Antonio stood staring at Sylvie, his fingers resting on his lips, he hadn't imagined it, she really did kiss him and said she loved him, but she had fallen right back asleep. His heart didn't know how to handle the situation, if she was dreaming or didn't remember he wouldn't be able to handle it, or worse if she thought it was Matt she was kissing and it was a reflex, he would die.
He left her lying on the bed and went back downstairs and sat on the couch. He couldn't concentrate, this is what he wanted more than anything, he had waited it out and she was finally divorced but everything over the past year had been her making it very clear that she wasn't interested. He didn't know what to do and now here he was alone with her in the house, her upstairs sleeping and him sitting like an idiot on the couch waiting for a girl who probably didn't want him.
He clicked play on the remote and leaned back, the day had been exhausting and it was late. He could barely keep his eyes open and drifted to sleep. CRASH! Antonio heard glass breaking and jumped to his feet, he was disoriented, and it was pitch black in the house, the TV must've turned itself off at some point. He could hear something coming from the kitchen, it sounded like someone was in the house.
He reached for his gun and remembered he locked it in the safe in his truck, he never brought his gun into Sylvie's house because of the kids. He felt his way to the stairs, his eyes starting to readjust to the darkness he could make out the stairs and he made his way Sylvie's room as quietly as possible. He pushed open the door and found her still asleep.
He covered her mouth with his hand and shook her gently, "Sylvie, it's me, there's someone in the house, do not make a sound." He whispered as quietly as he could. Sylvie nodded her head under his hand, "I want you to lock the door behind me, get in the closet and make yourself as small as possible, call 911 and text Kim. Do not open that door for anyone, except me or Kim." She shook her head, "No, Antonio stay." She pleaded with him, he kissed her on the forehead and left, she followed him and locked the door doing exactly what he said, knowing he would never cower in a closet from an intruder.
Antonio could hear someone downstairs going through the kitchen as he descended the stairs as quietly as possible, he was wishing he could make it out to his truck for his gun but wasn't willing to leave Sylvie in the house alone so he had grabbed the baseball bat from Jacks' room, it was small but it would have to do. He followed the wall along the stairs to the kitchen and peeked in, he could see a shadow going through the drawers, he was a big guy, easily twice his size. He decided to stay where he was and wait for the intruder to come to him and surprise him while he came around the corner. He closed his eyes and sighed, hoping that Kim and the team were on their way and that patrol cars were responding.
He peeked around the corner again and saw the guy had moved onto a different section of the kitchen. "Move and I'll blow your head off." He felt the hot breath on his neck as the cold medal touched the base of his skull. "There's nothing here except electronics, take whatever you want and go." Antonio raised his hands in surrender. "Nah, big ole' house like this, there's gotta be a safe, where is it?" Antonio shook his head, "I have no idea, I don't live here, I'm just housesitting, and they didn't say anything about a safe." He lied wanting to keep Sylvie safe and her presence unknown.
"And where's the pretty little blonde, I saw yesterday?" The gunman asked, SHIT! Antonio thought, "Her and her kids went to go visit her parents, I'm the only one here." He shoved the gun harder into Antonio's neck, "You better not be fucking lying, where's your phone?" Antonio paused for a moment thinking, it wasn't in this pocket or lying next to him on the couch when he got up, "I think it's inside the couch, it must've fallen when I was sleeping."
"Hey, he says he's the only one here and he don't live her or know about no safe." The gunman hollered at the man in the kitchen. "Nah, he's lying, I've seen that truck here a couple times before, take him upstairs and search."
Antonio was praying that Sylvie got ahold of 911 and Kim. "Up the stairs and don't try anything or I'll put a bullet in your skull." The gunman shoved the gun hard into Antonio's neck, "Move." Antonio started walking, "Okay, I'll do whatever you say, just don't shoot me." He was speaking loudly as he started up the stairs so Sylvie would know they were coming.
Antonio was watching the gunman out of the corner of his eye, he could feel the gun pressed into his back between his shoulder blades, he was more than willing to take a bullet if it meant they wouldn't find Sylvie.
He saw his opportunity; the gunman turned his head when he saw blue and red lights flashing. Antonio elbowed the gunman in the face and he smacked into the wall, Antonio grabbed for the gun. Antonio heard the shot, and everything went white and his ears started ringing, he could feel the bullet ripping through his chest as if it were moving in slow motion. The pain was unbearable, he could feel himself falling down the stairs but could do nothing to stop it, he was no longer in control of his body. He knew Sylvie was safe and dying to protect her was worth it.
All of a sudden Kim was standing above him, he tried to talk but couldn't get any words out and he couldn't move. She looked upset, like she was trying not to cry as she held pressure to his wound. She was speaking to him, but it was muffled, he couldn't feel anything anymore, the entire world was slipping away, and he only wanted to sleep, his eyes were getting droopy.
"GOD DAMN IT, GET THE FUCKING PARAMEDICS IN HERE NOW!" Kim was screaming at the officers as she was watching Antonio slip away, the tears flowing down her face that she was at a loss to stop. Sylvie stood in the corner, she couldn't move, she was trained for these situations, but it was Antonio. "SYLVIE, GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE AND START CPR!" Kim screamed at her. Sylvie snapped out of it and jumped in. "WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?" Kim questioned her as she checked his pulse.
Sylvie just shook her head, "I don't know, I was asleep, and he woke me up and put me in the closet, I tried to make him stay with me, but he wouldn't." Sylvie was trying to figure out how she even got to her bed, last thing she remembered was watching the movie with him. "Of course, he didn't, he would protect you at all costs, you and Abbie are his whole world." Kim looked up and caught Sylvie's eyes, confirming exactly what Sylvie had thought all along.
The paramedics came through the door, Sylvie gave them a rundown on his vitals and condition and her and Kim stepped back as the paramedics scooped him up and ran with him, Sylvie following behind, "I'm riding." She informed them as she climbed in the back. "I'll meet you there." Kim nodded at her as she slammed the doors and watched the ambulance speed away.