On the floor, they found Ximena, legs and arms askew, eyes closed. All colour had drained from her face, leaving it almost grey and a gaping wound on her forehead gushed blood. Solana grabbed a tea towel from the stove and pressed it against her grandmother's injury. "Abuela."

There was no response. Solana turned to her brother. "What happened?"

Luc sniffled. "She said she felt funny then fell." He shifted his feet. "What's wrong with her?"

Jack found himself on the floor beside Solana, Ximena's lifeless hand in his. "Is she breathing?"

They both stared at the older woman's chest, which rose and fell slowly. Gratitude for the sight flushed through Jack and he unclenched his teeth.

"Let's get to her room." Abraham dropped to the other side of Solana.

"She's going to a hospital." Jack stabbed 9-1-1 into his phone with his free hand.

"9-1—"

Jack cut the operator off. "I need an ambulance to 1642 Fisher Street."

Solana's hazel eyes flew to his, then to Abraham. The man raised his eyebrows, shrugged. His eyes darted to Jack, then back to her. "We'll figure it out."

Ximena groaned, and all attention focused back on the woman on the floor. The fingers in his hand squeezed and Jack's heart tightened with them. The operator on the line babbled in his ear. "What's the nature of the emergency."

"My..." Jack glanced at Solana. "Grandmother fainted and hit her head."

"Is she unconscious?"

"Yes, that's why I need an ambulance." He sucked in air and reminded himself not to yell at the obtuse person on the other end of the line. "She has a contusion on her left temple and there's a lot of blood. Is the ambulance on its way?"

"I need some more—"

"You need to get an ambulance here now if you value your job." Patience flew away and irritation flooded his words.

"It's on route."

All fire had left Solana's eyes and a shiver of fear crept up Jack's spine at the dread he saw swimming in the cold irises. He had to turn away, focusing on the white-tiled floor and the emergency line operator. "Should we move her?"

"No. Apply pressure to the wound and make her comfortable. If she regains consciousness, keep her still and as calm as possible until the EMTs arrive."

Jack addressed Abraham. "Go outside and wait for the ambulance so they know which house to come to." Abraham glared at Jack, then at the top of Solana's head, which was bent, concentrating on her grandmother. "Luc. Can you help Abraham watch for the ambulance?"

Luc nodded and ran for the door. Outmaneuvered, Abraham rose and followed the boy, the soles of his flip-flops smacking against the ceramic tiles. The kitchen fell into silence, Solana focusing on the injury on her grandmother's head. Jack was left not knowing what to say or do. Actions he could handle, words of comfort were beyond him. "The ambulance will be here soon."

Solana's fingers moved over his hand, the one holding Ximena's. "Thank you." The words were strangled, and Jack had the impression she was holding back tears. He had the urge to tell her it's okay to cry. Or hold her. He shook his head, pushing away the strange notion. Words caught in his throat as he avoided the flood of memories, the similarities of finding his uncle unconscious in his office, late at night, almost too much to handle.

Ximena was not James. Jack resisted searching for puncture wounds on her lifeless arm. Whatever happened to the older woman, he doubted drugs were involved.

Where was the ambulance? How long did it take to get here? Solana's grandmother had to be alright.

Jack had already counted to twelve when he heard the first low wail of sirens, indicating the ambulance was almost at the house. He let out a breath of relief. Soon professionals would be here. People who knew what to do and what to say.

The front door creaked. "In here." Luc ran into the kitchen, followed by a man and a woman pushing a stretcher with a small screen attached to it. The sound of Velcro separating accompanied them. Jack let go of Ximena's hand and, taking Solana's shoulders in place, dragged her away from her grandmother. "Let them in."

Solana resisted at first, but relented when the taller EMT attached a blood pressure monitor to Ximena's arm. Jack's back bumped against the refrigerator door as Solana pressed against him to let the other EMT by. He held her there, one hand slipping down to her waist. A full head taller than her, he had an uninterrupted view of the EMT's actions.

He barely heard Solana's small voice answering the barrage of questions, mostly about medical history, as he typed out a message on his phone. He felt her shiver against his chest and unconsciously brushed his cheek against the top of her head. Her hand found his arm, and she leaned into him.

The stretcher clicked into place as they raised it, Ximena strapped to the portable bed. Solana moved away from him and Jack let go, but stayed close by. Everyone trailed the gurney out of the house, across the lawn, to the waiting ambulance.

Jack walked beside the EMT. "What hospital are you taking her to?"

"Our Lady of Grace."

"No." Jack stood in front of the attendant, halting his progress. "She goes to St. Michael's. They'll be expecting her."

The attendant didn't question Jack's orders.

"My phone's dead." Solana turned to Abraham. "Can you call a cab for us?"

Jack stepped between Solana and who he hoped was only a cousin, gripped her elbow and guided her toward the open door of the ambulance. "You ride with your grandmother. I'll follow with Luc."

Her gaze met his. "But—"

"There's no time to waste. Once you arrive, ask for Dr. Ethan Collins. Don't let any other doctor look at her. Understand?" Solana opened her mouth as if to protest, then snapped it shut and nodded. Jack supported her as she climbed into the back of the ambulance and waited until she'd had hold of her grandmother's hand before he let go. "Collins will take good care of her. Now go."

Solana's ashen face disappeared from view as the attendant slammed the door shut and bolted the lock. Jack accompanied him to the driver's door and brought his wrist forward, making a show of checking the time. "There's a hundred dollars in it for you if she gets to the hospital in less than twenty minutes."

The attendant surveyed Jack's suit, shoes and watch and proved once again the power of clothing in the eyes of strangers as understanding dawned in the younger man's eyes. Glad he put on the Rolex today instead of his preferred Patek Phillip. The latter was far more valuable, but the former was instantly recognizable and did the trick, as the paramedic understood Jack had the means to make good on his bribe. The man practically drooled over the timepiece on Jack's wrist. "This watch is yours if it's less than fifteen."

With the curl of the other man's lip, Jack knew Ximena would be at St. Michael's in no time. The attendant jumped into the ambulance and barely had the door closed before the vehicle was barrelling down the road, sirens blaring.

Jack felt a warm spot on his hand and looked down to see Luc clutching his fingers. "Where are they taking Abuela?"

"To the best place I know." Jack jerked his head away from the receding ambulance toward the limo pulling up. Not waiting for George, Jack yanked open the door for Luc. "How about that ride?"

The little boy's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Hop in."

Luc took a step forward, but a meaty hand on his shoulder stopped him in his tracks. Bram's fingers dug into the green cotton of the boy's t-shirt. "We'll take a cab."

Jack squeezed the handle of the car door and forced himself to remain civil. This insolent creatin more invested in a pissing contest than helping the two women in his life who needed him. Despite the fact Jack would clearly win any fight this man started, fair or not, he had no intention of wasting time on deflating the thug's ego.

Forcing his voice to be relaxed, he made a blunt gesture. "A cab could take forever. My car is here."

Abraham glared like Jack was suggesting he slice off his left arm. "We'll be fine."

Luc didn't move, and Jack admired the child's patience. "What's important here? You and me, or his—" Jack glanced down at the boy "—grandmother."

Luc raised his face to Abraham. "Can't we go see abuela?" Jack's estimation of the child clicked up a notch as the boy fed off Jack's ploy, adding a tinge of baby whine to his voice.

Jack nailed the coercion home. "We don't know how much time she has."

Abraham's hairless head flushed as the man scowled at Jack. "Let's go, Luc."

Released from Abraham's grip, Luc hopped into the limo, giving Jack a silent thumbs up on the way by. A smirk crossed Jack's lips. Abraham stepped within an inch of Jack, dark eyes swimming with malice. "This is for Ximena." A thick finger poked at Jack's chest. "And Solana." Jack got the message loud and clear. These girls are mine, don't get any ideas.

He ignored the silent threat. He'd squashed bigger brutes before breakfast. A hoodlum from the slums of east LA barely registered on his radar. If it wasn't for Solana, he'd never let Abraham near his limo, never mind taint the leather of the seats.

With a slam, the outside world evaporated. "St. Michael's, George." His driver nodded.

"This is so cool." Luc was inspecting the wet bar inside the limo. "This is really your car?"

"One of my cars."

Abraham grumbled something under his breath as Luc's mouth fell open. "You have more than one car?"

"Well, I had to fill up my ten-car garage with something." Jack internally thanked the boy for granting him the opportunity to pour salt in Abraham's wound. "You can come over sometime and count."

Abraham yanked the boy to him, forcing the child to sit down between the two men, yet keeping Luc closer to him as the car lurched into motion. Jack chuckled at the show of dominance. Money beat brute strength any day. Abraham had no idea what he was up against.

The boy peered up at him. "Do you have a boat?"

Jack held up two fingers.

"A plane?"

Jack bowed.

"Are you Ironman?"

The thought of being compared to a super hero tickled Jack. Leaning in, he lowered his voice. "I'm better than Ironman."

Luc beamed at Jack despite the tight grip Abraham had on him. In his palm, Jack's phone vibrated, and he hit answer.

"Don't tell me you're calling to cancel our lunch tomorrow." The familiar male voice reminded Jack of the real purpose of this ride. "I let you off last month because it was Hannukah, even though neither of us celebrate the holiday. But no excuses this time."

"Ethan. I need a favor."