Page 107 of Devious Lies

No words come to mind to describe the world of hurt he’s in for should any harm come to her. And I’m too busy running to the elevator to try to think of any.

I frantically push the button. Dialing Maria on my cell as I do.

She doesn’t pick up.

“What’s going on?” Nico asks, and he’s beside me.

“I don’t know. Could be nothing. But Maria is gone. Her driver is here, and she’s not. She’s not answering her phone, Nico.”

“Fuck, okay. Let’s go.”

I am in a state of utter fucking panic. But I shake my head.

“Stay with Anna. I got this. Let Angel know. Have him track my location and send me a team.”

“I’ll do all that, but I am coming with you. You’re my brother,” Nico says, and I nod, giving in.

“Could be nothing,” I repeat as we climb in the elevator, hoping it is.

Nico says nothing and minutes drag by like hours.

Fuck. Shit.

I picture Maria’s smiling face. I can’t wait to see it.

We’ll talk about how important it is for her to always have a bodyguard with her when I get her home, safe and sound.

She has to be safe.

Maria just has to be.

Please be fucking safe.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN-MARIA

The hospital room smells like a combination of antiseptic spray and Ivory soap, and I am okay with that.

Anna just fed Nico Jr, and I have to say, that baby is seriously adorable.

“He has such a nice head,” I say, and Anna looks at me like I am crazy.

“What?”

“Look, I don’t know why, but it’s a thing. Mami always says babies with round heads are perfect. Nico Jr. has a nice round head,” I say and shrug.

“Girl, you are so weird. But thank you, I guess. How is your mother doing?” Anna asks.

I tell her about the latest round of chemo and how it hit Mami hard. But she doesn’t have to worry because Joe has moved himself in, along with a round-the-clock nurse, courtesy of Luc, and a cleaning service for the house.

“Wow. That is great!” Anna enthuses.

“Where’s Sisi? Is she coming today?”

“Sisi went to her family’s condo in Florida,” she tells me, and I frown. “She needed some space and time to think.”

I knew Angel and Sisi were having some sort of disagreement, but I didn’t know she left town. Anna is quiet for a moment and the baby coos, capturing both of our attention.

“Here we go. He eats like his father already,” Anna says, lifting her baby to her breast.

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