NICO
It sounds like Milo is going to be okay. At least that’s the word right now. Who knows what an hour or two hours or two days will bring? I need to get home to Sofia, to share the good news with her in person. I’m almost to the gatehouse for my neighborhood when Miguel calls.
“We got them. They were hiding out in one of those shipping containers people convert into houses on Diego’s property. They had the car in there with them.”
“That’s great news.” I’m filled with relief over all the recent developments. “Tell me they’re not going to be back out on bail in ten minutes.”
“We’re charging them with attempted murder. They’ll be held without bail. How’s your brother?”
“Awake, alert and responding to pain stimuli.”
“I’m so glad to hear that, Nico. Milo is such a good guy. I hate that this happened to him.”
“You and me both. He was doing me a favor… He could’ve been killed…” My throat closes around a lump so huge, it’s a wonder I can still breathe.
“These guys have been nothing but trouble for years now. Your girlfriend is better off without her ex in her life.”
“She knew that before all this. What about the rest of them? Do I need to be worried about their friends coming after us now that Joaquín and Diego are locked up?”
“We’ve got eyes on them, but I’d stay vigilant for a while longer.”
“Will do. Thanks for everything, man. I owe you.”
“Just doing my job. I’ll be in touch.”
I take the time to call my dad to let them know the shooters have been caught.
“Well, that’s more good news. Thanks for letting us know, son.”
Since we’re not on speaker, I say, “Dad…”
“What is it, Nico?”
I can’t hold in the sobs that burst from my chest. “I’m so sorry I let this happen to Milo.”
“Aw, son, you didn’t let it happen. You’d take a bullet for him yourself. It’s always been that way with you two, since the first day we brought him home from the hospital. You said he was yours, and he has been ever since. As awful and upsetting as all of this has been, you know what I said to your mom last night?”
I wipe my face with my shirt sleeve. “What?”
“How wonderful it is that our kids are so there for each other. Milo saw what you were trying to do for Sofia and stepped up to help like you did for him when he wanted to move out of here and couldn’t afford his own place.”
Thinking of my little brother, I’m so blinded by tears that I pull over before I crash into something. After I put the truck in Park, I wipe away more tears with the back of my hand. “I love him so much. I had no idea how much until I thought we might lose him.”
“You knew before then how much you love him. Even when he was little and driving you mad wanting to be with you all the time, you always loved him.”
“Yeah.” I wipe away more tears. “I’d give anything for it to have been me instead of him.”
“Don’t say that, son. It would’ve been just as devastating for us if it’d been you.”
“He’s so much better than me.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is, Dad. He’s just a better person.”
“You have some rougher edges, to be sure, but you’re just as good of a person as he is.”
“I don’t volunteer to play dominoes with old guys at the nursing home or drive for Meals on Wheels one day a week or cut the Millers’ grass since Mr. Miller broke his hip. He’s way better than I’ll ever be.”