Page 19 of Fighting for Julia (Laguna Beach Cops #6)

“The bullet, as you’re aware, did not exit Agent Rivera’s body, and as a result, caused some major internal damage and blood loss. It’s a good thing you stanched his bleeding; otherwise, it might have been much worse. We repaired the damage. He’s critical but stable in ICU.”

Gratitude surged through Julia, but she still clung to Luca for support. “May we see him?”

“Only one of you at a time for no more than fifteen minutes.”

Julia nodded. “Thank you, Dr. Solomon.” He left and she turned to Luca. “You go first. When Miguel regains consciousness, he’ll want to see someone familiar from home.”

Luca offered a smile that she deemed paternal, and she didn’t know if she should be offended by it. “Trust me, Julia. Miguel would rather see you . You’ve been waiting and worrying for hours.”

They rode an elevator to the third floor. The doors slid open into an immaculate and pleasant area. As they strode toward the nurse’s station, they passed a dimly lit chapel. Luca stopped.

“You go ahead, Julia. I’m going to light a candle for Miguel and pray for him.”

Julia approached the circular nurses’ station and identified herself. “Dr. Solomon said it was okay for me to see Agent Rivera.”

“Yes, Agent Washburn. I’m Sonia, the lead night shift nurse. Follow me.”

Sonia led Julia to the second glass-encased ICU cubicle across from the nurses’ station.

Her heart plummeted when she saw Miguel.

He lay as pale and still as death. His chest barely registered his breathing.

An IV drip attached to a vein in his arm pumped fluids and medication into him, and a monitor kept track of his heart rate.

It was so low that Julia had to bite her lip to keep from gasping aloud.

“Is…is he…how is Miguel, really?” Nausea clutched her stomach again.

“He’s showing steady improvement.” Sonia took Miguel’s temperature and his blood pressure and checked the monitor. She recorded his latest readings on a mobile computer stand that the nurses wheeled from patient to patient.

“But…his vitals are so low.”

“They’re higher than they were thirty minutes ago.” Sonia paused. “Stay as long as you’d like, Agent Washburn.”

“Thank you. Is it okay if Agent Martinelli joins me? We’ll be very quiet, I promise.”

“Of course. I’ll send him in.”

Alone, Julia moved closer to Miguel. She leaned over and pressed a soft kiss on his cool forehead. His rough, work-worn hand felt comforting in hers, and she rubbed her cheek against it.

“Miguel,” she murmured. “I’m here. I’ve never left you. If you can hear me, squeeze my hand.”

No response.

“Wherever you are right now, just know you’re not alone.” Sensing Luca’s presence behind her, she added, “Luca is here, too.”

Luca touched Miguel’s shoulder. He closed his eyes as his lips moved in silent prayer. “River, I’m right here. You know we’d never leave you alone.”

Only the beep of the monitor answered them.

Under a window that overlooked a landscaped area next to the hospital, Julia and Luca sat in companionable silence on a vinyl couch. Both focused on Miguel, waiting for some movement to indicate he was on the verge of awaking.

After a few minutes, Julia said in a quiet voice, “Tell me about Miguel.”

Luca emitted a small sigh. He leaned back and began, “Miguel Rivera is one of the bravest, finest men I know. When we were being targeted by Axel, Jr., he chose to walk into a trap, knowing full well he could have been shot and killed. The thing that I love most about him is that he protects and mentors the lost and broken kids in our community, the ones that no one else cares about, not even their parents…”

The cadence of Luca’s voice lulled Julia’s senses. She enjoyed listening to him and grew drowsy. Soon, she slumped against him.

His deep chuckle rumbled in her ears. “I thought I was a good storyteller.”

Julia stifled a yawn. “You are.”

“You’re exhausted. Let me take you to a hotel where you can rest. We can come back in the morning.”

“No. I can’t leave Miguel alone.”

Sonia had returned to check Miguel’s vitals and to replace a bag of fluids and heard what Julia said. “Agent Washburn, we’re pumping a high dose of pain medication to keep Agent Rivera sedated. Trust me, he’s not going to wake up anytime soon.”

“But what if he—” Julia couldn’t complete her horrifying question.

“He’s improving with every minute. If you give me your cell phone number, I’ll text you if anything should happen.”

Julia agreed, and she and Luca stood up together. She swayed against him.

“Whoa, Julia.” She was shaking and sweating, though the ICU was cold. “When did you last eat something?”

“I…can’t remember.”

Sonia frowned in concern. “It looks like your blood sugar is low. There’s an IHOP a mile east of the hospital that stays open twenty-four hours.”

“I can’t go to a restaurant with…with Miguel’s blood…all over my clothes.” She gazed into Luca’s sympathetic face. “But I have clean clothes in the car we rented.”

“Okay. I’ll drive you back to McMullen.”

On their way out of Miguel’s intensive care cubicle, Julia kissed him on the cheek and squeezed his hand. “We’ll be back, Miguel.” She hoped he heard her and felt her touch.

Julia dozed during the short drive to the safe house in McMullen. In a semi-groggy state, she retrieved her and Miguel’s duffel bags from the car, and she and Luca headed inside the house that had been left unlocked after the local PD went through it.

Noticing the mess they’d made, Julia remarked, “You’d think they would have at least tried to restore some semblance of order.”

“You’d think.” Luca replaced the cushions on the sofa and set upright the overturned lamps.

“I wonder if the police removed anything of value like cash or guns.”

“Maybe. While you shower and change, I’ll try to wrangle information from the PD.”

The warm shower eased Julia’s tension, but she didn’t dawdle. She washed the dirt, grime, and blood from her body and hair and dried off. She dressed in navy sweatpants and a matching pullover, pulled her wet hair into a ponytail, and joined Luca in the great room.

“Were you able to find out anything?”

“They took a computer, but the hard drive had already been scrubbed clean, probably years ago. I’ve searched the house, Julia. I don’t think there’s anything left to discover.”

“I agree. Let’s get something to eat and head back to the hospital.”

The IHOP was empty except for them, so they were served within fifteen minutes.

A full stomach revived Julia, and they returned to the hospital with two large cups of coffee to go.

Sonia informed them that Miguel’s blood pressure was climbing into the normal range and that the doctor ordered a decrease in his pain medication.

“He’ll probably regain consciousness by morning,” Sonia predicted. “Dr. Solomon said you’re welcome to stay with him as long as you like.”

Luca thanked the nurse, and he and Julia settled on the hard vinyl couch with their coffee.

They traded stories until they grew drowsy.

Luca moved to the recliner next to the bed, and Julia stretched out on the couch.

Within moments she heard the rhythmic sounds of Luca’s soft breathing, and it lulled her to sleep.

Sometime later a low moan disturbed Julia’s dream.

She jumped off the couch and saw the empty recliner.

Luca must have gone out somewhere. Morning had dawned.

Sunlight streamed through the windowpanes.

Julia shook off her grogginess and hurried to Miguel’s bedside.

She gripped his hand and leaned over him.

“Miguel, it’s Julia. Can you hear me? Please open your eyes. Please wake up.”

He squeezed her hand. Encouraged, she urged, “That’s it. I know you can hear me. I know it’s hard, but you can do it. Fight through the dark and open your eyes.”

Miguel’s face contorted with pain. Seconds later, his eyes fluttered open and slowly focused on Julia. Her heart pounded with joy and relief. Tears blurred her vision.

“Miguel! Thank God, you’re awake.”

“Hi, beautiful.”

His raspy voice thrilled her. “You gave me quite a scare.”

“Sorry.” And then, as if the thought suddenly occurred to him, “You stayed.”