Read Online His Devious Angel by Mimi Barbour - Free Book Online

new baby sister. “Go and get two beers from the fridge for me and mi amigo, por favor .” 
    His raised eyebrow asked and Liam’s nod answered. The two men, shoulders slumped, drew deep breaths while their eyes stayed glued to the charming performance of a mother meeting her daughter for the first time.
    Just then, the outside door was flung open and a middle-aged woman dashed into the house, only to stop dead at the sight of her patient holding the newborn. At a glance, she seemed to know what to do and quickly took control, pushing her way between the men and taking charge. With a very few terse questions, she deemed everything to be in order.
    Liam backed away and watched as Ruiz scooped wife and baby into his arms and hugged them both so tenderly that Liam once again had to bite down hard.
    Since both he and the boy were superfluous, Liam led him into the kitchen, to the table, and sat him on top. After he shut the open freezer door, he looked to see if there was anything in the fridge for the boy to drink while he sucked up his beer in three swallows. “Want some Coke?” He’d seen a can on the door.
    “Mi mamá says no pop—only milk and juice. I have a new sister?”
    “Yes, and she’s beautiful.” He took the apple juice carton and snagged a glass to fill halfway. Once the boy held it, Liam clinked his bottle against it in a toast and said, “Here’s to the new princess Ruiz.”
    Obviously loving the attention, Pedro giggled. “She’s all red.”
    “Uh-huh!”
    “And wrinkly.”
    “Yep.”
    “And she screams really loud.”
    “Oh, yeah!”
    “Do we have to keep her?”
    Maybe he shouldn’t have laughed, but nothing in the world could have stopped the waves from bursting loose. He picked the boy up in his arms, and all the while he hugged, he swung him around in a circle, loving the happy squeals. “She’ll be your best friend one day, little guy. You’d better take care of her.”
    “Okay, okay-y!”
    The door opened and Ruiz slowly stepped into the room, his shoulders slumped like those of a beaten man. It reminded Liam a little of someone else he’d seen recently.
    Ruiz plucked his son from Liam’s arms, hugged him for a second, and then lowered him. “ Tu mamá wants you, mi hijo .”
    Once the door closed and the two men had no where else to look, Ruiz turned to Liam and held out his hand. Liam slapped it away and shoved his face right up close to the other man.

Chapter Ten
     
     
     “What the hell is wrong with you? What if something had happened, if the baby hadn’t come properly or…or something? She could have died in the hands of two bloody incompetent idiots who had no reason to take chances with her life. You're a fool! Why the hell wouldn’t you let me call the ambulance?” Liam lowered his voice for the last part when he’d noticed Ruiz’s warning glance aimed toward the other room.
    “Easy for you to say, Señor .  I no have health insurance. I am here illegally. What do you know? You think the doctors would have treated her?” Veins stood out on his forehead, and his bloodshot eyes pierced Liam’s conscience. “Why do you think we hired a midwife?”
    With both hands held in front, Liam took a step back and calmed down. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I would have paid for her treatment in a second.”
    “But I have no money to pay you back. I work long hard hours and get paid nada .” Ruiz's fingers rubbed together, his expression disgusted. “Gringos like to take advantage of a man who can’t fight back.”
    “Not all gringos. What kind of work do you do?”
    “Anything! Dig ditches, clean sewers, work in a kitchen, whatever I can find. But the pay is bad, if I even get paid. My big-shot boss stiffed me today and… Look, I’m not complaining. We’re here in America, safe from the drug cartel on the streets of Ciudad Juarez. So no matter what happens, we are better off.”
    “You’re mixed up in the drug trade back home.” Liam couldn’t