“Do you need anything?” Mamá asked.
“No,” I said.
She sidled up to the side of the bed near my head and ran her fingers through my hair. “I love you, Clint. Gracias a Dios, estas vido.”
I heard someone hiccup with a sob and saw it was Erica. Since I wasn’t sure how reassuring my smile would be, I squeezed her hand back.
She looked at Mamá. “Can you and Laura give me some time with him?”
“It’s not your fault,” I whispered.
Her eyes said I was full of shit.
“Sí, Erica. Laura, let’s get some coffee.”
As soon as they left, Erica said, “Clint, I’m so sorry! I can’t believe I was such a moron.”
I shook my head. “Honey, you didn’t shoot me. I’m surprised he got your phone away from you. Could’ve swore you had it surgically connected to your fingers years ago.”
She didn’t laugh at my joke.
“You said he was bad news. So did Mamá, and Laura, too, but I wouldn’t listen.”
I kept my mouth shut.
She whispered, “I guess it’s like you always said, ‘Some lessons have to be learned the hard way.’”
After a long blink, I looked at her. “No, Erica. He fucked up. He played you and you thought he’d changed, right?”
Her brow arched, but she nodded.
“Then stop beating yourself up. I’m still here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
She grinned. “Yeah, because for once you’re not in charge.”
I groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
We were quiet for a while.
“She really does love you,” she whispered.
“What’s that?”
“You heard me. Raegan really loves you. Took Mamá and Brock to convince her to go back to your place. Never thought I’d meet anyone who could be more stubborn than Mamá.”
I chuckled. The movement made my shoulder ache and I hissed.
Erica sat up straighter. “What is it? Do you need more medicine?”
I shook my head. “No, Air. I moved wrong when I laughed, that’s all. Chill out.”
She sighed, but fire lit her eyes. “Don’t tell me to ‘chill out,’ Clint. It’s not every day my brother gets shot.”
I sighed. “Don’t remind me. And for the record, you’d have to stand in line.”
Her brows knit. “Say that again? I think your medicine’s making you loopy.”
I grinned. “No. I heard you talking to Laura. You’d kill Carlos again if he weren’t already dead. You’d have to stand in line behind me, because I’d be first up.”
IN THE MORNING, RAEGAN arrived just as Paul was leaving. He had come up empty on getting phone records for either Trey or Angela. Before he left, he offered to let Raegan stay with him. I thanked him but turned him down. The nurses had insinuated that I should be discharged today, though it might not be until the end of the day, but I was eager to get home and have Raegan with me.
The threat still loomed for her, but it wasn’t likely the hit would be carried out because there was too much heat at this point.
Still, I wanted to get to the bottom of this. It didn’t make sense that Carlos was part of it. He wasn’t affiliated with any of the groups which might have taken the contract. With him being dead, any answers died with him.
No word from Debenedetti, though I’d always be indebted to him and his people. Phil kept me from bleeding out, and Jason, Debenedetti’s right hand, kept Carlos from shooting Raegan. My gut said Debenedetti knew more and it bothered me now more than ever.
Raegan watched Paul leave, and then she sat in the chair next to my bed grabbing my hand. “How are you feeling, baby?”
My lips quirked up. “Better now that you’re here.”
“Good,” she whispered.
I looked at her for a long moment. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look like hell. You should—”
She pointed a finger at me. “Don’t even try to tell me to go home. I’m not leaving here without you.”
I glared at her. “I was going to say, you should take a nap today. Mamá always said I’m a lousy patient, so you’re gonna need to be on your A-game when I’m out.”
A skeptical look crossed her face. “Can’t believe you’re trying to toss me out when I just got here, mister.”
I squeezed her hand. “Didn’t say you need to leave right now, babe.”
Her eyes softened. “Good. Now, when are you blowing this popsicle stand?”
“They said today, but probably not until the end of the day. The doctor hasn’t even done his rounds yet.”
The cutest growl came from her and it nearly made me laugh.
“Have you had breakfast yet? I can go get you something or hunt down the people who need to get you fed.”
I smiled. “Ate just before Paul showed up.”
She huffed out a breath. “I feel so useless. There has to be something I can do for you.”
“There is. First you can give me a hello kiss, and second you can get my cell phone from my bag of personal items, which should be around here somewhere.”
“Unless your mother took the bag,” she said.
“She shouldn’t have.”
Raegan found the bag and dug out my phone. She looked at it and frowned. “I think it’s out of juice, but lucky for you I packed your charger in your overnight bag.”
I held my hand up. “Give it here.”
I touched the back of it, and it lit up, but the battery was low.
I asked, “Where’s Penny? She didn’t spend the night in the house, did she?”
She shook her head. “No, she stayed with Tanya. Though Brock mentioned the house should be open now. So, she might be home already.”
“Shit,” I whispered and pressed the button to call Debenedetti.
He answered on the first ring. “Ramsey, I’m surprised to hear from you so soon after getting shot.”
“Yeah, I don’t have much time. My phone’s low on juice. Penny’s probably back in her house now, but nobody’s with her. You may think the threat’s done, but I’m not convinced.”
“All right. I’ll send Jason
