Page 61 of Her Passionate Hero

Be strong. You’re past that.

“Alia, are you with me?”

“Huh?”

“You seemed in a daze.”

“Just thinking of Nicolas. We better get going.” They turned to Zed.

“About goddamn time. I’m going to have to do some creative driving in that piece of shit rental to make it. Now, get a move on.”

***

Hunter watched as Aliana put her hair up in an intricate bun. She did it easily, without a mirror and with a few bobby pins she had in her purse. When she was done, it was as if she took on a whole new persona. She was now Ms. Novak. He didn’t know if he was scared or put-off, but one thing was sure, he was sure as hell turned on.

For God’s sake, the reason he had come back was he could no longer stand not knowing why she’d sent him away. She had been his best friend, in some ways, she had been his savior. Now here he was feeling lust? What the fuck? Get it together, Diaz.

They parked two blocks from the school. They all agreed having Zed or Hunter approach Nicolas would freak the kid out. They also thought because of Aliana’s injuries, she couldn’t approach Nicolas either, so she arranged to have Lottie bring him to them.

Nicolas was taller than Lottie by an inch even though she was wearing those ridiculous red heels. He was a good-looking kid. Didn’t have that cocky attitude Hunter had been expecting, instead, he looked curious until he saw Aliana, then his entire demeanor changed.

“Ms. Novak, what happened? Are you all right? Dios Mio, should you be in a hospital? Sit down.”

Right then, he knew he liked the kid. Aliana was standing outside the passenger door, and he opened it for her when he took note of Hunter and Zed. Nicolas ignored them for the moment and gave Aliana his hand to help her into the car.

“Nicolas, seriously, I’m fine,” she laughed.

He crouched down in front of her. “Tell me what happened,” he demanded.

She sighed and looked at Hunter in the backseat. “I see you were right, still waters run deep.” She looked back at Nicolas. “My home was bombed three days ago.”

“Joder!” Nicolas said with feeling.

“Nicolas,” Aliana reprimanded.

“Leave the kid alone. Fuck is the appropriate word,” Zed said.

“Who are these men?”

“They’ve come to protect me, my mom, and my grandmother.”

Nicolas eyed her knowingly, sadly. “All of you have been threatened. By who?”

She didn’t want to tell him. She couldn’t.

“If you don’t, I will,” Hunter rumbled from the backseat.

She stayed silent.

“It was your brother, Mateo,” Zed answered.

Nicolas closed his eyes and stood up. He walked away from the car. Hunter bolted out of the backseat.

Nicolas turned to face him. He looked him dead in the eye.

“I’m not leaving, I just need to think a minute,” he said fiercely.

“Wanna take a walk?” Hunter asked in Spanish.