Chapter 2 #2
Clint didn’t know if her loss had registered yet. Maybe she was traumatized.
“He’s…he’s dead?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Her face contorted as she let out a bloodcurdling scream, then covered her face with her hands. “No. You’re lying.” She flew at him, fists in the air.
She pounded on Clint’s massive chest, but he didn’t feel a thing.
He understood her disbelief. In a brotherly way, he wrapped his arms around her and held her as she sobbed while gently rubbing his hand up and down her back, letting her get the initial shock out of her system.
When the tears slowed, he told her he had more to explain.
She finally had herself somewhat under control, so Clint gradually guided her back to the couch.
He needed to get through this and get the hell out of there.
He returned to the business of death. Not sure if she had even heard what he’d said originally, he repeated, “We’ll take care of getting Javier’s body back to Texas, but it might take a week or so.
In the meantime, do you have a friend here in the compound who could come and stay with you? ”
“No,” she shook her head slowly. “I haven’t made any friends here,” she admitted sheepishly.
“When I got here, I spent all my time on online classes and homework. Or with Javier.” She shrugged.
“We were newlyweds. Then I started my online freelance business. That’s kept me really busy the last few years.
I haven’t had time to meet some of the other women in the compound. ”
“How about your mother?” Clint suggested. “Could she fly over and be with you? You’re going to have several decisions to make in the next week or two.”
“I really wish she could come, but Javier and I don’t have much in savings, and my mom doesn’t have any money.
She’s just an assistant department manager at Walmart.
Things are really expensive in our part of Texas.
” Theodora’s gaze fell to the blue Persian rug.
“I never told Javier, but I was sending money to help Mom pay for her prescriptions. Her insurance is crap, and Mom has a lot of back problems since she’s on her feet all day. ”
Her confession about broke Clint’s heart. He wondered if perhaps they weren’t paying their troops enough money. But they paid more than their men had made in the US military.
In that moment, he made an executive decision, as much out of guilt for not being able to save Javier as well as doing the right thing.
He patted her shoulder. “Tell you what, if your mother can come, we’ll pay for her flight.
Have her make the arrangements, and then you call Chris, our accountant, with the details. He’ll get everything paid.”
Theodore’s reddened eyes went wide. “You’d do that for me?”
“Of course. I promised Javier I’d see to it that you and the baby were taken care of.”
She flung herself at him, hurling her arms around his neck, all but sitting on his lap. With her lips next to his ear, she sucked in a ragged breath. “You’re going to take care of me and our baby?”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “I’ll see to it that you and the baby are taken care of.”
She squeezed his neck, pressing her ample breasts into his chest.
Clint suddenly felt uncomfortable. As a married man, it was inappropriate for him to be holding her that way.
Especially since she was wearing nearly nothing.
The satin robe over her baby-doll pajamas didn’t count for much.
Clint grabbed her shoulders and twisted her to sit on the couch as he stood up.
“I know it’s late in Texas, but why don’t you go ahead and give your mother a call?
” Clint took another step back. “According to Javier’s ICD letter…
” She gave him a questioning look. “In case of death,” he explained.
“It’s a signed letter every one of our men has on file for exactly these instances.
Javier said to notify you. I know his mother passed away a few years ago, and there was no mention of his father. ”
“He never knew his father,” Theodora clarified. “His younger brother has been in and out of trouble since we were all in high school. Last we knew, he was in prison, again.”
Clint was aware of much of that. “Javier had not mentioned anybody he wanted contacted in Texas, except for the Veterans Administration. “He left instructions that he wanted to be buried in a US Veterans Cemetery near the town where the two of you grew up.”
“That sounds good. Sounds like something”—sniff—“he would want. He was very proud of his time in the Army.” She glanced up at him. “He loved working for you.”
A lump formed in Clint’s throat. Javier had been his right-hand man both in the US Army and again there in the black ops they ran out of Ethiopia. He was a trusted friend. A great soldier. Clint would miss him terribly. He needed to get the hell out of there.
“Well, Theodora, why don’t you call your mother, then get hold of Chris?
” He inched closer to the door with every word without looking as though he was trying to dash away, a skill he’d been taught as a special operator in the Army.
“If you need anything, you know you can call me.” He gave her his personal cell phone number, the one only his family had, before he escaped out the door.
“Holy fuck,” he muttered as he all but sprinted up the hill, relieved that was over.
He’d make sure their accountant got her mother to their compound as soon as possible, deal with getting Theodora the insurance money, then getting Javier’s body, his pregnant wife, and his mother-in-law all back to Texas as soon as possible. Then hHis promise would be fulfilled.
Clint hadn’t made it two steps into the door of his home before he came face-to-face with his brother, Van.
“So, big brother, how did it go?”
“About as well as could be expected.” Since his brother oversaw everything dealing with the company’s aircraft, Clint asked, “How soon do we have a flight going to the United States? I need to make arrangements to get—” He still had a hard time saying his friend’s name. “His body back to Texas.”
“We don’t have any trips to the US on the schedule.” Van grinned. “But we both know that could change in the next five minutes.”
While he nodded in agreement, Clint’s private phone rang.
He didn’t recognize the number. Xena was out on a solo mission and could need backup.
Or his father could be stuck at a dig. He was always misplacing his phone and borrowing one from a student.
There were so very few people who had his very private phone number and all of them were important to him. “Clint Riggs.”
“Clint,” the small, feminine voice squeaked out.
Nothing but silence followed for what seemed like minutes, but he knew it was only seconds. Clint looked at his phone to see if there was still a connection.
“Who is this?” he growled. Xena? Ashlin? Mom? They were the only women who had this number. Somebody was in trouble and had called him. Apprehension turned in his stomach.
Sniff. “It’s me, Theodora.”
Clint immediately let out a sigh of relief. None of the women he loved was calling. “I’m so sorry to call you so soon.” Bawling tears came through clearly. “I think there’s something wrong with the baby.”
Shit. He’d never forgive himself if something happened to the baby right after Javier’s death. He’d promised to take care of them both.
“I’ll be right there,” he promised. He looked directly at his brother. “Call Doc Barnes.”
“Who’s hurt?” Van asked as he grabbed his brother’s arm to stop him before he could run off.
Clint looked over his shoulder. “Theodora thinks something might be wrong with the baby. Send the doctor to Jav—” He still couldn’t say his name. “Send him to the Castillo house.”
“And that’s your problem?” Van’s blond eyebrows nearly reached his hairline.
“I guess it is now.” Clint’s shoulders fell in resignation.