Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
The air from the jets massaged Emma’s weary muscles as she lay with her head back against the makeshift pillow Cap had made for her. The man couldn’t be any kinder. Certainly not what she had expected from him when they’d first met.
She cringed as she recalled the hurt look in his eyes when she babbled about losing herself and told him she wasn’t sure if her feelings for him were real.
Why on earth did she phrase it like that?
Her mouth said one thing, but her heart said another.
She was very confused. She’d intended to make a point about not wanting to hurt him more than she already had.
by dragging him into this mess, but it came out all wrong.
Then when she recanted the words, it was understandable why he looked hurt and backed off.
Jonathan. Her entire body tensed. How had it come to this for him? Drug dealing? What the hell? Now, with him gone, she’d never know. All of her questions would go unanswered.
Was he ever a commercial real estate lender, or was that all just a ruse?
He knew the right people, including her dad and his developer buddies.
And her? Why her? Was he just after her family’s money?
Did he ever really love her? And why did he dump her two weeks before the wedding?
If he were after her family’s money, he certainly wouldn’t have done that.
Or, did he grow a conscience? Did he discover he cared enough for her that he couldn’t drag her into this harsh drug-dealing environment?
If that were the case, at least it proved he had cared for her.
Her thoughts shifted to the loving man in the next room, making her wonder why she cared so much if Jonathan never cared for her.
She seemed to move on fairly quickly. Hence, the confusion and the horrible conversation she had with Cap, which hurt him.
Good heavens, her brain was a rambling mess.
She opened her eyes and looked at her shriveling fingertips, realizing she should probably get out of the comforting water.
As she rose and climbed out of the tub, the pain in her feet instantly reminded her that proper footwear in the woods was important. Those bruises would take more time than she wanted to heal. She dried off and dressed in leggings and a long T-shirt.
She exited the bedroom and entered the kitchen and living room area. Cap sat on a chair, eating a sandwich while staring blankly at the television. When he felt her presence, he shifted his gaze to her.
“Are you hungry? I can make you a sandwich,” he said as he stuffed the last of his into his mouth and rose from his seat.
“Yeah, but you don’t have to make it. I can do it.”
Still, he followed her into the kitchen area and munched on his carrot sticks as she made her sandwich.
“You feel better?”
“Yes, the bath was amazing.”
He leaned from side to side, stretching. His slight grimace did not go unnoticed by her.
“How about you? How are you doing?”
“Just stretching out the kinks.”
“Liar,” she said as she reached for the hem of his shirt and tugged it up.
Her stomach dropped. The left side of his torso, at his rib cage, was a vibrant purple color with dark bluish/gray streaks.
“You should have had the doctor look at you when we were at the hospital.”
“It’ll be fine. Not my first rodeo.”
She knew there was no point in arguing with him about it, so she pulled his shirt back down and turned to get the meat, cheese, and mayo out of the refrigerator.
She set her plate on the table and sat. Cap pulled out a chair and sat opposite her.
“Any word about anything?” she asked.
“I just talked to my sister, and she and my brother are covering my charters. All is well on that front.”
“That’s good,” she responded between bites.
“Yeah. I’m glad they’re able to do that and I didn’t have to cancel the charters.”
“So, Cici does this for a living?”
“Yep.”
“And Hunter?”
“Hunter owns a string of sporting goods stores, Stars Sporting Goods.”
“Shut up. Your brother owns Stars?”
Cap smiled with pride.
“Yes.”
“I’ve been in his stores.”
“He’s done pretty well with that.”
“So, you all like outdoor activities.”
“You could say that. Growing up, we spent a lot of time hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting. Our parents love that sort of stuff, and my Uncle Lee and Aunt Heidi own a guide business in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Hunter, Cici, and I all worked for them throughout high school and college. We still help when they need us. Probably the best job I ever had.”
“A little safer than police work, too.”
“One would think,” Cap replied with a chuckle.
“What do you mean?”
“It is a safer line of work. I just laughed because it’s not always safe, as Hunter once found out.”
She arched a brow, and Cap continued.
“Guiding a hiking and camping trip is how Hunter met his wife, Hannah.”
“That’s good, right?”
“One would think. But in this case, yes and no. Hunter guided Hannah and two of her friends. Turns out Hannah was being stalked by an ex-boyfriend, Sebastián Garcia.”
Cap paused, and a strange look crossed his face.
“Is something wrong?” Emma asked.
“Not really. Well, maybe, but I’m not sure yet. It just occurred to me that you and Hannah, well, let’s just say similar trouble followed you both.”
“What do you mean?”
“Hannah’s ex is the son of the kingpin of the Garcia cartel.
Hannah had no idea Sebastián was part of the cartel.
They met each other at college. When she broke it off with him, he didn’t take no for an answer, and he stalked her.
Left her for dead at one point. Went so far as to hire someone to kill her while on the camping trip.
One of Hannah’s friends was shot and killed during the trip, and it turned out the other so-called friend was actually helping Sebastián. ”
Emma’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, my God.”
Cap stared forward, and his body tensed.
“Hunter and Hannah ran from the killer, and Hunter not only got shot, but he got bruised up pretty badly protecting Hannah, shielding her with his body as they jumped over a waterfall to get away. Rock walls and landings are unforgiving. Anyhow, in the end, it was Hannah’s quick thinking and perseverance that saved Hunter. ”
“That’s quite the story.”
“Oh, there’s more.”
How could there be any more to such a tragic but great romance novel-worthy story?
“Do tell.”
“Hannah had to go on the run. For ten years, she lived under a different identity. Her brothers, too.”
“What about her parents?”
Cap’s gaze hit the floor for a moment before it bounced back up to her.
“They were killed, which is why the others went into hiding.”
Emma’s chest squeezed. “That’s horrible. So, they were in the witness protection program?”
Cap shook his head. “They didn’t qualify, so they did it on their own.
Hannah’s disappearance had Hunter reeling.
Finally, ten years in, Hunter and Hannah had a chance meeting right at the time Sebastián qualified for an early release from prison.
It got messy again, so Hunter and Hannah fled to Uncle Lee and Aunt Heidi’s property in the U.P.
, and they drew Sebastián out. It’s a long story, but Sebastián was killed, and now Hannah is free from his hold. ”
“That was it then? The cartel didn’t retaliate?”
“No. I think there was too much heat. Rumor has it that the heat on Sebastián’s dad sent him back to Mexico. I guess his mom stayed in the States. I’m sure that even though Marco is in Mexico, the business still operates. He wouldn’t give up that kind of drug money.”
Adrenaline rushed through Emma’s veins. “So, there’s hope that when this is all said and done, I’ll be safe.”
“Yes, and I’ll see to it,” Cap assured.
The conviction in his tone and gaze made her feel confident he would do everything in his power to make that a reality. But the risk scared her. She didn’t want him to get hurt again, or worse, as badly as Hunter had been.
“What’s the matter?” Cap asked, snapping her out of the horrible thought that Cap’s life was still in danger.
“I’m so sorry I dragged you into this mess.”
Cap reached over and placed his large hand over hers that rested on the tabletop.
“You need to stop apologizing. You didn’t create this mess. And remember, this is what I do.”
“You mean, did. And I pulled you right back into it.”
Cap’s dark eyes filled with mischief. “Don’t take this wrong, but a small part of me misses the thrill of hunting down drug dealers and killers and the satisfaction I feel when I take these folks off the street.
Yeah, this is a small town, and the hunts aren’t as often as if I worked in a big city, but the thrill and satisfaction of it are still there.
The only thing I don’t like is that someone I care about, which is you, is caught in the middle. ”
Emma’s heart raced. How had she come to care so much about a man she’d just met?
And he, her? She stood, ignoring the pain in her feet, and took the few steps needed to reach Cap.
He spun in his chair to face her, and she placed her palms on his warm cheeks.
The slight beard that formed over the past couple of days delightfully tickled her hands.
She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.
His mouth was warm and his kiss was soft.
He pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his strong arms around her.
In his arms, she felt safe. Secure. Loved.
Emma relaxed in Cap’s arms, her body melting into his.
Her soft lips pressed against his and moved with his.
Considering the conversation they’d held earlier about her feelings for him and her concerns, he knew he needed to keep things light until she made the move to go further.
He would wait for her to set the tone; that’s how strongly he felt for her. But his body begged for more.
When her lips parted, he slowly dipped his tongue into her warm, inviting mouth. Still, he moved slowly.