Page 61 of His Enemy's Daughter
“I told you not to call me—” She glances over, sees my smile, and laughs despite everything. “You’re an idiot.”
“Your idiot. We make a hell of a team.”
“We make a terrifying team.” But there’s warmth in her voice now. Fear’s receding as we put distance between ourselves and danger. “Next time you want to play human shield, warn me first.”
“No promises.” My eyes are getting heavy, shock and blood loss conspiring to drag me under. “Regina—”
“Stay with me.” Her hand finds mine, squeezing hard enough to ground me. “Mauricio, stay with me. We did it. We got the ledgers. Now you need to survive long enough to watch me destroy my father with them.”
The determination in her voice cuts through the fog. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Good.” She presses harder on the accelerator. “Because this was just the beginning. Now we go to war.”
I manage to stay conscious until we reach the safe house, though the edges of my vision are black by the time she helps me inside. The ledger is still clutched in her free hand, and even bleeding and potentially dying, I can’t help but admire her priorities.
“Couch.” She guides me down with surprising gentleness. “First aid kit is in the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
She returns with supplies and efficiency that speaks to medical training I didn’t know she had. Her hands are steady as she cuts away my jacket, revealing the shoulder wound that’s still bleeding sluggishly.
“Through and through.” Relief floods her voice. “No major arteries hit. You’ll live.”
“Told you.” But the words come out slurred, shock finally catching up.
“Shut up and let me work.” She’s cleaning the wound now, movements precise despite her trembling hands. “You scared me, you know. When that guard shot you—when you went down—I thought—”
“Hey.” I catch her wrist with my good hand, forcing her to meet my eyes. “I’m alive. We’re both alive. And we have what we came for.”
“We almost died.” The tears she’s been fighting finally spill over. “Mauricio, we almost died in that vault.”
“But we didn’t.” I pull her closer, ignoring the screaming pain in my shoulder. “We survived. Like we always do when we’re in this side by side.”
She collapses against my good side, careful of the wound but needing contact. “Don’t ever put yourself between me and bullets again.”
“Can’t promise that.”
“Mauricio—”
“Regina.” I tilt her face up, needing her to understand this. “Protecting you isn’t optional. It’s not strategic or calculated or something I can turn off. You’re mine now, and I protect what’s mine. Even from bullets.”
“That’s the most romantic and terrifying thing anyone’s ever said to me.” But she’s smiling through tears. “Also incredibly stupid.”
“Heroically stupid, remember?” I brush my thumb across her cheekbone, clearing tears. “My job description.”
“Your job description is covering my back, not being a human shield.” She echoes her earlier protest, but there’s acceptance in her voice now. “Though I suppose I can’t stop you from being occasionally heroic if you promise not to die.”
“Deal.” The world is starting to gray at the edges again, blood loss demanding payment. “Regina, if I pass out—”
“You already said that.” She’s bandaging the wound now, movements gentle but efficient. “And my answer remains the same. You’re not passing out until I’ve finished playing nurse.”
“Bossy.”
“Practical.” But she’s smiling as she secures the bandage. “There. Good as new. Or at least good enough to survive until we can get you actual medical attention.”
“Don’t need medical attention.” Sleep is pulling at me now, impossible to resist. “Just need you safe. Everything else—”
“Everything else can wait.” She settles beside me on the couch, careful not to jostle my shoulder. “Sleep, Mauricio. I’ll keep watch.”
“You need rest too.” The words come out barely above a whisper. “Been a long night.”
