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NICO
Sofia unties the skirt around her waist before we go down the stairs to the shallow end. I don’t let go of her hand even when we’re fully submerged.
“This is why I love Miami. Swimming in December.”
“It’s really nice. I still can’t believe you live in a house like this.”
“Where did you think I lived?”
“I don’t know, but I didn’t picture this.”
“It’s just a building.”
“Right,” she says with a laugh. “Just a building. It’s like a palace to me. My apartment would fit in your guest room.”
“I want you to be comfortable here.”
“Anyone would be comfortable here, Nico.”
“I want you to be.”
“I am, thank you.”
“You’re welcome to stay for as long as you want or need to.” Forever would be good, but I don’t dare say that to her. Not yet, anyway.
“I’ll figure something out tomorrow.”
“I won’t want you to leave tomorrow or the next day or the day after that.” As I say that, I move closer to her, hoping I’ll still be welcome to put my arms around her, to hold her close, to offer comfort and protection and anything else she needs.
“It’s not up to you to solve my problems.”
“I know that, but why can’t I help you? I thought, maybe, we were starting something here.”
“We are. Or we were. I don’t want you involved in this crap with Joaquín and his band of thugs. If something ever happened to you, I don’t know what I’d do.”
“That’s how I feel about something happening to you—or Mateo.” I smooth the hair back from her face. “My friend Miguel called and said they’ve arrested Diego and the men with him. They’re charging them since they hit us with their car on purpose and threatened us with unregistered guns.”
“They’ll make bail and be out in a day or two. That’s how it always works.”
“He said they’re going to be under a protective order, too, and they’re facing some pretty significant charges. They’d be crazy to come anywhere near you.”
“That won’t stop them. They think I’ve done him wrong, and they won’t leave me alone no matter what. They’ll find a way to harass me endlessly. I’ve seen them in action for years. Diego’s ex-girlfriend ended up in a mental hospital when she tried to leave him and take their children. Now he has custody of them, and she never sees them.”
“That’s not going to happen to you. I won’t let it.”
“Is there anything I can say that would convince you to let me handle this on my own?”
I shake my head. “Not a single thing.”
Her deep sigh says it all.
“Hold on to me. Let me help.” I kiss her neck until she shivers in my arms. “I care so much about you and Mateo. I’d go insane if you didn’t let me help keep you safe.”
“You have enough going on in your own life. You don’t need my stuff, too.”
“Yes, I really do. How am I supposed to concentrate on anything if I’m worried about whether you guys are safe?”
“I have to work tomorrow—or I guess it’s tonight now.”
