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* * *
Nicolette
All I can do is watch as Manuel walks away from me. Once again, fear freezes me in place. Manuel’s rage won’t let me go after him.
Head down, I wonder how bad I fucked up. Can he forgive me? This is every fear I had. But it’s a thousand times worse because it’s happening.
The fear becomes tenfold when I hear not one plane leave the small air strip, but two.
He’s coming back. Right?
* * *
Manuel
“Where the fuck is he?” I demand from Thomas.
Head down, Thomas sighs. “I’m sorry, sir. I think we need to call on Valdez.”
“You’re saying you can’t do it?”
He shakes his head.
“Get the fuck out of here,” I bark at him.
Sonofabitch.
Fourteen hours in the air was supposed to help with the anger. Especially, when I was going to be able to take it out on Richie. But the fucker isn’t here. Why the fuck was he in Anchorage?
This is bullshit. My gut is insisting I start all over again from the beginning of him disappearing. The beginning is Chicago.
My phone rings. It’s Nicolette. I send it to voicemail the way I have her other calls. I’m not in the mood to talk to her. To listen to her pleas to forgive her.
I order the pilot to get me to Chicago.
* * *
Nicolette
My mother sighs. “Mija, give him time. He’s working.”
I shake my head. I haven’t told her what happened. All she knows is he left yesterday, and I haven’t slept since.
“This isn’t good for the baby. Sit down and eat something.”
Her words stun me. “Baby?”
An eyebrow goes up as she runs her eyes over me. “You didn’t know? I thought you were waiting until you were out of your first trimester.”
“No. I—no. I’m not pregnant.” Am I? The math is fuzzy since the last time I had—oh my god. I’m pregnant. “I thought it was stress.” I sink down into a chair.
“Stress? What stress?”
I shake my head. I need to talk to Manuel. I’m up and calling Catherine. “Where is Manuel?”
She’s quiet for a minute. “On his way to Chicago. He’s looking for your father.”
Sounds about right for this fucked up life I’m living right now. “I need to be there. I’m packing a bag now. I’ll be at the airstrip in twenty minutes. Is there a plane available?”
