Page 33 of Fighting for Julia
“Is…is he…how is Miguel, really?” Nausea clutched her stomach again.
“He’s showing steady improvement.” Sonia took Miguel’s temperature and his blood pressure and checked the monitor. She recorded his latest readings on a mobile computer stand that the nurses wheeled from patient to patient.
“But…his vitals are so low.”
“They’re higher than they were thirty minutes ago.” Sonia paused. “Stay as long as you’d like, Agent Washburn.”
“Thank you. Is it okay if Agent Martinelli joins me? We’ll be very quiet, I promise.”
“Of course. I’ll send him in.”
Alone, Julia moved closer to Miguel. She leaned over and pressed a soft kiss on his cool forehead. His rough, work-worn hand felt comforting in hers, and she rubbed her cheek against it.
“Miguel,” she murmured. “I’m here. I’ve never left you. If you can hear me, squeeze my hand.”
No response.
“Wherever you are right now, just know you’re not alone.” Sensing Luca’s presence behind her, she added, “Luca is here, too.”
Luca touched Miguel’s shoulder. He closed his eyes as his lips moved in silent prayer. “River, I’m right here. You know we’d never leave you alone.”
Only thebeepof the monitor answered them.
Under a window that overlooked a landscaped area next to the hospital, Julia and Luca sat in companionable silence on a vinyl couch. Both focused on Miguel, waiting for some movement to indicate he was on the verge of awaking.
After a few minutes, Julia said in a quiet voice, “Tell me about Miguel.”
Luca emitted a small sigh. He leaned back and began, “Miguel Rivera is one of the bravest, finest men I know. When we were being targeted by Axel, Jr., he chose to walk into a trap, knowing full well he could have been shot and killed. The thing that I love most about him is that he protects and mentors the lost and broken kids in our community, the ones that no one else cares about, not even their parents…”
The cadence of Luca’s voice lulled Julia’s senses. She enjoyed listening to him and grew drowsy. Soon, she slumped against him.
His deep chuckle rumbled in her ears. “I thought I was a good storyteller.”
Julia stifled a yawn. “You are.”
“You’re exhausted. Let me take you to a hotel where you can rest. We can come back in the morning.”
“No. I can’t leave Miguel alone.”
Sonia had returned to check Miguel’s vitals and to replace a bag of fluids and heard what Julia said. “Agent Washburn, we’re pumping a high dose of pain medication to keep Agent Rivera sedated. Trust me, he’s not going to wake up anytime soon.”
“But what if he—” Julia couldn’t complete her horrifying question.
“He’s improving with every minute. If you give me your cell phone number, I’ll text you if anything should happen.”
Julia agreed, and she and Luca stood up together. She swayed against him.
“Whoa, Julia.” She was shaking and sweating, though the ICU was cold. “When did you last eat something?”
“I…can’t remember.”
Sonia frowned in concern. “It looks like your blood sugar is low. There’s an IHOP a mile east of the hospital that stays open twenty-four hours.”
“I can’t go to a restaurant with…with Miguel’s blood…all over my clothes.” She gazed into Luca’s sympathetic face. “But I have clean clothes in the car we rented.”
“Okay. I’ll drive you back to McMullen.”
On their way out of Miguel’s intensive care cubicle, Julia kissed him on the cheek and squeezed his hand. “We’ll be back, Miguel.” She hoped he heard her and felt her touch.
