Chapter 24 Allegra
ALLEGRA
The TV runs in a constant news stream showing Professor Wainwright being led away by police. A clip of me comes on from the press conference. I’m grimy with dirt from the trail, but I speak clearly and confidently.
I reach for the remote and turn the sound off. I’ve heard this clip a hundred times. And a hundred times I’ve scanned the background hoping for a glimpse of Marcus. But the man faded into the shadows as soon as we landed.
My chest twists when I think about him. I opened myself up to him, and then he was gone, or I was gone. Dad didn’t give me much of a chance to hang about.
“Do you want a sandwich?” Dad’s been hovering since we got back. “Or a steak? I can have Rhonda make something up for you.”
His concerned gaze sweeps over me. “You’ve lost weight since you’ve been gone. You need to eat something, Eggy.”
“I’m fine, Dad.” I force a smile. “It’s just… a lot.”
Tears sting my eyes suddenly, and I look away so Dad doesn’t see. I have the samples, I’ve exposed the biggest environmental scandal this decade, and I’ve proven myself as a research scientist. So why does it feel like my chest has been hollowed out?
The sound of tires on stone saves me from more of Dad’s concern. He peers out the window to the circular driveway below.
“Ah good. He found us.”
My heart sinks, wondering if he’s talking about a press contact. I hope I’m not expected to do any more interviews. Not today anyway.
Dad heads downstairs and a moment later I hear voices at the door, the soft tones of a New Zealand twang.
My heart lurches with part joy and part fear.
I leap out of my seat with my heart thundering in my ears. Marcus is here. He came.
The door to the sitting room opens onto the corridor, which has a wide staircase leading down to the front reception.
I pause at the top of the stairs with my heart pounding. Jeremy, the butler, is ushering Marcus into the house, and Dad strides toward him with his arm outstretched.
“I can’t thank you enough for keeping my girl safe.” He pumps Marcus’s hand. “If I’d known what she was researching, I never would have let her go.”
“I don’t think you could have stopped her.”
Dad chuckles. “I see you got to know each other. You’re right. Nothing much stops my Allegra.”
There’s pride in his voice, and I must remind him sometime how frustrating he found my stubbornness when I was a child.
Marcus hasn’t seen me yet, and something makes me hang back. Dad needs this time to thank him, and it’s interesting to see how they are together.
Most people are nervous around my father, reverential even. But Marcus treats him exactly as he would anyone else.
“Thank you for coming. We left in a hurry, and I didn’t get a chance to thank you properly.”
I pause with one hand on the banister as his words sink in.
Dad asked Marcus to come. He’s not here for me.
My heart grows heavy in my chest. Of course. He wouldn’t have made it past the guard at the gate if he wasn’t on the expected visitor list.
I sag against the banister. Did I imagine the connection we had?
My dad pulls an envelope from his blazer pocket. It’s got a sizeable lump in it. He presses it into Marcus’s hands.
“This is a little something extra. A bonus for bringing her home safe. I wasn’t expecting the, ah, difficulty you ran into.”
My chest tightens. That’s all Marcus came for. A payout. I’m a damned fool to think there was anything between us. I was a fool to let him in. I turn away, blinking back tears.
“Keep the bonus.” Marcus raises his voice, and his words travel up to where I am. “It’s not what I came here for.”
I turn around, and he’s staring right at me. Our eyes lock, and his gaze is steady and unflinching.
“I got to know your daughter during our time together.” Marcus speaks to Dad, but he’s looking at me.
“I got to know her determination, her grit, and her damned stubbornness.” He scrapes his beard. “I’m not good at this sort of thing. I’m more of a man of action.”
He takes the stairs two at a time, and in a heartbeat he’s in front of me.
The butler gasps and takes a step forward, but Dad puts up an arm to stop him.
Marcus keeps his gaze on me. He acts as if it’s just the two of us, as if we’re back on the trail with no one but us and the wilderness.
“You left before I could do this.” He cups my cheeks in his hands and presses his lips to mine.
I’ve never kissed a man in front of my father before, and my cheeks heat. But if Marcus can ignore his presence, then I can too. I give in to the kiss and to him, letting my body melt against his. My hands clasp his back and move down his torso.
A delicate cough from my father reminds me where we are. I pull back, and Marcus smiles at me. His thumb strokes my cheek. “I’m not here for the bonus; I came for you.”
Warmth spreads through my chest, and the empty ache dissipates.
“I’m sorry I faded away when we landed. I don’t like the spotlight, and I never will. But I’m here for you Allegra, if you’ll have me.”
He kisses me again, bold and fearless. The opposite of fading away.
My heart surges with relief and joy as my body melts against his.
My father clears his throat louder this time.
We break apart, and Marcus grins at me. He entwines my hand in his, and we walk down the stairs to face my father.
I brace myself for disapproval but instead find he’s eyeing us with an amused smile.
“I reckon the only man strong enough to take on my Eggy would be an ex-SEAL.”
“I’m up for the challenge, sir.”
Dad shifts his gaze to me. “Is this what you want?” His voice is gentle. “If you’re happy, then I’m happy.”
I break from Marcus to give my father a hug, overcome with warmth. “It is.”
Dad hugs me back, then releases me into Marcus’ arms. His voice turns stern. “If you hurt her, I can afford the best hitmen.”
By the expression on his face, he’s only half joking.
Marcus tightens his grip on my shoulders. “Understood, sir.”
“Stay for dinner, Marcus.” Dad says. “I want to get to know the man my daughter has finally given her heart to.”
Marcus scans my face as if asking for approval, and I give him a nod.
“And I’ve got a job you might be interested in.”
Marcus cocks his head.
“A friend of mine heard the news story and called to ask who I used for security. He didn’t go into specifics, but do you mind if I pass on your details?”
Marcus hesitates, and I remember the conversation we had about his sister and the farm. My heart clenches.
“You’re leaving. You’re going back to New Zealand.”
He shakes his head quickly. “No. I’ve told Keely I’m not coming back.” He takes a deep breath. “I’m starting my own security firm. Bedrock Security. Mountain specialists.”
My chest swells with pride. “That’s great.”
Dad reaches into his pocket and again produces the envelope of cash. “Take this then, would you? It can be your seed money.”
Marcus hesitates, and Dad thrusts it at him.
“I’ve got more cash than I know what to do with. I’d rather it went to a good cause.”
Marcus eyes the envelope but doesn’t take it. “Thank you, sir. But I’ve got money of my own to start up with.”
“Then get yourself the best equipment and all the safety gear you need. This one won’t be happy if you hurt yourself.”
Marcus looks to me, and I can see he’s torn between wanting to do something on his own and not disrespecting my dad. Not everyone wants a handout.
But I’ve grown up with handouts, and I’m no longer ashamed of using my father’s money to do good.
I snatch the envelope out of Dad’s hands. “I’ll take it.”
They both look at me with raised eyebrows. I press my lips together, then blurt out the idea that’s been forming ever since I had my grant refused.
“I want to start my own research lab.”
Marcus squeezes my shoulder. “Environmental research on protected mountain areas.” I continue, giving voice to my idea. In my mind, I see the deer staring at me in the campsite. “To help local mining and other businesses set their operations up in a way that protects the environment.”
I turn to Marcus, and our gazes lock. “It could be based out of Hope.”
His eyes widen. We’d be in the same town, a way for us to be together.
“Is it because you know I’m right about the tacos?” he quips.
“The tacos experiment will be my first research project.” My lips turn up. “But seriously, if you’re going to protect the mountain, I’m going to fight for it too.”
He takes my hand, and his expression softens. “Together then,” he murmurs.
Marcus squeezes my hand, and I lean into him. I came to the mountain to prove myself, to prove I could do my work alone, but instead I found something better. I found someone to stand beside me. Someone to go through life with. And this is just the beginning.