My Fault

Chapter Two

Whoever said time heals must’ve been talking about a hell of a long time, because even after countless weeks since that fateful day, we were far from being healed. Against all good sense and medical recommendations, Mia came back to work, albeit not on-site at first. We had several reasons to tell her towait; we had even more reasons to have her back.

Ben and I were spread thin, yet we needed to keep Bryants & Walker running.

Years ago, I joined the Navy, then I joined the SEAL program aftermy medical training. That was when I met Ben and Zach. Our connection was instant, and fighting side by side only made it stronger. During those years, I met Andrea. It was supposed to be a fling, just a fun time until I was assigned to a new mission. We ended up lasting longer than I expected. When she said she was pregnant, I was excited about becoming a father. I wasn’t thrilled when she forced my hand into leaving the Navy, though.

I was an unemployed soon-to-be father when Mia came to my rescue.She was working at the Drug Enforcement Agency—DEA—and invited mefor an interview. Working under her was a blast. She was focused, sharp,fun, and always quick on her feet. She wasn’t christened as The BryantProdigy for nothing, although she didn’t care for the nickname.

She was skyrocketing her career at the agency. Until she wasn’t. After being fired, she came up with the idea of starting a private investigation andecurity company. Once again, Andrea stopped me from doing what I sowanted, and I stayed put at the DEA.

Ben, Zach, and Mia went along with it, and Bryants & Walker Protection was born. They made a name for themselves and started sealingmore and more government contracts, so I stood up for myself against Andrea’s demands and joined them. Best decision I’ve ever made.

But after everything we went through, Ben and I didn’t know how torun it as smoothly as before. We’d never realized how the Bryant siblings always managed to make things happen around us. Zach was a leader through and through, and Mia was the one who got things done. Without them, we seemed to be swimming around, with no direction.

“Why are you up so early, mi niño? Couldn’t sleep again.i looked at my mother walking into the kitchen and leaned down soshe could kiss my cheek. “I wanted to get a head start on breakfast. Sofia will be up soon, and I want to enjoy my time with her before I go to work.”

She grabbed the spatula on the counter. “You’re such a sweet boy.”Then she hit my arm with it, startling me. “But if I’m around, I make breakfast. Now move.”

“Ouch. That hurt, Ma.” I rubbed my attacked arm but did as she instructed, smiling. She was tough—sometimes a little too much—but I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive mother.

“You know better than to get into my space. Now bring me the eggs.”I assisted her as she cooked, both of us working in sync, as we’d been doing since I was a little boy. “Have you heard from the Diablo again?”

Even though her words were accurate, I didn’t want my baby to hear someone say that about her mother. “I hope you don’t say that to Sofia.”

She waved her hand dismissively. “She’ll learn eventually.” Before I could counter, she went on. “No, I don’t say those words to her. But Ishould. That woman was a nightmare.”

I couldn’t disagree. “She’s still calling.” She let out a chain of expletives in Spanish. “I hope you don’t say that to Fee.”

She ignored my admonishment. “That woman has always been trouble. She was never good for my boy. I should’ve kicked her out when I had the chance. I knew she could ruin my life.” I raised a brow at her,suppressing a smile until she corrected her slip. “Your life.”

“She didn’t ruin it. Yeah, we’re off better without her, and I wish I’dnever see her again. But she brought us Sofia. So, despite everything shedid to hurt me, a part of me will always be grateful.”

She beamed at the mention of her only granddaughter. Sonia Delgadowas nothing if not a momma—and a grandma—hen. “Your father would’ve been so proud of the man you became, and of bringing Sofia to us. Thank God that precious little girl is nothing like her mother.” My mom caressed my cheek. “She’s all wonderful because of you.”

“And you’re not biased at all.”

She slapped my arm again with the damn spatula. “Don’t contradict your mother.” I chuckled, and we went back to our cooking until she brokethe silence again. “When is that girl coming again to watch my Fee?”

At the mention of Isabella, my heart skipped a beat, and I tried my best to hide my reaction. I knew my mom better than to assume that was an innocent question. “She’s coming today. I wanted to give you some freeroom to rest, walk around, or even be with Fee if that’s what you want, but with help.”

She hummed. “She seems like a nice enough girl. And Sofia seems to like her.”

It bugged me that she kept saying “girl,” but even that couldn’t keep my smile from forming. “Sofia adores her. And Lisa’s also very accommodating. She’s been coming every day I’m working away fromhome, so I give her the days I’m off or when I’m working here. Whenever she comes, Fee can’t stop talking about her. She’s just so great.” Realizing my mistake, I added, “For Sofia. She’s great for Sofia.”

I was about to be grinded—and no one could withstand a third-degreefrom Sonia—when I heard my baby waking up. Thank God.

I hurried out of the kitchen, not without feeling my mother’s observant stare, and strode to Fee’s bedroom. I found her sitting up on her toddler bed, her hair sticking out in every direction, her pretty face creased from the pillow, and a drowsy look in her eyes. When she noticed my approach, her smile illuminated her precious face, and I knew it matched with my own.

“Good morning,Princess.” I walked into her room and crumpled up on the side of her bed.

She crawled to me, sitting on my lap and leaning her head into my chest. “The sun is up?”

“He’s waking up right now, just like you.” I played with her soft bangs and relished those quiet moments with my baby girl.

“The moon went to sleep?” She cuddled even closer.

“She did. So, we should get up, eat, and play until the moon returns.”

But none of us made any move to leave. Those sweet minutes with her charged me for the rest of the day. I was again grateful to my friends for

helping me get custody of my baby.

My divorce and child custody procedures were already in motion when everything happened. After the explosion, I thought they wouldn’t be

able to deal with yet another setback. It was wrong of me to assume that.

On the day of the hearing, Ben, Haley, Jackson, Rosie, and Aaron Scott—my former mentor at the DEA—were fundamental to my case. But

my star witness was Mia. Even though she’d been released a few days earlier from the hospital, she made a point of showing up for me and Fee.

She arrived in a wheelchair, full of bruises, in a lot of pain, and drowning in grief. Even Andrea was surprised at seeing her there—surprised and afraid. Mia left nothing out. From Andrea’s affair with Matias, the member of a drug cartel—the affair Mia found out about—to how Matias, a drug dealer venturing into human trafficking and with access to my baby through ex-wife, tried to kill Mia and Izziemere days earlier.

I got full custody, and Andrea was granted assisted visitation once a month at a place of my choosing. I offered to pay her some money upfront so she could start her life again, but no monthly alimony. Needless to say, she wasn’t happy about it. About not getting my money, but not about not getting Sofia’s custody. And that pissed me off even more. I didn’t want a custody battle, but it infuriated me that she caredmore

about her lifestyle than her daughter.

“You will play with me all day, Papi?” I was startled out of my

musings at Fee’s sweet voice.“I can’t, Princess. I need to go to work. But,” I added before she

could be sad, “we’re going to have breakfast together, and play, and I’ll do your hair until I have to leave,okay? Then,” I squeezed her in my arms,

“you can play with Grandma and Isabella, who’s coming today until I get back, so we could play again.”

“My Isabella’s coming?” Her face lit up.

“She is. So, let’s wash your face, brush your teeth, and get down.

Deal?” She shimmied out of my lap without answering and ran for the

bathroom. Even the sound of her bare feet slapping the floor warmed my

heart. “There’s no need to run.”

After she was ready, we headed to the kitchen, where my mom had cooked a morning feast. “Good morning, Princesa.” She smooched Sofia,

making hear her giggle, and placed my baby on her seat.

“Good morning, Nana. My Isabella is coming today.”

“So, I heard. I’ve heard a lot about her.” I avoided her gaze as we all settled at the table so we could eat together. We held each other’s hands and

closed our eyes as my mom prayed before we dug in.

After we ate and cleaned everything, I went to the living room to play with my baby until Isabella arrived. I felt my phone buzz and decided to ignore it when I saw Andrea calling—again—most likely to ask for more money.

We were sitting on the floor while I braided Fee’s hair when the doorbell rang.

“My Isabella is here.” I wanted to scream the same thing.

I marched to the front door with a dancing Sofia around me, cleaned

my sweaty hands on my pants, and took in a deep breath to compose myself

before I had to greet again the young woman I craved to know better.