“I have a washer and dryer at my place. It’s stupid for you to lose a whole afternoon going across town to the laundromat.”

Little pink hearts had to be exploding out of her eyes.

“Aldo, I think I—”

Her spontaneous confession of affection was cut off by a staccato knock at the door.

“I got it,” Aldo said, dropping the basket and beating her to the door. Ever the protector. “Gloria, there’s a goofy cop asking for donuts.”

He stepped back to let the uniformed Ty into the apartment.

“Moretta, don’t you ever wear clothes?” Ty asked.

Aldo flexed for him and winked at Gloria. Yep. The Old Aldo was back. And Gloria realized that for the first time in a long time, she hadn’t compared her life to Other Gloria. The Gloria Who Left Glenn the First Time might have been sweating her way through a Pilates class before brunch, but she hadn’t spent all night making love to Aldo. It was a win for the record books.

“I was just making some coffee,” Gloria said. “Do you want a cup?”

“If it’s no trouble. I have some news for you about Diller.”

Gloria turned her back on the men and stepped into the kitchen. There was one fucking person who could ruin everything for her. For them.

She sent up a silent prayer as she poured two mugs. Please don’t let him touch this life.

Ty thanked her for the coffee, and Aldo tucked her under his arm. “Spit it out, Adler. What’s the latest.”

“He pled guilty.”

Gloria felt her eyebrows climb her forehead. “He did?”

Ty nodded, blew at the steam rising from his mug.

“That means no trial?” Aldo pressed.

“No trial. Do not pass go. Go straight to jail. Attempted murder, stalking, assault, handful of other charges. Third-time offender thanks to that DUI a few years ago. Adds up to about twenty years and change.”

For the second time that morning, Gloria felt her knees go a little weak.

“So, that’s it. He’s out of my life.”

“You’ve also got a nice shiny piece of paper that forbids him from contacting you. And makes it awfully uncomfortable if his mama gets within fifty feet of you.”

Aldo dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

“Oh my God. I don’t know what to say.” The monster was gone. She was free to live her life. Free to tell Aldo she loved him. Free to go to work and make plans and have a future. There was nothing standing in her way. No shadows left to block out the light.

“Diller had her keeping tabs so he’d know where to find you as soon as he got out. She admitted that much. But still didn’t fess up to vandalizing your car. You can press charges, and we’ll have a go at her,” Ty offered.