Raize’s eyes went flat. His lips thinned. “I need you to say that she’ll be kept safe and alive.”
She frowned. Her eyebrows dipped down, but she said it. “She’ll be kept safe and alive. She’ll be happy, too, eventually. We care about these people. It’s our entire mission.”
His mouth curved down, but he turned to me. “Is she lying?”
Relief flooded me. I was so grateful he worded it that way.
“She’s telling the truth.”
Raize’s eyes went to the guy. “You now.”
“Wha—”
Raize’s gun was in the air. His words were rough. “I need you to say the same words.”
“We don’t do business like thi—” The woman started to step between them.
The guy interrupted her, his hand catching her shoulder and holding her in place. He raised his chin, too. “We will keep her safe and protected. She’ll be happy. That is my promise to you.”
I didn’t know why or how, but this guy understood the need inside of Raize. An understanding was there in his eyes, a dark knowing and it was enough.
I gave Raize a nod when he glanced my way. As soon as I did, he lowered the gun. The fight fled from him. His eyes closed for a beat.
Okay.
Now it was my turn.
I moved to Verónica, taking her into my arms. I hugged her and whispered, cupping the back of her head, “This is the ultimate gift your brother can give you. Both of your brothers. You need to accept it. Your mother would want this.”
She was trembling in my arms, but her arms came up and wrapped tightly around me. She burrowed her head into my neck and shoulder. “I cannot. I cannot. Too much loss.”
“You have to, but Verónica.” I pulled back, framing her face with my hands and I rested my forehead on hers. “Do this for your brother. You have no idea how precious this gift is. Please take it.”
“What do you think, sis?”
I was hugging Raize’s sister, but it was someone else I was saying goodbye to.
Brooke.
Drawing in a breath, I stepped back.
Verónica was still crying, but she moved to Raize.
I turned away, wiping at my eye.
The hugs were hard to watch.
Verónica was sobbing and hugging Raize so tight. Then Abram.
She kept whispering his name, Abraham, over and over again.
In the end, the couple came forward and took her from Abram’s arms.
“Cuida de él. Cuida su espalda. Guárdalo. ¡Prometeme! Prométemelo, mi amor. Yo te amaba Hago. Yo siempre.”
Abram’s dam broke. Tears fell from his eyelids and he choked out, “I will. I’ll protect him.” He had to take a breath. “I love you, too, Verónica. Siempre te he amado.”
Verónica broke again, falling to the ground.
I didn’t know what he said, but it was beautiful whatever it was. It felt right not to know.
The man, Blade, bent down and picked her up. He carried her as if she were a child and walked back how they’d come. The woman, Carol, waited a bit before turning to us. She was blinking back her own tears, and her voice came out raspy. “When you reached out, we did our homework. We know you worked for two cartels and are now in the employment of Roman Marakov. We weren’t sure about taking this booking, but decided to proceed anyways. This is the hardest part. It will get better. Estrada will never find her.” She paused, glancing back before as if coming to a decision. Her shoulders set. “The only people who will know where she is, will be Blade and myself. No one else.”
Raize dipped his head down. “Thank you.”
Abram said, “Gracias.”
A sad smile came from her. “De nada.”
She looked my way, a question in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything.
She turned and left.
I wiped away another tear.
61
Ash
“Heya, little baby doll.”
My mom was at the door and I straightened back from my stuffies. She had that look, and when Mom had that look, it wasn’t good.
I knew my stomach would start hurting soon, but I took a small breath. I held it. Dad told me this was the best way to calm ‘it’ when Mom was around. I never knew what ‘it’ was, but the breath holding and sitting real still always helped. Mom said what she wanted to say and left, and sometimes that look would go away. Other times…
I looked at my stuffies, deciding which ones I wanted with me if the ‘other time’ happened.
The stuffies helped, especially the wolf one. And the dragon one. Both were so soft and heavy.
I liked them a lot.
“Hey, baby.” She came in, kneeling down beside me.
Her perfume was heavy today.
That wasn’t a good sign.
She leaned in, smiling at me, and reached up. Her finger traced over my forehead, tracing a hair strand and tucking it behind my ear. She kept her hands on my forehead, a light and loving touch.