Page 21 of Her Passionate Hero

“What should I be on the lookout for?” her grandmother asked.

“I’ll give you a printout.”

He came over and listened to Aliana’s heart, then looked at her pupils. “You were very lucky you landed in the grass and the door wasn’t the best quality. I would say God was looking over you.”

“Except for the part that someone put a bomb in her house,” Lottie said angrily.

“Aliana, there are two detectives who are going to want to talk to you tomorrow,” Ernie said. “You need to be straight with them.”

She looked at her grandmother, who looked so much like her mother. She couldn’t. She just couldn’t put her mother at risk. It was a miracle Mateo hadn’t targeted her treasured Babička. But she didn’t know what she was going to do. Was she going to have to give up on Nicolas in order to keep her mother safe? God, please help her find an answer she prayed.

“What are you thinking?” Lottie asked.

“What?”

“I don’t like that expression on your face,” her friend said.

“I think it’s time for my patient to get some rest.” The doctor started to usher everyone out.

“What time will she be discharged?” Ernie asked.

“About one o’clock.”

“The detectives will be here about noon.”

“I’ll be here at eleven with some clothes and your grandmother.”

“Babička, how did you get here?” Aliana asked her grandmother.

“I took a cab.” God save her from stubborn women.

“Don’t do that again. Call someone,” Aliana said fiercely. Damn, now her throat and her head hurt.

“Oh, I’ll call someone,” her grandmother assured her. It sounded like a threat.

“Out,” the doctor commanded.

She watched as everyone paraded out of her room. Sakra, she needed a plan and fast.

***

Hunter Diaz was dismantling his rifle when his lieutenant walked over to him.

“That was damn fine shooting. You’ve been getting in extra practice.”

“Maybe.”

“You’ve been pretty quiet since the mission in Cameroon. Is there anything you want to talk about?” Gray asked quietly.

Hunter shook his head, focusing on packing away his equipment.

“Let me phrase this another way. I think you and I should grab a beer.”

Shit. As much as he respected Grayson Tyler, the last thing he needed was for the man to be poking around in his head.

“Gray, I really appreciate the thought, but I’ve dealt with it. Griff and I have talked. I think it hit him harder since he has a baby girl and all.”

“That’s what I would have thought, too. But he’s not the one who’s shut down, you are. It’s either a beer or the shrink. Your choice.”