Somehow, by the universe’s grace, he misses. But so do I.
We both shoot again, and this time, my bullet flies through his neck. His shot barely grazes my arm, but only because Roman moves me.
I look around, still holding the gun, and realize all the other Russian’s are down.
But it’s not enough to convince me to put the gun down. I keep it up, trained on our surroundings. My head is on a swivel, unable to believe it’s over. That we’re safe.
Suddenly, someone’s shaking me, and I quickly turn the gun on them. It’s thrown out of my hands, and it’s only then that I realize it’s by Dom.
“You’re bleeding! Where are you hit? It’s a lot of blood” he asks frantically staring at my torso.
I look down and realize my once green dress is now stained a deep red.
But it’s not my blood.
Without answering him, I hop off Roman and get on my knees. I press his jacket into his shoulder and desperately try to stop the bleeding.
“Roman, please, wake up. Look at me,” I frantically beg him.
Dom presses into a second wound on his left arm, and I realize the bullet that grazed me actually hit him. He took another bullet for me.
Roman’s eyes fly open, and he glares at his brother.
“Héroe, don’t you dare die on me. After all you’ve done for us, you’re not allowed to leave me!” I demand, tears streaming down my face.
He lifts his uninjured arm slowly and cups my cheek. I press my hand against his, keeping it stable.
“Roman, my hero, I love you! You can’t die on me. Please stay,” I plead desperately. I look down as my tears dance with his blood.
“You still love me?” he asks incredulously. “Will you stay my wife if I live?” His eyes start to droop as he says it.
Dom and Dr. Richard are doing something while he talks to me, but I can’t comprehend it.
“I’m your wife no matter what. I’m Cecilia Montclair. I just killed two men for you. Please, you can’t leave me,” I cry.
Suddenly, a paramedic is next to me, trying to bandage my arm.
“No! I’m fine! Save him!” I demand, shrugging her off.
“Miss, I have to help you too. My partners are helping your boyfriend,” she explains.
“My husband,” I correct her, needing someone to know.
As they put him onto a gurney, he wakes up.
“CECILIA! CECILIA!” he shouts my name.
I break free of my paramedic and run to his side.
“I’m here, héroe. I’m not going anywhere,” I promise him.
When they load him in the ambulance, I’m with him the whole time.
And only when they send him back to surgery do I let the doctor handle my wound.
And the entire time he’s in surgery, I cry.
Slowly, one by one, his family trickles in.
