After the stunned silence continued a moment more, Larry tilted his head back and let go with a roar of laughter. He wiped his eyes and sighed when he was done. And you have become an expert in marriage and child rearing how, exactly? Larry balled his fists at his sides. How many diapers have you changed, Ricky Ricardo? How many five-hour T-ball games have you sat through? How many god-awful elementary-school band concerts have you videotaped? How many boys have you taught how to catch a pop-up, or drive, or shave?

When Lucio did not answer, Larry felt free to continue. And how many women have you been married to for seventeen years? How many times have you had that gem of a life experience? Because from where I stand, it looks like you don't have a fucking clue what you're talking about, and you sure as hell don't have the right to tell me how to do any of it.

Lucio nodded, about out of patience. It is true. I may not be a parent, but I was a boy once, and I had a father much like you, whom I have not spoken to in twenty years. Is that the kind of relationship you want with Josh and Jason?

The corners of Larry's mouth pulled down.

I also happen to be the man who loves your ex-wife and cares deeply for your boys. I am the man who stepped into the giant pile of doo-doo you left behind and has begun to clean it up.

Larry's nostrils flared.

Lucio gestured graciously to the front door. And now, I must insist that you leave.

HeartherLynn started barking from the top of the stairs.

Larry's right arm swung out in a wide arc, his elbow cocked, his fist flying right at Lucio's head. Lucio ducked and Larry's fist went swishing by. Then Lucio blocked an uppercut coming from the left, and a right headed for his chin. After a few more moments of such ridiculousness, Lucio realized that Larry had no intention of stopping his flailing. That left him with no choice.

HeatherLynn continued her barking frenzy.

Lucio popped Larry right between the eyes.

The doctor cried out in pain. His fists ceased swinging and he cupped his palms under his nose to catch the blood. But the fury still burned in his eyes, and Lucio suspected that a broken nose was not enough to stop him. He braced himself as Larry lowered his head, turned his shoulder, and prepared to inflict a full-body slam.

Stop it! Joshua screamed, running into the hallway from the kitchen. Dad! Stop it!

Ignoring his son's plea, Larry charged Lucio, who avoided the onslaught with a simple sidestep. Larry head-butted into the wall with a thud.

God, Dad! Joshua went to his father, who was lying in a heap on the tile, blood still flowing from his nose. Larry moaned. Get up, Josh said, with more annoyance than concern in his voice.

Lucio helped Josh pull his father to a stand and walk him into the kitchen. Once Lucio saw that Josh was doing a fine job settling his father in a chair, he went to the freezer for some ice.

Why did you have to do that, Dad? Josh collapsed in the chair next to him and handed him a wad of paper towels. Larry tipped back his head and stuck the paper to his nose.

Where's your mother? Larry mumbled.

Lucio handed Josh a plastic bag filled with ice and stepped away, leaning up against the stove out of Larry's view.

Josh nodded his thanks to Lucio. She's upstairs getting dressed or something. Josh held the ice to his father's upturned nose.

Go get her. I need her to see this, Larry whined. I want her to see the handiwork of her new boyfriend. I want her to see with her own eyes the difference between usthat I am a healer and he is a destroyer.

Josh glanced at Lucio and rolled his eyes. You started it, Dad. I saw the whole thing, Josh said. Lucio didn't want to fight you. He was only defending himself.

Larry tried to laugh but just ended up gurgling his own blood. The man is a fraud, Larry said, pointing over his shoulder, well aware that Lucio stood behind him. He's a thief and a liar and maybe even a spy.

Yeah, Josh said. We know all about the trouble he's been in.

Larry peered over the ice bag at his son. You do?

Of course, Josh said. He told us all about that stuff the first night we met him.

Larry's shoulders hunched over. Oh, he mumbled.

None of it is true, Dad, Josh said, gathering the bloody paper towels and tossing them in the trash can below the sink. The State Department has cleared him. There were no criminal charges. And Lucio found out who set him up in the first place and there's going to be an arrest.

Larry's eyes traveled to Lucio, leaning back with his arms across his chest. Even from under the ice pack, Larry was producing a sneer.

Since it looked like Josh had the situation under control, Lucio excused himself. I'll go get your mother, he said to Josh. Then he nodded in Larry's direction. You might want to get that nose checked out.

I'm a physician. Larry took the ice from his face and glared at Lucio. I know what I need to do, he said, the blood dripping down his chin.

Lucio shrugged. Suit yourself.

He found Genevieve sitting on the edge of the big bed, slipping on a pair of shoes, listening to a CD with the volume turned up high. No wonder she hadn't come running downstairs when Larry cried out in pain.

Lucio stood in the doorway a moment, simply watching her. He loved the graceful arch of her foot, her slim ankle, the delicate bones at the top of her feet. His chest tightened at the sight of her arm extended its full length, fingers stretched to buckle the strap.

She was so beautiful. He loved her so much.

I think I broke Larry's nose, Lucio confessed.

Genevieve's head snapped up. She blinked at him, surprised to see him there. Really? she asked. Genevieve didn't look very concerned.

Yeah. He went crazy on me. I had no choice.

She shrugged, then stood. She grabbed her bag from the coverlet. When she raised her eyes to his, Lucio was stabbed with the knowledge that something had changed in her. Her coloring was high. Her eyes were brighter. Genevieve's expression seemed to hold a subdued peacefulness he hadn't noticed before.

Are you all right?

She nodded, taking her eyes away.

Genevieve?

She turned quickly, her hair flying around her head with the movement. Tears welled in her eyes. I know, she said. I know you're leaving. Piers told me all about it.

Lucio's body tingled. He straightened from his casual pose against the doorjamb, and stared at her. Why would Piers tell her such a thing? He knew Lucio had no intention of taking that job. They'd talked all about it!

And then, seamlessly, everything clicked in Lucio's head. The paranoia he'd felt leaving Sydney's office wasn't paranoia at allit was his intuition. Piers getting him that contract was underhanded and mean-spirited. It was not the act of a friend. It was an attack from an enemy, and the wound was intended to be fatal.

Joder! he hissed.

Don't use language like that in front of me, she whispered.

It was then that Lucio realized Genevieve's expression wasn't peaceful at all. She looked defeated. Devastated.

I was offered a job, yes, but

How nice for you. She clasped her hands to the front of her belly, the small bag dangling by its strap. She looked at him with sarcastic enthusiasm. And how was I going to find out about this little trip? By postcard?

I did not take the job, Lucio said, a lump of sorrow filling his gut. I planned to tell you all about it tonight. I was going to let you know I was offered a contract but did not accept it.

I see.

I am not going anywhere, mi amor. Please believe me.

She did not respond.

Genevieve, my agent called me to his office two days ago to tell me I'd been offered an assignment. That is all.

She said nothing. She hadn't moved.