Page 58 of Loco

Roque’s eyes met mine, calm but cautious. “We think we’ve identified the guy who slashed your tire. We’re tracking him, but if he targeted you once, we need to be ready if he tries again.”

Kai opened a small black case and pulled out a ring. “We’re putting trackers on anything you regularly have on you. Your car, your phone—and if you’re willing—this.”

I looked at the ring—an aquamarine stone with subtle silver beading around the edge—and it was actually kind of pretty.

I raised an eyebrow. “Are you proposing to me, Kai?”

Roque grunted behind me—just a low noise of disapproval or jealousy, maybe both.

Kai’s mouth twitched. “Not unless you’ve got a thing for emotionally unavailable guys. It’s just something I had lying around, I figured it’d be useful.”

I held out my hand. “Well, it’s gorgeous. And I’ve definitely worn weirder things in my life.”

As he slipped the ring onto my finger, I turned to Roque. “How are the kids?”

“They’re good,” he said, his voice softening. “Kapono’s with them. Last I saw, he was losing a battle with turkey and a pair of kitchen scissors.”

I blinked. “What?”

“He was trying to cut them into cow shapes,” Roque explained with a faint smile. “It wasn’t going well.”

I laughed, finally able to let the tension crack just a little. I turned to the cupboard and reached onto the top shelf, pulling out a plastic bag filled with animal-shaped cookie cutters.

I passed it to Roque with a smile. “Tell him to use these. I don’t want to find shredded poultry on the walls when I visit next.”

Roque took the bag and shook his head with a quiet laugh. “You’re a lifesaver.”

“Don’t I know it,” I sighed, sliding the groceries onto the counter.

Even surrounded by people, even with the heaviness of everything going on, I suddenly felt a little steadier.

Because this was something like safety, trust, and I knew damn well I’d fight to keep it.

Chapter 18

Sayla

Istood outside Roque’s door, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, clutching the box of cupcakes like it was something fragile and sacred. My sister had outdone herself again with bright-colored sprinkles scattered across swirls of pastel icing, this time bubblegum-flavored because Kaida had declared it herfavorite after a particularly animated conversation about candy.

I'd brought gifts too—Shrek wall decals for Kaida, the kind that peels off without damage because her love for that ogre apparently knew no bounds now. And for Kairo, I’d gotten bright, shiny decals of race cars. Roque had mentioned he was into them, so I went all in—flames, checkered flags, and even a pit crew decal. I hoped they’d like them.

This was the first proper dinner I’d have with them. It wasn’t an emergency meal or a late-night stop to drop something off. It was a real dinner, and it felt big.

I raised my hand to knock, my heart tapping a rhythm against my ribs, but before my knuckles made contact, the door burst open with a dramaticclick.

“Saylaaa!” Kaida shrieked, bouncing in place like a human pogo stick.

The sudden rush of movement triggered the alarm, which started blaring instantly, echoing around the doorway.

“Oh, oh,” Kaida whispered, then giggled, unbothered by the siren, as she launched herself at me, arms wide.

Behind her, Kairo hovered, offering a shy smile that made something warm settle low in my chest. Roque appeared a second later, jaw tight as he reset the alarm with a practiced press of buttons. He took one look at the cupcake box in my hands and let out a dramatic sigh.

“Sugar high incoming,” he muttered, grabbing the box like it was a live grenade. “You’re evil.”

“Blame my sister,” I said, laughing as Kaida grabbed my hand and tugged me inside.

After the usual greetings to the pets—two of which had already flopped dramatically at my feet for affection—we went to the kitchen. It smelled like garlic and warmth and the kind of comfort that came from food made with skill.

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