She let out the water, stood up and quickly dried off. If she returned to the farm, she'd be bringing trouble to everyone she loved. The children waiting there might even be taken back to the life they'd escaped.
I can feel your unhappiness, Airiana. Talk to me.
She had reached out to him without even being aware she was doing it. He had to be close to the cabana. She didn't have much time if she was going to keep them all safe. Hastily she rummaged through his war bag and found the jeans she'd been wearing when he'd kidnapped her. They had a comfortable, homey feel to them as she pulled them over her hips.
This isn't going to happen. I'm looking at the same patterns, if that is what has you spooked.
I'm not taking trouble home with me.
Yes, you are--I'm going with you. There was a trace of humor in his tone. They all have a better chance with us there. We can control the situation. If we're not there, how can we protect them? "You're panicking for no reason, honey." He stepped into the cabana, his broad shoulders filling the doorway.
She paused in the act of pulling on her shirt. Was she panicking? "He's really going to send his men after me again."
"I figured he would. You're valuable to him and he isn't going to give you up so easily. Men like Evan Shackler-Gratsos tend to feel entitled to whatever they want. Anyone standing in his way will be mowed down. He doesn't mind selling children and murdering them afterward. He'll come after your family to get you."
She dragged the shirt over her head. "How can we stop him?"
Maxim smiled at her. "That's my girl. Now you're thinking again. We've got the advantage at the farm."
"How is that?"
"My brothers. We'll be ready for him this time."
"What if he doesn't give up and keeps coming at us?"
"Can you fix this weapon they all seem to want?" He leveled his gaze at her.
She bit her lip and shook her head. His gaze didn't waver. She let out her breath. "I don't know. Maybe. Probably. But I don't make weapons, not for any country. I'm not going back into that life."
"Not even if your mind is going a little crazy with inactivity?"
"I keep it active."
Maxim smirked at her, but left it alone. He walked all the way into the room, placed a small pile of folded clothes on the end of the bed and took her hand. "Let's go outside. It's beautiful. The waves are rolling gently and everything is an amazing shade of blue. We've got our own little private strip of beach. I'll wrap us up in air to protect us from anyone spying."
She went with him, liking the feel of her hand in his. He made her feel safe and loved. It was that simple. The woven chairs under the shaded table were comfortable and she sank into one, still feeling a little shaky.
Maxim leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Do you have any idea how many times I've sat outside in a beautiful place and never managed to see it? Until you. Waking this morning with your skin next to mine changed everything for me. I never thought I'd ever have the chance to have a home of my own."
He dragged his chair around to place it next to hers, so they could both easily view the ocean as it rose and fell. Dolphins chattered and leapt out of the water in a joyful dance, almost as if they could hear Maxim.
"The point I'm trying to make is, I'll protect our home and family with everything in me. I know its value far more than most men. Evan isn't going to take a single family member from us. It doesn't matter how long or how often he keeps coming at us, he won't get any satisfaction. We'll close ranks and protect our own."
"Judith travels. Rikki dives."
He nodded. "I understand that and we'll do the best we can to make arrangements to keep them safe, but sometimes they'll have to compromise."
Her gaze jumped to his face. "You meant that for me."
"Airiana, you're the main target. You'll need someone--preferably me--with you at all times until this is over. You'll have to be realistic about what your life is going to be like. You have a gift and everyone wants it. I can't protect you if I'm not with you."
She nodded. "I'm not going to argue with you. I've seen what Evan's men are like. And I'll convince my sisters."
"Levi and Thomas will take care of Rikki and Judith. They'll see to it that both women cooperate, but Levi tells me that Lissa and Blythe may be our biggest worries. Lexi stays on the farm most of the time anyway except for her trips to the farmer's market. We can handle that."
Her breath caught in her throat. "You talked to Levi? Today?"
He nodded. "Everyone is okay, and they were relieved to know you were okay and with me. The children are very quiet, he says, and are anxious we return. They don't trust anyone enough to talk about what happened. As far as they can tell, the children really don't have any relatives. Levi and Thomas have shored up the paperwork and are giving the children histories with us. If anyone tries to trace them they won't be able to."
Airiana felt the burn of tears and quickly blinked them away. Home seemed far away. Maxim had actually spoken with Levi. "Are they coming to get us?"
Maxim nodded and took her hand. "They'll be here today. We just have to relax and wait for them. They'll land at Jorge's private airstrip and fly us home."
"It feels as if I've been gone a year," Airiana said.
He rubbed her fingers over his jaw. "Jorge is bringing the food, honey. Why don't you slip inside and wait for him to leave." He kissed her hand. "I like Jorge. I think he's a good man, but he has a family to feed and to protect. I'm not going to risk trusting him with your safety. Evan's men will be spreading money up and down the coast, eager to pay for a sighting of you. If Jorge never catches a glimpse of you, there's no risk of temptation. I'd really hate to have to kill him."
Airiana obeyed instantly. She understood. Maxim liked Jorge, but if Jorge betrayed them and put her in danger, Maxim would kill him in a heartbeat. She retreated to the cabana, wrapping her arms around herself, happy to know she would be going home in just a few hours.
She danced around the room, unable to contain her excitement. She was goi
ng home to her family. Things might still be up in the air and frightening, but she'd have her sisters around her to help and she knew, from experience, that when they were together, they were formidable. Now, with three Prakenskiis as well, she felt they had every chance of being successful in fighting off their enemies. She was going home.
18
AIRIANA was crying again. Maxim leaned on one hip with deceptive laziness and watched his woman while she sobbed. The five women around her hugged and kissed her repeatedly. He studied each one as a potential threat to his relationship with Airiana.
Lexi, the youngest, was too sweet for her own good. She showed signs of intense trauma, much like the children he'd sent to the farm. She was a pretty girl, with too-old eyes and delicate, soft features. Her hair was a deep auburn and would burn bright in the sun. She was definitely an earth element, and from what he understood, she ran the farm. He found just looking at her made him feel protective--the younger sister he'd never had. He had the feeling she would be on his side. There was far too much compassion in her than was good for her.
Blythe was the oldest and clearly the one the others turned to and listened to the most. She was tall and blond with shrewd eyes and a runner's lean body. She had looked him over carefully when they'd arrived, and even now was sizing him up. She was a potential problem if she thought he might hurt Airiana in any way; otherwise, she would reserve judgment. Clearly she had gifts, but he couldn't see them, he couldn't feel the tie that bound elements together, yet there was something subtle there he couldn't quite comprehend. She was a question mark to him.
Rikki was different and definitely would have a difficult time with him, but not necessarily because he was with Airiana. He knew from what his brother had told him that she was autistic and had a hard time adjusting to change, yet he watched her with the children and she seemed open to them. She was the water element, and a very strong one, according to Levi. She was fiercely independent, but very loyal to her sisters. She would come to accept him, he was certain, as long as he didn't push the relationship on her. She would have to accept him in her own time.