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Tears burned in Javier’s eyes. He’d fooled no one, not even his brother. “What am I, then?”
“A hit man. It’s a no-brainer. You have way too much money to be a security guard. I might have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night.”
That caught Javier hard. If he hadn’t felt so ill, he might have protested or tried to lie his way out of it, but he didn’t. “Do you hate me for what I’ve done? I take lives for money.”
There was a long pause and he feared Jorge would end the call. “I love you, hermano. I have from the day our parents brought you home, a red-faced squalling baby. You should know that. It’s not all your fault. Serving in Afghanistan scrambled your brain like eggs. The Army taught you to be a sniper and sent you home without any other skills. I pray for you, at church.”
Guilt swept over Javier, harsh and bitter. Jorge still went to Mass, his boys had all been baptized and received their first communion. His oldest, Mateo, was on track to be confirmed in the spring. His brother served as a lector for Mass and belonged to the Knights of Columbus. Javier hadn’t been to church since the first weeks he spent in the sandbox. It hadn’t taken long for him to decide there must not be a God. Now he wondered. Javier failed to find words to reply.
“Do you need me to come? I will. I can be there by morning if I drive. I can fly, if necessary.”
“Would you?”
“Si, of course.”
“I’ll give you back the money for the flight,” Javier rasped. “Cecily will have my phone if I don’t answer.”
“Give me the address of the hotel. If you’re not there, I’ll find you.”
He provided the information, then handed the phone to Cecily. “Talk to Cecily. She’s mi Tesoro.”
Javier shut his eyes and for the first time in a long time, let someone else take control.
Cecily put the phone on the bedside table. Without asking, she brought a fresh cloth and wiped his face with it. “He’ll be here by morning. I’m glad he’s coming. You need family.”
He grasped her hand and held it tight. “I need you. Don’t leave. If you want, you can go home but I want you to stay.”
“I’ll be here as long as you want me.” She spoke without sarcasm or snark.
Delirium must have set in already because Cecily sounded sincere. Javier hoped she was.
The tough hombre, the seasoned combat veteran, and sniper, became vulnerable in illness. His usual defenses were wide open, and he lacked the energy to dissemble. Javier surrendered to her tender, loving care and liked it.
She brought him cool water to drink, dosed him with more over-the-counter meds when it was time, and asked if he wanted something to eat. “The hotel offers room service, and you really should have something.”
Javier shook his head. “I feel half sick to my stomach. I’d probably puke.”
“I thought maybe some chicken soup or a light beef consommé. You’re keeping the water down and the little sips of soda.”
“I don’t know. Ask me after a while, okay?”
She stroked his aching head and planted a kiss on his cheek. “I will.”
Javier no longer thought he loved her. He knew he did.
He alternated between raging fever and terrible chills late into the night. Both sapped his strength and left him weak. Javier lost track of time, sometimes drifting to sleep or into a somnolent state. Cecily talked to him and at some point, she assisted him to sit up for a few spoons of beef broth. It tasted wonderful to him, as good as any steak or hamburger. He managed only a little, but it helped.
In the small hours of morning, Jorge arrived. Javier had no idea how long his brother had been there until he heard his voice.
“You look like shit,” Jorge stated. “I think we should take you to a hospital where you can get the meds you need.”
“I don’t want to go. I had enough hospitals in the Army.”
Cecily sat on the edge of the bed facing him as he lay on his side. She held one of his hands tucked in hers. “You’d feel better. I’m worried, Javier.”
Arms folded, wearing a stern look, Jorge glared from the foot of the bed. “So am I. You can’t go on like this. You’re burning up.”
A smile flirted with Javier’s lips. “Just wait, then I’ll be shaking with chills and freezing.”
