It had been two weeks, and everything still felt unreal to Elise. Alejandro had sacrificed his family for her sake—so decisively and fiercely—that even now, when she replayed the moment in her mind, she found herself struggling to believe it.

Mr. Mendoza had kept his word and left the city with Tia, and though Elise should have felt relief, it only left her with an uncanny awareness of how much Alejandro had risked for her.

Now, a month and some weeks from her delivery, and most of what she felt now was gratitude, a bit of panic also because it will be her first experience trying to birth a child....