Page 32 of Inferno

“I think it’s probably similar. Especially if their native language is different and they aren’t able to learn the language of the culture they live in.” At least a hearing person could make the attempt to assimilate and learn a new language. But if they didn’t, it might have no bearing on how they felt about the place where they lived.

“That’s a lot to put on a kid.” Romeo looked at him with a little bit of something like respect.

Julio shrugged. His upbringing had never given him a high opinion of himself. He just had an inbuilt need to slow down and make sure everyone around him understood what was beingsaid. “It was all I knew. And you don’t resent things until you understand what isn’t right about a situation. Or what you don’t have, but maybe should.”

He had let go of it—if he’d ever had any frustration in the first place.

He looked at Samantha. “I’ve had to learn how to let go of a lot of things. Life has taught me what’s worth holding on to and what wasn’t.”

Samantha cleared her throat. “How are your parents?”

“Really good,” he said. “The community where they live in Florida is great for them.”

Romeo snorted. “Shame about the hurricanes and the alligators.”

Julio smiled.

Romeo’s attention caught on something behind Julio’s back, and he pushed his chair back and stood. So fast that the chair toppled over behind him. The look on his face…

Samantha said under her breath, “Oh, no.”

Julio twisted around in the seat and spotted the young woman coming up the stairs into the department carrying a cardboard drink tray with four coffees in it. He jumped out of his seat and headed for her, signing as he moved to her.Bristol, it’s so good to see you.

She grinned and handed over the tray of coffees, so she had her hands free. In the next second, Samantha took the coffee from Julio.

That meant both their hands were free. He held his arms wide, and she slammed into him. Julio gave Samantha’s little sister a big hug, then stepped back grinning.It’s been way too long.

I know,she signed back.I miss you.She added her sign for his name on the end.

Julio slung his arm around her and turned her to the room. Romeo still looked like he had been frozen in place.

Julio looked down at Bristol and saw her looking at her sister’s partner in a similar way, with a whole lot of pink-cheek shyness. Hence Samantha’s reaction to her sister’s arrival. She probably realized that Bristol had come here precisely to see Romeo.

“Romeo, come here.” He motioned with his head toward Samantha’s sister.

The detective slowly walked toward them, but not his usual easy gait. This meant something to him.

At the table, Sam drank her water and didn’t look at them. So she didn’t want to be involved with this? At least Julio could get over the hitch of introducing them to each other for her.

He turned slightly so Bristol would be able to see his hands and his face.This is police detective Romeo Alvarez.He signed each letter one by one, figuring Bristol would come up with her own sign for his name. If their relationship progressed that far.

Maybe Samantha was hoping it wasn’t going to.

Far as Julio knew, Romeo was a good guy. If he got the chance, Julio was going to tell her to let them figure it out themselves—although maybe that’s what she was doing right now. On the side, he planned to warn Romeo what might happen if he hurt Bristol.

Bristol waived at Romeo, a soft little movement. All nerves and cuteness. Romeo was in serious trouble.

He turned to the guy, but not so far Bristol wouldn’t be able to see what he said. He signed, and spoke aloud at the same time, “This is Samantha’s sister, Bristol.”

Romeo tentatively lifted his hands and signed back,Hi.

Okay, then. Apparently, the guy was in the process of doing his homework.

“You can say it out loud as well. She can hear a little if you stand close to her, but not if there’s a lot of background noise. She’ll learn to read your lips. If you get hung up figuring out how to talk, just exchange numbers and text each other.” Julio turned to Bristol, touched her cheeks, and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Then he signed,Thanks for the coffee.

She waved him away, and he got the message, going over to where her sister sat. He set one of the drinks in front of Samantha.

She didn’t look up. “Is this your doing?”

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