She went still, and for a moment he thought he was about to get the “it’s not you, it’s me” speech. He would take it and be patient with her. He wouldn’t get angry because she needed some time.
“I love you, too, Hawthorne,” she said quietly and took the last step so she was in his arms. She went on her toes and kissed him, and he felt like the whole world was finally right again. Not merely because he was safe from the ones who’d attacked them. Because he’d found the one woman who could make him open up again. Now he could see how much losing his father had made him close off from the world, to try to avoid that pain.
No more. The pain was the cost of the love, and he would accept it.
He kissed her, relief flooding through him because this time was forever.
The thud thud of a helicopter forced him to break the kiss.
Tessa’s eyes went wide, and she moved in front of him, her whole body on alert. “That’s a chopper.”
“I thought it was going to go over the jungle.” Eddie had gone pale. “Do you think Luis lied?”
“Why would he?” David asked, his mind wrapping around the possibilities. Tessa needed to know everything he did. “Luis told us someone hired a chopper to come out to the island. He told us he’d gotten the information right before you…well…”
“Before I killed his ass and all of his criminal-minded friends?” she asked.
She had a way with words. “Yes, before you killed his ass along with the rest of his body, he was worried about some guy named Rose who hired a chopper to fly over the jungle.”
“Rose?” Tessa looked up at him.
“Yeah, some guy named A. Rose chartered a helicopter to tour the island.” She needed to know everything he’d learned.
“Axl Rose?”
“I don’t think Guns N’ Roses is coming to this island. Also, is he still alive?” David asked.
“Your uncle is. You really need to get to know the man.” She took off, jogging for the hall. “And he’s late.”
He followed her.
Eddie was hard on his heels. “What happens to my son?”
“I already called the police, Mr. Montez.” Marta had her hands on her hips, shaking her head at the bodies they passed. “The idiots talk a lot around me. They give away everything because they think they can handle me. I found out where they were keeping the child and your woman. And she is your woman. According to what I heard, she had nothing to do with this plot.”
“You get a raise, Marta. You get everything,” Eddie said with a huge smile.
“I’ll just keep my job, which might I point out doesn’t include cleaning up bodies,” Marta said as they walked past. “The dining room is terrible. She got blood all over the tablecloth.”
David hustled to keep up with Tessa. There was something odd about the cook, but he didn’t want to think about it now. All that mattered was Tessa and getting her off this island and back home.
The doors that led out to the courtyard had been thrown open, and he could feel the wind blasting from the chopper as a massive man in all black came down a rope, hit the ground, and immediately went into a defensive stance, a gun in his hand.
Was that Ian?
The big guy moved toward them as another muscular body dropped from the chopper.
Was that his stepdad? Where had they come from?
Ian moved forward, his gun coming down. “Hey, you okay?”
What the hell was Ian doing here?
Sean didn’t wait. Sean simply ran up and put his hands on David’s shoulders, looking him over like he was checking for injuries. “Are you hurt? Where are the fuckers who kidnapped you?”
“I told you I could land on one foot!” Someone was yelling.
Kyle was standing on the ground as the chopper took off again. His brother was in the yard, a big gun strapped to his chest and a medical boot on his left foot.
“Your brother is an idiot, and I’m thinking of killing him myself. He managed to get on the plane. It was going to take us longer to get him off than to take him along.” Sean was dressed for war, and David had to admit it looked good on his stepdad. “We thought you were being held at gunpoint. Was our intel wrong?”
He gave his stepdad a big old bear hug. For a moment Sean stood there as though that was the last thing he’d expected, but then his arms enveloped David, and a shuddering sigh of obvious relief went through his stepdad’s body.
“I’m good, thanks to Tessa,” David said, taking a step back. “Thank you for coming for us, though.”
“We brought a sat phone to contact your mom.” Sean patted his backpack. “She’s so worried about you, and Carys overheard us talking so she’s freaked out, too.”
It was good to have a family.
“Your cat scratched me,” Kyle groused as he hobbled over. “He’s irritated that you’re not home.”
“Santiago, you leave any of them alive?” Ian was asking.
“Why would I do that?” Tessa replied. “Then we would have paperwork, and you know I hate that.”
“Good.” Ian looked up at the big house. “This place have some food? All that flying made me hungry.”
“There’s a nice buffet if you don’t mind some dead bodies,” Tessa offered. “Axl Rose?”
Big Tag shrugged. “I have a certain style.”
Kyle frowned. “Seriously? I came all this way to save you and Santiago already took them out?”
“There were only seven,” Tessa said with a huff. “Don’t act like it was some big deal.” Tessa came around and slid her hand in David’s. “I couldn’t let those assholes get away with scaring my man.”
Everyone was suddenly staring at them, but David didn’t care. His fingers twined with hers, and he drew her close. “Thanks for the save, baby. I knew you would do it.”
“Well, I didn’t,” Eddie said with a huff.
Ian settled his pack over his shoulder. “Montez, before we took off I gave my people the go-ahead to extract Camila Lopez and your son. The police already have her kidnappers in custody thanks to your cook. I’ve arranged for transportation for your people. They should be on their way here by now.”
Eddie’s head fell forward. “Thank you.”
“Thank me when you get my bill, buddy,” Ian said, walking up the steps. “It’s not going to be cheap. You look familiar.”
Ian was standing in front of Marta, who simply raised a brow. “You probably watched my pornographic movies. You look like the type.”
She turned and walked away.
Ian shrugged. “Probably did. All right, then, let’s get some lunch and debrief. I was serious about the bill.”
“I could eat.” Kyle started to hop up the stairs.
Sean shook his head and went to lend Kyle some balance. “You’re going to kill me, son.”
“Apparently Santiago is the only one doing the killing,” Kyle announced. He glanced back. “And I called this whole romance thing. You always needed a badass chick to balance you. Hope you like cats, Tessa.”
“I like you.” Tessa went on her toes as they found themselves alone again. “But next time I want a beach vacay, we’re going to Hawaii.”