The Unexpected Lover

Chapter 14: Romeo Enters the Lion's Den

I tightened my jacket against the chill, my jaw set as I navigated the labyrinth of alleys leading to the hospital. The night felt suffocating, the dense city air thick with the dampness of concrete and something sharper, something dangerous. I was close now, too close to turn back. In my pocket, Liam's address burned against my skin: St. Vincent's.

 Angel was in there, and I knew Anthony's men would be, circling her room like vultures waiting for a kill.

As I approached the hospital, I ducked into an empty convenience store to scope out the area. From my vantage point, I could see part of the side entrance, a small loading dock I'd seen orderlies use. It would work, but it was risky. My hands shook as I leaned against a stack of shelves, drawing in slow breaths to steady my racing heart. 

"Come on, Angel. Hold on."

 She was counting on me. After all the promises I'd made, after everything I'd put her through, there was no way I would let Anthony hurt her again.

My pulse quickened as I noticed two men stepping out of an unmarked car, both dressed in black, their eyes sharp and alert. One of them carried a small duffel bag, the hard edges suggesting weapons inside.

"So, this is how Anthony wants to play it?" I clenched my fists, slipping out of the store and moving through the shadows, inching closer to the loading dock where the men had entered. I could feel the worn knife in my jacket, tracing its edge as I waited for the right moment.

After a tense minute, one of the men stepped out to smoke, his gaze wandering toward the street. I seized the opportunity, crossing the distance in silence. I grabbed the man from behind and pulled him into the shadows, knocking him out with one swift motion. 

The other man turned, surprise etched on his face, but I was faster. I lunged forward, knocking the gun from his hand and delivering a punch that sent him crumpling to the ground. I didn't waste another second, hurrying through the door before anyone else could arrive.

Inside, the hospital was dim and quiet, the fluorescent lights casting a cold glow over the empty corridors. I moved quickly, staying close to the walls, scanning for any sign of Angel. When I rounded a corner, I spotted her door, a private room tucked away from the rest, the kind reserved for those with something to hide. 

My pulse raced as I approached, nerves buzzing with the weight of the moment.

I stepped inside, and there she was, lying on the hospital bed, her face pale and bruised. Her eyes opened, widening in disbelief as she recognized me.

"Romeo?" she whispered, her voice faint.

I crossed the room in two strides, taking her hand in mine. "I'm here. I promised I'd find you."

Her fingers trembled against mine. "Anthony... he—"

"I know." I brushed a strand of hair from her face. "But I won't let him near you again. We're getting out of here."

She nodded, but fear lingered in her eyes as they darted to the door. "He... he has people everywhere. This was his plan, to draw you here."

My blood ran cold, but I forced myself to stay calm. "I know. But we're leaving now. Stay close to me."

We stepped out of the room together, moving quietly down the deserted corridor. I kept my hand on her shoulder, guiding her toward the exit I'd marked on the way in. As we approached the emergency staircase, hope stirred in my chest for the first time in days. We were almost there.

But then, gunfire erupted from the end of the hall. I threw myself to the side, pulling Angel with me, both of us hitting the floor as bullets sprayed overhead, shattering lights and ricocheting off the walls. I pulled her closer, shielding her with my body as the shots continued to ring out. We crawled along the floor, ducking behind a row of metal carts as the shooters reloaded.

In the brief pause, I pushed Angel forward, urging her toward a side exit just a few feet away. I heard her stifled gasp but didn't look back, focused only on keeping us moving, keeping her safe. 

We stumbled out of the hospital and into the night, running down the alley, navigating past dumpsters and debris, following the narrow path I'd mapped out earlier.

We were almost at the street when a figure stepped out of the shadows, gun raised. I reacted instinctively, shoving Angel to the side as we both scrambled to duck. The shot echoed through the alley, and for a moment, all I could hear was the ringing in my ears.

But then I felt it—a shift, a sudden slackening of Angel's weight against me. I looked down, my breath catching in my throat as I saw her clutching her side, blood seeping through her fingers.

"No... no, no," I murmured, dropping to my knees beside her. "Angel, stay with me."

She looked up at me, her face pale but her eyes still clear, holding me with a strength that made my chest ache. "I—I'm okay," she whispered, but her voice was shaky, fading.

"Don't say that." I pressed my hands to her wound, desperate to stop the bleeding, my fingers slick with her blood. "We're almost out. Just hold on a little longer, Angel. Please."

Footsteps sounded nearby—more of Anthony's men, closing in fast. I knew we didn't have much time, but I couldn't leave her, not like this. I gathered her in my arms, lifting her gently as I pushed myself to my feet, ignoring the burning ache in my own body.

We stumbled through the alley, the streetlights casting harsh, unforgiving shadows over us. My vision blurred, thoughts spiraling into a chaotic mess of fear and anger and desperation. I was running out of options, but I forced myself to keep going, one step after another.

"Romeo..." Angel's voice was barely audible. "It's... It's okay."

I shook my head, refusing to accept it. "I'm not letting you go, Angel. Not after everything."

Tears glistened in her eyes, and she looked up at me, a faint smile ghosting over her lips. "You need to," she whispered. "Because I'll always... always be with you—"

Her hand slipped from my arm, her gaze softening as her eyes fluttered closed. My steps faltered, heart pounding as I looked down at her, terror clawing at my throat.

"No," I whispered, my voice raw. "Angel, please. Stay with me. Just—just stay with me."

But she was gone.

I stood there, frozen, body numb as I held her, the night pressing down around us, silent and merciless. All the anger, all the resolve that had carried me this far crumbled, leaving me empty, hollow.

Anthony had taken everything. But as I looked down at Angel, my hands still stained with her blood, one terrible truth crystallized in my mind: I had nothing left to lose.

And Anthony would pay.