Page 46 of Javier

“A resort?”

“It’s a perfect hideout,” Kai explained. “Costa Rica is a tourist haven. I was gonna hunker down with Goof until we got the all clear. I even got me a brand-new reader to pass the time. It’s in the bag. But you’ll blend in as well. The resort’s security chief is part of the BB network. We’ve engaged his security staff to work with us. We’ve vetted the staff and the guests checking in and out of the hotel. This will provide extra layers of protection for you.”

“Sounds like you’ve done a lot of work,” I mumbled, feeling suddenly shy. “Thank you. Do you really think the mercs will attack us here?”

“Like I said, we prepare for all scenarios. But no worries. Javier will be with you at all times.” Kai broke out into a grin. “I can assure you, he’s smarter than he looks.”

“Hey!” Javier protested, aiming a glare at his teammate, but I managed a tentative smile.

I liked this Kai person. His eyes sparkled with honesty, and, right now, his warmth, kindness, and patience contrasted with Javier’s clinical detachment toward me. By his actions and approach so far, I got the impression that Kai was a kinder-than-average person.

“I get this is not what you expected when this blockhead showed up to bring you home.” Kai knocked his head toward Javier. “I only got our standby orders late last night. I had to improvise, so my apologies if you have to flex a little. Are you okay with the plan?”

I shrugged. “It’s better than any alternatives I can think of.”

Kai was nice. He made me feel safe and also part of the decision-making, as if my opinion mattered and I had some say over the group’s decisions.

I turned to Javier. “I suppose that the delay gives us plenty of time to drop off the sisters at the convent.”

He shifted on his feet. “Yeah, about that…”

“What?”

“Turns out the convent and the resort are in different directions.”

“Javi, you swore that—”

“Javi?” Kai annoyed Javier with a grin. “I hadn’t heard that one yet.”

“Not now, K-man.” Javier sideswept his friend with an irritated glance.

It slapped me in the face. I was an embarrassment to Javier. He was totally irritated by everything I did and said, like my father used to be. My shoulders slumped and my gaze roamed the ground. I felt like I was back in boarding school. I recalled my sisters’ sage advice when the mean girls picked on me.

Look up, Cece’s quiet voice echoed in my head.Always look the bitches in the eye.

Call on your pride and dignity to stand your ground,Thena used to tell me.They are your fortress. They’ll always come to your defense.

When you get dumped on, don’t give up, get even,Affie’s feisty instructions jumped to my mind’s forefront. “Work up some attitude. Give them hell.”

I decided on the spot that, going forward, I wasn’t going to allow Javier—or anyone else for that matter—to make me feel worthless. He might’ve had a change of heart about me, but I didn’t have to like it. Straightening my back, I made a huge effort to lift my chin and challenged him with an Affie-inspired glare.

He must’ve felt the heat I aimed at him, because he shifted on his sandals and cleared his throat. “Angel, I keep my promises. So, here’s the deal. We’ll head out together. In a couple of hours, we’ll split up south of here, where our local assets are organizing another vehicle. You and I will head out to the resort. The sooner we get you there, the safer you’ll be.”

“What about the nuns?”

“King here will escort them to the convent,” Javier said. “He’ll return in a day or two to rendezvous with us at the resort.”

“Um…” Did I really want to spend any more time alone with Javier, lusting over a man who didn’t return my attraction? Did I want to hang out with someone who went from hot to cold in a snap? Could my fragile self-esteem handle it?

The answers were no, no, and no, so I made a hopeful suggestion. “Maybe you can take the sisters to the convent and Kai can go with me?”

“No, negative, not happening,” Javier countered, all too adamantly. When Kai gave him a curious glance, he rushed to state the obvious. “You’remymission.Myresponsibility. We stick together until the mission’s over and you’re safely back at Astor House.”

My shoulders dropped.

Kai’s quizzical gaze studied me. “Is this okay with you?”

“I guess.”Pride and dignity. I straightened my back. “I’ll be fine.”

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