Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
“We’re going to be busy for a few weeks.
” Jessica’s focus was on her laptop, where Harper’s image was displayed on the screen as they chatted via web call.
Harper was still with the rest of Echo Team in Sicily.
They’d managed to take down over eighty of Cutter’s men, and the good guys didn’t suffer any casualties.
It was a miracle. A testament to both Echo Team and The League.
“Why will you be busy?” Rory asked, peering at Jessica as she stood before the laptop perched on the hood of Jessica’s rental Jeep.
“Because we’ve inherited all of The Italian’s, well, Cutter’s criminal contacts. Every smuggler and supplier he’s dealt with since he began operating, even before he created The Italian’s identity,” Harper explained.
“We’ll help out.” Emilia appeared on the screen beside Harper. “And if we need a hand taking down The Alliance, I might call you up.” She smiled. “It’s a good thing I’m rich, or I’d have to send you a bill for all the damages to my place,” she surprised Rory with a joke.
“My brother okay?” Rory recognized the voice with the Irish lilt as Sean.
Harper angled the laptop screen to showcase Sebastian and Sean standing behind where she sat, and Rory stepped aside to show proof of life. Adam was nearby talking to Carter about something. “He’s in one piece,” Rory commented with a grateful smile.
“Good,” Sebastian said with a nod. “And nice work, I heard what you did out there. Brave.”
“Thank you.” She still felt horrible for running from Chris, leaving him there .
. . her gut had told her Cutter wouldn’t kill her.
But when she was face-to-face with him, she saw the crazy in his eyes, and she realized her gut might have been wrong.
The only thing to do at that point was lie to Cutter—because there’s no reasoning with crazy—then leap over Bear in hopes of putting Cutter into Liam’s line of sight.
She might not have taken the chance if one of the two best snipers in the world hadn’t had Cutter scoped.
Rory thanked everyone again, then waved goodbye and went to find Bear, who was still snoozing in the back of one of the SUVs. Carter’s men were in the process of carefully transporting the bear cubs out of the compound, and Bravo Team worked on collecting the bodies of Cutter and his men.
It’d been a bloodbath, but Sebastian and Chris were right. Even if it had been self-defense, if she had been the one to kill Cutter, that moment would most likely have stayed with her for far too long, and she didn’t need that man crowding her life in any way, shape, or form ever again.
Chris was standing outside the open tailgate of the SUV, stroking Bear’s head as he slept, but stopped as Rory approached and pulled her into his arms. “What you did back there was amazing. Incredible.”
“And a little stupid?” she admitted.
He closed one eye as if contemplating her words. “Not the word I’d use when describing you. Not at all.” He set a soft, tender kiss to her mouth.
Never in a million years as she’d scaled that cliff in France back in August, would she have imagined two months later she’d be here, the starting point of her journey ten years ago. But now she had a new journey, one that began with the man pinning her to his side.
“You think it’s really here?”
“What are you talking about?” Rory looked up to see Chris gazing off in the distance, taking in the city that was beautifully lit up and sprawled before them from their high vantage point.
She couldn’t make out his eyes or the expression on his face since their only source of light was from the surrounding vehicles, but then she realized what he was referring to.
It hadn’t even been two weeks since that conversation, though it felt like two years ago.
“Alaric’s gold.” She set her eyes on the city to share the view.
“I don’t know, but”—she turned to him and lifted her chin—“the only kind of treasure I’m interested in is the kind you can’t see. ”
He tipped his head to the side, waiting for her to explain.
“Love,” she whispered and waited for a beat to let the meaning sink in. “I need you to know that what Cutter said back there about me always running, well, there is some truth to that.”
Chris needed to understand the truth from her. His mom had abandoned him, and the last thing Rory wanted was him worrying she’d do the same.
“Maybe I was running in the beginning. But as time went on, my world grew. I discovered so many obstacles and challenges I needed to face. And each time I conquered one, I wanted to move on to another, to keep pushing myself to learn and grow.” Her lip went between her teeth for a moment, searching for the right words.
“The difference now is that whatever I decide to do with my life, I want to do it with you. I know we just started seeing each other, if that’s what you can call being kidnapped and all that happened after that, but—”
“I love you, too.” He palmed her cheek. “I mean, if that’s what you were getting at.
” His lips twitched into a smile that even in the dim lighting, she was able to witness.
“And I don’t need a fence and a house and, well, maybe I do need a fence until Bear is trained, and come to think of it, a house for him, too .
. . but what I’m saying in a rambly way is that I won’t ever try to keep you tied down.
I’ll support whatever you decide to do, but I’d love to be in your life while you do it. ”
She looped her arms over his shoulders and pressed her body to his. “The perfect kind of crazy for each other.” Her lips met his in a hot kiss, and then she murmured, “I love you, Echo Three.”
“Mmm, I would totally say I love you, Delta Two, but I knew a Delta Two back in the Navy, and he was a dick,” he said with a laugh, and she chuckled, too. “I love you, Rosemary.” His mouth covered hers, and a warmth filled her body.
They continued kissing, not caring who might see until a throat clear and an, “Excuse me.”
“Yes?” Rory asked as Chris set his forehead to hers, not releasing her from his embrace. Neither wanted to leave the moment.
“I just wanted to thank you and say I’m sorry.”
Rory and Chris pivoted to see Carter there. He had a hand extended to Rory. She peered at his offer, then shook his hand, and Chris followed suit.
“I’m not the man everyone thinks I am.” Carter exhaled a deep breath of the crisp October air.
“I created that man to get to the truth. To fight for justice.” He stroked his short beard.
“In hindsight, the way I went about it and my tactics may not have been the most appropriate, and I’m sorry for putting you in danger, Rory. ”
Chris set a hand to her back. “I forgive you. Rebecca would, too,” she offered Carter the words she knew he needed to hear.
Carter dropped his eyes to the ground as if not so sure about that.
“What will you do next?” Chris asked.
“Maybe help clean up the mess Cutter made. But I don’t exactly have a place at the Agency anymore.” He lifted his eyes, his tone somber. “I’m not really that guy, anyway.”
“I have contacts with some security companies. Wyatt’s wife’s brother, Gray Chandler, started a business after he got out of the Army. I could connect you to him.”
“I’m familiar with Gray,” Carter responded.
“Not so sure I’m cut out to have a boss again, but I’ll think about it.
” His attention moved back to Rory. “That list might have been given to you by Cutter, but they were men I always wished I could go after. You did a lot of good.” His lips curled into a slight smile.
“There are about eight more names, though.” He turned to the side, prepared to leave.
“Maybe I’ll finish what you started. Bad guys are bad guys, right?
Hate to leave an open case.” He tipped his head and started to walk away.
“Wait,” she called out when the thought struck her. “What will happen to Danny? I know how you feel about him, and I’m angry, too, but—”
“There are other forms of punishment than death,” Carter said, his tone calm. “I’ll handle Danny and Santiago.”
Santiago, right. “Goodbye, Carter.”
“See you around.” Carter smiled, then strode away, and Rory had a feeling they would be seeing him again.
“Well, what do you say we get on a plane and go home?” Chris asked, facing her.
“Home?”
“I mean, my home is your home if you want it to be.” The deep timbre of his voice sent a thrill through her entire body.
“Oh,” she said while bringing her mouth closer to his, “I want it to be. I also want that more comfortable bed you mentioned buying.”
“That I can do, and anything else. Anything you want, it’s yours.”
She smiled, emotion pouring through her as happy tears hit her eyes. “I’m pretty damn confident I have everything I need.”