Page 96 of Forever Mine

Liam: I gave her dad your phone number.

Me: Mine?

Liam: I didn’t feel comfortable giving hers out. I don’t know what he wants, and I didn’t want to have her number given to other family members.

Me: I know a sister has it. Monica had to ask for money when her grandmother was going through cancer treatments when they were still in Oklahoma.

Liam: Jesus. She KNEW I had money, and she still wouldn’t take it.

Liam: Expect a call from the dad. I don’t think he’s much of a texter. When I suggested a text, he grimaced like he smelled something foul.

Me: This should be fun.

Liam: If you want me there, as family AND police, let me know. My shift is over in an hour. I’m supposed to have dinner with Liv, Nate, and their families, but I can absolutely cancel.

Me: I’ll let you know.

I’ve barely ended the text before another text comes in.

Unknown: This is Dante, Monica’s brother. Can we meet for dinner?

I turn to Monica. “Your brothers want to meet for dinner tonight. Are you okay with that?”

“You’ll be there?” she asks, her eyes tentative.

“Of course,querida. I’ll be wherever you need me,” I say quietly. Monica sighs.

“Then I guess dinner is fine. Better to get this over with so they can leave.”

Me: Yes, that’s fine. Where would you like to meet?

Dante: Your house is fine. We already have the address.

What the fuck.

Me: No. We’ll only meet you in a public location.

Dante: My SISTER is safe with us.

Me: MY WOMAN has been through enough. I will not stress her out with you all invading our space. We will meet at Como Pancho at seven o’clock. It’s in downtown Colorado Springs.

I picked one of Monica’s favorite restaurants, hoping it’ll give her some confidence as she listens to what her family has to say. She and Emily are weirdly obsessed with queso, and I know Como Pancho exceeds her queso expectations.

Dante: We’ll be there.

Dante: Is she okay?

Dante: I mean, I know she’s not okay. She was kidnapped. But how is she handling it? Did they hurt her?

My opinion of at least one brother has risen after him asking about her mental health.

Me: She’s okay. They didn’t hurt her. Monica is one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. She’ll bounce back, just like she has every other time.

Dante: Nicolas is lucky the Angelinos got to him before we did. After hearing what he did to my sister, I was ready to tear him limb from limb.

Me: Me too.

Dante: You found her, right? You’re the one that rescued her?

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