Counter Strike

by Beth Rhodes

Missy nodded, biting her lip, and leaned into him. “Okay. Jamie?”

  “Yeah, Babe.”

  “Thanks for coming for me,” her voice faded as she spoke, and it was seconds before she was fast asleep.

  Jamie watched the buildings speed by.

  Now was the chance to walk away from Hawk Elite.

  Now he could take her home.

  Chapter Thirty

  “I can’t go yet, Jamie.”

  The team was packing up and she was still arguing with him.

  “I have to go back to Nina’s.”

  “It’s no longer there!”

  “Then back to the old house. Maybe she’s there. I have to find out what happened.”

  “You know what happened,” Jamie said, pointing to the television.

  The news had been running nonstop since they got to the hotel. Word of Martinez’s death made the headlines fairly quickly. With Andrea’s big mouth, the Fuentes family was dealing with a lot of media. The Martinez compound had been overrun by people—looters and rebels alike. The fall of Martinez had inspired celebration in the streets. Noise. So much noise as they’d waited up here in the hotel, for both safety reasons and convenience.

  Antonio and Nina managed to keep Missy out of the press so far, even after Tio had taken the vacant candidacy.

  She was grateful for that, if only because it kept Jamie’s head from exploding. He wanted them to leave with his team; she couldn’t go. Not yet. “Stay with me, please. When I see that my grandmother is okay and is set up somewhere safe, we can leave together. The both of us. Together.”

  “All right. Let’s take a drive.”

  She pressed her lips together, against smiling really big. “Thank you.” Missy kissed him hard, squeezed his arms, and grabbed her own small bag of things. “Ready when you are.”

  Jamie merely rolled his eyes.

  The drive to her old home revealed just how crazy the city had gone. People were in the streets. Food was being cooked, doors were open, smells permeated every inch of space. And beer. Holy moly, this was the kind of celebration that would lead to as many bad choices as fun times. Some of the streets were so crowded with people, they had to drive a snail’s pace in order to avoid hitting people.

  “The food smells so good, though.”

  Jamie opened his mouth to speak.

  But, she knew him. “I’m not eating a granola bar.”

  He closed his mouth. “Right. If we don’t find your grandmother, we’ll find something.”

  The crowds thinned out as they entered the residential district. She couldn’t believe they’d been here just yesterday. Families enjoyed the afternoon holiday and were lounging on their porches. Missy sat up as they approached the house. A big black SUV sat in the driveway.

  “They’re here,” she breathed, relief flooding through her veins. She hadn’t been sure. Didn’t really know what to expect after they’d just disappeared. Even with the news splashing Antonio’s face all over—first at the hospital, then in some unknown residence.

  Jamie parked on the street, and Missy got out and hurried up the walk. Nina came out the front door, and she stepped into her grandmother’s arms. “Thank God you’re okay.”

  She still smelled like grandma, the sent of cinnamon and coriander and flowers. But she looked different. She stood taller. Her hair was done up, in a pretty French twist, and her make up spoke of money. Missy stopped her and looked into her eyes. “You sure you’re okay?”

  Nina patted her cheek. “Come inside. I am fine, just not used to all this attention. Your uncle has taken on the work of a very young man. But he will be a far better representative to the people than Martinez would have been, so we can be thankful. And I will be his…what do you say? Sidekick?” Her laughter cackled, filling the foyer and putting Missy’s heart to right.

  “You’re okay with this? Being in the public eye, I mean? No more garden days, oblivious to the world around you.”

  “Ah, ah, ah,” she said, wagging her finger.

  Jamie brightened when he came in and saw Nina.

  “I will keep my land and rebuild.”

  “If you need anything, Nina—money, a strong back, please let us know.”

  “She will lack for nothing.”

  “Tio,” Missy breathed. “Still sneaking up on people?”

  He stayed where he was, a nervous glance at Jamie. Missy approached him though. He was a different man now. When he’d seemed so desperate before, now he had a calm about him. It was manifested in the cold, unsmiling eyes and in the way he stood—tall and confident.

  “I’m proud of you, Tio Antonio, for taking back your life and doing something for our people.”

  A blush rose on his cheeks. “I owe you an apology.”

  “Please don’t,” she stopped him. “I needed to come here. And you were right. I was lucky it was you and not one of Martinez’s thugs who got to me.”

  “I was too focused on doing it my way, on keeping Martinez in line, rather than knocking him out of line.”

  “I said as much many times,” Nina said.

  Antonio rolled his eyes at the interjection.

  “Will you win the election?”

  “There is still no one else on the ballot and the voting starts next week.”

  “Are you ready?”

  He’d run away from the problems of his family and his people—once. He’d worked to manipulate and bargain. Yesterday, he’d faced them.

  “Yes.” He glanced over at Nina. “We will work for a better tomorrow, together.”

  It was unexpected for Missy, to see her grandmother take on this role—at her age, not nice to say. She knew that—deep inside. Hell, her grandmother had only gotten more and more powerful over the years because the people respected her. It didn’t matter that she dirtied her hands in a garden or lived in a small house with a broken down porch.

  She’d never abused her power—the love of the people.

  “Right now, food and drink for everyone,” Nina said. “Enough business. Come Jamie. You are my guest of honor, and you both must be hungry. Antonio and I have been going nonstop since yesterday. Meetings and public appearances. It is time to sit with family—the reason we are here in the first place.”

  Yesterday, this house had been a warm, yet unlived in, meeting place. Already, Nina had started putting her personal touch in the design, the kitchen especially. Fruits and vegetables filled a bowl on the counter. Fresh herbs were already hanging upside down over the sink on a string she’d drawn across the window.

  She’d needed this more than anything, and the experience—the love—would carry her through when she left. “Will you come to P.G. later this year? After the baby is born?”

  “Si. I wouldn’t miss it.” She hesitated. They all sat at a table that was set with food, as if Nina had known they were coming. She lowered her head, gave a blessing, and started serving and passing food. “What will you be doing when the baby comes, Jamie? Will it be time to stop this dangerous life?”

  “Funny you should say that—”

  “No, it won’t be. He isn’t going to give up something he loves almost as much as me.” Missy countered quickly. They’d barely had time to sleep much less talk about the future. “We’ll talk about that later.”

  Jamie shrugged. “I plan to be around after the baby comes as much as possible.” It was a cryptic statement just to make her crazy, and she growled. “Idiot.”

  Antonio took a bottle of wine from the rack in the corner and poured for everyone.

  Missy’s stomach needed food, her whole body needed food, the baby needed food. “This smells amazing, Nina.”

  Nina patted her hand. “Your mother would be very proud of you, my dear. My son loved her, like your Jamie loves you. They would both be so happy for you. But,” she raised a finger, “they would be even more happy, if you were to marry your gentleman friend.”

  Jamie choked on a sip of wine.

  Missy gently patted his back and shrugged. “He’s b
een asking for a long time. I haven’t been able to say yes.”

  Nina frowned. “It is only right to marry him.”

  She raised her brow. “It is right because I love him.”

  “Si,” Nina said with a nod. Missy rolled her eyes as her grandmother shrugged. “Whatever reason you say. I have Padre Franco ready to do the ceremony. He will be here in an hour.”

  Missy laughed but was cut off short when she realized Nina wasn’t kidding. “Now?”

  “Well, I kept a few things stored here. Your father would have wanted you to have them. Your mother’s wedding gown is one of them.”

  Missy looked to Jamie, whose expression of uncertainty and worry forced her smile.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  She nodded, but her brain was racing. Married? Here? With her abuela and tio? Her homeland? Was he ready? Was she ready? What if everything went to shit after they got home? What if her job kept her away? What if his job kept him away?

  What if…

  What if…

  “We don’t have to do this right now… you know that,” he reassured her, taking her silence for panic and fear, which it totally was. His words hit her, hard. He’d been by her side. He’d never left her. He’d been her rock.

  And the what-ifs didn’t matter.

  “No. I want to marry you. Tonight. Right here.”

  “Are you sure?” He couldn’t hide his hopeful tone. “You didn’t want to even talk about the future a few minutes ago. Now you want to marry me?”

  “I didn’t want you to feel pressured into making a snap decision at the dinner table.” She scowled, her words short and snappy. Hangry.

  “But I’ve always wanted to marry you.”

  Her throat closed. She’d let herself believe that it might not be a good idea. That a change so big would change what they had, but it wouldn’t. They’d cleared her past. It was time to live up to her promises. “Let’s do it.”

  “After you eat,” Tio Antonio spoke, pointing his fork at her.

  ***

  “I’m so nervous. Why am I so nervous? I’ve been living with this man for twelve years.”

  “Marriage is important. It will change your whole life. That’s the blessing of it, the magic of it.”

  “I always argued we didn’t need the paper to prove our love.”

  Nina shrugged. “Maybe you don’t. Standing before your God and making these vows is different.”

  Missy laughed and shook off the nerves. “I feel silly.”

  Her grandmother leaned in and kissed her on both cheeks. “We will walk down together.”

  Jamie stood at the bottom of the stairs, all dressed up in a borrowed suit Padre Franco had found at the rectory. It was brown. Tweed with a pink shirt that had a large collar and bright gold buttons down the front. Missy grinned. “Oh my.”

  He looked down at himself, embarrassed.

  But as she walked toward him in her classic ivory dress that was more of a macramé weave than a lace, she knew they were a perfect match today.

  He took her hand and walked her into the living room.

  “Tom.” He’d been there at the beginning. It was only right he be here now. “How did you know?”

  “Little birdy told me,” he answered.

  Padre Franco began the blessing.

  Missy listened to every word, hung on every breath Jamie took, and squeezed his hand as if it was a life-line. They said their vows.

  She was sorry his family wasn’t there. He’d promised they would make it up to his mom and dad later. And besides, he’d said, no one is going to care once the baby is here. They’d be invisible.

  He glanced down at her, love in his eyes. Padre Franco asked for the rings to bless.

  “We don’t—” missy started but stopped when Jamie handed over a small piece of jewelry. “Is that—That’s my mother’s ring.”

  “I know it’s not ‘yours’—”

  “It’s perfect.”

  “I’ll buy you something when we—” Jamie stopped. “What did you say?”

  “That it’s perfect. How did you know? To bring it?”

  “It was just…chance. I saw it at the house before we left. It’s how I knew you’d been taken against your will. You never go anywhere without it.”

  “Wait.” Nina lifted a finger and walked out of the living room.

  “Is she okay?” Missy asked, looking at Antonio.

  He shrugged. “She said wait. We wait.”

  When she returned, she handed something to Padre Franco. “It is your father’s. Now the pair will be together again.”

  Tears rushed to her eyes. “I can’t believe it. Stop crying,” she said to herself with a laugh.

  Padre Franco waited, arms crossed in front of him.

  Missy waved a hand at her face and sniffed the tears to a stop. “Sorry.”

  They’d been each other’s for a very long time. Every day, Jamie gave her more than any ring could ever symbolize. She didn’t need an extra diamond, another gold band. Her mother’s legacy would live on through Missy.

  And now so would the vows she made with Jamie.

  He slipped the ring on to her finger, lifted her hand, and kissed it. She did the same for him, breathless and amazed when the ring actually fit his finger.

  She was hardly paying any attention as Padre Franco finished the blessing with the sign of the cross.

  “You may kiss your bride.”

  The look in Jamie’s eye turned hungry and her pulse jumped even as she smiled. He wrapped his arms around her, pulled her in—oh so close, and tenderly touched his lips to hers. He deepened their embrace until she was bent over his arm for a moment in time she would never forget.

  Epilogue

  “Thank you for not letting him quit,” Missy said to a very relaxed Hawk.

  Out on the deck overlooking their sandy beach, she reached into the bassinet and gently lifted her squirming bundle from the soft cotton. She couldn’t believe how much love had changed things in the month since his birth. Her heart wanted to explode every day, seeing her child—Jamie’s child. Nothing else mattered.

  “Jamie has too much to do yet. I couldn’t let him go, no matter how much he’d rather be a scuba-diving beach bum.” Hawk took a sip from his water bottle where he lounged. He leaned forward and set the bottle on the deck next to him. “May I?”

  “Of course,” Missy carefully swaddled Diego and handed him over to Hawk’s big, capable hands.

  Stacy smiled as she hooked her arm through Missy’s. “Let’s get you something to eat and drink.”

  “Oh, that’s—”

  “Don’t object. You have to take care of yourself, too. And that man has held enough babies, he can do it blindfolded.”

  Missy laughed, blowing out a breath and reminding herself to relax. “Right.”

  She glanced back before going inside. Hawk smiled while Diego shook his fists at the man above him. “You don’t know what it was like at first, Hawk” she added. “The turmoil over his decision almost broke him after we got back. If it hadn’t been for your ideas, your guidance, he would have been miserable, he would have quit.”

  “His experience is an asset to Hawk Elite,” Hawk said. “We had several new recruits over this past winter, I need someone who can train them. I’ve got Emily on shooting, Tan on physical training. Jamie’s been around the longest, been part of most missions within the company and even before. He can show them how to work as a team. Teach them what it means to work together.”

  The man in question was down on the beach right now, with the newest group sent down from Raleigh. They were taking care of PT for the day before stopping to eat and relax. She didn’t have to feed his army, thank goodness, but it was nice having people coming and going.

  “They don’t like to talk about it, but they are the old guys.” Stacy opened the fridge when they were inside.

  “Please,” Missy said with a laugh.

  Stacy snorted. “You know it’s true, though. Hawk,
Tan, Jamie…John. The new teams will work hard because they have something to prove.”

  “But Hawk wouldn’t have hired them if they hadn’t proven themselves already.”

  “Oh, they’re capable,” Stacy answered quickly as she pulled the dish of lasagna and set it on the counter. “But it will be any number of assignments together before they run like a well-oiled machine.”

  Missy glanced around and found it funny that she had nothing to do as Stacy waited on her. She didn’t know what to do with her hands. So, she sat down. “Can I be honest with you?”

  “Of course. I expect it.”

  Missy could see Hawk through the screen door, from her seat at the table. “I’m really glad Jamie doesn’t have to go anywhere. He’s so relaxed now. Even when work things come up, there’s…a difference in him. I don’t think I really understood how much of a toll the job was taking on him.”

  Stacy had plated a large piece of the pasta dish and set it in the microwave.

  Movement through the screen had Missy glancing that way, and when she saw Hawk turn Diego and rest her baby on his shoulder, she got up to retrieve her camera from the living room.

  In the living room, the windows were open to the ocean breezes, Jamie’s voice carried up from the ground below. She went to the windows and snapped a few action shots. They’d make good promotional material, if she could convince Hawk to start a webpage… maybe a social media account as well.

  It wasn’t easy convincing these old guys to use new technology.

  Jamie looked up as she lowered the camera from her face. His eyes brightened as he waved. She lifted her hand and gave him a peace sign. A moment later, he’d dismissed the recruits and sent them to the three bungalows they’d built last month along the southern strip of coastline.

  Not exactly luxury accommodations, the guys fondly called them the barracks, but Missy had approved the designs and the minimalist interior, making sure they were a few steps above barrack-status. The quarters each had a kitchen and laundry. The guys were required to maintain house and to create a schedule.

  Because most were former military, they eased into the routine with no problems. It was learning to live with the quirks of their fellow teammates that ended up being the hardest part.