She turned at the vehemence in his voice, saw it in his narrowed eyes, his set mouth.

"It doesn't matter now. They'll all have to deal with what they did." She turned to Brady. "And I'm free, right? Not wanted for anything? Free to come home? Free to stay in America without fear of being hunted or accused?"

Brady nodded. "You're free. It's over."

Chapter 40

NATE WATCHED HIS FRIENDS as they drove away. He could never express to them what their help meant to him. Whatever debt Rae and Brady had felt they owed him had been paid back with loan-shark-sized interest in the last week. And Sam... She'd never owed him a thing.

He could never repay what they'd done for him and Marisa and Ana. But he'd gladly spend the rest of his life trying. He'd known a lot of people in his life, had sources and coworkers and acquaintances in the city, but none could be considered friends compared to the three who'd just left.

Marisa's voice came from behind him. "Why don't you sit back down? I'm afraid you're going to collapse."

He turned and smiled at her. "I'm fine."

"You're wobbly."

He laughed, and the movement sent a shard of pain through his side. He worked to hide it, but Marisa's narrowed eyes told him he'd failed.

"Fine. I'll sit."

She walked with him to the sofa and sat beside him.

"Ana's still asleep?"

She looked at the clock on the stove in the kitchen. "If she sleeps until noon, I'll wake her. She has an appointment with the pediatrician at one."

"Good idea."

"Sam is sweet to let me stay here for a few days. I can't imagine trying to go to Leslie's house right now, trying to make ourselves at home there."

"It's your house, technically."

"Doesn't feel like it, though. I'm more comfortable here."

Nate knew exactly how she felt. This place felt like home to him, too. Or maybe that was only because Marisa was here.

He shifted to face her and took her hand. "What's your plan?"

"After the doctor's appointment, I thought we'd—"

"Not today. Long term. What are you going to do?"

She looked down at their joined hands, placed her other hand over his, and looked up. "I'm not sure."

"Are you going back to Mexico?"

She stared beyond him. "I find myself in America with this little girl who's mine in every way except legally. I don't know how the adoption will work if I'm here, but if I go back, then anything could happen. I'm afraid if I go back, there'll be trouble for taking her out of the country. What will it take to clear all that up? And anyway,  I don't want to go back."

"Good. I don't like the heat that much."

She blinked twice, and a smile he hadn't seen since Acapulco lit up her face.

"My dad's an attorney," he said. "I'm sure he can help you with the adoption."