Valentina pushed herself up, wincing slightly as she adjusted the loose nightgown around her growing belly. She hadn't heard him come in. Some nights, his job at the Commissioned club kept him out until dawn.
"Babe?" she called softly, sitting up straighter. "When did you get back?"
Ricardo blinked, as though her voice had pulled him from a faraway place. He turned his head slowly to face her, his expression heavy with fear. "I did something terrible," he said hoarsely. "Something unforgivable."
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and carefully made her way toward him. She perched on the arm of the chair next to the sofa. "What?" she asked softly, studying his face. "Ricardo, you have a habit of punishing yourself before anyone even does it. Whatever it is you did, I'm sure you have punished yourself enough for it."
