“Make sure Nova has it as well.” Her eyes popped open as she commanded him. “Every man and woman inside the walls of this property are to give her their full respect and loyalty.”

Guzman bowed his head. “They already do.”

As soon as the door closed behind him, I started helping Maria undress Cali. The bruises I’d seen on her arms earlier were also on her ribs, back, and abdomen. I drew in a sharp breath when I saw how badly she’d been beaten, and I wanted to kill Manuel all over again. Then we got to her panties, and they were saturated with blood.

“Do you think he hurt the baby?” Cali asked softly, touching her hand to her flat stomach. Her chin trembled as she looked at the blood on her underwear, and she curled in on herself once again.

Maria’s eyes widened. “You are pregnant? I thought this was from your cycle.”

“No, I’m pregnant.” A tear spilled down her cheek. “Or at least, I was.”

“Let’s let the doctor check you over before we start worrying,” I suggested, even though I was already scared for the safety of my niece or nephew. “We shouldn’t borrow trouble until we know something for sure.”

“Yes,” Maria agreed. “Babies are very strong and stubborn. I’m sure everything is fine.”

We had Cali cleaned up by the time Guzman returned with a doctor. The town nearest to the Ramirez estate was small, with only one doctor who handled every aspect of life, including delivering babies—or so he explained when he first arrived. He and his two nurses were the only medical help within a hundred miles, so we didn’t have any other choice. The older man had two medical bags with him, and he gave Cali a full exam, even drawing blood. But she didn’t relax until we were able to listen to the baby’s heartbeat.

“Very strong,” the doctor said with a kind smile. “I will have my staff make you an appointment, and we will get some pictures of your baby. The bleeding is worrisome, but it’s not heavy. With all that you have told me has happened over the past few days, I think it may be a burst blood vessel. Let’s give it a few days and see. Until then, complete bed rest. The rest of your body needs it to heal anyway.”

“No,” she stubbornly refused. “You can either come here to do the ultrasound, or I will find someone else who will.”

His lips pursed together, but he nodded. “Next week, then.” As he finished with her, he turned to me. “Let’s get you bandaged up, yes?”

I glanced down at myself. I’d been cradling my bad arm against my stomach so as not to jar my shoulder more than necessary, and the bandage I’d wrapped around the bite wound on the inside of my thigh was soaked with blood.

“Do you think I need a rabies shot?” I joked with Cali as I sat on the edge of her bed so the doctor could examine me.