"Detective shot in a club raid last night". My face was all over the tabloids, I wished they added that I gunned down ten bad guys and avoided mentioning that I was shot. I like to be the hero of the story, not the victim and this headline made me look more like a victim than a hero.
"Detective rescues a lady from the bad guys in the club"
"Detective risked her life to save an oppressed lady in the club"
"Detective Maria's undercover discovered as she got shot in the chest"
"Detective's life on the line as she fell victim to a club raid"...
These were the headlines on different sites. The press had a way of painting incidents to make their audience like it and in one day I became a popular figure in Tijuana. Many prayers and texts for me under each post.
Valentina and Aunt Carmen rushed to the hospital that night and sat by my bedside till morning before Valentina went back home to prepare a meal for us. Aunt Carmen sat by my bedside and held my hand.
"Maria, please don't die on me, your mum would never forgive me for failing to protect you. Carolina, my dearest sister, our mother had just two of us and we grew up so close and tight and twin sisters but she was the eldest. She loved me more than I could ever love her, she could sacrifice anything for me. The least I could do after her death was take care of her daughter. Maria, you're a gift to me to repay my debts to Carolina when you returned to me 13 years ago. You and Valentina are the only reason I love you, you can't die now". Carmen kept speaking to me, a male doctor walked in to check my vitals.
"Good morning ma'am." The doctor greeted me politely
"Good morning doctor, how is my daughter?"
"She will be fine, the surgery was successful yesterday so she will be fine"
"Since the surgery was successful, why is she not waking up, she's just lying there lifeless"
"We've removed the bullet from her and it didn't touch any of her vitals, so she'll come around soon don't be scared ma'am"
"Okay doctor, I'd hold you by your word. I just want my daughter to be fine"
"It's fine ma'am, she'll be fine" The doctor patted her back slightly before leaving the room.
It didn't take long after the doctor left before Valentina walked in with Rodrigo. Yes, Rodrigo Castelo, his presence in the room caused my body to shiver on the bed.
"Mama, how is Maria? Has she spoken yet?" Valentina asked as she got in.
"No, she hasn't" Aunt Carmen replied in a sloppy voice, she was almost tearing up.
"Good morning ma'am". Rodrigo interrupted to inform them of his presence.
"Mama, meet Rodrigo, he's Maria's new friend" Valentina introduced before walking over to the left side of Maria's bed leaving the both of them to continue their introduction.
"So you're Maria's new friend?"
"Not really, just her acquaintance, I read the news about her getting shot so I thought to check up on her, how is she doing? "
"The doctors said she'd be fine, the surgery was successful yesterday but she's yet to wake up. What's your name again?"
"Rodrigo Castelo"
"Castelo? You mean the CEO of The Castelos?" Her brows arched and her pupils dilated.
"Yes, ma'am"
"The rich and mighty? You're so young and handsome physically". Aunt Carmen commented, Rodrigo smiled blushingly.
"She's awake!" Valentina screamed from the other end of the bed. Our attention shifted towards her.
"Doctor! Doctor!" Aunt Carmen called out as they all gathered around me. I flexed my fingers slightly on the bed before opening my eyes. The brightness of the light hit my eyes and I blinked, my vision was blurry—everyone looked blurry, I was wondering who was the third person standing by my bed.
The doctor came on and everyone stepped aside. He checked my heart rate in the electrocardiogram displayed beside my bed and nodded. He helped me sit up and started asking me questions.
"How are you doing, Miss Maria?"
"I'm fine" my voice was low
"Do you feel any pain anywhere?"
"Not really, I just feel a bit weak"
"Can you move your fingers?"
"Yes, "I replied as I moved my fingers for him to see.
He asked me a few other questions before getting up to declare that I was fine.
"Guys, Maria is fine, her memory is good, her reflex is good, she's good. She just needs food and a little rest but she'd not be discharged now because it's too soon to release her" The doctor announced.
"Thank you doctor" Aunt Carmen rejoiced
"Thank you" Valentina also echoed as the doctor was leaving. Rodrigo followed the doctor outside the room.
"Thank you doctor for the effort, I'd love to sort her bills" Rodrigo stated
"Oh, that's on the police division, don't bother". The doctor patted his back before leaving, Rodrigo stared at the doctor as he walked away.
"Did he just pat my back?" Rodrigo asked himself loudly. Rodrigo didn't get a chance to introduce himself as the rich Castelo whose feet everyone worships. The doctor must have thought him to be a relative of ours. Rodrigo's pride must have been hurt. He dusts his back as if wiping off something before heading outside to get something.
Valentina and Aunt Carmen had not stopped fondling me since the doctor left.
"So I heard you took down 10 men, that's my sister"
"You know me, I'm good at what I do. They made a mistake not killing me because now I'm coming for them with full force"
"They should dig their graves because my sister is coming"
"Shut up, stop inciting your sister" Aunt Carmen spanked Valentina.
"As for you, why are you so stubborn? Why won't you come live a quiet life with us instead of risking your life chasing criminals?" Aunt Carmen's voice was laced with care and fear.
"Mum, if I don't chase the bad guys, who will?"
"There are several people out there to do that"
"Mum, I'd rather die than live without apprehending Lorenzo"
"Lorenzo!" Rodrigo repeated from the door and everyone turned to him
"Hello Rodrigo, it's a surprise to see you here"
"I brought you flowers to wish you a quick recovery, here, take it" He stretched a bouquet of rose flowers to me, I sniffed it and smiled at him before handing it over to Valentina to keep it.
"I heard you mention Lorenzo," Rodrigo started.
"Yes, Do you know Lorenzo, the drug mafia? " Our gazes turned to him and our brows arched in curiosity as the room went quiet.
Does Rodrigo know Lorenzo?