Getting out at the hospital with Wren, I was positive I had driven no one’s car safer than I did in Marco’s car with Wren in the backseat. Wren didn’t want to be in the car seat for a second longer than he had to. Pulling him out, I carried him on my hip inside and collected a badge at the front desk. I still had to work in a few hours, but I didn’t mind taking Wren to see Marco. I wanted to see him, too.
Not even stopping at the desk, I opened Marcos’ door, and there was a doctor inside, frowning, as he checked Marcos’ wound.
“Hope I’m not interrupting.”
“No, no, please come in. I was just checking Marco’s wound. I’m Doctor Dominic McLaughlin.” His bright red hair pinned up in a bun on the back of his head was definitely telling, right along with his light Irish accent that lingered.
Using the hand that wasn’t holding Wren, I shook his hand when he wasn’t touching Marco’s wound and removed his gloves.
“How’s Marco’s stab wound?” I asked.
“I would ask if you would like to see it, but most people wouldn’t.”
“I’ve already seen enough of Marco’s blood and guts for a lifetime.”
“Were you present when this all went down, Mr?”
“Ambrose Grayson, And no, but I was the paramedic that tended to him all the way here.”
“Oh, I see. That must have been a tough call.”
Wren screamed, trying to get his dad’s attention. And the doctor excused himself, and Marco groaned. “Give me my baby. I want… no need to hold him.”
“Of course, here” I passed Wren off to Marco, who took him, and was clearly uncomfortable, but said nothing about it.
“The nurses asked about you today, or rather, they asked if my partner was coming to visit again, or if I wanted to call you. I didn’t understand who they were talking about at first. I figured my ex-husband. But no. Turns out, it was you.”
My face heated, and I spoke. “I can explain—-”
“No need. But you should know the nurses talk about you.”
“Huh? Why?” I asked, confused.
“They think you’re handsome and polite, and something about you being strong because of your job.” Marco said, winking at me.
I sighed. “You would think they had better things to do than gossip. They have you to look after. You’re pretty easy on the eyes too, Marco Di Salvo.”
“Do you have to work tonight?” Marco asked.
“Unfortunately, yes, but I’m looking to take a few days off just to make things easier. Or knock down some of my hours.” I said.
“When I’m out, we can’t look for something more acceptable for you, apartment wise.”
“Oh? Who said I was going to let you have your house back?” I laughed, saying it only as a joke.
“Paying rent in childcare?” Marco asked, his eyebrow raised.
“Maybe.” I shrugged.
Wren was just cuddling against Marco, not moving very much.
“Is he sleeping?”
“No, he’s just enjoying my company.” Marco said, looking down at Wren. “I missed him.”
“He missed you too, Marco.”
“Couple more days and I should be able to come home, this place and all this, it’s driving me nuts, and I don’t think I can handle another few days more of tasteless hospital food.”
“It’s not that bad. You just need some salt and pepper.” I said.
“No, you need hopes and vivid dreams to make that shit better.” Marco groaned before looking at me. “I’m probably going to need help when I get out, and I don’t want to ask too much of you.”
“No worries. I’ll help you where I can. Besides, Wren and you are the only friends I have here.”
“Oh. Really?”
“Yeah, besides Mia, but she’s been busy with other things lately. Nights are killing her, and I get it.”
“How are you handling the nights?”
“Fine, I worked a lot of long nights when I first started. Mia and I worked days for the last couple of years, though, so it’s a pretty large transition for her. Not so much for me. I picked up extra shifts with other partners looking for extra hours, too.”
“Sounds like you’re well adjusted to this life, life of a paramedic.” Marco said.
“Kind of like how you are well adjusted to your job.” I said, softly smiling at him.
“Romeao is glad that it was you and your partner that tended to me.”
“I’m sure he was.”
“I was too. If I died, at least I was in good company.”
My mouth went dry, and it took a few minutes to regain enough moisture in my mouth to speak. “I was prepared to do anything I had to in order to keep you alive in the back of my ambulance.”
“You are very dedicated to your position.”
“I try to be.”
“Can I see your hand?”
“Sure?” I said, sticking my hand out. He took it into his own and held onto it tightly.
“I’m glad we met, though. I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“Please, you’re hardly the first person to attempt to murder me while I’m responding to a call.”
Marco frowned.
“Nothing serious, yet, haha.” I said, laughing it off, trying to get the frown off Marco’s face.
“You must have seen a lot of things?”
“Unfortunately, yes, but it’s the DOAs (dead on arrival) that really stick with you.”
“Like your gang member?”
“Yes, like the gang member, but I doubt he will be the last to be loaded into my ambulance.”
“He will if I have my way. You shouldn’t be put in the way of danger from my job.” Marco said, looking down at Wren. “If something happens to me, and I don’t get to come home from my work, I want you to take Wren.”
“Marco, I—-”
“No, Please, listen.”
“Alright.”
“I want him to have a normal life. That way, he gets to have a choice in his own future.”
“What about your ex-husband, could you not—-”
“No, absolutely not. I would never allow that. Theo is never getting my child. He is too far into that life too. As are his partners. You, you are not.”
My chest was tight, and I didn’t like him talking like this. I understood why he was, but I hated it.
“Please, can we speak about something else?” I asked.
“Yes, but—-”
“Another time we can speak about this subject, but I can’t right now. I still have your fucking blood on my other uniform and I can’t do it.” I hissed, yanking my hand out of his and rubbing the uncomfortable spot in my chest.
“I’m sorry. I should have allowed more time to pass before bringing this up. I didn’t even think how this would affect you. Ambrose, I’m sorry.”
I checked my watch and spoke.
“Is Romeao coming soon?”
“Yes, he is coming in a few minutes, I’m assuming.”
“I have to leave, I’ll take Wren—-”
“No, you can leave him, and I’ll have Romeao take him home.”
“What about his car seat?”
“Romeao has one too.”
“Alright.”
I stood up, and Marco grabbed my hand. Causing emotions to well up inside of me in such a strange way.
“Excuse me for this.” I said, before leaning down and pressing my lips to his.
“You’re excused.” He said when we parted. His pupils dilated, his lips parted as he licked them. I reached out and ran my fingers through his hair before looking at Wren once more.
“I’ll come back and visit when I’m done with my shift.”
“Come back after you’ve had time to rest.”
“Maybe, we shall see.” I laughed, leaving just as Romeao was coming up the hall. He said hello, and I greeted him back before returning the badge down at the front desk and heading back to Marco’s. I had to get ready for work.
Stripping down in his bathroom, I flicked his shower on and looked in the mirror. Tired eyes looked back at me and I sighed. Seeing Marco like that was enough for me to realize he was right. There was a possibility he might not come home. But then that was the same for my dad. There was always a possibility he, too, might not come home.
I was catching feelings for Marco and his son and I was all too aware of it happening, but I wasn’t trying to stop it either. I was letting it happen.
Under the spray of the shower, I used Marco’s body wash, and it was comforting. I scrubbed away at my skin until I was positive that I had scrubbed away some of my stress and maybe a layer or two of skin.
I got dressed in my spare uniform when I got out and dried off, snatching some of Marco’s cologne, mostly because I liked the smell and it reminded me of him. Walking to the kitchen, I made a cup of coffee with Marco’s coffee maker and a couple of pieces of toast.
Chewing on my toast, I checked my emails and texted my dad to check on him, and be nosey about Marco’s stabbing. I fed Mochi and told him to behave and stay out of trouble, more so when Romeao came back here tonight with the baby. I didn’t need Romeao to not like my cat, when he was just starting to like me.
Grabbing my keys, wallet, phone and jacket, I left Marco’s.
Arriving at work, Mia was waiting for me with a coffee in her hand.
“Ugh, you’re such a lifesaver.”
“I know, I know.” She said, before pausing and taking a deep breath.
“You smell like the mobster, Ambrose.”
I shrugged, and she sighed.
“You smell expensive, and I oddly remember the scent in our ambulance. Marco right, his name was Marco.”
“Yes, his name is Marco.”
“Look, I won’t get into your business, but is he at least nice?”
“Yeah, he is to me, and his son is cute, too.”
“I have a mafia member next door to me in my apartment, and he asked me to dinner, but I didn’t want to tell you. But at least now that I see you aren’t immune to them, I don’t feel bad that we went out together for dinner.” Mia said.
“You went for dinner with a mafia member?”
“Yes, but that is not important. You are involved with a high-ranking mafia member, Ambrose. Are you sure that’s something you want to do?” She asked. She really did not know how involved Marco and I had actually been.
“I’m just allowing this to go wherever it will. I’m not going to stop it, but I’m not going to force it, either.”
“You owe me a conversation about Marco, Ambrose, then I’ll tell you about my neighbour Max.” She said, wiggling her eyebrows. It was like her entire view on the mafia had changed, and I wondered how this guy had managed it over one dinner, the other night she was ready to rip me apart about Marco and how dangerous he was, now she seemed just nosey about him.
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