“Turn here,” Aldo said, relieved to see the white stone new construction on the right. The whole front of the building was handicap parking, and he swore he’d put his fist through his PT’s face if he or she suggested a handicap sticker for him.

Harper pulled into the lot and eased to a stop at the doors. “I’ll grab your crutches,” she told him.

“I’ll walk from the parking space,” he said with enough snark to dent Harper’s sunny disposition. He was an asshole, and he couldn’t stop himself.

She shrugged. “Fine.” And then proceeded to park in the very last space at the far end of the lot. She took the keys out of the ignition and dared him to say a word. Ignoring her, Aldo stepped out of the car, standing on his good leg. Harper wrestled his crutches out of her minuscule back seat.

“Get your ass in there,” she said, handing over the crutches.

He wasn’t sure what pissed him off more, that he was being an asshole or the fact that he didn’t want to go in there alone.

“You can come in if you want,” Aldo muttered and started for the entrance without looking back.

He worked to keep his face neutral even as moving from the car to the door sapped him of what energy he had. He was already sweating, and he hadn’t done a goddamn thing. It was as if the last thirty-plus years of his life had been all for nothing. Gone in a second, destroyed by one random explosion.

Harper caught up to him and pushed the button that swung the automatic door open. Together, they stepped into a waiting area that still smelled of new carpet and fresh paint. They waited for a few minutes. Not long enough for him to stop sweating before a nurse in annoying floral scrubs called for them.

“Lieutenant Moretta, welcome to PT. I’m Annalise.” She extended her hand to him.

She was tall, slim, and utterly no-nonsense. And he didn’t see any signs of pity or “poor baby” in her hazel eyes behind her glasses.

He shuffled his crutches and shook her hand. “Aldo,” he said by way of introduction. He wasn’t keen on his rank following him into what was his earlier-than-planned civilian life. The nurse turned to Harper, and before Aldo could cobble together a “best friend’s girlfriend and woman I begged to drive me here” intro, Harper took over.

The two women exchanged names and shook hands.