Once they were both outside, they kneeled on the pavement in front of the building, their hands still linked and raised to the night sky. Several officers ran over. Two of them jerked Santos away, immediately getting his hands behind his back and cuffed. Another wrapped an arm around Miguel, hustling him away from the building and Santos. He thought he recognized the face from Hector’s birthday night out, but his mind was too dazed to make any real connection. The only thing he knew was that if Hector’s teammate was there, that meant Hector should be there too.
Miguel looked around and saw Hector running toward him. Miguel didn’t even think. He pulled away from the cop and ran straight into Hector’s arms. He fell against his fiancé’s chest, the terror finally draining from him in a storm of harsh sobs and hot tears that burned his face. Hector held him, stroking his hair.
“I’ve got you. You’re okay.”
“I’m so sorry! I couldn’t use the pepper spray because my keys were in our breakroom. I swear I liked your gift.” Miguel rambled nonsense but his mind was all over the place. Hector shushed him, squeezing him tight in a warm, comforting hug.
“Baby, don’t apologize for that. I would never expect you to try to fight someone who had a gun on you. You did exactly the right thing. You stayed alive and that’s all that matters.”
Pressed hard against the stiff plate of Hector’s bulletproof vest, Miguel nodded. He was still crying, and it didn’t feel real yet that he’d managed to get away from Santos.
“Miguel!”
Miguel looked over his shoulder as he heard his name being called. Amy, Kendra, and Dr. Coker ran up to him. Dr. Nguyen, who’d left work early for family business was there as well. Miguel started apologizing again. “I’m sorry! I put all of you in danger.”
“Don’t you dare apologize,” Kendra nearly shouted. She was clearly still on edge. “That wasn’t your fault. It was incredibly brave the way you handled the situation.”
“Kendra is right,” Dr. Coker said. “You saved our lives.”
Embarrassed anew as he remembered everything he’d said to Santos and that his coworkers had no doubt overheard, Miguel hid his face against Hector’s chest. After a few moments, he looked back at his coworkers. “I don’t know if brave is the right word.”
Amy put her hand on his shoulder. “It is definitely the right word. I was so scared I couldn’t even talk.”
Dr. Nguyen finally spoke up. “I’m going to close the office for a few days. But I want you to take a week off to recover from this trauma. Paid time off. We’ll be waiting when you get back.”
Dr. Coker nodded in agreement with his colleague, a sympathetic smile on his face.
Miguel nodded as well. He’d thought for sure that he would be fired after this. Instead, his bosses were thanking him and giving him time to recuperate. “Thank you. I’m just glad we’re all okay.”
“I’m sure you’re exhausted, and I know you have to give your statement, so we’ll let you go for now.” Dr. Coker said goodbye and gently herded everyone away.
Miguel looked up at Hector, who’d silently held him throughout the conversation with his coworkers.
“I have to give a statement tonight?”
“I’m afraid so. It’s just a preliminary one. The EMTs are going to want to check you over too, but they’ll all be quick, and I’ll make sure you’re done and out of here as soon as possible.”
“Okay. I’m fine with whatever I have to do, as long as you stay with me.”
“Of course,” Hector said as he tightened his embrace. “I’ll be right by your side.”
Chapter 22
Hector sat on the couch, Miguel cradled in his lap. He held him tight, pressing kisses to his hair and his forehead and his temple. They’d had to stay at the scene long enough for Miguel to give a short statement and be checked over by the EMTs. Once that was done, Hector had hustled Miguel to his car. They could take care of the rest tomorrow or the next day.
Miguel was clearly too shaken to drive so Hector put him in the passenger seat of the little Focus. Hector had barely been in a state to drive himself, but he’d kept his cool and managed it. He’d just wanted to hold Miguel close with no one else around, and to do that, he had to get them home safely.
“Estás a salvo ahora. Te tengo.” He kept whispering those words over and over, reassuring Miguel that he was safe. That Hector had him. But he was also reassuring himself as he held his lover close. He’d never experienced terror like what he’d gone through knowing Miguel was trapped with an armed Santos. He didn’t want to ever feel that fear again.
“I was so scared. I thought he was going to kill all of us. Every time he yelled…” Miguel paused to draw in a shaky breath. “I thought that was the moment he was going to shoot.”
“He didn’t. And now he’s going to be locked up and you’re here safe with me.” He kissed Miguel’s hair again. “You were so brave and smart the way you handled that situation. You got everyone out and even convinced Santos not to take his own life. I’m so proud of you. And so thankful you’re safe.”
Miguel tipped his head back to look up at Hector. His dark eyes were wet with tears, a few slipping free of his lashes. “Marry me.”
Hector brushed the tears away with his thumb. “I’m already marrying you.”
Miguel shook his head. “No. Forget all the Pinterest big wedding stuff. I don’t care about that anymore. Just take me to the courthouse and marry me.”