Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Ronan could not just be gone.
Luna shook her head. No, no way. He would not just leave. “No.”
Esme tilted back her head. She wore an oversized straw hat. One that somehow managed to look stylish and elegant on her. Her big sunglasses perched on the edge of her delicate nose as she stared up at Luna.
Luna shook her head once more. “I’ll go meet him in the bungalow.” He must have gone to change, and he’d left his friends on the beach to keep an eye on her. She didn’t need eyes on her, though. The little island was safe.
Luna grabbed for a towel that she’d shoved into her bag.
Esme’s hand flew out and curled around her wrist. “Your husband was called away on business,” she said, her voice a little too loud.
A waiter bent near Tyler. “Sir, do you need another drink?”
Luna jumped. She hadn’t even seen the waiter approach.
Tyler nodded. “Yeah, why don’t you bring a round for everyone?” His rumble in response, then as the waiter hurried away, Tyler added, “We’re probably gonna need them.”
“Let go of my wrist,” Luna told the other woman.
Esme immediately did. “Why don’t you swim some more? I think a storm is coming. You should enjoy the day while you can.”
Luna felt like the storm was already there. “I don’t want a drink.” Definitely not. “I don’t want to swim again. I want to talk with Ronan.”
Esme and Tyler exchanged a long look.
“He wasn’t called away on work.” Luna put the mask and snorkel into her bag.
“He was.” A quick response from Tyler. “Unavoidable work.”
Her stomach twisted. She’d been leaning over the bag, but at his words, she immediately shot upright as fear flashed through her. “Just what kind of unavoidable work?”
It didn’t take long to pack. He’d always been a minimal kind of guy. Basically, all he needed was a weapon and a fake ID and some cash. All stuff that he’d long ago learned to keep in a convenient go bag.
He’d had one of those bags on the island.
Gray believed in go bags, too. They all did.
Within five minutes, he was walking along the dock. At the end of the dock, a private boat waited, a boat that shuttled guests back and forth to Key West. He’d known that the boat left promptly at noon. Check-out time for departing guests. The boat would return—again promptly—at four p.m. with the new arrivals.
He would not be returning.
As soon as Tyler had told him the news about the hit, Ronan had realized he had to act quickly if he wanted to catch the departing boat. There had been no time to second guess. To hesitate. To give in to the urge to stay with Luna.
To make a life with Luna.
No, her life will be better without me. Hell, she couldn’t even have a life, not a real one, until he eliminated the threat from her past.
He hopped onto the boat. The last passenger to board. The attendant moved to begin untying the ropes that bound them to the dock. Ronan didn’t take a seat with the other guests. Instead, he turned and stared back at the island.
He hadn’t turned to stare back at Luna. He couldn’t. It hurt too much to see what he was losing. But he couldn’t see her from this position. She was probably still swimming on the other side of the little island. Luna had no idea that he was gone.
When he already felt her absence like a giant hole in his chest.
The boat began to pull away. He lifted his hand. Curled it around a long pole near his head as he held his balance.
“Where is your lovely wife?”
The voice had his jaw tensing. A voice he recognized. The club owner who’d wanted to book Luna as a singer.
Ronan turned his head. Slowly. He’d kept on his sunglasses, and behind the lenses, his gaze raked the man who had inched up beside him. “ My lovely wife is enjoying the beach.”
The guy didn’t heed the warning that Ronan knew had been in his words. Instead, the fool sidled a bit closer. “My Monique is still on the island, too. She’s enjoying the spa. Loves her a good spa day.” He flashed a broad grin. Like Ronan, he also had on sunglasses, though his sat slightly askew on his nose. “Had to go back early for some business in Miami. Always a few fires to put out, am I right?”
“I’m on my way to put out one right now.” Permanently.
“Then you’ll be coming back?” A pushy question from the man who now apparently wanted to be his new best friend.
I won’t be coming back. I won’t be seeing Luna again. Because he couldn’t see her and walk away a second time. That would be too hard.
Her father fucking left her, and I just did, too.
How did you destroy someone’s love? By breaking the person’s heart into a thousand pieces. “Of course,” Ronan finally replied because an answer was needed. “Not like I’d leave my wife.”
“If I left mine…” The man leaned conspiratorially toward Ronan. Harris—Harris Croft had been the name on the card he’d given Ronan. “If I left my Monique, she’d skin me alive.” He shuddered. “Then, since we don’t have a prenup, she’d take every dime I possess and have me begging her to take me back. That woman is a shark.” An exhale. “I love her so.”
“Um. Fantastic for you.”
Harris eased back. “Guess you feel the same way about your wife, huh? Some women are just worth everything.”
“My wife is definitely worth everything to me.” He realized the statement was one hundred percent true as soon as the words left his mouth. Luna was worth everything. He would do anything for her. Even walk away.
“Did you, ah, get a chance to talk with her about my offer?”
The offer of a dream job for her. “You know what? Maybe she will take you up on that offer soon.” Once she didn’t fear being killed every moment, she could live. “Stay tuned on that one.” He’d be sure and give Gray the man’s number and name. Maybe Luna could contact him when everything was over.
Harris clapped. “That’s great news! That’s?—”
They hit a particularly hard wave. Harris bounced. He also grabbed out for the bar that Ronan had been holding.
“Steady,” Ronan warned him.
He realized that Harris was looking at his left wrist. Ronan hadn’t put on his watch, the big watch that could mostly shield his tattoo. He’d been in too much of a hurry to leave. The dark snake was on full display.
Ronan’s other hand came up and gripped Harris’s shoulder. Harris flinched.
“You good?” Ronan asked him.
Harris nodded and hurriedly let go of the bar. “I-I didn’t expect such rough water.”
“A storm is coming,” Ronan told him as he released the other man.
Harris turned his head to look at the darkening clouds. “I want to be back with Monique this evening. Got to hurry so I can get on the return boat.”
“Um.”
“You doing the same? Hurrying back?”
The boat bounced again. Harder. Ronan didn’t answer Harris’s question.
“That’s, ah, some tattoo.” Harris swallowed. Looked a little green. “You must really like snakes.”
“Fucking love them.” Enough chatting with the guy. He looked toward the little island. Only he could barely see it now. “Snakes are my damn favorite.”
The bungalow was empty. More than that, it felt cold. Silent. The candles had all been removed. The rose petals cleaned up. No more champagne chilled beside the bed. In fact, the bed had been neatly made. The housekeeping staff had clearly buzzed in and out, setting everything back to order.
Ronan’s clothes still hung in the small closet.
She touched one of his shirts.
Gone. He left.
There was a knock at the door. She’d expected the knock to come. Not like Esme and Tyler were going to leave her on her own, despite her pleas for some privacy. She released the shirt. Squared her shoulders. And headed for the door.
Her steps seemed to echo in the little bungalow. Why did it hurt so much, knowing that he’d left? She’d understood that they didn’t have forever. He’d never said he loved her.
She’d only known him a few days.
Didn’t matter how long it had been, though. I love him.
She opened the door.
“Hi, new friend!” Esme shrilled brightly. She barreled inside and embraced Luna. A warm, strong hug. And damn if Luna didn’t need a hug right then and there. Her hands rose, and, for a moment, she hugged the other woman back just as tightly.
“It will be okay,” Esme whispered into Luna’s ear. “Don’t give up on him. Some men just will not rest until they’ve eliminated the threats to the ones they love.”
But he didn’t love her.
She pulled from Esme’s embrace. “What threat?”
Tyler shut the bungalow door behind Esme. He crossed his arms over his chest. Luna had the feeling he was a giant, immovable object intent on blocking her path. “You’re not gonna like this,” Tyler warned her.
“I was just told Ronan left me. I already don’t like things.” Her chin notched up. “It would have been polite to tell me goodbye.”
“It would have been painful,” Esme corrected with a shudder. “Goodbyes are the worst. Especially when you realize you’ve fallen in love for the first time in your life.”
Her gaze cut right back to Esme. “How do you know I love him?”
“ Mon amie, it is on your face when you look at him. In your voice when you say his name.” A sigh. “Love can hurt. But it can also bring so much joy.”
Did she look joyous right then? Joy was not the emotion pouring through her. “I’m assuming you two are my new guards?”
“I am your new friend,” Esme stressed. “Perhaps I will become your very best one.” She offered a wide smile. “I am a very useful friend to have. Je promets. ”
Luna’s lips pressed together. Her right foot tapped on the floor. “I feel like you’re both stalling. Just as I felt like you were stalling on the beach.” There were no clocks on the wall. No clocks on the whole island. Part of the whole relaxation and time-having-no-meaning bit. No clocks. No TVs.
But she had seen Ronan’s watch on the nightstand…
She stopped tapping her foot. “I guess the island’s transport boat has left already?” That would have been why they were stalling. To give Ronan time to leave the island.
Tyler inclined his head.
“Am I going to get a new identity now?” She kept her chin up. “A new life some place? Ronan left me because his job was done?”
Tyler and Esme shared a glance. They did that. A lot.
Tyler cleared his throat. “His job isn’t quite done. You won’t be getting that new ID just yet. Instead, you’ll be staying here on the island with us while Ronan takes care of unfinished business.”
Goosebumps rose onto her arms. “Just what would that unfinished business be?”
Esme edged closer to Tyler. “He’s not supposed to reveal confidential info. Grayson will be a pain in the ass to him if he does.” She flashed a mega-smile. “I, however, am under no such restrictions.”
She focused on the other woman. Completely. “What is happening?”
“A hit has been placed.”
Luna backed up a step. “Marcus knows I’m alive?” He’d put another hit on her already? Her eyes widened in horror and fear and?—
“Non. Not on you. The hit is on Ronan.”
The wave of shock that rolled through Luna was so intense that her knees almost hit the floor. “No!”
But Esme nodded. “Marcus put a bounty on Ronan’s head. Because of that hit order, Ronan knew the sharks would be closing in. He didn’t want to risk anyone seeing you with him. So he left. No doubt, he told himself it was so he could better protect you.”
Breathing was too hard. Something heavy weighed down her chest.
“He decided to go on the offensive,” Tyler added as he continued to be an immovable object in front of the door. “He is going straight for Marcus. Going to try and find the trophies and evidence that will put Marcus away for life. He’s ending the threat to you.”
By putting an even bigger target on himself?
“He left a message for me to give you,” Tyler revealed. “Want to hear it?”
“No,” she snapped. “I want to go around for the rest of my days filled with burning curiosity.”
He frowned.
Luna lifted her hands into the air. “Of course, I want to hear it!” Had the question even needed to be asked? Her hands fell to her sides.
Tyler nodded. “Ronan said…he said that he wouldn’t forget you.”
That was something, she supposed. Not like she would ever—not in a million years—be able to forget him. His memory would haunt her far too much.
“He said that, uh, you should go on any adventure you want. Not real sure what kind of adventures he meant, but you should have them.”
Her lower lip began to tremble.
“I do enjoy adventures,” Esme murmured. “Perhaps I can have some of those with you.”
Tyler cut a quick glance at his wife, then focused on Luna. “Ronan wanted you to know that you’re gonna be safe.”
Because he’d left her with two guards. Check. Her lips pressed together. The better to stop the trembling.
“You won’t have to worry about the darkness much longer,” Tyler added. “Because Ronan is gonna take it out of your life.”
Her heart thudded hard in her chest. She wasn’t sure exactly—was Ronan the darkness? She knew he saw himself as the bad guy. But he wasn’t. That was certainly not how she saw him.
When he referred to the darkness, had Ronan been talking about himself or…
He’s talking about Marcus. He must have been referring to Marcus. But had he been talking about getting Marcus locked away in prison—or killing him? Her heartbeat was way too hard as Luna inched a bit closer to Tyler. “He didn’t just…leave me, did he? There’s more involved.”
“He’s gone. He won’t be coming back.” Final. Then, gruff, “I’m sorry.”
She would not cry. She would not break down. Mostly because fear was pushing too hard inside of her. “He went after Marcus.”
Tyler’s jaw hardened the faintest bit.
“He’s out there now, hunting.” A stark pause from Luna. “Isn’t he?” That must have been what Ronan meant when he said he was taking the darkness out of her life. If he wanted her to have her adventures, then he thought she’d be safe soon.
The only way for her to be truly safe? It would be for Marcus to be gone. Dead?
But Tyler wasn’t answering her.
Her shoulders slumped. “May I have some time alone?” Did she sound suitably forlorn? She certainly felt freaking forlorn.
“Ronan was never going to stay as your permanent guard. That’s not how it works.” Again, Tyler’s voice was gruff. Incredibly uncomfortable. As if he hated to tell her the cold, hard facts. Or maybe, as if he hated to break her heart. The big guy had a soft spot inside of him.
“Don’t be ridiculous, darling,” Esme admonished. “You are my permanent guard. That is certainly how it happened for us. Why can’t it happen that way for her, too?”
Luna’s gaze whipped to Esme.
She found Esme staring straight at her.
“If you want something badly enough,” Esme said as she deadeye stared at Luna, “you fight for it.”
Luna caught herself mid-nod.
Esme winked. A wink that Tyler did not see. Then Esme moved toward her immovable-object husband. She poked at his chest. “She’s about to cry,” she loudly whispered to Tyler. A stage whisper if Luna had ever heard one. “She doesn’t want an audience for her tears. I certainly understand that.”
His expression softened.
“The transport boat is gone,” Esme told him. “She can’t swim from here to Key West. We’ll be right outside the front door. She asked for privacy. Let’s give her some.”
The battle was clear on his face. He didn’t want to back down.
His wife poked him again.
Grudgingly, Tyler nodded. But he lasered a hard look Luna’s way. “He told me you were a runner.”
She tried to look innocent. After all, hadn’t Ronan been the one who told her that she could do that look so well? Or, wait, maybe he’d said she had an innocent smile. Not like she could manage any sort of smile right then.
“There’s no point in running,” Tyler warned her. “Unless you’re going to sprout wings, you aren’t getting off this island. A storm is rolling in. The water is going to be helluva rough, and we all need to stay inside until dawn.”
If only she could sprout wings…
“I can practically see the thoughts spinning in your head. Don’t do it.” Tyler was adamant. “ Don’t. He’s helping you, okay? Let Ronan do his job.”
But his job would risk his life. Ronan was risking his life for her. She was just supposed to stand back and let him do that?
“This will all be over before you know it.” A soft assurance from Tyler. “Soon enough, it will seem like a bad dream.”
Parts, maybe. Parts had been a nightmare. But other parts would seem like the best fantasy in the world. Luna released a long, slow breath. She knew exactly what she needed to do. “It’s too bad, really,” she said, rolling her shoulders.
Tyler’s eyebrows beetled down. “What’s too bad?”
“That Ronan didn’t give some big, heartfelt confession of love for you to deliver to me. Would have been nice.” A million times better than nice. “Thanks for telling me what he actually said.” She swallowed. “Thanks for your help. Both of you.” Now please exit the bungalow so I can get the hell out of here.
She wasn’t going to let Ronan risk himself for her. She’d get off the island. She’d call Grayson. They could come up with a new plan that involved Ronan being safe. In no world did she want Ronan potentially dying for her.
Tyler turned away. He reached for the doorknob but stopped before actually touching it. “Sometimes, you don’t have to say a word in order to make a confession.”
What did that even mean?
Tyler glanced back at her. “Ronan didn’t say he loved you.”
Wonderful. Another knife straight to her heart.
“But he does.”
Oh, that was sweet. She had to blink away tears. The U.S. Marshal was trying to make her feel better by lying to her. “It’s okay,” she assured him. “You don’t need to tell me that story. I love him, and my feelings won’t change.”
His expression just hardened more. His lips parted.
“Privacy,” Esme said, tone brisk. “Don’t you see the tears in her eyes? Let’s go. ” She reached around him and opened the door.
“Some people don’t mind crying when others are around, Esme,” he muttered.
“And some do. Come on.” She dragged him out.
The door clicked closed.
A lone tear slid down Luna’s cheek. Then she spun around and ran toward the bedroom. She threw on fresh clothes as fast as possible. Not like she wanted to leave the island in her bathing suit and cover up. And she was leaving that island.
Ronan didn’t get to risk his life for her.
She was not going to hide while he faced all the danger. Maybe she could meet him in Key West. Stop him before he jeopardized himself.
Jeans, t-shirt, underwear, tennis shoes. She threw them all on and then grabbed for the sliding glass door in the bedroom that led out to the beach. A beachfront view that had been killer. She slid that door open soundlessly. Barreled forward.
And screamed when she hit an immovable object.
Tyler’s hands closed around her upper arms. “I told you,” he sighed. “Ronan warned me you were a runner.”