Silence.
Heavy.
Pressing.
I looked at Héctor.
“And the gun?” I asked quietly.
His jaw tightened.
“That wasn’t what you think,” he said.
“Then explain it,” I said.
He stepped forward.
For the first time since I’d known him—
He looked directly at me.
Not polite.
Not reserved.
Direct.
“I work with a private security firm now,” he said. “You know that.”
I nodded slowly.
“I carry legally,” he continued. “For protection.”
I said nothing.
Marina spoke again.
“I asked him to bring it… in case things went wrong.”
My breath caught.
“In case what went wrong?” I asked.
She hesitated.
Then—
“In case your heart gave out.”
The room went still.
