Page 104 of Devious Lies

“You got it, Boss,” I tell Nico.

He’s checking his watch, and I know he wants to get back to the hospital.

Anna delivered their baby boy three weeks early, but he’s healthy as a horse and the little mama is doing good.

In fact, I’m going to follow him there in my car.

I dropped Maria off before coming here so she could visit with Anna while I get some work done.

Angel is saying something about new protocols regarding our security and I’m only half listening as I send a text to Maria.

Me

I’ll be there in forty-five minutes.

Baby Girl

Okay. I miss you.

Me

Already?

Baby Girl

I am always missing you. Always wanting you, Luc. You know that.

Me

Good. I’ll see you soon.

Baby Girl

Can’t wait. I love you.

I grunt and I stare at her last message.

My chest squeezes. There is a tightness there I have never felt before. It isn’t comfortable.

In fact, it kind of hurts.

But I know what it is. It’s like that character from that fucking kid’s movie.

The one with furry green fucker whose heart is shriveled right up until the end of the Christmas story.

But the ending is the thing. That is when his heart grows. It gets bigger. So big, it breaks the fucking thing measuring it.

Maria loves me. I know she does. And knowing it makes me feel ten feet tall.

I should say it back.

I should tell Maria that I love her simply because I do.

So fucking much.

But I don’t. And that has more to do with my hangups than any lack on her part.

Maria doesn’t lack for anything.

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