The Villain Duet by Bella J.

Epilogue

Ihated hospitals. The somber mood. The smell. God, the smell was the worst. The potent scent of antiseptic was almost bitter, with undertones of artificial cleaners. The fluorescent lights were harsh and merely highlighted the dreary beige colors that did nothing to brighten an already somber ambiance. Ever since my mother died, I couldn’t stand the thought of hospitals, not to mention being inside one.

The beep of the heart monitor reminded me that he was still breathing. They’d kept him in an induced coma since he tried to rip the IV out once he started to regain consciousness. For his body to heal, he needed rest, and to remain calm.

“My guess is Gianni knew.” Saint crossed his legs as he sat down in the chair next to mine. “Gianni knew he had to make Elijah’s reality his.”

Just like the doctor said.

“Yeah.” I sighed. “Probably.”

“Have you decided what you’re going to do?”

I bit my lip. “No. But right now I just want him to wake up and to know that he’s okay.”

“Doctor said he should wake up any moment now. The bullet missed his spine, so they’re confident he’ll walk again.”

I didn’t respond. I just stared at Elijah, who lay so still on the hospital bed. If it weren’t for the beep, I’d question whether he was alive or not. I had been playing that scene over and over inside my head, and every time I relived it, I could feel the bone-chilling fear of watching Elijah fall to the ground. Julio had managed to pull the trigger of his gun before he took his final breath, and almost took my husband with him. I remembered the crack of the gunshot followed by the pained growl that tore from Elijah's throat. There was so much blood, it pooled around him, spreading through the crevices and cracks of the tiles.

I remembered crying out, but I couldn’t hear myself. There was this eerie sound inside my head—the ringing in my ears mixed with the heavy pounding of my heart. And as Saint pulled me off Elijah, I cried and screamed for God not to let him die. To spare my husband’s life. The lies, the unanswered questions, none of it mattered. All that mattered was him, his life, his every breath. God, I prayed he wouldn’t take his last breath. I would have done anything if it meant saving him. Everything that was wrong with our relationship evaporated. It disappeared, leaving only that which was right and true between us. The one reason I would have traded my own life for his…the fact that I loved him more than anything in this entire world. No matter what, I loved him.

“I made a promise that day.” I kept staring at Elijah. “When Julio shot him, I made a promise that no matter what, I would take care of him, and love him every day of my life if God would spare him and not let him die.” I looked at Saint, who sat silently next to me. “I made a promise.”

Saint’s chest visibly rose and fell as he took a deep breath. “You didn’t know the extent of his condition.”

“It doesn’t matter. There are no exclusions when it comes to a promise like that, Saint.”

“No one will blame you if you leave, Charlotte. In fact, if you asked my opinion, I’d say leave. Go live your life.”

“I’m not asking your opinion.”

“Still, it’s a tough decision. You need to do what’s right for you.”

“He’s right for me. Being with him is right for me.”

Elijah stirred, and I shot to my feet, rushing to his side. “Elijah?”

He moaned. “Charlotte?”

“Yes. It’s me.” I choked on a sob, tears stinging my eyes. “I’m here.”

I took his hand and weaved my fingers through his. “How are you feeling?”

He shifted and grimaced. “Like I got shot in the back.”

Both Saint and I snickered. “That’s a crappy joke,” I said.

“Too soon?”

“Way too soon.”

Saint slipped in next to me, fastening his suit jacket. “You look like crap.”

Elijah grinned. “Thanks. You don’t look bad yourself.”

Saint took Elijah’s hand and squeezed. “It’s good to have you back, man.”

“How long was I out?”

“Couple of days.”

“Julio?”

Saint squared his shoulders. “Burning in hell right now.”

“Good.”

“Okay. I need to make a few calls.” Saint glanced at me. “But I’ll be around for a bit longer.”

I acknowledged his vague offer for support with a half-smile and watched him walk out.

“Are you okay?’ Elijah’s voice was soft, weak.

“I’m fine. Are you in pain? Do you need me to get a doctor?”

He shook his head on top of the wrinkled beige pillowcase. “I’m okay. As long as you’re here, I’m good.”

My heart cracked and bled some more. As much as my heart had been sliced and broken over and over again during the last few days, I wondered if I’d ever know what it felt like to not carry this massive hole inside my chest.

“I’m glad this is over.”

“Yeah, me too.” I pulled the chair closer and sat down beside the bed, still clutching his hand.

“With Julio gone, you’re finally safe. We don’t have to hide anymore.”

“Yeah,” I whispered, biting back my tears.

“It’s just, I wonder why he thought you’d have Gianni’s pocket Bible. But it doesn’t matter.” He let go of my hand and cupped my cheek. “Thank God I got there in time. If he had hurt you, I never would have forgiven myself. I failed Ellie. It would have killed me if I failed you too.”

I could have told him the truth. I could have told him that his memories were wrong, distorted, and fabricated. That he was there with me in that room with Julio the entire time, that Saint and his men found us. I could have told him that his mind had confabulated that memory, his shooting creating another traumatic event that manipulated his already broken mind. I could have told him everything. That Ellie wasn’t real, and merely a figment of his imagination which his brain had convinced him was real. But I didn’t. I held it all inside, keeping it locked inside my own thoughts. I was at that very familiar crossroad again.

Every dream has its sacrifices. You either make those sacrifices and live with the consequences, or live without the dream.

My dream was him. Elijah. No matter what, I loved him. I fell in love with him exactly the way he was, and his mind had always been broken, which meant I loved that broken part of him as well.

His reality will have to become yours.

I nestled my cheek deeper into his chest. “You didn’t fail Ellie,” I whispered. “Who knows, we might still find her.”

“We?”

I glanced up at him. “Yes. We. If she’s out there, we’ll find her.”

His chest rose and fell, my body moving with the gentle motion. “I love you, Charlotte.”

“I love you too, Elijah…more than you’ll ever know.”

THIS IS THE END OF ELIJAH AND CHARLOTTE’S STORY

* * *

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THE RISE OF SAINT

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