The wound was deep and bloody, and her equipment was limited. As she held the flashlight between her teeth, she slowly inhaled and tried to calm her shaky nerves. Her fingertips quivered, and now more than ever, she wished she had the robotic assist. She let the breath go and relaxed. She knew she could do this—it was just like every other time. She just couldn’t think about the fact that it was Michael beneath her gloved hands; she had to focus on the task. She furrowed her brows in concentration, and her eyes flashed in excitement as she saw the glint of the blood-soaked bullet.
“There you are, you son of a bitch.” the words were muffled from the light lodged between her teeth, but she felt herself smile as she cinched her tweezers around the metal object.
With a slow, steady hand, she gently worked to pull it from the muscles, careful to keep it away from the artery it had begun to slide into. The wound was bleeding heavily, and with her other hand, she applied gauze and pressure to keep the blood in. Inch by inch, the tweezers revealed the metal lodged in his leg, and her careful movement avoided the tangle of veins, muscle, and torn flesh. She hoped there was no nerve damage, but they wouldn’t know that until they saw him at the hospital.
The end of the tweezers finally slid free of the wound, and for a moment, she simply stared at the tiny, piece of metal that had caused so much pain and misery. It dripped hot, red blood as she looked at it. Eyes narrowing, she grew warm with anger and glared at Ricky. Then she shook her head and sighed as she dropped the offensive slug on the ground. The clink of it hitting the floor was a relief to her ears, but there was more work to be done. With renewed determination, she got to work repairing the damaged, leaking artery.
Her eyes burned as she squinted into the bed of bloody, mauled flesh and searched for the seeping artery. With patience and slow work, she found the hole his life was slipping from, “There you are,” she whispered as she clamped off the rest of the artery.
Her fingers fixed three tiny stitches where the small tear spilled out crimson liquid. The minute knots were hardly visible even as she leaned in to inspect her work. With a little tug of the string, she closed it, and the bleeding began to stop. She felt herself relax, and then got to work closing up the rest of his wound.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but it seemed to go by slowly. With each dragging second, her hands hurried to close the gaping hole in his leg. She wanted nothing more than to see him back to normal, his big frame standing tall, that gorgeous smile on his handsome face. At that thought, she pushed herself a little faster and felt the clock tick a bit slower.
The sound of sirens could be heard approaching. She quickly looked to the window as they grew louder and louder. Lucas must have gone to get them—the phones had been cut, and her guess was that Ricky had disposed of his cell phone. She worked on as the bustle outside grew busier—the clank of the gate opening, followed by the screech of wheels as cars hurried up the drive. Her eyes went to Ricky. He was still breathing as he lay on his back with his shoulder bandaged. She could only hope this was the last time she ever saw him.
The sound of the doors bursting open cracked in the hall, and Lucas’ voice called out, along with several others.
“In here!” she yelled, eyes not moving from her work.
A team of officers, led by Lucas, came barreling through the hall, then screeched to a halt as they saw the two unconscious men on the floor, surrounded by blood. Lucas gave her a look of concern.
“He’s okay, but we need to get him to the hospital.”
The team responded in an instant, the officers calling out to the medics in Spanish as she closed the last stitch on his skin. They brought a gurney in, and the paramedic looked at her quizzically.
“Are you a doctor?” he asked, eyes curious.
“Yes, he’s stitched up, but he needs blood, he’s lost a lot.
He turned to his partner and called out instructions. Then they placed him on the gurney and began to load him up. Ricky was hauled off in another ambulance, and she certainly hoped he was chained up upon waking.
She followed Michael as they loaded him up, tears threatening to fall as she watched him lay there. She wanted so badly to see his dark blue eyes open, the color return to his skin, and that smile she had come to love so much spread across his face. In a moment, he was gone, and she and Lucas were left standing in the drive as the officers bustled around them to secure the scene.
She shook as she looked to Lucas and tried to distract herself with questions. “Where are the guards?”
“Ricky tricked them into going into the stable out back then gassed them. The other medics are there now. They’re just coming to.”
“Damn, what about Alberto and Rascal. Are they okay?” Catherine felt the anxiety of something happening to them make her shake harder.
He nodded. “They’re okay. Alberto didn’t come over here today. I told him to stay home with Rascal.”
Lucas turned and pulled her in a tight hug as she began to sob, the exhaustion and absolute chaos of the night finally filling her with cries. The tears flowed easily as she quivered in his arms.
“I know, I know. But he’s going to be okay, I promise. We Francis brothers are fighters, you know that.” Lucas held her tight, and all she could manage was a nod.
He pulled away and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Come on, let's head to the hospital.”
They walked slowly to the car, the lights behind them flashing red and white as the officers worked. She gave a final look back, and then ducked into the car to go find Michael.
***
The morning light streamed through the window, the warmth a strong indication of the hot summer to come. Michael felt the heat and tried to brush it away. Catherine must have pulled the curtains open. He tried to call out, but his throat was dry, rough, and sore. He opened his eyes, surprised they were so swollen and glazed. He felt a moment of panic go through him as he was greeted by the sight of a white room, rather than his bedroom.
“Shhh, shhh. You’re okay, Michael. I’m here, handsome.” Catherine’s voice pierced the veil. He looked over and saw her beautiful face beaming at him, her eyes a bit swollen as well.
“Where am I?” he asked quietly. A movement in the other corner caught his attention, and he turned to see Lucas smiling at him.
“You’re at the hospital. Do you remember what happened last night?” Lucas asked as he leaned next to his brother’s bed.
Michael felt the memories coming back, slowly at first and then in a sudden flood of images—Ricky Barber, the lights going out, the fight, the gun and getting shot in the leg, then Catherine fading away into the hall as everything went black.
“Shit.”
Lucas and Catherine chuckled. “Yeah, not one of our best nights,” his brother responded.
He looked down to his leg. It was elevated and bandaged, but he was surprised he didn’t feel any pain. He went to move it a bit, but Catherine shot him a look.
“The pain meds will make you brave, don’t be fooled. That thing is going to take some time to heal.” She raised a brow at him, but he nodded in agreement.
“What happened to Ricky?” he asked, his voice growing stronger as his head began to clear a bit.
Lucas shook his head. “Not sure yet, your lawyer is on his way.”
“Oh, good. Maybe he can fix this.” Michael sighed and closed his eyes. Catherine’s warm hand slid into his, squeezing it tightly.
“We’ll get it figured out, try not to worry too much. We’re just happy you’re okay.”
He opened his eyes back up and saw her smile, felt himself relax, then nodded. She leaned down and kissed him softly on the lips, and in response, he reached up to caress her face, his strength increasingly renewed.
“Thanks, beautiful,” he said as she pulled away.
The door to the room opened and all three looked to see a tall, slender man with a shiny, balding head and thin glasses enter. He was dressed in a sharp suit with shined, black leather shoes and a couple of gold rings. His face was aged, with deep wrinkles set in his jowls and around his watery, green eyes. He reached out a hand to Lucas, who took it and greeted the man.
“Mr. Francis, it looks like you’ve had better days,” the man stated simply as he pulled up a seat. He reached over Michael and shook Catherine’s hand. “Dr. Robinson, I’m Michael’s lawyer,” he introduced himself.
“Dr. Ruby, nice to meet you, Dr. Robinson.”
He gave a small smile, then returned his eyes to Michael.
“Just to clarify for confidentiality, you give your full permission that everyone in this room can hear the details of your case I’m about to give?”
Michael nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Alright, let's get started. First, Ricky Barber will no longer be working for the Federal Bureau of Investigations. We’ll be taking him to court on multiple charges, as will the bureau itself. He breached his contract with them as soon as he went after you alone and could face up to a life sentence for that alone.”
Lucas and Michael fist bumped, and Catherine gave a small laugh at their gesture of victory.
“As for your case, Mr. Francis, I have some good news. A witness stepped forward after hearing Ricky Barber had been arrested. It turns out he was silencing her with threats. She reported to the Supreme Court this morning, and they made their decision today. Your name has been fully cleared as of…” he looked at his wristwatch, “one hour ago. You can return to the States at your leisure.”
The three of them stared at him in stunned silence. While they knew Ricky would be facing charges, none of them had any idea that the case had experienced such a rapid change. Michael looked to his brother, then to Catherine.
“I’m not an exile?” he said out loud, as if trying to wrap his head around the concept.
He looked to Dr. Robinson. “You’re sure?”
The man peered over his glasses, his stoic face unchanged as he gave a nod. “I’m sure, Mr. Francis. It’s what you pay me good money to be sure of.”
Michael looked back and forth, a smile spread over his face as he threw his fists in the air. “I’m not an exile!”
“You’re not an exile!” Catherine shouted, her face beaming as she threw her hands up, then reached over and pulled him into a tight embrace.
The lawyer stood up and straightened his coat, then turned around and headed toward the door. He looked back at the smiling bunch and gave a wink. “Try to stay out of trouble now, Michael.”
He closed the door behind him, and Michael looked to them, the grin on his face not fading from his lips. Catherine kissed him on the cheek and wrapped her arms around him, not wanting to ever let him go.
“I’m a free man. I didn’t think this day would ever come.”
Lucas nodded. “Me either. Mom and dad are going to be happy to see you.” He high-fived his brother.
“Damn, I haven’t been to New York in years. Catherine, you’re going to need to give me a tour to remind me where everything is again.”
She laughed. “You got it, when can we go? Not that I’m opposed to more beach time…” She looked to his leg then back to him. “Or couch time.”
He shook his head and took her hand with a gentle touch. “As soon as I can walk, we’re heading home.”
***
Over the next couple of weeks, Michael worked to regain his strength in the injured leg. He had been incredibly lucky, as his nerve didn’t suffer any damage and within a short amount of time, he was up and walking. At first, he had a cane to help support his weakened side, Lucas joking he should keep it as an accessory. But he was determined, and within only a month, he was walking without even a limp.
News had spread like wildfire about not only Michael’s case, but the success of their latest invention. While he was in recovery, he was being bombarded with emails, calls, and messages about both situations. He finally decided to get a publicist to handle the majority of it and focused on getting the robotic assist to the States for more desperate cases.
Catherine was at his side the entire time. She helped him find more cases, worked with other doctors who were flown in to learn how to use it, and began putting together an educational course on the entire machine with the help of her team and the tech department. Only a month before, their world had been rocked by the appearance of Ricky Barber, but now they stood together, stronger than ever.
Lucas had continued to improve. He had only sustained minimal injuries in the attack, and as more time passed and the scans continued to come back clear, they were able to give him more freedom. He was now back to work full time. His latest idea was to tackle a scanner that could fit in the palm of your hand. It would allow doctors, paramedics, and any other health professional to peer into an MRI-like scan, without having to haul a patient off to a big machine.
He and Michael had talked, and since both loved the spot in Havana, they had no desire to sell it. Lucas told his brother he actually wished to stay for another year. Now that Michael could go in and out of the States, he wanted to head the Cuban facility. Michael had agreed and, with that, began to search for a new manufacturing building and lab space in New York. He was happy to find one right outside Cornell; the University offered students and professors its programs, and it was near the Finger Lakes where Catherine had her cabin. He had purchased it without a second thought.
It was their last day in Havana, and Catherine didn’t think there was a better way to spend it then how they had decided to do so. Michael, Alberto, and she were at the local dog shelter. They stared at the rows of dogs that jumped and barked excitedly as they walked by, each one too cute to pass up.
Alberto gave her a nervous look. “You think it’s the right time?”
She nodded with a warm smile. “Alberto, yes. Rascal will miss you, but I want you to miss him a little less. In order to do that, it’s time you find your new best friend.”
He gave her a grin in return. “Okay, you’re right, Dr. Ruby. But there are so many!” he gestured toward the rows of dogs.
“I have a feeling you’ll know which one to pick.” Michael winked at him as he stood behind Catherine, hands on her shoulders as they waited for the older gentleman to begin looking at dogs.
“Alright, alright…” He began to shuffle down the aisle, pausing in front of each pen and looking at the dog inside.
It took some time, but he finally came to a larger kennel at the end. Inside, there was an older shepherd mix. One ear was up in a triangle, the other folded down. One eye was blue, the other brown. He was coal black, with tan eyebrows and a white collar and toes. His muzzle had begun to grey, and he wasn’t quite as energetic as the others. Alberto looked to him, smiled, and turned back to Catherine and Michael.
“This one.”
A short time later, they walked out the door with Alberto leading Icarus at his steady shuffle. The two were a perfect match—they went at the same pace of life, and Icarus looked to him with big eyes, full of love. They estimated he was eight years old, but he was in perfect health. He had been at the shelter for over a year; sadly, no one had wanted to take the older dog home.
Rascal waited excitedly in the car, and he gave a yip as he saw his family return, a new friend in tow. They sniffed noses and seemed to enjoy each other’s company. Alberto reached down and gave Rascal a scratch behind the ears. “I will miss you, my friend. But, you must come back and visit sometime.” His gaze went to Catherine and Michael. “Along with you two.”
They laughed and chatted for a bit longer as the sun began to set. They knew their flight would be ready early the next morning, and it was time to bid Alberto goodbye.
Catherine reached her arms around him and gave him a tight hug. “Rascal and I will miss you, but we promise to stay in touch.”
He chuckled. “Of course, I want lots of pictures of him at the park.”
She nodded. “You send me lots of you and Icarus, he’s got some time to make up for.”
The older man reached down and gave his dog a scratch, and Icarus’ big eyes looked up lovingly as he wagged his fluffy tail.
“Oh, we will. I have a new driving partner, he won’t be going anywhere without me.”
He looked up at Michael, and they smiled at one another. Then Michael grabbed him in a bear hug, the older man gasping for air. “It has been a pleasure, Mr. Francis.”
“Pleasure has been all mine, Alberto. You take care of yourself and go take Icarus to see pretty ladies at the market!” he laughed as they walked toward their car. Rascal gave a pull at his leash as they separated, giving one last bark to Alberto.
“Take care, friends.”
With a wave, they loaded into the Bel Air and headed back toward the estate.
*
Catherine placed the last shirt into her suitcase. It had been so long since she had arrived, she could hardly remember what she had originally packed. Three months in Havana—the number still astonished her. So much had happened in that time, that she had trouble wrapping her mind around it. She never imagined it turning out the way it did.
She looked up to see Michael folding his pants; the grey slacks tucked under his bearded chin, he looked at her with those deep, blue eyes. He stood in only his briefs, the small scar on his thigh finally looking like a healed wound. She stared at him, until he noticed and flashed her a smirk. “What is it?”
She sighed and collapsed on the bed. “You.”
He gave her a curious tilt of the head then lay down next to her. “What about me?” he asked with a raised brow.
She reached up and kissed him, her fingers stroking his beard and tenderly pulling him close. He returned the affection as he slid a hand to her cheek and caressed her face. She released her lips but pressed her forehead to his with her eyes still closed.
“I love you,” she whispered, the words still making her heart flutter in excitement.
“I love you too, beautiful,” he responded as he pulled her in close for another kiss.
His hands guided her to lie atop him, while her lips worked over his, then down his neck and chest. He chuckled and found himself suddenly intrigued by her seduction. She felt him stiffen beneath her touch, and she looked up at him with hungry eyes, biting her lip with a playful smile. He reached down and pulled off his briefs, his dick already hard and throbbing for her.
She got up on her knees, then reached down and pulled her shirt over her head, releasing her breasts from the confines of the fabric. He let out a hum of enjoyment, reaching up and squeezing her peaks until she hissed in pleasure. With delicate fingers, she worked off her loose shorts to reveal her lacy, white thong beneath. He gave a growl and ran a large, curious finger along the edge.
His eyes met hers with a pout. “You’re wearing too many clothes.”
She giggled. “Oh, am I?”
He nodded. “Mhmm, you’ll need to remove these.”
He snapped the elastic band of the thong then she reached down and tugged that off as well.
“Better?” she asked inquisitively.
“Much,” he responded with a grin.
She lowered herself back down to his lips and kissed him tenderly, while his hands trailed down her back to her ass. She began to work her way down his neck, collarbone, pecs, and abs until she reached the V of his groin. She lingered there for a moment, teasing him as he gave her a pleading look. Her tongue worked at the base of his shaft, then slowly traced up to the head, making him flinch in excitement. She suddenly took him deep, and a moan of pleasure hummed from his chest as she worked his pulsing cock.
Unable to stand the sensation any longer, he grabbed her with those big, strong hands and hauled her atop him. He scooted her forward until his lips met her pussy, then he looked up at her as he slowly traced her swollen cherry with soft strokes of his tongue. She let herself give in to the feeling of satisfaction.
Her hips relaxed and leaned into his swipes of perfection. It made her grow even more eager. She was becoming soaked from his touch. His fingertip delicately massaged behind her clit, and the dual pressure made her squirm with anticipation, her eyes blazing with desire as she looked down to watch him eat her out some more.
He gave her a mischievous smile, and she laughed as he kissed and nipped at her thighs, then slid her down and positioned her to mount his dick.
“Are you all fucking wet for me?” he asked as he held her there, his shaft teasing her slick clit.
She nodded quickly. “So wet.”
“Mmm,” he growled, his eyes locked with hers as he continued to tease her soft, wet, warmth with his hardness.
She gasped as he pushed just a little bit in, then ducked a bit to prolong the sensation. She gave him a pout, her lips pursed and her eyes narrowed.
“I need you, now,” she demanded, as his eyes watched her intensely.
“Say please,” he told her.
She bit her lip and then pushed down hard against his grip. His dick slipped inside her, and she screamed in bliss then looked down at him with shining eyes.
“Please.” She smiled coyly.
They began their rhythm, their hips working in unison as he sought for that perfect spot, wanting to stroke it just right. Her eyes rolled back—it felt so damn good. He reached up and rubbed her tits then his hands slowly traced her curves down to her behind where he gave it a hard squeeze.
“Love watching you up there,” he growled out as he smacked her ass, the slap sharp but arousing.
“Yeah?” she asked as she rocked harder onto his dick. The pressure on her clit was just right, and she felt the orgasm stirring deep within her center.
He nodded. “Fuck yeah.”
“Goood,” she purred as she leaned her head back and let instinct take over. Her moans became louder as he pressed right on her g-spot, her clit stimulated and her slick, wet pussy reverberating with every thrust.
She began to rock faster, and his hips worked harder, the feeling of being inside of her too good to resist. She went down hard and felt him hit her extra deep, the feeling sending a flood of new gratification through her body. Every nerve began to tingle, stemming from her warm middle where the orgasm that gnawed at her being grew to an all-encompassing inferno. She was engulfed in his passion and knew his hungry eyes watched her as his own intense feeling of need pushed him closer and closer to the edge of a sexual explosion.
Their eyes met. His lip was pulled back in a growl as she looked down, biting her lip seductively. He felt himself stir, as did she. With a scream, she felt the spasms shoot through her, the joyride coming to a head as the thrill and satisfaction buzzed through every cell in her body. As he watched her come all over his dick, he felt his own delight explode. His balls tightened, and with a series of pulses, he let himself go to the thrusts of pleasure.
Her motions began to slow, and her animalistic calls died down. Breathless and sweating, she collapsed panting onto his chest. His chest rose and fell in quick motions, the twitches in his dick slowed, and he felt himself relax as the bliss spread to his body. He placed his hand on her back and lazily rubbed between her shoulders as they lay there in absolute contentment.
“So, how was that?” he asked as he kissed her head.
She chuckled. “Not too shabby.”
He kissed her again. “Yeah, I’d have to agree.”
Catherine snuggled closer to him, his arms draped over her body as he pulled her as close as she could manage. She rested her head under his chin and breathed in his deep, warm scent. He closed his eyes with a smile and continued to stroke her back in an affectionate gesture.
“Are you excited to go home?” he asked softly.
She gave a small nod. “I am, but mostly because you’ll be joining me.”
He smiled at her response. “Yeah, we make a pretty good team, don’t we?”
“The best,” she replied.
“I’m going to miss Havana a bit. It’s really become my home over the past few years,” he mused, his eyes tracing the ceiling as he spoke.
“I understand. Lucky for you, we can always come back and visit.” She looked warmly up at him.
He kissed her forehead. “And we will. I’m truly looking forward to heading to New York, meeting your family and friends, seeing my family and old friends. It’s almost surreal.”
She paused. “As surreal as an exiled billionaire inviting you to Havana to perform brain surgery on his brother’s inoperable tumor?” she quipped with a smirk.
His smile faltered, transforming into a faux frown. “Well, when you put it like that, I guess not.”
They both chuckled, and she snuggled back into the crook of his neck, his body like a delicious blanket. He took a deep breath; her scent clung to his nose, and he relished the moment.
“We have a hell of a story, that’s for sure.”
“Those are the best ones, who else can say they faced a rogue FBI agent?”
He paused. “Or learned how to use a new robotic assist to remove a brain tumor?”
“Or built it?”
“Or was the first doctor to use it?”
He squeezed her tight. “I think we both win.”
“Fair enough,” she replied with a kiss that nuzzled his beard.
The evening settled around them, the soft crash of waves filtering through the window with the salty air of the ocean. The final rays of the day faded away to twilight, the dark violets, emeralds, and navy blues sinking behind the horizon as the dark, inky blanket of night began to come into focus. Catherine looked out the window. The little, bright speck of stardust began to appear as the thin, crescent moon rose to bid them goodnight and farewell.
“Thank you,” her words broke the silence, and he gave her a confused look.
“For what?” he asked with a raised brow.
She propped herself up on his chest and gazed at him with half-lidded, warm eyes. “Everything.”
His hand pulled her in for another kiss, and she tenderly returned it. He gently pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers again in a loving gesture.
“You’re welcome. And thank you, beautiful.”
She kissed the tip of his nose playfully then traveled to his lips where she lingered for a few moments before looking to those dark, blue pools of his.
“For what?” she asked in the same tone he had.
He smiled and caressed her cheek, his absolute adoration for her pouring from his soul. His eyes studied her with pure devotion, as if nothing else in the world mattered but her, and in that moment, she felt absolutely complete. She kissed him again as he seemed to pause on his answer, and when she released him from her lips, he smiled back at her with warm sentiment.
“For loving me.”
He pulled her close. Her head rested above his heart, and she heard the beat like a rhythmic drum. She felt tears of emotion well in her eyes and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight and soaking in the perfect moment. In a world full of pain, chaos, angst, and sorrow, they had found one another and, in return, found complete and utter love.
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