42. After The Blue Lights #2
“How?”She thought about Chris on his knees in that safe-house bathroom.His trembling hands.I’m going to be a dad?
The way he’d touched her stomach when there was nothing yet to feel.The way he’d put his body between her and bullets.The terror in his face when Diego realized she was pregnant.The way he’d said our baby like those two words had rearranged his entire world.
“He cried.”Mateo blinked.“Walker?”Camila smiled.
“Don’t tell him I told you.”Mateo looked genuinely entertained. “The federal agent cried?”
“Bathroom humidity, according to him.”Mateo laughed.A real laugh.Camila’s heart broke all over again.When it faded, Mateo stared at her for a long moment.“Does he love you?”
The question surprised her.“Yes.”Mateo’s face remained serious.“How do you know?”
Camila didn’t need to think.“Because when there was nothing left for him to gain from me, he still came back.”Mateo went completely still.Camila continued quietly.
“His cover was gone.”Nothing.“The case was blown.”She swallowed.
“Mateo was arrested. Diego knew who he was. Every reason Chris Roman had to stay near me disappeared.”Her eyes filled.
“But Chris Walker stayed.”Mateo looked down.“He came back when Diego took me.”
Nothing.“He offered himself for me.”Mateo’s jaw tightened.“He was willing to die.”
Camila paused.“How?”Mateo looked up.“Because Mercer told me.”She stared.“He told me Walker wouldn’t stay behind.”Mateo’s voice became quieter.“Said they couldn’t keep him from coming after you.”Camila smiled through her tears.“That sounds like Chris.”
Mateo studied his sister.Then finally nodded.Once.Not approval.Not forgiveness.But understanding.“He loves you.”
“Yes.”Mateo looked toward her stomach again.“And the baby.”
“With everything he has.”A long silence followed.Then Mateo said:“I hate him.”
Camila laughed.“I know.”
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
“He put me in federal prison.”
“You put yourself in federal prison.”Mateo glared.“Don’t ruin the moment.”
She smiled.Mateo leaned closer to the glass.“But if you’re going to choose someone…”
Camila waited.Mateo clearly hated every word before he even said it.“Choose the idiot who comes back.”Her eyes filled instantly.“Mateo.”
“Don’t.”
“You almost said something nice about him.”
“I absolutely did not.”
“You did.”
“I’ll deny it.”
“You’re softening.”
“Camila.”She laughed.Then the guard gave the warning.Two minutes.
Her smile disappeared.Already?Mateo saw her face.“Hey.”Camila looked at him.
“I’m not going anywhere.”The irony nearly made her laugh.“No,” she whispered. “I guess you’re not.”Mateo nodded.He’d earned that too.Camila placed her palm against the glass.
After a moment—Mateo lifted his.Their hands aligned on opposite sides.Brother.
Sister.Separated by glass.By federal charges.By years of lies.By choices that couldn’t be undone.“I love you,” Camila whispered.Mateo’s face tightened.“I love you too, Mila.”
She cried.“And I’m so angry with you.”
“I know.”
“I don’t know when I’m going to stop being angry.”
“I know.”
“I don’t know what happens to us now.”Mateo nodded.“I know.”
Camila took a shaky breath.Then Mateo looked toward her stomach.“But you bring that baby to see me.”She laughed through her tears.“We’ll see.”
“Mila.”
“You’re already making demands?”
“I’m the uncle.”
“You’ve been an uncle for thirty seconds.”
“And I’m taking the position seriously.”She smiled.Then the guard approached Mateo.
Time.Mateo stood.So did Camila.Before he turned away, he looked at her one last time.
“Tell Walker something for me.”
“What?”Mateo hesitated.“Tell him I know why he went back for you.”Camila’s breath caught.Mateo didn’t explain.He didn’t need to.The guard cuffed him.Camila watched her brother disappear through the secure door.It closed behind him.And for the first time, she understood that loving Mateo didn’t require pretending he was innocent.She could love her brother—and still let him answer for what he’d done.Chris was waiting outside.Leaning against the SUV.Arms crossed.Sunglasses on.Very FBI.Very Chris.The second he saw her face, he straightened.Camila walked toward him.Chris opened his arms without saying anything.She stepped into them.He held her.
“How’d it go?”Camila pressed her cheek against his chest.“He hates you.”Chris nodded. “Expected.”
“He called you an idiot.”
“Fair.”
“Told him I’m pregnant.”Chris pulled back.“How’d that go?”
“He said I’mgoing to fucking kill him.”Chris smiled.“Also fair.”
“And he asked whether you love me.”His smile faded.“What did you say?”
Camila looked up.“I told him yes.”Chris touched her face.“And?”
“I told him I knew because you came back when there was nothing left to gain.”
His expression softened.Camila smiled.“He understood.”Chris was quiet for a moment.
“What else did he say?”Camila’s smile widened.“He said if I’m going to choose someone, choose the idiot who comes back.”Chris stared.“He said that?”
“Basically.”
“I think Mateo Vargas just gave me his blessing.”
“Don’t push it, FBI.”Chris grinned.“Wouldn’t dream of it, princess.”She kissed him.Then took his hand and placed it over her stomach.Chris’s expression changed instantly.
Every time.Camila loved that.“Ready to go home?” he asked.She nodded.“Home.”
This time—they finally had one.