Page 42 of Casualties of War
“Did he talk about withdrawing the Mexican units from the island?” Nick asked.
“No,” Calli lied, her tone flat.
Nick closed his eyes. “When are they leaving?” he asked tiredly. He had spotted her lie.
“They’re not.I talked him out of it. Nick, look at me,” Calli said. “Nick!”
He turned to the screen, moving slowly.
Calli leaned forward. “If I could, I would lean through this screen and shake you. You’re being Vistarian and melodramatic and if you step out of the tent with that expression on your face, every Loyalist will despair. Get your shit together, Nicolás Escobedo! You have a whole country lookingto you for hope, right now. You can’t afford to lose it.”
He swallowed. “I’m not losing it,” he said softly.
Calli recognized his lie, too. “Face it, Nick. The US, for whatever reason—and it doesn’t matter what the reason is—they are reneging on their promise. Mexico has not, though. Aguirre is with you and that’s not a small thing. You must phone Aguirre and stare him in the eye and show himyou have the confidence to do this.”
Nick pushed his hand through his hair. “Wedohave to do this by ourselves,” he said. “We’re committed now. If we leave the Rock, it will be a retreat. We can’t leave. We can only go forward.”
“Exactly,” Calli replied, relaxing a little, for his voice was stronger. “So you don’t have the USA with its numbers and tech and firepower. So what? It’s only Insurrectosstanding between you and the palace and you know their strength and their weaknesses, too. You push to the capital an inch at a time if you have to. It might take a couple of weeks longer than if the USA swept in, but so what? It’s still a victory.”
Nick’s smile was small. “A sweeter victory, for the effort it takes, most likely.”
Calli was pleased to see the smile. “It will be a greater victory,because of it.”
Nick straightened and lifted both hands and scrubbed at his hair, tousling it wildly. He blew out a breath and settled back in the chair and considered her. His smile was relaxed and natural. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
“You just did.” A warm glow built in her chest.
“I did?”
She nodded. “Not in so many words, but yes.”
Nick frowned, not understanding. Helowered his voice. “I’m sorry about…that. For a moment or two…”
“I know it was only a moment,” she assured him. “I knowyou, Nicolás. You wouldn’t let something knock you down for more than a moment.”
He touched the screen. “I’m glad you’re here, even if it is just a screen. There is no one else I can talk to. Not like this.”
Calli smiled. “That’s how you told me you love me.”
Nick’s browlifted. Then it smoothed out. “You’re a smart lady,mi amor.”
“I am. I’m also a woman bearing gifts.”
“Oh?”
“I didn’t only talk Aguirre into leaving his units with you.” Calli let herself smile. “He’s assigning a diplomat to the big house, Nick. He called her a go-between. When I pointed out that her status was actually that of a Mexican Ambassador to Vistaria, as the house has been recognizedby the Mexican government as Vistarian soil, he agreed with me.”
Nick’s smile grew. Then he laughed. “Why didn’t you tell me when I bottomed out a moment ago?” he said, still smiling. “That issuchgood news!”
Calli nodded. “I wanted you to haul your own ass off the ground, first.”
“So I can do it myself next time?” he guessed.
“Something like that.”
Nick sighed. “Let there not be a nexttime. I love you, Callida Munro Escobedo. I’m glad you got yourself arrested the first night you stepped foot in my country. You have been a blessing upon me and mine since that day.”
“Consider it pay back for everything you have done for me,” she replied.
