Page 30 of Desperate Justice
Elena beamed. “I told you she was smart, Rafey. Yes, hero complex. You wanted nothing to do with the bakery business. You only wanted to follow in your father’s footsteps and you ignored the family.”
Truly red now, he sputtered, feeling the stinging truth of Elena’s words. “I didn’t ignore the family, Tita. And my brother also didn’t choose to work in the bakery.”
“Ah, but you were the youngest and missed him the most. You were only twelve when he died. I always worried about Carmela marrying a police officer, more than I worried about her marrying a non-Cuban. I feared the day he would never come home. You worshipped him more than anyone else.”
This was unsettling. Did Elena have to share his whole damn childhood with Allison?
“I never ignored my family,” he protested, drawing his hand away from his grandmother.
“You may not have ignored us, Rafey, but you chose the company of friends who were different. Look at that Jason, your friend. He became an FBI agent like you.” Elena sighed. “I don’t know who influenced whom.”
“Long time ago, Tita. I always wanted to be an FBI agent. It had nothing to do with my father.”
“Why did you become an agent?” Allison asked.
“It’s personal,” he grated out. Rafe glanced at his grandmother. Was today pick-on-Rafael day?
“You were there the day I graduated from the academy, Tita. You seemed proud. You never voiced an objection.”
The woman sighed and plucked at the bedcover. “Because you were happy. That is all I ever wanted for my children and my grandchildren—their happiness. It’s the same reason I did not forbid Carmela from marrying your father. Oh, Pedro, your grandfather, raged enough about her marrying an American and a police officer. But I knew my daughter. She was in love, and she has a stubborn streak same as you.”
“I am not stubborn.”
On the other side of the bed, he saw Allison raise her eyebrows and smirk.
“Well, maybe a little. But all for good reasons. You are so much like your father, Rafael. Everything is about the job and nothing left for family.”
Ouch. That stung.
“And everyone else isn’t focused on their careers?” he asked with a touch of bitterness.
“They have a good—what do you call it in English? Work-life balance. Their families come first.”
Elena gave him a censuring look as if to state the obvious.You don’t have a wife or children.
His grandmother turned to Allison.
“Rafey is dedicated to his job, the same as you are, Allison. Another thing you have in common. Except you save lives and he risks his. But I think you both would balance out your differences.”
Oh hell no, his grandmother was setting him up? Rafe bit back a groan.
Maybe he should make a smart-ass remark about going on Tinder to find dates. But his grandmother had already suffered heart trouble.
Pink once more suffused her cheeks. Allison smiled at Elena. “I’ll leave you now to get some rest. I have to go. If you need anything, press the nurse call button. I asked nursing administration to put you on the VIP list. They agreed and now they’ll be sure to check in on you more often.”
“Thank you.” Elena’s eyes closed. “I am rather tired. Rafey, would you mind walking Allison out?”
Cagey Tita. As his grandmother turned her head, he caught a slight smile.
Rafe kissed her forehead and bid her good-night. Outside her door, he gestured to the elevators.
They walked together. He became fully aware of the delicate floral scent emanating from Allison. Shampoo? Probably. Allison didn’t seem the perfume type, unlike her sister. As a nurse, she’d also be cognizant of patients who were allergic to scents.
Her thick brown hair tumbled past her slender shoulders. Rafe’s discomfort grew as he remembered busting into the women’s room and catching her making a phone call, clad only in scrub bottoms and a bra.
Scalloped lace had edged the cups.
Enough of this. He scowled and punched the elevator button.
