Chapter 29
Vissarian
“What was wrong with my sister?”
Fallon’s question was out of the blue. We’d been taken to a basic warehouse that had a bathroom. At least the place was secure, Carlos keeping it surrounded. Almost ten hours had passed since I’d made another call to Mikhail.
Thankfully we hadn’t experienced any issues in getting to the location, although Carlos had gotten word a group of about twenty had landed, all claiming to be tourists. Plus, they’d had connections, receiving a warm welcome.
That had pissed Carlos off as much as it had me.
I stopped pacing, turning to face her. She sat on a steel chair with Bella draped across her lap. She was absently stroking the dog, but her eyes were pinned on me.
It was the one part of the story I’d left out mostly because of the level of pain I knew admitting the truth would cause. But I’d promised her I wouldn’t lie and I was a man of my word.
“She wasn’t sick,” I started.
Fallon narrowed her eyes. “What then?” I didn’t need to say the words. Her entire expression changed mere seconds later and she slowly allowed her hand to drift to her mouth. “No.”
I heard the whisper. “She’d just found out she was pregnant.”
“But I remember my mother saying that a doctor had told her because of her endometriosis that she would never be able to have children.” She was fighting her emotions.
So was I.
“I know. We were shocked. Hell, I didn’t believe the Jamaican doctor and didn’t want Megan to get her hopes up, but I gotta tell you, the thought of being a father was amazing.” I allowed my mind to drift to the memory even though it ate at me just as I thought it would.
Fallon said nothing for a full minute. Then she slowly eased Bella onto the cold concrete floor, approaching me as if I was suddenly the fragile one.
“I’m so sorry, Vissarian. You’d make an amazing father.”
“Like hell I would. Too controlling. Too arrogant. Too self-centered. Your words.”
“I was wrong. So very wrong. The way you’ve been with Bella shows me how amazing you would be.”
“Then here’s the truth. It’s too dangerous to bring a child into my world, even though I told you that it’s safe.”
“I guess in life nothing is truly safe. Someone once reminded me that you could be enjoying a day, just crossing the street and some idiot comes out of the blue. Or a drunk driver who…” She shrank back, folding her arms. “Who destroys your happiness in the blink of an eye.”
“Your father sounds like he was a great guy.”
“He was. He was my everything, my hero. And he loved my mother so much. That’s why I couldn’t understand when she allowed Luis to lock away her memories.”
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but my guess is that your mother was given no other choice. In order for her daughters to have a better life, she agreed to being kept on a tight chain.”
“That’s horrible,” she muttered. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“To keep you safe. It’s something I would do.
” I’d heard what she’d said only hours before.
I’d felt the budding love in the way she’d held me, in the light brushes of her hand.
A part of me had felt such deep need for her while the other had wanted to convince her to return to barely tolerating me.
However, we’d gone through too much and both had excessive baggage. There was no chance at returning to what had been.
Plus, I’d told her she belonged to me.
Forever.
And I’d meant what I’d said.
“Don’t you dare. I can protect myself. Just give me one of those guns.” She held out her hand as if I was going to supply her with a weapon.
Over my dead body.
“Not going to happen.”
“You don’t think I can shoot?” she asked, the challenge very much her personality.
“I already told you that I think you can do anything you set your mind to, but that’s not the point. Those men who landed in Cuba are dangerous. They will stop at nothing to take what they’ve been told belongs to them.”
“Bruni flesh and blood.”
Her smirk almost brought a smile, but not this time. “No fucking around with this.”
“You seem to forget I was in the Air Force. I’m highly trained in weaponry. If those men find us, we will need as much firepower at our disposal as possible. You know that.”
Exhaling, I realized I had forgotten. She was a force to be reckoned with. Or maybe I’d tried to push the thought from my mind. I was supposed to be the one protecting her. However, she was right. Fuck. Yep, she was right.
I hesitated then moved to the bag of weapons that Carlos had dropped off like he was offering a duffle of clothes. While grumbling under my breath, I unzipped it, deciding on a similar Beretta to what I usually carried. After loading it, I groaned.
“Don’t fight me on this. I might be the one who saves your life.”
The sound of her voice, so strong, so damn resilient drove me crazy like everything else about her. As I placed the weapon in her hand, I resisted pulling mine away. For a few seconds, the touch lingered and another connection was made.
“Don’t do anything risky, Fallon.”
“Yeah, I know, or you’ll need to discipline me. Right?”
“I already owe you for almost getting us arrested at the airport.”
“Ha. Without me, we could be languishing away in a prison cell awaiting trial for drug charges.” She laughed, but I sensed she was still reeling from the pain of losing Megan all over again. I could see it in her eyes.
I could feel it in every breath she took.
Crowding her space, I tried to fake a smile, but I could tell she wasn’t buying it. Still, I gripped the side of her neck, giving her a stern look.
That she also wasn’t buying.
“You’re getting the spanking when I say.”
She laughed, but neither one of us were feeling the least bit jovial or relaxed. “I need to take Bella out to use the bathroom.”
“Nope. I’ll do it.”
“There are about fifteen big, brawny soldiers out there protecting us. I think I can handle taking her outside the door.”
“You heard me. You’re to follow my rules. Period. I’ll take Bella outside.”
“You are such a hard man.”
“You bet I am. Get used to it. Come on, Bella. Let’s take a nice stroll.” She responded instantly, scrambling to me with a happy gait, wagging her long, fluffy tail as if all we were doing was enjoying a nice adventure.
I was tired of the game and the running. It was time for some payback.
Just like the old days.
“Do you want the leash?” Fallon asked, the old hint of defiance returning to her voice.
“I think I can handle her.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“If I can handle you, I can handle anything and anyone.”
“You just like to think so.”
To see the way she was handling everything was impressive. She was stronger than I was at this point.
Bella followed me to the door, but before I opened it, I pulled out my weapon. I refused to take any chances.
Exhaling, I let her out, carefully heading toward the surrounding trees. Carlos had found himself a jungle, a perfect hiding place for his stash. The one problem was the lack of cell phone coverage.
Although Carlos was keeping a close eye on any other planes coming in from the United States. But once again, it felt as if we were sitting ducks.
I couldn’t see the soldiers, but one had checked on us from time to time. They remained on the outskirts, keeping a close eye on the dirt road that led directly to the building. This trip had certainly taught me I’d never take another one without having at least a couple of men with me.
What I’d done had been reckless.
Bella sniffed the air, looking up at me as if asking permission.
“It’s alright, girl. Go do your business.” As she trotted off into the foliage, I thought about what Fallon had said. Maybe one day I would make a good father. But not now. I couldn’t do that to a child.
I needed to be settled.
After snorting, I laughed to myself. I was thirty-nine years old. When the fuck did I think I’d be settled? When I was fifty and could no longer chase after a kid? My profession aged you faster than almost any other. That was certain.
Still, I had to admit I wouldn’t mind the opportunity.
After a few seconds, I realized Bella hadn’t returned. What was taking her so long? While I might not know dogs that well, I realized that puppies liked to explore.
“Bella. Where did you go, girl?”
There were no sounds but the rustle of leaves on the trees from the wind. I held the weapon in both hands and followed the path she’d taken, heading deeper into the jungle.
A sharp crack caught my attention and my hackles were immediately on edge. At this point, the worst thing I could do was to draw attention to my position. Just in case. As I continued the path, I shifted from one side to the other, keeping a watchful eye.
Where the hell were the soldiers?
Another crack and I swung around to face the other direction just as I heard exactly what I didn’t want to hear.
Bella growling. It was the same low-slung sound she’d made when we’d been compromised before. Fuck. I followed the sound, ensuring the safety was off.
The moment I moved through a clump of vines, Bella’s growl sounded closer. I crouched lower, trying to keep the anger from allowing me to do my job.
Which was to protect Fallon at all costs.
If she was taken, there was a good chance I’d never get her back.
But I would burn a pathway to Moscow if necessary.
I took quicker steps and suddenly Bella bounded out, almost jumping into my arms.
Another crack and I almost reacted on instinct, firing off my weapon.
Thank God, I hesitated.
“What the fuck?” I hissed. “Don’t you know any better than to sneak up on a man?”
Alessandro Costa stood wearing fatigues, bending down to stroke Bella. “A woman and a dog. That’s quite the rescue.” For an Italian, he wasn’t a bad guy and his skills were exemplary.
“They sent you, huh?”
“Well, Mikhail had important business, so you got the B-squad.”