Page 116 of Her Mercenary
Mack, Ryder, and Phineas were ghosts in the wind.
Roman’s contact, Kieran, was on the phone with the local authorities within the hour, taking credit for the incident and demanding their cooperation. That night, the CIA agent arrived with a team of federal agents and took over the case.
Roman and I were released from questioning, and somehow, I knew our names would be scrubbed from the file.
After being released from the scene, we’d spent the afternoon hiking to the location of Roman’s friend’s body. Together, we gave Bear a proper burial, leaving a cross woven of plumeria flowers on his grave.
The next day, we visited the hospital where Maisie and Marcus were being kept for observation. I’ll never forget the look on their mother’s face as she sat between them, one arm tightly wrapped around Maisie, the other around her son. Once Roman and I confirmed they were of good health, we slipped back into the shadows with smiles on our faces.
The next morning, we were on the first flight out to the States.
By lunchtime, I was back in Oklahoma, in my weeping mother’s arms.
By dinnertime, I was back in Roman’s arms, in my bed, in my sheets, with Richard at our feet.
Roman never left my side during that time, helping my mother take care of me, helping her with the house, the cooking, the cleaning. Over the weeks, he and my mother formed a bond that made my heart swell.
It was fourteen days of family, healing, and love ... until Roman nervously requested a trip back to Tenedores, for reasons he didn’t offer but seemed emotional about.
I agreed without hesitation, and we—Roman, me, and Richard—were on a private flight the next day.
57
SAM
Sunlight twinkled off the white church steeple, a bright beam spotlighting us as we walked across the street.
It was a beautiful day in Mexico, a big bright yellow sun shining in a sapphire-blue sky. The humidity seemed less stifling, and everything was more colorful, more vibrant than I remembered from my last stint in the jungle.
I’d chosen a white sundress and comfortable sandals for the day, unsure what Roman had planned. Apparently, we were going to church.
Roman was wearing his usual T-shirt and khaki tactical pants, except that day, he’d opted for flip-flops instead of boots.
I loved his feet.
“So, this is Tenedores, huh?” I asked. “Where Bear was supposed to meet us and take me to the airport, and you were going to go back and murder Conor Cussane?”
“Yep.” He laughed. “’Bout sums it up.”
Richard bounded onto the stone steps, his tail wagging wildly as he sniffed the faded footprints from morning prayer.
“Richard, come.” Roman snapped his fingers.
The dog jumped off the steps and obediently trotted to Roman’s feet. It appeared the dominating effect Roman had extended beyond just humans.
We pushed through the church door.
The chapel was vacant and silent. Light poured in from the stained glass windows, pooling onto the small altar. Above it was a large cross, glittering in the light.
Roman inhaled deeply as he surveyed the chapel, as if soaking in every inch of it. His expression caught me by surprise. There was a softness in his expression I’d never seen before.
Hand in hand, we walked down the center aisle, Richard close on our heels.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered.
Roman nodded, then turned toward the first pew.
He gently released my hand, and for some reason, I knew that the next few minutes were to be his, and his alone. I watched as Roman slowly walked to the center of the pew, eyeing a particular spot.