For Honor - Sweet Version

by Jeannette Winters

As they walked toward the stone wall, she could see the steps leading to the beach. There was a man standing by a dingy, dressed in black, with the bulge of a holster across his chest. There was absolutely nothing she could do but die here and take others with her or go with him and die out there somewhere. I’ll go and maybe get lucky and have a chance to break free.

  She was a strong swimmer, but that speedboat was farther offshore than she could swim. Even if she jumped, they would shoot her in the water as she tried to get away. Yeah, he thinks of everything. Probably that as well.

  “You really don’t have to do this. Enough people have already died.”

  “And if you open your mouth one more time, a lot more will. Now move.”

  She turned and started down the first step. The heel of her shoe caught on one of the stones, and she stumbled slightly before grabbing onto the wall. The pain shot up her leg from twisting the same ankle she’d hurt back in Moreira. Deanna wanted to cry and tell him she couldn’t walk, but the cold barrel of his gun was now jabbing her bare back.

  She forced herself upright, steadied herself, and took another step. The wind blew, and she heard a slight popping sound. The pressure on her back eased, and the cold metal slid farther down until it was no more.

  The popping continued, and chips of stone blasted past her. She dropped to the ground not knowing what was going on. She expected Milton to grab her by her hair and yank her back up, but he didn’t. She stayed down and turned around to see him. He was lying on his back, his eyes wide open with a pool of blood forming under his head. Deanna didn’t need to check. He was dead.

  She thought about running, but she knew the popping was gunfire, and it was coming from the beach. Moving meant becoming a target, and she didn’t want to end up like Milton. She had no idea why his men had turned on him, but she was grateful they had. Now all she needed to do was live long enough to get away.

  The gunfire increased, and she heard people screaming. Oh, God, are they shooting into the crowd? Her heart ached for those innocent people. She wished there was something she could do. Milton was armed. Crawling over, she didn’t see his gun, but his right hand was tucked behind his back. She rolled his dead body onto his side to free his hand. His finger was still on the trigger, and she gently removed it. She was armed, but this weapon was a different model than the one she had and much larger. She looked for what she thought was the safety and released it. She was tired of being a victim. If I go down, I’m going down fighting.

  Deanna heard a small explosion echo overhead. It sounded like it came from the beach. It was more than just a gunshot, though.

  The gunshots stopped, and the loud screams from above seemed distant now. Was it over? Had they given up once they realized Milton was dead? Did they think she was too? She was frozen with fear and couldn’t bring herself to stand and check. At least I’m sheltered until they come looking for me.

  Footsteps were fast approaching. She held the gun with both hands, trying to steady it. Whoever was coming around the corner was in for a heck of a surprise. She was alive and kicking.

  With her finger on the trigger, she held her breath. They’d be there any moment now. Her eyes closed as she envisioned all her friends who’d died senselessly. She’d always told herself if she’d had a gun she could’ve made a difference. This was her chance. Not for her, but for them. The chance they weren’t given.

  He came around the corner and, in one swift move, knocked her arms up into the air as the gun went off. No! Her only chance had been lost. He grabbed her, pulling her off the ground.

  “Deanna, are you okay?”

  Rafe? It couldn’t be. He didn’t know where she was. No one did, thanks to Milton’s plan. But as her hand reached up and touched his face, she knew it was him. “How?”

  He cupped her face and said, “I promised you.”

  Another small explosion sounded, and she looked out over the ocean. Milton’s sleek boat had flames rising from the rear with thick black smoke filling the air. It was over. “They’re all dead?”

  “They are. You’re safe, Deanna. And so is your family. No more running. No more hiding and, mostly, no more lying.”

  Rafe wrapped his protective arms around her. In her heart she knew, for the first time in many years, she was going to be okay.

  As the sun started to set the sky turned several shades of orange and pink, as though the universe was showing her there was still much beauty in the world, and she should be thankful she was alive to see it.

  “I don’t know how you found me.”

  “You’ve become important to the Turchettas. Important to me. Nothing was going to stand in our way of finding you.”

  She was glad he was there, and she was alive. But with everything that had just taken place, she knew tomorrow—heck the next moment—wasn’t guaranteed. “Rafe, I need to tell you something.”

  He looked at her and put a finger to her lips. “Honey, you have no idea how badly I want to hear it, but right now I need to get you out of here. I have some business I need to take care of.” He waved his arm, and his brother David appeared.

  “Ma’am, glad to see you’re okay,” David said.

  “David, get her back to my house and don’t leave until I get there.”

  “Roger.”

  Deanna held onto Rafe. “I don’t want to leave you.”

  He looked down at her. “Honey, this place is about to be flooded with authorities. I think it’d be better if you’re not here when they arrive.”

  She knew he was still protecting her. Arguing was a moot point. He was right. If they asked her questions, she would probably get them all in trouble. Some things were best handled by someone who knew what the heck really went down there. All she could offer was her gratitude that the scumbag was dead. That might do more harm than good.

  “Trust me, honey. I’ll be home soon.”

  Home. It was all she had, but she’d take it. They were alive, and that was a great place to start.

  Reluctantly, she left the security of his arms and followed David. Her ankle was killing her, but she needed to be strong for Rafe. She could tell by the look on his face he’d already done enough worrying about her.

  Chapter 16

  Rafe walked into the house expecting to find David watching over Deanna like he’d asked, but that wasn’t the case. Everyone except Gabe was there. It was great they’d all rallied around Deanna, and any other day he’d welcome it with open arms, but right now he wanted to be alone with her. There were things left unsaid on that beach, and he wasn’t about to let them go unsaid much longer.

  Rafe thought she would jump up and greet him with a hug or something at the door, but she was leaning back on the couch. Maybe he’d misread the situation earlier. He’d saved her life. People are emotional at such times. What he thought they were about to say to each other might have been one-sided. Darn, I hope not.

  He was struggling to contain his feelings for her, and if they weren’t reciprocated, he wasn’t sure what he’d do. Rafe had accepted his life as it had been. Now that she’d entered it, he wasn’t sure he could go back. Don’t know that I want to.

  Rafe walked around the couch and noticed Deanna’s leg propped on pillows. “What the—?”

  “Pretty, I know,” Deanna said as she pointed to the swollen ankle. “I’m not usually this accident prone.”

  “I can’t believe you put on heels after everything I told you,” Melissa nagged. She turned to Rafe. “You’re out there shooting an M-16, and God knows what else, when you’re not even supposed to be out of bed. I won’t be surprised if you’ve pulled a stitch or two.” She shook her head. “You two really are a pair.”

  Rafe met Deanna’s eyes. Yes, we are. “Does it hurt a lot?”

  She smiled at him. “Only when I laugh.”

  It was nice to see she still had a sense of humor after everything she’d faced today. Darn, you’re an amazing woman. But knowing she was even slightly injured because of that evil rat ticked him
off. If Gabe hadn’t found her, Enwright might have actually gotten away with it. He and David had been able to secure the event and take out all of Enwright’s men without any civilian causalities.

  Renzo was sitting at the table with his laptop open, and Rafe heard the incoming call. “It’s Gabe.”

  No joke. “Put him on.”

  Renzo arched a brow and looked at Deanna then back to Rafe. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I am. I’ve got nothing to hide.” Or at least I don’t want to anymore.

  “Okay.” Renzo hit receive call and turned the computer in Rafe’s direction.

  “Good work, Gabe,” Rafe said.

  “I got lucky. There was only one formal event taking place today. If not—”

  “Did you find the other information I asked for?” Rafe cut in. Although Deanna was there, she didn’t need to hear how badly it could’ve gone.

  “Yes, I did. Bennett Stone took a trip to Moreira and met with some of the locals. Let’s just say they were persuaded to come forth with certain information.”

  “Any . . . fallout?” They both knew that meant wounded.

  “Nothing that affected Stone’s team.”

  “Good. What did he learn?” Rafe asked.

  Gabe leaned closer to the monitor. “That country is as wacked up as Tabiq.”

  “Knew that. Tell me about the money. About why she was so important.” He wasn’t ready to say Shadoa’s name yet. He needed to know exactly why they felt she was the key to it all.

  “Enwright didn’t know about the kid. From what Stone was told they were holding her in their back pocket as leverage if Enwright ever decided to cut them off and turn the tables to blame this all on them. She was their insurance policy to prove motive for everything Enwright hired them to do.”

  “So no one knows about her?”

  “There may have been a disagreement between Stone and the people he was meeting with. Let’s just say, no one from their side will do any talking. Ever.”

  Gabe delivered the message as gently as he could, but Rafe could see Deanna was still disgusted by it all. Death. Murder. Hate. That wasn’t her life. She was sweet and gentle and full of love. All things he admired about her. It’d been his choice to let her listen in on the call. Was that wrong? He wasn’t sure. Could it be any worse than what she’d experienced over there? No way. The woman, although she didn’t know it, was a rock. Most people would’ve broken down long ago. Not her. She stood up to them yet protected the ones she loved. The world needs more people like her. He looked into her eyes and thought, I need someone like her.

  Gabe interrupted, asking, “What about Josh?”

  Rafe hadn’t forgotten him, but what should they do from here? There was no way he could send Shadoa back to Moreira. Her mother was gone, and it was very possible she’d suffer the same fate. That left only one thing to do.

  “Bring them home.”

  “All of them?” Gabe asked.

  “Roger.”

  Renzo closed the laptop and asked, “You sure about that?”

  Rafe looked around the room and said, “I’m sure about a few things. Let’s start with this one. I really appreciate you guys. I couldn’t have done any of this without you. Now if you don’t mind, get out. There are a few things Deanna and I need to discuss. Alone.”

  Renzo chuckled but headed toward the door. David shook his head and followed. Melissa walked up to Deanna before leaving, bent down, and in a soft voice Rafe heard her say, “Guess he means to keep his promise.” When Melissa stood back up, she gave Rafe a wink before leaving with their brothers.

  Rafe could tell there was something he’d missed between Deanna and Melissa. He’d have to ask her, but right now he didn’t care. Everything that was important had been resolved. Almost.

  He sat next to her on the couch and said, “Deanna, I need to talk to you.”

  “Me too. There’s so much I want to say.”

  “Let me go first.” Deanna nodded, and he continued, “I know you want to go back and continue what you started. I admire your dedication, but you don’t need to run halfway around the world to make a difference.”

  “You want to talk to me about work?” Deanna looked disappointed, and he understood why.

  “Yes. No. Well, not entirely. You asked me to do something for you when you were leaving Moreira. Do you remember what that was?”

  She nodded again. “Check on Shadoa. Did you find her? Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine. But her mother was killed.”

  Deanna gasped. “That’s horrible. Does she have family to care for her?” Rafe shook his head. “See? This is why I need to return.”

  “You’re never going back there,” Rafe snapped. When he saw her eyes widen in shock, he knew he needed to explain quickly. “What I mean is you don’t need to. She’s not there.”

  “Where is she?”

  “With Josh, and soon she’ll be here.”

  “Oh, Rafe, she must be so scared.”

  He nodded. “And feeling alone. That’s where I thought you’d come in.”

  “Me?”

  “Deanna, you wanted to make a difference in the world. You can do that right here and change the life of one child. One who needs exactly what you have to give.”

  “What is that?” Deanna asked.

  “The most loving, gentle heart a person can ask for. She needs love, Deanna. You can give that to her.”

  “You want me to raise her?”

  Rafe reached down and took her hand in his. “No. I want us to.”

  Deanna looked shocked. “Rafe, what are you saying?”

  He was shocked at his own words, but never had anything felt so right. They’d both lost someone, and that loss had somehow brought them together. Maybe, as a family, they could heal. But if she wasn’t part of it, Rafe knew he never would. She could make him whole.

  “Deanna, you asked me to tell you how I felt, and I couldn’t. When I learned Enwright had set a trap for you, all I could think about was how much you meant to me. I should’ve told you how I felt. The words were there, but they . . . I couldn’t speak them.”

  “And now?” Deanna asked softly.

  He looked into her sweet brown eyes. Rafe could get lost in them. It was as though her gentle soul reached out and touched him with each glance. “I could stare into your eyes for eternity and never grow tired. I hope you give me the opportunity to.”

  “To what?”

  “Wake each morning with you by my side. Kiss you goodnight each night before we sleep. And show you . . . tell you . . . that I love you.”

  “You . . . you love me?” Deanna repeated.

  Rafe reached up and touched her face. “More than I’ll ever be able to put in words. Heck, Deanna, I’m not a poet or a romantic man. I’m not even an easy man to get along with. I’m stubborn and ornery and—”

  “A horrible salesman.”

  “What?” Rafe asked, arching a brow.

  “If you’re trying to convince me not to love you back, well sorry, you’re too late. I love you so much, Rafe, that it hurts. All I could think of when Milton held me captive was I would never see you again. That was my greatest regret. But I knew I had to fight, not just for me, but for us.”

  Us. We. He liked the sound of that. “If anything had happened to you I’d—”

  “But it didn’t, Rafe. You kept your promise.”

  “Deanna, I spent my life doing what I do for honor. You have shown me I’m capable of something I never thought possible. Love. I guess I can do it for both now, because I love you.”

  He watched a tear rolled down her cheek. “I love you too.”

  Rafe gently lifted her onto his lap. He didn’t forget about her injury, and he knew he had to be careful. “Any objection to me carrying you to the bedroom to show you how much I love you?”

  She shook her head. “As long as you promise to tell me too.”

  Rafe smiled down at her. “Deanna, I promise to tell you every day of our lives
. I love you, honey.”

  “I love you too.”

  Epilogue

  Deanna held the kite string as it blew high it the air. Bending down, she said, “Hold on tight. Don’t let go.”

  Shadoa grinned from ear to ear then took the string from her and ran up the beach. Deanna knew it was only a matter of time before her little hands got tired and the string slipped through her fingers. With the wind blowing so strong, she was sure the force would send the kite even higher.

  She had prepared Shadoa for what might happen. It was part of being a mom. Teach your child that not everything is perfect or lasts forever, but to find the joy in each moment. Shadoa was living proof of what joy life could bring.

  When Rafe suggested they adopt Shadoa, it seemed like an impossibility. But in less than a year, they’d pulled off a small wedding and an adoption. Her life had gone from feeling hopeless and alone to having so much to live for.

  She still had moments when the tragedy of what happened in Moreira crept in, and she broke down crying. But now she had someone to hold her, someone who truly understood. Rafe was such a blessing in her life. The entire Turchetta family was.

  Deanna looked at the house and saw them all on the deck watching Shadoa and her play on the beach. Even her parents had come to their clambake. She wasn’t sure how they’d all get along, but from where Deanna stood they looked like one big happy family.

  She’d never explained to her parents what had happened, and the Turchettas seemed to live the lifestyle of saying only what you have to. No one needed to know what was in the past. All it would do was prevent all the wonders that lay ahead of them.

  Deanna stopped as she felt a flutter in her stomach. Placing a hand on her small belly, she waited, and it happened again.

  “Mommy are you okay?” Shadoa asked.

  Deanna grabbed her little girl’s hand and said, “Yes. Everything is perfect.”

  “Good. Can I let it go now?”

  Deanna looked up and saw the butterfly kite her parents had brought Shadoa struggling for its freedom. There was no way either of them was going to reel that thing down.