Valeria sat up as soon as she felt movement, and turned her head to find Nick's exhausted face forcing a smile.

“You have fifteen minutes,” said the detective, opening the door to let him in.

Valeria threw herself into his arms, and Nick put aside what he was carrying in his hands to hold her close. He pressed her against his chest and didn't care that he had already claimed his kiss for the week; he gave her another one, urgent and desperate, because they both needed it.

“How did they let yo