Scott?” Rachel raced toward Bobby and Scott who stood outside Napoleon’s hospital room.

“Honey.” Scott comforted her in his loving embrace. “So glad to see you.”

Bobby glared at Rachel as she pulled away from Scott.

“Is Napoleon okay?” she asked.

“Depends on what your definition of okay is.” Bobby rolled his eyes. “He’s alive at least.”

“How is he?”

“He’s resting now.”

“Can I see him?” She reached for the door.

“No.” Bobby slid in front of her. “You can’t.”

“Bobby.”

“Scott, she has no business in that room and you know it.”

“Why not?” she asked. “What have I done?”

“You tell me,” Bobby said. “It’s just too much of a coincidence that all this shit happens when you come around.”

“Cool it.” Scott pushed Bobby away from Rachel. “She has nothing to do with this.”

“How blind do you have to be?” Bobby shook a fist. “You’re not suspicious of her at all?”

“What are you saying?” Scott squinted. “That Fusco had Napoleon beaten?”

“Fusco?” Rachel batted her eyes. “Scott, you told him?”

“Is that hard to believe?” Bobby asked. “Her brother owes him money so he’ll do whatever he can to get it.”

“How would he know about the coin collection?” Scott held his waist. “Tell me that, Matlock.”

“Because she told her sleazy brother.”

Rachel fidgeted. “This is insane.”

“Drop the innocent act.” Bobby leaned over her. “You can pull that shit on Scott, but I’m not screwing you so it won’t work on me.”

“Leave her alone.” Scott got between them. “You have no right to talk to her this way.”

“Napoleon is laying in a hospital bed, beaten, Scott. Why don’t you care about that as much as you do defending her?” He pointed at Rachel. “I’m giving you the chance to be honest, Rachel. Do you know who did this?”

“And, I told you to leave her alone,” Scott warned. “You hear me?”

Bobby shook his head, exhaling. “Understanding you is the problem.”

Scott opened the door to Napoleon’s room and Rachel caught sight of the gorgeous redhead who dabbed her eyes beside the bed.

“Scott?” The redhead waved.

“Lita, are you okay?” Scott stepped inside and turned toward Rachel. “I’ll be right back.”

She nodded as he closed the door.

Bobby crossed his arms, wearing a mask of pure hate.

“Bobby, I know you don’t like me—”

“That’s an understatement, Rachel. I can’t stand you.”

She swallowed. “May I ask why not?”

He leaned forward, arms still crossed. “You’re gonna get Scott killed.”

“I told him to stay out of this.”

“For about five minutes.”

“He’s a grown man.” She clasped her hands. “I don’t want him hurt any more than you do.”

“If that’s true then you’ll disappear because I don’t want Fusco using my brother’s life to settle your brother’s debt. Where is your brother?”

She avoided eye contact. “I—”

“Maybe your friend in the motel would know? Should I pay him another visit?”

“Please, stay out of this, Bobby. It’ll only cause trouble.”

He raised his head. “Where did you go?”

“Excuse me?”

“After you heard Napoleon had been attacked?” He swerved his finger. “Where did you go?”

“What business is it of yours?”

“It’s just interesting you claim to care for Scott so much yet you run off when you find out a man he thinks of as a father was beaten.” He scratched the side of his neck. “That doesn’t seem suspicious to you?”

“I had something to take care of.”

“That couldn’t wait long enough for you to support your Romeo?” He wobbled his head. “Would your running off have something to do with what happened tonight?” He moved closer to her. “Is that it?”

Scott walked out with Lita. “Stop it, Bobby.”

“You stop being so stupid, little brother. She’s hiding something.”

Lita approached Rachel. “Hello?” She held out a shaky hand, eyes red from crying. “I’m Lita Zavala.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Rachel took her hand. “I’m Rachel—”

“Howard.” Lita let go of Rachel’s hand, eyes narrow. “Scott mentions you all the time. My uncle’s fond of you too.”

“I’m so sorry for what happened to your uncle.”

Bobby scoffed.

“Are you okay?” Rachel asked Lita. “Did they hurt you at all?”

“No.” She hugged herself. “Thank god. I kept telling him not to have that coin collection in his house.”

Rachel nodded. “If there’s anything I can do please let me know.”

“Why don’t you tell her where you went, Rachel?” Bobby said. “We’d all be interested in that.”

“What is he talking about?” Lita batted her long eyelashes, her hair holding an orange hue under the hallway lights.

“I don’t think this was just a home invasion,” Bobby said. “Rachel knows something.”

“That’s enough,” Scott shouted. “Keep this up and you’ll need a doctor, Bobby.”

Lita spoke to Rachel, “Do you know something about this?”

“Bobby blames Rachel for everything,” Scott said. “Course she had nothing to do with this.”

Lita checked out Rachel. “I appreciate your concern.”

Rachel could tell she said it more out of politeness than sincerity. “I’d like to see Napoleon.”

“That ain’t happening,” Bobby said.

“Are you his keeper?” Scott put his arms around Rachel.

“As long as I’m here, she’s not getting in this door.” Bobby went inside Napoleon’s room and shut the door.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Lita said. “I’m gonna get coffee.”

“You okay?” Scott asked her.

“I’m fine.” Lita touched Scott’s hand, glancing at Rachel. “It was nice meeting you, Rachel.”

“You too.”

Lita passed the elevator and entered the stairwell.

“She wants you.” Rachel watched Lita disappear. “I could tell by the way she looked at you and the way she looked at me.”

“We barely know each other.”

“Like you and me?” She frowned. “Yet, look at us.”

“You jealous? Lita’s Napoleon’s niece and nothing more.” He kissed her cheek. “You heard her say I do nothing but mention you, right?”

“She’s pretty.”

“Yeah, she is.” His cheekbones rose. “Not near as pretty as you though.”

She smiled, clasping his hand.

“Besides…” He grinned. “Redheads are nothing but trouble.”

“How’s Napoleon?”

“He’s doing okay.”

She rubbed her clammy hands. “Bobby interrogated me just now.”

“I don’t care what he thinks. You didn’t have anything to do with this.”

She didn’t know what made her more anxious; knowing what happened or the guilt of not admitting it.

“You told Bobby about Fusco and Stone?”

He sighed, nodding. “Sorry.”

“Scott—”

“He won’t tell anyone else.”

“Bobby hates me.”

“But, I love you.” He stroked her face. “That’s all you need to worry about.”