13

Montero's POV

While we were still talking, Kalani came in, closed the door, and leaned on it. She looked at me and I could see the disappointment in her eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She folded her arms. She had bags under her eyes and her face looked tired. She looked like she was crying.

We all looked at her and Eva suddenly broke the silence by saying, "We should probably go." She didn't wait for Johnathan to respond. She just took him by hand, and when she reached the door, she let go of Johnathan's hands and took kalani's into hers, and muttered enough for me to hear, "You know, you still my best friend. If you want me to kick his butt, I'll willingly do it." Kalani sadly smiled, shaking her head.

"Ahem." I interrupted her. She looked back at me with a rather startling look. If looks could kill, I'd be six feet under. I'm sure of that.

"You mess with her, I'll have your peeing machine for dinner." She said, looking directly into my eyes. She then turned around, took Johnathan's hand again, opened the door, and left. I swear that was the scariest thing I have seen in a very long time.

When we were left alone, Kalani came closer slowly.

"When did you wake up? The doctor said you will only be awake in two hours." I asked. Instead of responding, she asked a question.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked again. She stopped near our bathroom door. Which was about fifteen feet apart.

Covid-19 restrictions, seriously.

"Kalani I-" I tried explaining.

"You put your life in danger knowing fully well of the consequences. Did you even think of me when you went out there?" She pointed outside.

"Of course I did. That's the reason why I went out. To protect you. To protect us, this family. Kalani I-" I tried taking out the tubes I was connected with.

"You dare take those tubes out, I'm leaving with dad." She threatened.

"Funny, he said the same thing." I looked away, sounding annoyed.

"As if I'd go home with him." She muttered.

I turned back at her and I smiled.

"You think this is a joke, Montero? You could have died." Her face was serious, her eyes now filling up with tears.

"And yet here I am. Alive and kicking." I smiled, trying to light up the mood.

"By luck yes, what if next time you are more exposed, what if next time it takes longer to take the bullet out, what if," Her voice cracked, tears now falling, "What if you don't make it?" She looked away, wiping her tears away.

"Kalani-" I tried getting out the tubes again. She immediately turned back and me and said, "You dare Montero, I'll divorce you." I immediately stopped. I looked at her to see if she was serious.

Her eyes were now red, her face puffy and pregnancy wasn't exactly on her side at the moment. But she was still the woman that I had fallen in love with, and thinking of parting away from her would end my life.

Literally.

"What do you mean mi amore?" I asked, still holding on to the tubes.

"I don't want to see you hurt ok?! I just, I can only take so much and you hurting, I can't, I just can't." She was now sobbing, covering her face with her hands.

Screw this. I took out the tubes, stood up, and went to her. She looked up and shock was written all over her face.

"Montero you-" when I got to her, I took her face into mine, and I kissed her into oblivion. She gladly accepted my scent and I smiled in between our kissing. The kiss was soft and gentle, slow and promising. I poured out myself into it.

My whole heart.

This was me pleading. Asking her to stay, promising to be a better husband, a better dad, I just wanted her to stay. To stay with me today, tomorrow, and forever.

I know I was asking for much, but my level of much was her. It's always been her.

Always.

I pulled her close and deepen the kiss. I then slowly pulled away and looked into her eyes. Her hazel eyes were now a shade of red due to crying and I couldn't shake off the guilt of knowing I was responsible for doing that to her. I wiped the remainder of the tears with my thumbs, but they kept filling up her eyes.

"Please don't leave me," I begged.

"Why didn't you tell me, Montero?" She ignored my pleas. "I looked like an idiot in front of your doctor and I just," she breathed out, continuing. "You can't do that. You can't conceal things from me like that. It's not right. It's just not."

"I know." I sighed. "The reason why I didn't tell you why I was allergic to bullets was that I didn't want you to worry." I tried explaining.

"That's not for you to decide, I'm your wife!" She exclaimed. "It's my right to worry." Her voice was all choked up and sad. I could barely make out the sentences she was saying.

"I know, but this family, this family is my life. I have to protect y'all." I continued.

"And who will protect you?" She asked.

"It doesn't matter." I looked away. She pulled my face back to face her.

"You matter to me gawd damnit!" She spoke a little too loud.

"Mrs. Montero swore $100, please. Mrs. Montero swore, 100 dollars, please. Mrs. Montero swore, 100 dollars please." Our swearing detector machine kept chiming.

"Turn it off!" She yelled.

I let go of her and I took the remote by my lamb stand and I turned it off. When I turned to go back to her, she stopped me.

"Montero put your tubes on please." She pleaded.

"But-"

"I'm trying to protect what's mine ok?! And you mine ok?! And I can't have you if you broken. You keep saying that you don't matter and that you need to protect this family, but I want to protect you. I want to keep you safe. Even if it means taking a bullet for you." She pouted, holding on to her arms.

"That's exactly what I didn't want you to do." I was still standing.

"That's not for you to decide Montero. I love you ok? I love you and if I lose you, I lose my will to live." She was sobbing again, her voice all cracked up and it was saddening.

"Kalani-"

"Put the tubes on Montero or I'll divorce you for real!" Her voice was a bit louder.

"You can't keep threatening me with that." I looked at her with a serious face.

"I'm trying here ok?! You not exactly giving a choice. I don't know what I'm saying, I just, I need you to be safe. I need every fiber of your being alive. You understand Montero?"

"And I need you to be safe. I need this family to be safe. And I can't protect you if you don't let me." I replied.

"You can't protect me if you don't promise to protect yourself." I slowly walked towards her. "You promised Montero," She whispered. "You promised to be ok, but you lied. You lied." I got to her and I pulled her into an engulfing hug.

"I'm sorry ok, I'm sorry." She kept hitting my chest with her mini hands, muttering, "You lied." Until her cute, puffed-up eyes closed and her soft snores were all I could hear.

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