FORGIVE ME FATHER

CHAPTER 2: A HANDSOME STRANGER

Kevin stumbled out of the car, Alex’s weight heavy against him, blood soaked through his shirt and onto his hands but he barely noticed. “Father” he shouted, his voice piercing through the night. “Please, help him!”

Within seconds, the monastery grounds erupted into movement. Sisters rushed forward while Father Marcelo closed the distance between them.

Alex hung limply in Kelvin's arms, his face pale, his breathing shallow,

"He's losing too much blood, bring him inside" Marcelo said, already reaching for him.

For the first time that night, fear truly settled in Kelvin's chest.

Alex might actually die.

Together they carried the unconscious man into one of the spare rooms at the monastery, Sister Grace disappeared to fetch medical supplies.

Father Marcello rolled up his sleeves trying to assess the damage. “What’s his name?” he asked

Kelvin hesitated, he needed to protect Alex. “Alex”

Father Marcelo nodded before putting on some gloves laid out, “What exactly happened”

“A car accident” the answer came out quickly. Marcelo glanced up, Kelvin avoided his gaze.

A small smile tugged at Marcelo’s lips before he returned his attention back to the injured man that laid on the bed, whatever the truth was, this wasn’t the time for questions.

“I would like you to wait outside” he said picking up a pair of scissor, Kelvin nodded before walking out.

Alex groaned softly as Marcelo cut through the ruined fabric of his shirt. He froze, there where scars displayed on his chest, not just any type of scar, they spoke of violence and survival. Despite the scars on his chest, father Marcelo’s eyes drifted lower, the realization suddenly came.

The man beneath his hands was undeniably attractive, Marcelo immediately looked away. His grip tightened around the scissors.

Father Marcelo didn’t understand what exactly was going on with him, the stranger in front of him was unconscious, injured and in pain.

Taking care of him was his priority and nothing else should matter.

Yet when his gaze returned, he found himself noticing details he shouldn't have been noticing at all. The strong line of Alex's jaw.

The dark lashes resting against his cheeks.

The way even unconsciousness couldn't soften the strength written into his features, heat crept up the back of Marcelo's neck.

He stepped away from the bed.

“You have to live” Marcelo whispered, more to himself than the injured man.

A few minutes later sister Grace came back with the supplies, the distraction came as a relief. They commenced working on his wound, the bullet penetrated his skin, leaving a jagged a hole, Father Marcelo worked carefully, doing everything he could to stop the damage from worsening.

Alex would flinch or groan despite being unconscious, carefully he cleaned the wound trying his best to ignore the strange unease lingering inside him.

Eventually the bleeding stopped; Marcelo cleaned him up before placing a clean dressing on the wound.

He asked the sister to prepare antibiotics to prevent his wounds from having infections.

Hours passed and Alex was still unconscious, the convent fell into silence once more, a large number of the sisters had retired to bed, Kelvin sat in a corner; exhausted.

Marcelo remained beside Alex bed, watching and praying. Just before dawn Father Marcelo had fallen asleep by Alex bed side, his hand somehow found Alex’s.

Alex stirred, his fingers twitched, his brow furrowed as he felt a painful ache all around his body, Marcelo opened his eyes feeling Alex body movement.

“Alex?” he called out.

Alex eyes snapped opened before Marcelo could react he grabbed his wrist hard.

“Where the f**k am I?” he demanded, his voice rough and deep, Marcelo met his gaze.

For a brief moment he noticed something unexpected beneath the anger, they had fear in them.

He gave him a comforting smile, “Alex you’re safe”

“That’s not what I asked? Where the hell am I?” he voiced his eyes narrowed and his grip tightened pulling Marcelo closer.

Marcelo looked at him, took a deep breathe, he couldn’t believe he was anxious to meet this person all night. The same person he had nursed and this was what he got for taking care of him all night, calmly he pulled his arm free and stood.

“You’re in Saint Gabriel’s Monastery.” He spoke standing to his feet, for the first time Alex noticed Marcelo was dressed in a priest robe.

“A convent?” he asked with a flicker of surprise on his face.

“Yes”

Alex let out a humorless laugh before wincing from the pain. “There wasn’t any more room in hell and the big guy decided to leave me here.”

“You should be more grateful to the big guy for sparing you.” Marcelo spoke, Alex studied him carefully, for the first time since he opened his eyes, Marcelo didn’t look bad. He was handsome despite the messy dark hair and glasses sitting on his face.

Marcelo’s voice was so calm, steady and unshaken. Most people were intimidated by Alex Martins but this man didn’t seem to care, he wondered if he had been drugged cause for some reason he found himself staring a second longer than necessary.

Just then the door opened and Kelvin stepped in, both men turned their attention to the door.

“Alex! You son of a b***h” Kelvin’s voice echoed through the room.

“Language young man” Father Marcelo cautioned, Kelvin immediately cleared his throat.

“Yeah Kelvin, you’re in the house of God.” Alex spoke

“Sorry, Father”

A faint smile tugged at Marcelo’s lips “You two talk I’ll have the sister get you something to eat.” He spoke giving Alex a finally glance before leaving the room.

The door clicked shut behind him. The moment they were alone Kelvin’s expression darkened “You sacred me you idiot.”

Alex chuckled “But I’m alive. You weren’t going to miss me, were you?”

Kelvin stared at him “Really?” the smile vanished from Alex’s face.

“You should be happy you’re alive.” He paused his voice almost cracking. “I almost lost you.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

“Hey… I’m still here” Alex forced a smile.

“Yeah” Kelvin looked away. “I know that”

The room fell into silence, now that the fear was fading, anger was beginning to take its place.

“I need to find out who is behind all of this.” Alex nodded in agreement.

“When we get home, we can start with Ricky, I’m sure he knows something”

Kelvin immediately shook his head “We? What do you mean we? You’re not leaving here.” He announced

“What?”

“The entire country thinks Alex Martins is dead and I intend to keep it that way until we find out who ordered the hit.”

Alex stared at him in disbelief “You can’t be serious”

“Oh I am dead serious”

“I want to go now” he demanded.

“No.”

The single word stunned him, Alex wasn’t used to hearing it.

“No?” he repeated

Kelvin folded his arms “You can be stubborn all you want, but you’re staying here.”

“Okay, fine. I’m sorry for going to the party, Happy?”

“Not even close.”

“Please let me go. I promise I will always listen to everything you have to say”

Kelvin barked out a laugh. “That’s the biggest lie you’ve ever told, I know you Alex, the moment you leave here you would go directly to Ricky.”

“Maybe”

“You see?”

Alex let out a sigh. “I understand your point. But why here, couldn’t you hide me somewhere else? Another country, a little village. Literally anywhere that isn’t a church”

Kelvin’s expression softened “that’s exactly why I want you here, no one would look for you in a convent.” He leaned forward. “Your enemies are searching for a mafia boss, they are never going to think you’d be hiding with priests and nuns”

For the first time, Alex couldn’t find an argument, which made him annoyed even more.

The kitchen was unusually lively that morning. A group of young nuns gathered around the wooden table, pretending to help prepare breakfast while sharing whispers about the stranger who had arrived during the night.

"I heard he was covered in blood," Sister Maria whispered.

"He was," another replied. "I helped carry towels to his room."

A gasp spread through the group.

"Do you think he's a criminal?" sister Annie asked

"Sister!" Maria scolded, though her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"What? Normal people don't arrive at convents half dead." She replied

"I heard he was in a car accident." Sister Maria spoke

“That a lie, maybe they were scared father Marcelo would send them away. And I heard Father Marcelo spent the entire night by his bedside." She added

The group immediately fell silent.

"Father Marcelo stayed with him all night?" one of them asked.

"That's what Sister Grace said." Annie replied with confidence.

A knowing look passed between them.

"Well, the man is handsome." Sister Maria spoke with a smile.

Several of the nuns struggled to hide their laughter, before anyone could reply, a familiar voice cut through the room.

"And what exactly is so funny?” Every head turned. Sister Grace stood by the doorway, arms folded across her chest.

The room fell silent.

"We were just discussing breakfast, Sister Grace," Maria said innocently.

"Really?" Sister Grace raised an eyebrow. "Because from where I was standing, it sounded more like you were discussing our guest."

Nobody spoke.

"That's what I thought.” the older nun shook her head.

"Less gossiping. More working” the sisters quickly returned to their tasks. As Sister Grace turned to leave, she paused.

"And for the record," she added.

The room looked up.

"He is very handsome." a burst of laughter filled the kitchen as Sister Grace walked away, smiling to herself.