Mia heard herself moan.
“Mia, you’re in the recovery room. It’s Doctor Aito. We took that slug out of your arm and put your humerus back together with some hardware. We also repaired the damaged nerve. How do youfeel?”
“My chest … hurts. My arm … feels like you cut itoff.”
“Luckily, we didn’t have to do that. We’ll try to get your pain undercontrol.”
But Mia had to know. “Joaquin. How is Joaquin? Please … tellme.”
“Your friend and the police officer are still insurgery.”
Insurgery.
That meant they were both stillalive.
ThankGod.
Joaquin was alive, but his life was still on theline.
* * *
Mia woketo see daylight outside her hospital room window, her thoughts fuzzy frommorphine.
“You’re awake.” Isabel, Joaquin’s mother, stood beside her bed, a comforting hand resting on her left arm. “How do youfeel?”
“Joaquin—is he…?” Oh, it hurt to breathe, the pain in her chest stillsharp.
Isabel smiled, lines of fatigue on her face. “The bullet struck his liver. He made it through surgery. The doctor said they had to give him forty units of blood. They kept him in ICU overnight, but he’s stablenow.”
ThankGod!
Relief washed over Mia, bringing tears to her eyes. “I was afraid I’d losthim.”
Isabel gave her a tissue. “So was I. I’ve been worried about you, too,hijita. You’re hurt, too. Tell me what about you so I can tellQuino.”
“I have a broken sternum where Andy kicked me, but no heart damage. A bullet broke my arm, but they put it back together. They think I have a concussion,too.”
Isabel stroked her hair. “You poor thing! Can I get youanything?”
Mia shook her head. “I just want to seehim.”
“We’ll make that happen soon, but for now, you need to rest.” She patted Mia’s arm. “I can see why my son fell in love with you. You’re verycourageous.”
An image of Joaquin lying on his belly at the top of the stairs, pistol raised, flashed into her mind. Bleeding, in pain, and weak, he had dragged himself across the living room and up the stairs to saveher.
“I don’t understand why you’re being so kind to me. Joaquin was almost killed trying to keep me safe. He held me back and opened the doorand…”
BAM! BAM!BAM!
Mia squeezed her eyes, shut out the memory of gunshots. “He saved mylife.”
Isabel took her hand. “The only person to blame is the murdering bastard who shot him, and he’s dead. I’m proud of the man my son has become. If he loves you so much that he is willing to give his life for yours, then I love you, too. You’re a part of our familynow.”
Mia found herself blinking back tears again. “Thankyou.”
“Elena’s here. She wants to see you. Is thatokay?”
“Elena’shere?”