Page 37

TWENTY-NINE

ALEJANDRA

One Week To Deployment:

It’s as if Zoe can sense Gage is leaving because he is all she wants right now and while I would normally adore the fact that she is turning into a daddy’s girl, now is totally not the time.

I can see the anguish in his face every time he has to leave.

He is such a great father, and I know this must be hurting his heart.

Gage grabs his lunch from the island, kisses me goodbye, and heads out the door, leaving me with a screaming Zoe.

Today is going to be a great day.

As if lying to myself will make it any better.

“Okay, Princesa . Daddy will be home later tonight, so let’s try to get some stuff done and then we can go for a run to the park.

” Zoe’s crying softens to gentle hiccups and I reach for the baby carrier to put her on my back so I can get the stuff done around the house first. Unloading the dishwasher, making the shopping list, and gathering up some bags for packing.

Once I’m finished with all of that and Zoe’s had her midmorning cereal and mashed bananas, we get ready to hit the commissary for groceries and the stuff Gage wants to take with him.

He helped me make a list of all the snacks he wants to bring with him, which is essentially just beef jerky, individual bags of nuts, dried fruit, and powder drink mixes.

Not all of it will be on base, so I’ll have to hit two different stores.

I’m heading downstairs with the diaper bag and when the doorbell camera alarm goes off.

Not that someone rang it, but that something is on the porch.

Probably a package. Shrugging it off, I head to the kitchen to grab Zoe’s bottle and formula container, but my phone buzzes again.

I pull my phone from my back pocket and on the camera, with their back turned, is someone in a black jacket with the hood up.

I step into the hallway and stare at the door.

The handle jiggles.

I drop the bottle and bolt up the stairs with Zoe on my back. I run straight for the gun safe and punch in the code. The safe clicks and I pull it open, reaching for my Sig. I make sure it’s ready and crack the door open to listen.

Fuck.

I pull out my phone and hit Gage’s contact.

Ring. Ring. Ring… It finally connects.

“Hey, baby, I can’t really talk ri?—”

“Someone is trying to break into the house.” I hear something smack into a wall on his end.

“Where are you? Do you have Zoe?” I hear muffled words, then the sound of running.

“I’m in the gear room and I have my gun out. I have Zoe on my back in the carrier.” In the background, I hear Gage yelling at people and then the sound of the truck’s seat belt alert.

“I’m on my way. Close and lock the door. Get behind my desk and stay calm.” I hear a voice other than Gage’s.

“Did she see who it was?”

“Baby, did you recognize them?” Gage asks, and I hear the truck pick up speed and curse as he drives. “Almost there, pretty girl.”

“No, they are wearing a black hoodie and it was pulled up.” The sound of someone ramming against the door makes me yelp. “It sounds like they are trying to break the door down.”

“Fuck, get the fuck out of my way before I run you over, you fucking BMW.” Gage speeds up and I can hear the other voice on the phone talking to someone.

“Gunny’s house is being broken into as we speak, with his pregnant wife and kid at home, sir.”

“Almost there, baby. You doing okay? Talk to me, Hermosa .” I hear the door bang a few more times, and then it stops.

“They… they stopped.” I try to compose myself and catch my breath. “Maybe they’re gone.”

“Stay in that room and don’t open the door until I tell you to.” I stay at the desk and I hold my gun in one hand, phone in the other, listening to him breathe. “Turning onto our street. Morales called the police, so we’ll see how long it takes for them to get here.”

Morales is with him. I should have guessed.

I hear the truck stop, the doors fly open, and the camera alert vibrates my phone. “I’m coming, baby. I’m almost to you.”

The garage opens and I hear the laundry room door open and the sound of thudding boots on the stairs. Then the knock on the door. “ Hermosa , open up.”

I’m frozen.

“Ale, it’s me, baby. You’re safe now.” I hear his key slide into the doorknob, and I tense up. I know it’s him, not whoever was trying to break in, but my brain won’t let my body move. The lock turns over and there he is, the only person in the world that I want right now.

I held it together until the moment he looked into my eyes.

The floodgates have opened.

My body shakes violently with the sobs, and my shoulders drop.

The phone hits his desk and before I can lose the grip on my gun, Gage is there, taking it out of my hands.

He engages the safety and checks it before setting it on the desk.

“Can I touch you, pretty girl? I know you’re scared right now, and I understand if you don’t want to be?—”

I throw myself into his arms and bury my face in his chest and cry.

“I—I—” No coherent words form and I just cry.

I hate myself for feeling weak and crying right now.

I’m a grown woman and it’s not like I’ve never experienced anything bad happening to me like this.

When I first moved to San Diego, I was robbed at gunpoint right outside my apartment.

The difference this time is I have a daughter and a life growing inside of me. Two other people that depend on me to protect them.

And I clammed up and called for my husband.

How am I supposed to do this without him? I won’t be able to call him when he’s in Afghanistan. Do I even bother to call the police? They weren’t a big help the last time I called them for help.

“Ale,” Gage shakes me slightly and I look up at him. “Morales said the police are here. Come on, baby. Let’s go talk to them.”

We head into the hallway, and I can hear the voices of three men near the front door.

“Gage,” Morales shouts.

“We’re coming down. Just give us a sec.” Turning to me, he holds out his hand. “Everything is going to be okay, Ale. I’m right here.”

I nod, taking his hand, and we head down the stairs together. The front door is open and on the ground are shards of broken wood. They were so close to getting in. That thought makes me draw in a breath. Gage takes in my reaction and follows my eyes to the floor.

“They didn’t get in, Hermosa. You were brave and got you and our baby girl upstairs.”

I look over at the police at the door and I can tell by the way they are looking at me that either they are annoyed or have something against me. It’s a vibe and I can just feel it.

“Are you the homeowner?” The blond cop asks Gage, taking out a pen and a notepad.

“Yeah, my wife and I. She was the one home when whoever it was attempted to break in.” The other cop let out a barely audible snort and while Gage doesn’t catch it because he’s talking with the blond cop, Morales does.

The second cop takes out a notepad and stares at my face for a second and then looks down. “Name.”

“Alejandra Donovan.” I say quietly, shifting back and forth, trying to keep Zoe asleep on my back.

“This is your husband,” he motions with his pen to Gage.

“Yes. He is.” I answer. Didn’t Gage just say I was his wife?

“Can you step outside with me for a moment?” Red flag number one.

“I’d like to stay in my home. I have my daughter on my back.” I turn towards Gage and he’s showing the blond cop the security footage.

“I’ll go with you.” Morales offers.

“That’s unnecessary.” The cop looks at him and I can tell Morales is probably getting the same vibes I am.

“Gage, we’re stepping outside to talk to the cop.” Morales waits until Gage acknowledges him and there is a look that passes between them and I don’t quite understand it, but it’s like they’re in sync.

“Gotcha.”

I turn to walk out. But then I hear Gage. “ Estaré aquí, hermosa. Si gritas por mí, vendré corriendo. ”

I step out onto the porch and follow the cop to the grass. “Ma’am, what did your husband just say to you?”

“Why does it matter?” This feels so off for a conversation with someone having tried to break into our home.

“Did someone really try to break into the house, or could it possibly be an ex-boyfriend? Maybe you’re involved in some gang activity. Maybe a boyfriend that the husband doesn't know about?”

There it is, the fucking stereotypical racist bullshit. It’s always, Are you involved with a gang? Is it a thug ex-boyfriend, or are we cheating and sneaking around on our partners?

Next, he’ll ask me if I’m here legally.

“None of that. I don’t have any family that lives here.” I say, with a little too much emotion behind my response.

He looks up and gives me a telling look.

Fuck! Racist piece of shit.

“Ma’am, are you and your husband legally married? Are you here on a valid visa?”

Morales steps between us. “I really don’t like the way you’re talking to her.”

“They are valid questions to ask. If she is just trying to hide the fact she’s cheating on her husband or that she isn’t here legally, we need to know that.” Morales and the cop have a few heated words and I look back over at the front door and everything in me wants to yell for him.

I hate this.

So fucking much.

“I’m here legally,” I shout, getting the attention of Morales and the cop.

“I’ve been a citizen for five years. I came over with a work visa and applied for citizenship.

I don’t have any affiliation with any gangs or ex-boyfriends, nor am I cheating on my husband.

” I let out a shaky breath and continue.

“I would really appreciate it if we could focus on the fact that my house was being broken into while I was home with my infant daughter.”

“Don’t raise your voice at me, you fucking wet?—”

“I fucking dare you to finish what you have to say.” Gage’s voice booms from behind me. “Please, I am begging you. Fucking do it. Give me a reason.”

His hands wrap around my waist and pull me back behind his towering body. The other cop runs over and puts himself between Gage and his partner. “Okay, enough. We’ll file your report and if anything else happens, miss, just call 9-1-1.”

“Like fuck she will.” Gage stares at the man. “You’re a lucky son of a bitch, you know. If I weren’t in this fucking uniform, I’d beat the shit out of your racist ass. Never talk to my wife like that again.”

“Or anyone, for that matter.” Morales steps forward. “I wonder if your fellow brothers in blue know what a piece of shit you are.” He pulls his sunglasses down. “Officer Brant.” Reading the name off of his uniform.

The other officer hands Gage a card and says he can get a copy of the report at the station or online. “Have a nice day.” The cop grabs hold of his partner and they turn and walk back to their patrol car. Gage stands there, staring the men down as they get in and take off.

“We gotta head back in, man.” Morales nudges Gage, and he turns to me and gives me a smile. “I’m sorry I had to meet you this way. I’m Victor, by the way. Do you want me to have my wife come over and stay with you? I’m sure she’d love to meet you.”

“Honestly, that would be really, really nice.” I try to hold back the tears.

“For sure.” And he steps away, his phone at his ear.

Gage finally turns around and he looks furious. I don’t think I have ever seen him like this. Sad and falling apart, happier than humanly possible and lost in lust but never anger. “Fuck the cops. Look, baby, California still has the Castle Doctrine. Do you know what that is?”

“No.” I shake my head. Zoe stirs and I unbuckle the carrier to hold her on my front. I’m surprised she slept through the whole ordeal.

“It means that you may protect yourself and your family with deadly force if you fear they will hurt or kill you. With me being gone, I want that gun on you or downstairs easily accessible. Can you do that for me, pretty girl?”

“Ye-yeah, I can.”

“ Eres realmente asombrosa, Hermosa. ” He leans in and kisses me. “I’m so sorry, but I have to go back on base.”

“Rebecca is on the way with our youngest. She’ll be here in like ten minutes.” Victor makes faces at Zoe, who has a very grumpy look about her.

“Okay, thank you so much. I really appreciate it.”

“Hey, it’s not a problem. Really, she’s super excited to meet you.” Victor pats my shoulder and heads toward the truck.

“I’ll see you when I get home, baby.” He leans down and kisses Zoe’s head, then me again.

Zoe and I watch as Gage and Victor take off for the base and as soon as they turn the corner, I run back into the house and lock the door. I make it to the living room couch before I collapse in a fit of tears.

How am I going to do this without him?