“I was just thinking this is the first time I’ve ever seen you bring a woman here.”
“Funny, I was thinking the same thing. Not my usual routine, but nothing about this is usual or normal.”
“She seems really great.”
“She is, and she’s been through so fucking much, it’s not even funny—and it’s not over.”
“I heard about one of the cars getting hit. You think that’s related?”
“A hundred percent related. He’s refusing to let her go even months after she left him and filed for divorce. He’s got his friends and cousins and who knows who else hassling her even when he’s locked up.”
“I hate to think of her or Mateo being in that kind of danger.”
“I do, too. Makes me crazy.”
Milo gives me a serious look. “It makes me crazy worrying that they’re going to come after you.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“You don’t carry a weapon, Nico. You’re no match for a gun.”
“With the cops already all over them, they’d be crazy to take it to that level.”
“They’ve already run cars into your truck and now one of your work cars. It doesn’t seem like the cops are deterring them.”
“I’ll talk to Miguel tomorrow. Try not to worry, and don’t say anything about this to the family. I’m going to tell Uncle Vin what’s going on so he can help to keep Sofia safe at work, but I don’t want Mom and Dad all over me about it.”
“I won’t say anything, but you have to promise me you’ll be careful. Out of curiosity, I did a search online for Sofia’s ex, and he’s got a long rap sheet, as do his known associates. It doesn’t seem to me that he and his pals are all that worried about the cops.”
“When I talk to Miguel in the morning, I’ll ask him what can be done about a repeat offender who can’t accept that his wife doesn’t want to be married to him any longer.”
“I know you care about her, but I want you to look out for yourself in this, too.”
“I hear you, and I do care about her. I think I might even love her.”
Milo’s eyes bug behind his black-framed glasses. “Seriously?”
“As seriously as it gets.”
“Well, this is definitely a first.”
“Yeah, for sure. I kinda get it now.”
“Get what?”
“Why other guys make fools of themselves over one woman.”
Milo loses it laughing. “Oh, how the mighty fall.”
“I guess it happens eventually to the best of us.”
“I gotta be honest, bro. I never thought I’d see the day with you, but the first time I saw you with Sofia, I thought something was different about you with her.”
“That’s how it’s felt from the beginning. I’ve wanted her since the first time I saw her. The thought of this guy hassling her because she doesn’t want to be with him anymore is making me nuts.”
“Happens all the time, unfortunately.”
“I hate this for her. I just want her to be free of him so we can make some plans.” I mess up Milo’s hair as I walk past him. “Thanks for having my back.”
“Always.”
I return to my room and crawl into bed next to Sofia, putting an arm around her to keep her close to me while she sleeps. I’m determined that no harm will come to her or her little boy on my watch. I’d die myself before I’d let that happen.