“He’s going to discover that prison isn’t a friendly place for rapists, not even West Point grads with richdaddies.”
For a moment, there was silence, Wu’s news a lot to thinkthrough.
“That poor cat,” Miasaid.
Joaquin caressed her hand with his thumb. “I wish we’d had that newssooner.”
“I don’t think I can ever set foot in my condoagain.”
Joaquin couldn’t blame her for that. “You don’t have to. Sell it. Put your stuff in storage until we’re both healed and have time to decide what comesnext.”
“Someone has to clean up all the blood. I have to pack and move my furniture. It’s going to be a long time before I can do any of that. The doctor said it could be three months before I can lift anything, not because of my arm, but because of mychest.”
Joaquin had the solution to this. “We can hire a crime-scene cleanup crew to clean the place. My cousin José Luis—that’s Elena’s older brother—has a moving company. He would be only too happy to show up with his crew, pack your stuff, and move it all to my Uncle Danilo’s U-Store-It. We can call my brother Antonio. He can bring his construction crew in to repair your place. You can put your condo up for sale without setting foot there again, spending a fortune, or doing any of thework.”
“Really?”
“Really.” He watched relief dawn on her face and lifted a strand of hair from her bruised and swollen cheek. “Big families come with benefits, and you’re part of that family now,remember?”
And there was that smile—the smile that lit up hisworld.
* * *
Mia was releasedfrom the hospital two days later. She wasn’t ever going back to her place, and she wasn’t capable of doing much of anything with a broken arm and a fractured breastbone. She couldn’t drive or lift more than a few pounds with her good arm. Even brushing her hairhurt.
Holly invited her to stay at her place. “We’ve got a lot of space and top-of-the-line security. Nick won’t be back from his current job for a few weeks. I’m free to drive you to the hospital to visit Joaquin every day, and we can get to know eachother.”
“I would likethat.”
The four-bedroom condo Holly shared with her husband was posh and luxurious with a fantastic view of Cheesman Park and the city beyond. Holly moved a recliner into one of their guest bedrooms so that Mia could sleep sitting up—the only way she was able to sleep at all. Holly also went to Mia’s condo, packed up her toiletries, clothes, and shoes, and brought them to herplace.
“My place is a mess, isn’t it?” Miaasked.
Holly was deadly serious for once. “It looked like a massacre happened there. I’m so grateful that you and Joaquin are alive. I don’t know how he was able to crawl all that way. He must love you verymuch.”
Mia’s mind flashed to the memory of him lying there, pistol raised. “Yes.”
“But, hey, I need to take you shopping when you’re better,” Holly said. “Did you know that you havethreepairs of hiking boots but only one pair ofheels?”
Mia had planned to spend all day every day with Joaquin, but the Percocet they’d given her knocked her out. If she didn’t take it, she was in too much pain from both her arm and her chest to function. She was only able to spend a few hours with Joaquin each day, holding his hand and savoring the fact that they were alive and together. The rest of the time, she was at Holly’s place, talking with Holly or trying tosleep.
Holly was exactly as Joaquin had described her—beautiful, blond, and brilliant with a big heart. She had dinner delivered for the two of them each evening and made sure Mia was comfortable. She also taught Mia things she’d never learned, like how to apply makeup. Most of all, she made Mia laugh—even when laughing hurt likehell.
“You have the most beautiful skin, gorgeous eyes, and lips and cheekbones that make me jealous.” Holly gently dabbed concealer on Mia’s bruised cheek. “You don’t need much makeup. In your case, less is definitely more—unless a bad guy has recently punched you in the face, and then more ismore.”
Three days after Mia’s discharge they sat by the gas fireplace eating Mexican food that Mateo had delivered in person. He had wanted to let Mia know that he and his wife had started a fundraising drive for Joaquin and Mia to cover any medical expenses that weren’t paid by their healthinsurance.
“It’s so incredibly kind of you to include me.” Mia hadn’t even thought about medical costs—deductibles and copays and all ofthat.
Mateo took her hand, kissed it. “I knew from the first night Joaquin brought you to my place that you were the one—even if he tried to play itcool.”
“That sounds like a story,” Holly said after Mateo left, sitting down beside Mia, a glass of wine in herhand.
Mia told Holly how she and Joaquin had met, starting from the beginning. “I was rude to him. I’m surprised he spoke to meagain.”
“In his version of the story, he fell in love at first sight, so I don’t think you have to worry.” Holly smiled, as if remembering something funny. “When Nick and I met, we almost killed eachother.”
“Really?”