Page 82 of Inferno

She stared at him.

Julio glanced at Romeo. “I’ll give you an address. You can drop us off.”

“Do I look like your driver?” Her partner sounded like he wanted to argue, but his tone was more like one he’d use with his sister, Cat, on the phone.

She signed,Yes.Julio chuckled.

They slid into the back seat, and Julio held her hand, one arm around her shoulders. She leaned over and put her head on hisshoulder, closing her eyes. Feeling all the strength and warmth in him—the man God had made, just for her.

“You okay?” He touched her check. “That seemed like an important moment back there.”

She asked God for the ability to speak, just a little. Her aching arms felt far too heavy to lift. Without either, she’d be unable to communicate at all, but even with that, she’d still be safe with these two men. The guy she’d always loved, and her partner and friend. She’d be able to get along just fine.

“You’re exhausted, Sammy. Tell me later.”

“I just realized how many gifts I’ve been given,” she managed to whisper.

He nodded. Then he touched his lips to hers. “You should go to the hospital, but I also like the idea of you recuperating at my house.”

She lifted her head and eyed him, one brow raised.

“I have a guest room.”

Samantha laid her head on his shoulder again, able to let go of the fear for just a second. Protected. Safe. There wasn’t much of her life where she felt the way she did when she was with Julio. The man God had created just for her, and she knew he felt the same. There was never anyone else. There would never be anyone else.

She’d protected herself by cutting him out of her life.

But in the end, what kind of life had it been?

She moved her hand around so she could lace her fingers with his and hold on tight. Doing that reminded her she had done something similar when they were in high school. Samantha flexed her fingers so he loosened his. Then she drew her two middle fingers in, tucking them against his palm.

I love you.

Julio turned his head and kissed her temple, whispering, “Love you, too.”

Samantha closed her eyes and pushed aside the pain long enough to let the fatigue claim her.

THIRTY-TWO

Julio felt when Samantha drifted off, and given what she’d been through, sleeping was the best thing for her now. Who knew what Walter had given her, or done to her, the things he’d put her through—even just mentally terrifying her.

The sick feeling sat like nausea in his gut.

Now that he had her back, all his emotions rushed in. Where he’d been pushing them aside and working the problem, now that she was safe in his arms, he could shake the fear he’d lost her for good.

Thank You. You kept her safe, and You will bind up her wounds. Help her to trust in You, more and more. Draw her close to You.

Julio rubbed his nose, which hurt his shoulder, but the pain was better than if they’d been too late to get her back. All he had was a dislocated shoulder that had been set to heal. She had a trail of cigarette burns on her arm, bumps and bruises all over. A mark on her cheek that looked like she’d been punched.

But she was okay. She would heal.

Julio’s phone rang. He winced and tugged it from his pants pocket. No way to do it without it hurting, so he tried to keep as still and quiet as he could.

Samantha stirred anyway. She didn’t need to go anywhere, though. Unless she wanted to.

He slid his thumb across the screen. Chief Greyson Frayer was calling. “Coda.”

“We’ve got a problem.”

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