Page 6 of Always Mine

Hey, Annie. Diego here. Thanks for coming to see me. I’ve gotta stay a few more days. Please come again,querida.

Querida. His special endearment. It meant dear, darling, precious, cherished. Though it was often used by Hispanics, he told her it had special meaning between them.

Oh, God!

* * *

Diego checked his phone. Still no text from Annie. She’d come to see him today when he was out of it. But tonight, he was clear headed. And hoping she’d text him back. Agree to see him again.

But why? Why on earth would he give in to seeing her again? Give her a chance to break him again? He’d be an idiot to let her back into his life.

He laid his head back on the pillow. Stared at the boring ceiling. Studied the room, crowded with machines and a chaise. He’d texted Annie because he was trying to block what had happened three nights ago. He’d lost everything. His shoulder hurt like a ball of fire, his job was probably toast, and his team,hisTask Force were all dead. He couldn’t think about it. So he’d contacted her.

“Knock knock…”

Diego looked over to the door. Joe Romano. At ten at night? “Hey, buddy. Come on in.”

Joe strode inside to the foot of the bed.

“Thanks for saving my life.”

“The paramedics did that.”

“What are you doing here so late?”

“My team had a bad fire today.” His face was still blackened and he wore his turnout pants and suspenders. He smelled of smoke. “We came right to the hospital from it. Two of my firefighters got second degree burns. They’re being treated now.”

At least they’re alive.

“Have a seat.”

Joe came around the bed. He was of average height, muscular and fit. His hair was dark brown and his eyes were the color of chestnuts. Women swooned over him. “I thought you’d be feeling bad. About the guys. I came to see if there’s anything I can do for you.”

“Nope. Can’t talk about it. Don’t want to.”

Joe stuck his hands in the pockets of his turnout pants. “I found out the hard way that’s not a good way to handle things.”

Diego remembered the incident. Joe had lost his twin brother Jimmy and the two little kids he was trying to save. “Yeah, I know you had a bad, bad time. I can’t even imagine what you went through.”

Joe’s eyes turned bleak. “That’s howIknow stuffing it is the worst thing you could do.”

“Thanks buddy. But no. Not now.”

“When you’re ready, I’m here. Tell me how you’re feeling physically.”

“The docs said I was lucky. The bullet missed bone, arteries and nerves, but left some shrapnel so I needed surgery.”

Joe shuttered. “Ouch.”

“Yeah, well…”

“In pain, now?”

“Dull. Lots of meds.”

“Going home soon?”

“Day after tomorrow.”

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