Page 16 of Inferno

“You call his next of kin?”

“I checked the paperwork when they admitted him. He still has me listed.”

The older guy nodded.

“But I’ll make sure his parents know.”

“Thanks.”

Samantha trailed away to where Romeo stood at the opening into the waiting area.

“You know all the firefighters?” he said. “You know what they do when they’re in crisis. How to talk to them.”

“And?”

“Just interesting. Like you and Julio using sign language.” He stared at her, like trying to figure out a puzzle. “Seems like there’s a whole lot about you that I don’t know.”

“I prefer to keep my personal life personal.”

“No kidding.” Romeo walked beside her down the hall to the emergency department. “I had figured that out. I’m a detective, you know.”

Samantha rolled her eyes.

“But you and I are special. We went through a trauma together, and it bonded us.” He laid a hand over his heart. “We’re connected.”

It didn’t surprise her that Julio had done what he did. Even if in the heat of the moment he had the completely wrong idea about who she and Romeo were to each other. So wrong he’d felt the need to make a very loud statement to anyone watching about who belonged to who.

She never had been able to argue with him about what really mattered.

Truth was, deep down she knew it. Like all the way to her soul. She belonged to Julio Espinoza-Vasquez, and she always would. No matter how far apart they were, or if they went years without speaking.

She would always be his.

That kiss hadn’t been about what Romeo called theirspecial bond. “You and I were at the same scene. The house blew up.”

“Exactly. We’re connected.”

Samantha almost laughed. “That isn’t why he kissed me.”

“No? He was staking his claim, right?” Romeo blew out a breath. “Fine. Does he know that’s not what we are?”

“Doesn’t matter. But yes.” Just for reasons Romeo would never know. “You were in critical condition. How can we be connected if you weren’t even awake?”

Actually, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know, so she waved him off.

He slung an arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “Feel better?”

“You’re annoying.” Of course. He had a sister, and she realized far too late that this must be how Romeo drew his sibling out of a funk if she was ever in one. “But thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

The sliding doors swept open, and they went outside. The fire chief’s car occupied the closest first responder spot. Chief Frayer and another man, an older guy in firefighter officer uniform, headed toward them.

As much as she didn’t even want to think about it, Julio had definitely made astatement. In front of everyone he worked with, the reporter lady and her camera guy, and all the bystanders. Before too long, everyone in the close-knit first responder community would be contacting her asking for the scoop on her relationship with the quiet fire captain who worked bomb squad.

Which was precisely the reason she’d kept it quiet before, and never talked about it much now.

Chief Frayer said, “I was hoping you were still here.”

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