Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
“He loved her.” I swallowed, my pride struggling with the right words. “It’s hard for me, seeing that—”
“Easy now.” He pulled me in front of him, making me look him square in the eyes. “It was a different sort of love, what he had for her. I’ve known that man since I was a babe, grew up next to him. I’ve never known him to really fall for a woman before. He hadn’t ever let ‘emself do that, or never found da right woman.”
I looked away from him and he tightened his grip on my shoulders. I reluctantly brought my gaze back to his face.
“But he’s acting different with you. I’ve been watching what he’s doing. He spent a long time making that life with Gwen and hadn’t veered off that path for thirteen years, now. For him to have risked it, for him to still be chasing you down and sticking by your side? That not the Dario I know. That a different man. So?” He shrugged. “Maybe it be love. Maybe you the one for him. I hadn’t seen enough of you together. But he coulda sent you anywhere to be protected. He sent you here, to his home. He’s fought for you in that hell of a city and risked being locked up over it. And now he’s coming back to get ya, the first chance he get. Those are big steps for our big man.”
We heard it then, the faint drone that grew louder. I lifted my chin and stared at the sky, finding the moving lights, the dip of the plane as it curved toward the runway. I shook free of Laurent and stepped out onto the open pavement, and watched his approach, wondering if he could see me.
Laurent’s words followed me, hummed in my ears, even as the plane drew closer, its engine louder, my clothes beginning to press against my body from the force of the wind.
I had viewed being here as a curse. But maybe, instead, it had been a blessing. A sign of Dario’s love.
The plane coasted down, bouncing slightly on the runway before touching the ground, the noise deafening, the force of the wind flattening my hair across my face, the dark strands tangling in my mouth and nose. I pushed them away and turned back to Laurent.
“THANK YOU!” I called out the words and he nodded. I stepped forward, unable to resist, and flung my arms around him, gripping him tightly in a hug.
He handled it well. No polite taps on the shoulder. No stiff stillness. He squeezed me carefully, then released me. “You take care of yourself. And him.”
I stepped away. “I will.” Turning, I jogged to meet the plane.
DARIO
He could see her through the fogged glass of the King Air. Hair whipping in the wind. Arms tightly crossed over her abdomen. She stopped and waited, her head turning to face into the breeze. The sight of her was almost painful. He’d felt the same way a few days ago, hidden in Laurent’s truck, watching her talk to him on the phone. Every movement she’d made had been a tug on his heart, his guilt, his need.
What if he lost her, too? How would he handle it? How could he continue?
The fear was so intense he almost pushed away, had attempted to fight for distance during this last week, had struggled to find his ground—one separate from her.
But he couldn’t. His fear was intermingled with love—or caused by it. The stronger the fear grew, the stronger the love became. His only option was to remove all risks. Keep her safe, treat her like a queen, win her heart. Go all in, and hope that luck, for just this one time, was in his favor.
The plane settled to a stop, the locks disengaging, and he pushed himself out of the seat and forced the heavy door open. The airlock broke, and the humidity rushed in, bringing with it the familiar scent of pollen and swamp. He cranked it fully open and unfolded the steps, jumping over them in his haste to get on the ground and into her arms.
When they met, her hug had the strength of a tiger. She gripped him fiercely, and their lips met. Collided. Melted.
He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off the ground, his mouth greedy on hers, sucking, kissing, nipping at her lips. He had missed her taste, her fire, her need. The warmth of her hug, the give of her body, the shine in those eyes. He pulled away and stared down at her, memorizing every inch of her delicate features.
So beautiful. So strong. His. He would learn. He’d learn to love her without restraint, without the fear of evil lurking, without the many facades and lies.
She was his future.
Fourteen
BELL
Peace. I rested my head on his thigh and looked up at him. In the dark interior of the plane, he was all shadows and outlines, rugged sexuality hidden just enough to drive me crazy.