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The unreliability of my dreams ate at me. What was worse than having dreams that became reality? Having dreams that undermined reality and left you wondering when to believe in yourself.
“Have some water, will ye, now?” Sister Janet held out a bottle for me. “Ye look tired.”
I took a deep draft and returned the bottle. I was tired. Heck, even my soul was tired.
I couldn’t wait to get back to Thena. I craved her hugs, her laughter, her guidance. Thena would know what to make of my dreams and my attraction to Javier. She’d make sense of everything. She’d give me perspective and find a way to stop my crazy dreams.
Maybe Cece and Affie would be back at Astor House by now. Wouldn’t that be amazing? My chest lifted with hope. Perhaps I’d be the last one coming home, and we’d all be together again.
It could happen. Very soon. A small grin tickled my lips. Dash would be there as well, and so would Cook and Sandy. A full smile bloomed on my face. Everyone in one place. Well, except for Nix. He was gone forever.
The smile died on my lips.
Before the grief could take over, Javier returned. He materialized like a shadow detaching from the jungle, and motioned for us to follow him. My heart gave an extraboom. It was as if he’d been gone for years rather than minutes. He’d been so kind to me after the attack, so warm and generous with his hugs and chaste kisses. He’d allowed his relief to show in a way that made me feel as if I mattered to someone.
Something had changed between us on the road out of Nicaragua. I wasn’t sure what it was or what it meant, but it lifted me from the inside out. I trailed his cautious steps as we negotiated the terrain. Ten minutes later, we came across a dirt road and paused next to what looked like an abandoned shack.
“Welcome to Costa Rica.” Javier cocked a thumb behind us. “That right there was the border.”
“Thank the Lord.” Both nuns made the sign of the cross.
“Thanks to you.” On impulse, I strode forward and hugged Javier with all I had, feeling grateful for him, for hiscourage, for his affection. “We’re alive because of you.”
He stiffened in my arms.
It was odd. When I looked up, his face went blank. His arms didn’t come up to hold me. His eyes refused to meet mine. It was like hugging a statue.
Uh-oh.
The affection he’d showed me when he kissed me before was nowhere to be found. The attention he’d showered on me on the way here, the care he’d put into my keeping even after we’d survived our encounter with Snake and his mercs evaporated on contact the moment we crossed the border.
What on earth?
Perhaps my failure to shoot a man to save his life had sunk in at some point during the last six hours. Maybe, now he realized I was useless. A sound echoed in my head.
Riiiiip.
An invisible pair of scissors tore through the connection I’d felt between us, rupturing the fragile fabric we’d weaved throughout our escape. The tear hurt deep in my chest. I let go of him and studied my muddy sneakers. My face burned. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d stepped over some invisible boundary. Whatever spell had joined us before, now pushed us apart.
“Meet my teammate.” He took a deliberate step away from me and gestured toward the man who quietly eased out of the shack. “This is Tracker Team’s K-man, otherwise known as Kai King.”
“Aloha, ladies.” The man called Kai gave the sisters a deferential bow and offered me his hand. “Missy Astor. I’ve heard so much about you. It’s nice to meet you.”
His hand enveloped mine, big and warm. His grip was firm but not crushing. His smile shimmered in his angular brown eyes and enlivened his straight eyebrows. A casual touch of grass edged his upper lips and his square jaw. He wore hisstraight black hair long at the top but closely cropped on the sides.
He was tall, in the neighborhood of six-two, and his rich brown skin shimmered like copper under the sunlight. His tan cargo shorts and printed yellow Hawaiian shirt couldn’t disguise his swimmer’s build—muscular calves, strapping arms, wide shoulders, and narrow hips. Was being a looker a requirement to join Tracker Team?
His Teva sandals helped carry the touristy vibe he had going, but he didn’t fool me. He radiated an alert readiness that matched Javier’s. I bet that Kai carried weapons, maybe hidden under his loose shirt, or perhaps in his inconspicuous Adidas backpack, or inside the duffle he held in his other hand.
“Your sister Thena is gonna be thrilled.” Kai released my fingers. “Omega, too. Goofman’s getting a big spanking raise out of this one.”
“Oh?” I frowned. “So Thena and Dash don’t know yet?”
“We’re on a comms break.” Javier intercepted Kai’s reply.
“Does that mean I can’t call my sister on your cell?”
“I’m afraid that’s correct.” Kai shrugged. “We can’t risk anyone tracking our comms or pinpointing our location right now.”
