Blush(65)
Daisy required surgery to repair the life-threatening internal hemorrhaging, plus her cheekbone, arm, collarbone, and ribs were broken, her shoulder was dislocated, and she had multiple contusions¸ cuts, bruises, and scrapes all over her body. Marcel had beaten her almost to death.
Mia barely knew her, but seeing Daisy in that hospital bed with tubes and wires attached to her made her sick to her stomach, and so angry she didn’t know how to handle the rage inside. Through it all, Cruz had been cool, calm, and collected. He seemed both stoic and resolute.
Mia had stood by anxiously as Charlie was checked out. Her eyes welled with tears when he cried, and it took everything in her not to sob with him. Lost, terrified, she was the only thing in his little life he could hold on to, and his little hand had amazing strength as he clung to her through every test and examination.
The diagnosis was that Daisy was malnourished, traumatized, and bruised, but otherwise in decent health. Charlie had fallen asleep in Mia’s arms as they sat out in the waiting room waiting to hear about his mother.
Cruz had been taken aside by the police, followed by two women from Social Services and a woman from a local women’s shelter. He’d signed paperwork and given them his and Mia’s information. Then he’d sat with Charlie as she had her turn. Every step of the way, she was tempted to give them her true identity, but Cruz had warned her not to. Her fake ID was excellent. There was no need to give them more than that.
As soon as Daisy was released, she and Cruz would find a safe place for her and Charlie. They had no idea if she had friends or relatives who would give her and her son safe harbor. But even if she did, Latour would find them there.
She’d gotten fake identification; certainly she could do the same for Daisy and Charlie. “They’re going to be okay, right?” The first words she’d said since they’d returned to her truck.
“Yeah,” Cruz responded to her question, his chiseled mouth in a grim line, a muscle in his jaw ticking as he clenched his teeth. Mia’s anger was hot. Cruz’s anger was Arctic cold. “They’re going to be fine. They have the best medical care. You heard what the doctor said: with proper care, and away from danger, she’ll recuperate just fine.”
“Physically, not emotional. I’m sure that’ll take time. I want better than fine for them, Cruz. We should’ve brought Charlie home with us— No. You were right. That would be the first place Latour would look for him. He’s safer in foster care until we can go and get him. But what if they don’t—”
Cruz dropped a kiss on the top of her head, and the intimate touch instantly calmed her frayed nerves. “Stop worrying. They know what they’re doing, and it won’t be for long. I told him one of us would call him every day.”
“He’d be less scared if Oso was with him, don’t you think? I wonder if that’s allowed. I can drive him over tomorrow.”
“Call and ask in the morning.” Mia felt his warm breath on her forehead as he said softly, “I thought you didn’t like kids.”
Puzzled, she looked up at his chin. “What a weird thing to say. Why on earth would you think that?”
His shoulder shrugged beneath her head. “Hmm. Must’ve been something you said.”
“I doubt it. I like children. Not that I’ve been around many, but those I have been around I enjoy. I like the way their mind are so open to learn new things. Their little brains are like colorful butterflies flitting from topic to topic. I find children fascinating. At least the few I’ve interacted with.”
“Wow, I had you pegged wrong, didn’t I? If you like kids so much, why don’t you have a bunch of them?”
Mia laughed. “I said I like them, but not in multiples. I wasn’t thinking of producing a litter.”
“So you plan on having children, Miss CEO of Blush Cosmetics? When would you have time?”
“Not right now, especially with the LBO happening,” she admitted. “But yes, eventually. Men run multibillion-dollar corporations and have families—why can’t I?”
“No reason. So love, marriage, and two point five children for you sometime this decade?”
She smiled. “I’ve never really given it much thought. My life is pretty packed to the brim as it is. But eventually I’d like to share my life with someone special, I suppose.” She snuggled closer, enjoying the warmth and strength of him beside her. “What about you?”
“The only thing I know about love is that it’s usually a business arrangement. I’d never bring children into a business arrangement. They’d become possessions and bargaining chips. Love and business shouldn’t be considered the same thing.”