Page 64 of Inferno

“And rehash everything?” Did she want that?

Yes, okay. She did.

More than anything.

But she’d never been able to keep the good things she had in her life. And if things with Julio ended again, what was she going to do? It had destroyed her before.

If they split up again, she would have nothing left.

“Do you want things to stay the way they are now? Or do you want something better?” Julio used his good hand to swipe a single tear from her cheek. “Because I don’t want to live another day, if we even get the chance after this, without knowing you’re in my life. That you know how I feel. That I wanted you always, no matter what. To raise a family with you and all that entails. The right way. Eventually, we’d get it right. Take our kids to church. Teach them to do better than make the mistakes we made.”

Samantha sniffed. “It’s been two years. Why does it still hurt like this?”

“I need you to let it go. To let the fear go and take a chance with me.” He stared at her with so much warmth in his dark eyes. “Can you do that?”

Given everything Bristol had told her, she was pretty sure the only way to do that was with God’s help. To let Him have the fear and the hurt. “I need to figure out how.”

Julio nodded slightly. “I can’t do it for you. It’s always been something you need to work on for yourself.”

He understood that she’d had to be alone? Maybe not that she’d needed two years. But still, he’d always been waiting. Aware it was only them…

Looking for the time they’d be able to get back together.

“I love you, Julio.” Her voice was a scratchy mess.

His lips curled up, just slightly. As if he had a secret no one else knew. “You know, when I first fell for you, I told you. My feelings might have grown as we did since that day you waded in to rescue Bristol from those bullies. But it’s never quit. I’ve never stopped being in love with you.”

He leaned in and touched his lips to hers.

Samantha settled into his touch. Not quite the same as before. It was different now, and she felt the sliver of grief between them over what they’d lost. Not just time but a life. One they would have raised together.

A little of her grief eased, knowing he understood. That he felt the same way.

Samantha held on tighter.

A thump made her flinch. Julio leaned back.

To their right, a section of drywall lifted. Slowly. So slowly. As if it weighed more than she’d have been able to move. And a face came into view, firefighter uniform and helmet. “Cap?” It was a female firefighter. “You good?”

“We’re good. Get us out of here.”

“Hold on. Got to get the wall braced so it doesn’t come down on you.” She disappeared out of sight.

Samantha wanted to move toward the hole and climb out of the opening.

“Wait,” Julio said. “Until the timing is right.”

She glanced at him. Wasn’t that what they’d been doing all these years?

What was a few more minutes going to cost them?

TWENTY-SIX

The nurse helped slip the sling over Julio’s head, securing his arm to his front. Pretty soon the pain meds they’d given him while they reset his dislocated shoulder would wear off. Until then, he could move slowly if he focused. Who knew how he’d feel when the truth of the pain he was in came to light.

“Thanks.”

“Sure thing, hon.” She gathered up her things. “I’ll get your paperwork, and you can get out of here.”

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