Chapter 40 #2
He did, but he hadn’t quite said those words. Diana was being Diana. Polished, smooth, and intuitive. She dazzled him every day with how well she knew him, and how deeply in love with her he kept falling.
The evening was far better than the day had been.
They had dinner, drinks, and talked for hours.
Elena Mendez was staying with a friend for the evening, so her parents did not have to race home.
At the end of the night, they parted ways reluctantly, with many hugs and promises to get together again before too much time passed.
“We will come to Alabama soon,” Kat said. “Isn’t that right, Johnny?”
“We will. I want to meet Colleen and hear about the aliens and how to communicate with them through the Piggly Wiggly produce aisle.”
Ghost snorted. “You’ll hear about a lot more than that, believe me. But that’s one of the crazier things for sure.”
Mendez put his hand out. Ghost took it. “Proud of you, Alex. Wasn’t easy what you did and wasn’t right what they did to you and the boys. If I’d known…” He shook his head. “Well, that’s politics for you. Always about the expediency of the moment and never about the people it might hurt.”
They shook firmly. Ghost had a lump in his throat. “I’m not sorry,” he said, wrapping an arm around Diana. “Without this assignment, I wouldn’t be standing here with the woman I love or thinking about the future we’re going to build together.”
Kat put her arms around Mendez’s waist, and he dropped an arm over her shoulders.
“Love is always worth the risk,” he said.
“Without that, we’ve got nothing but an empty home and duties that pile up.
Make no mistake though, we’re replaceable.
The job continues whether we do or not. That’s why family is number one. ”
“Amen,” Kat said.
Mendez and Kat got into the car that was always waiting for him, and Ghost and Diana took a taxi to the Marriott. The next day, they were up early and boarding the jet for home when Ghost had a revelation.
“Shit! I didn’t ask about the farm. I was too pissed to think straight. I don’t know if I’m going home to tell everyone we’ve gotta start over again.”
Diana wrapped her arm in his as they settled side by side in the plush leather club seats. “It’s taken care of.”
He turned to her, studied her sparkling blue eyes. “What do you mean it’s taken care of?”
“When I talked to my uncle, I told him that he’d better use all his influence to make sure you and the guys could buy the farm and keep One Shot Tactical going. He promised he would.”
“You believe him?”
“I do. He feels guilty about managing me, for one thing. But more than that, he’s an Adler. If he gives his word, he’ll keep it. The Adler name is something he takes seriously. He’ll make it happen.”
“You’re amazing.”
She smiled. “So are you.”
“What did you talk to Lewis about?”
“Work. I’ll be returning when I’m healed. With a promotion, though an appropriate one for my position. Not a family-influenced one.”
“Are you worried people will say it was anyway?”
She shrugged. “A little, but like I said, I define me. I won’t deny my connections, but I’ll make sure people understand I’m competent at what I do. I won’t take any bullshit from anyone.”
He lifted their joined hands and kissed her knuckles. “That’s my girl.”
Her gaze dropped. “Ackerman’s awaiting trial.” Her voice was almost whisper soft. “I won’t have to testify. He’s confessed to everything and made a plea deal for a shorter sentence. He’ll be out in ten years.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Surprisingly, yes. I hurt for the friend I thought I knew. But the man who stood by while Boris beat me? He can spend the next ten years rotting in a federal pen and worrying how to repel advances from big men named Bubba. He’s damned lucky he didn’t get sent to Guantanamo with Viktor, but I guess he had information somebody could use. ”
“With you on that one. He’s lucky I didn’t kill him. I wanted to.”
“I know. I’m glad you didn’t, though. Revenge is easy.
Letting justice take its course? A lot harder sometimes.
I know I won’t forget what he did, but then again neither will he.
He ruined his life, and for what? The idea that our president was a weak-willed woman?
Presidents change. The next one could be everything he’s hoped for. Not that he’ll ever get to vote again.”
He frowned. He heard the pain in her voice, and he knew she would grapple with the betrayal for years to come. “I never told you about my dream.”
She turned her head, studying him. “You did not.”
He sighed and leaned back against the seat.
“When I was fifteen, I couldn’t take it anymore.
My mom had been gone for over a year, and my dad was getting worse.
Paranoid, delusional. He would wake me in the middle of the night, throw me outside with nothing but my coat and boots, tell me to survive.
Somehow, I did. It wasn’t winter yet, though it was always fucking cold.
But I knew, as soon as the ice settled in, I wouldn’t be able to make it if he threw me out.
He wouldn’t listen to reason, and I’d freeze to death under the guise of making me tough.
I knew if I didn’t get away while the snow was still minimal, I’d never do it.
Because I’d started dreaming about escaping, making plans.
One night, when he was drunk, I finally did it.
Took the supplies I’d been hiding and left. ”
“Oh, Alex.” She gripped his arm.
“I know, baby. But I’m here. I survived.
It took three days. There were wolves, they got my scent, started following me.
I saw them lurking in the forest, and I was scared, but I kept going.
At night, I climbed high up a tree to evade them and any bears that prowled.
I made it, and they didn’t attack me—but I dream they did.
I dream about the big alpha wolf. He was white, and he was the one I saw the most. I dream he’s on me, his jaws around my throat. One rip, and I’m done.”
“Oh, honey. I’m sorry. But I’m so glad it didn’t happen that way. I’d be lost without you.”
He caught the tear that slid down her cheek.
“Don’t cry, Diana. I’m okay. I just have that dream when I’m stressed and I feel like shit’s closing in.
I’ve felt that way with this mission, and that’s when it returned.
Wanted you to know. It might come back, it might not.
But you might also have your own dreams of danger closing in.
If you do, you can tell me about them. They won’t get better if you keep it inside, and they may not anyway.
But having someone at your side makes all the difference for getting you through the darkness when it comes. ”
“I will tell you if it starts,” she said. “I love you, Alex. Everything that happened these past few months led me to you. I can’t complain about that.”
He kissed her cheek. “We’re a team.”
“We’re a team. I will always be at your side, ready to take on the world for you.”
“I know you will. I think you know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, no one I wouldn’t fight to protect you.”
“Yes.”
“Still don’t like you,” he teased.
“I don’t like you either.”
“I love you,” they said in unison.