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Disclaimer: 

This is a work of fiction, I do not condone or support any of the actions or behaviour that will take place in this book nor is this based on anything in real life. This is purely a work of imagination . This book is purely literature and does not represent me or anyone else who reads it.

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Talia's POV:

I woke up with a shriek as my phone reminded me that it was, unfortunately, time to go to work.

"Stupid fucking alarm", I mumbled to myself. Dragging myself out of my bed, I looked at myself in the mirror placed right across my bed, I stared at the woman in front of me. "Not bad for someone who just woke up", I smirked proudly at myself. I wasn't exactly a 'super-model' or an 'i***a baddie',

I had stretch marks, rolls when I sat down and what I like to describe as a potbelly meaning that I was constantly bloated. But it all kind of worked for me...

I was still that bitch.

Walking into my bathroom, I took care of my basic hygienic needs before I dressed up into my nursing uniform, putting my dark hair in a bun and attempting to do my makeup.

I lived in this nice apartment by myself, and at the age of 22, I had accomplished a lot for myself. Wherever my parents were, I hoped they were proud of me.

Ordering an uber - because I can assist in surgeries, but had no coordination when it came to driving - I waited outside, when I spotted my next-door neighbour on the other side of the road screaming into his cell phone.

He waited a minute, listening to what the person on the receiving end had to say before the anger in his face quickly turned to fear. Anxiously, he looked around, seemingly searching for something or someone.  

"Uber?" The man with the rolled down window said. "Oh yeah, thanks!" I replied.

I prayed to Jesus, Mary and Joseph that he didn't try to converse with me any further than he already had, I really just liked listening to music during car rides, especially with strangers, so I plugged my earphones into my phone and listened to my Spotify playlist called, 'Happiness is a Butterfly'.

Finally arriving at the hospital, I thanked my uber driver. I walked up to the reception, getting ready for the night nurses to hand over to me. 

"What’s up, slut?" I immediately hear out of nowhere. "Well, good morning to you too bitch!" I laughed, turning around to give my favorite co-worker, Alexa, a hug. "Ready for a twelve-hour shift?" She groaned.

I worked at one of the hugest trauma centers in New York City as a trauma nurse.Which means that luckily for me, I got to deal with all the fun things like people getting shot, car accidents, drug overdoses. Not fun for the people experiencing these problems but for me, it was entertaining and fun. Fun to see these people get better, fun to tend to people’s wounds. I think I had a natural calling for nursing.

Or maybe it was because my mother was a nurse, and this was the only way I could feel connected with her.

“Alexa you ask me this question every single day and I give you the same damn answer, no.” I deadpanned.

She chuckled slightly before replying, “just making sure babe. Also, don’t make it obvious but there is total Greek God at the desk.”

Rolling my eyes at what she said, I turned around to face the man, hoping I could help him with whatever he needed help with, and fuck me, Alexa wasn’t lying.

I don’t know if it was the piercing green eyes that looked like they were looking through my soul, or maybe it was the jet-black hair that was styled out of his face allowing his jawline to be even more accentuated, but God, it was something. Something dark and deeper that drew me nearer to him. I was paying so much attention to his face that I totally missed what he was saying.

“I’m sorry what was that?” I spoke

A small smirk appeared on his lips and he replied, “Could you take me to my father?”

It sounded like he had just woken up from a heavy slumber. I wondered, if his voice were this deep now then what would it sound like when he had just woken up. Would it be rougher, with more edge to it? Would it be softer and a little bit croaky?

Oh my God Talia, have you lost your damn mind?

No longer leaning on the desk he raised a sharp eyebrow at me and asked, “Well?”

The more I listened to his voice the clearer it became that he wasn’t fully American. His accent sounded a bit slurred and had a little bit of force to it. Was it Spanish? Italian.

Attempting to pull myself together and not look like a total idiot I spoke “sure, could I have your name?”

He rolled his left sleeve up and then the right exposing me to the body art that stained his tanned skin and replied, “My name is Matteo, Matteo Russo and my father’s name is Alberto Russo. Take me to him.”

Does he realize how intimidating he is?

Circling around so I was standing right in front of him I said, “If you wait for me here then I’ll go find out where he is.”

He nodded and I walked over to one of the computers and pulled his father’s records.

His father, Alberto, was currently in surgery after getting shot in the lung.

“If you follow me then I can tell you what is going on.”

Shoving his hands in his pockets he spoke, “lead the way.”

We walked towards the room his father would be staying in after the surgery is over. After arriving I said, “So, the bullet penetrated your father’s lung and a piece of it is being removed now, however, because of how long it staying inside your father’s lung he has developed a PE which is basically a clot.

I held my breath as he leaned in closer to me and asked, “Just be honest with me, is he going to die? Because if he is just tell me now.”

Well, that’s the first.

Trying not to look to taken back I cleared my throat and replied, “He’s got a good chance a very good chance actually. He just needs to rest and recover after the surgery and he should be fine.”

I don't like to give familes false hope, but you would do it too if you had a 6’4 man standing right in front of you. The sound of many ambulances pulling up alerted me and I continued by saying, “I’m sorry Mr. Russo, I have to go. You can wait here until your father finishes his surgery.”

Cracking his neck to the side he pulled out a card from his side pocket and replied, “how about you just give me a call.”

I nodded and moved to leave the room when suddenly, his arm wrapped around mine, pulling me close to his body. He leaned down and murmured in my ear, “I don’t believe in chances but for you, I will. Don’t make me regret it.”

And with that, he walked away leaving me to think; what the fuck just happened?