepting you completely, the good and the bad, so be it."