Page 12 of Javier

“Ye’re mistaken, ye gowl.” Sister Janet stepped up, her accent even thicker now. “There’s no such person here as yerself mentioned.”

“Now, Sister, I know you’re trying to protect Missy, but you shall not lie.” The man waggled a big finger in the air. “Or have things changed since I went to Catholic school?”

That flirty, sexy smile.Holy heavens.It had the potential to make me stupid. Apparently, it wasn’t only me. Sister Elsa’s lips pulled up as if she could hear the teasing in his words, and I watched with an open mouth as Sister Janet returned his grin as if she, too, was fangirling him.

“Ye’re a handsome devil.” Sister Janet pointed at him with his umbrella. “That’s fine so, if ye went to Catholic school then ye know God will not permit ye to harm an innocent.”

“I’mnothere to harm you.” His gaze shifted to me. “You do know there’re government soldiers coming. Right?”

“We’re apprised,” Sister Janet informed him briskly.

“The sooner you get out of our way, the sooner we can leave,” I stated in my haughtiest tone, channeling my sister Thena. “We don’t need your help. Stand aside.”

“Hot damn.” He widened his grin. “Spoken like a true Astor.”

My throat closed. I felt unmasked, exposed before him. My thoughts raced. It took me all of sixty seconds to remember the main events that had led me to this moment. I’d been living in fear of being found for a long time, since I’d fled the Astor world, the places where I grew up, and my past, where every “friend” had a money-driven agenda, and my father wheeled and dealed with my life as if he owned me.

To him, my existence was just another tiny cog in his obscene money-making machinery, a nearly worthless bargaining chip in the scope of his enormous fortune. I was also his verbal punching bag. He enjoyed crushing my spirit and imposing his will on me and my sisters. Because of him, three years ago, I’d walked away from my beloved sisters and fled.

I wasn’t going back to him.

My fears of being found had been compounded last week when the orphanage had been ordered to close and the order had been expelled from the country. Those same fears had turned to terror when I’d been tipped in the most unlikely way about the end of our missionary activities here.

In the last few days, we’d rushed to evacuate the children and the other nuns from our little mission to avoid trouble, but Sister Elsa had been weak with a fever and Sister Janet had volunteered to stay with her until the rain relented. The sisters had been so kind and protective of me. I feared they might get lost or hurt along the way. I’d stayed behind to make sure they made it to safety.

The decision had almost cost me my life and theirs. Heck, considering the contentious warrior before me, we were still in danger. If something bad happened to my friends, it would be my fault. I also stood to lose my freedom. Things were looking really crappy for me.

“We’re very grateful for yer help,” Sister Janet ventured, glancing at the blood on the ground and making yet another sign of the cross. “As our benefactor, we shall pray for yer soul, but we have a long journey ahead, and we must get on with the good Lord’s work.”

“You can pray for my soul all you want, Sister, but I doubt it’ll make a damn difference.” Javier shrugged. “I’m gonna go to hell no matter what.”

“Oh, honey, bless your heart.” Sister Elsa turned downthe corner of her lips. “You can’t be sure about that.”

“I’m sure as fuck, Sugar Pie,” he tossed out. “As to you, Angel, it’s go time.” He glanced at his watch again. “We are T-minus twenty-five. You’re coming with me, right now.”

“I don’t think so,” I shot back. “As far as I know, you could be like those brutes that attacked us, an assassin yourself.”

“You’re right, I could be,” he admitted. “But I’m not.”

I crossed my arms, lowered my chin, and defied him with a glare. “And I should take your word for it because…why?”

“Because of this.” He tapped the big rifle now strapped to his vest. “If I wanted to murder you, I would’ve used this for the kill shot and you would have been dead a while ago. Less trouble and more bang for my money, pardon the pun. So.” He shook his head. “Not an assassin.”

“Good point,” Sister Elsa piped up. “I think he’s telling the truth.”

“What are ye, now, a fecking truth detector?” Sister Janet snapped.

“Quit being ugly, you Irish Bubba,” Sister Elsa shot back. “I’m a good judge of character and you know it.”

I ignored the sisters’ banter and kept my glower on the man. “Maybe you’re just saying stuff so that you can drag me back to my father.”

“There we go now.” Sister Janet jumped in my defense’s bandwagon. “Maybe yer here to kidnap ourcailínand take her back to her mean old man.”

“Or,” the man suggested in a most annoyed tone. “Maybe I’m here to help you, like I’ve said a trillion times.”

I stood my ground. “Prove it.”

“We have friends in common.”

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