Page 3 of Criminology of a Character

“Well, if he wants me to go, I guess I have to.” She kissed her dog and then kissed him twice more for good measure. “Thanks for watching him, Dad.” She slipped out of the back seat and rounded the car to hug her father.

“Anything for my baby girl.” Reese kissed her forehead before extending a hand to Eamon. “Look out for her and make sure she has fun.”

“Yes, sir.” Eamon shook her father’s hand before tucking her against his side, and Bel didn’t miss her dad’s expression. Hehadn’t seen them interact as a couple yet, and it seemed the adoration on Eamon’s face surprised him.

“You should get going.” Reese cleared his throat to hide his shock. “I love you.”

“Love you too, Dad.” She kissed his cheek. “Call me if you need me.”

“Cerberus will be fine.” He patted her arm before returning to his car. “Stop worrying. See you soon.”

“Well, Detective, are you ready?” Eamon stooped to pick up their bags before extending his hand to her.

“I guess so.” Bel slid her fingers through his, and before she could grow upset about leaving Cerberus, he whisked her away to their waiting carriage.

A bottle of champagne,too many chocolate-covered strawberries to count, and one kiss so scandalous it made a flight attendant blush later, the private jet touched down on the island’s runway. A sleek black town car welcomed them to paradise, and as the driver carried them down a palm tree-studded lane, Bel wondered if she even needed this vacation after that flight. Eamon had settled for giving her a foot rub after the stewardess caught her in his lap. It hadn’t been the most compromising position to be discovered in, but their kiss had threatened to light theveryair on fire, and Bel wasn’t sure whose cheeks burned brighter, hers or the poor woman’s. Slight embarrassment aside, the champagne buzz and relaxing massage combined with the gourmet chocolate and the company of a man sculpted by the gods worried her. She could get used to this treatment, and returning to her discount office chair and stale station coffee would be a harsh reality check.

“One man owns all this?” Bel rolled down the window as the resort came into view. The main hotel rose high into the balmy air, but it was the sprawling gardens, serene beaches, groomed golf courses, luxury pools, and private bungalows surrounding it that put all other resorts to shame. Mountains cloaked in lush jungles guarded therear of the estate, and while the island was a mere speck on the map, it was overwhelming from the car’s window. “How does one person have that much money?”

“The resort’s guests pay for some of it.” Eamon reached across the seat and gripped her hand. “And the rest undoubtedly came from endeavors you don’t wish to know about. Unfortunately, extreme wealth and morals rarely go hand in hand, but since I’ll be donating an excessive amount to the charity, I believe we’re allowed to enjoy this vacation… what?” He froze when he saw her expression. “Is this making you uncomfortable? I hadn’t considered it, but if you don’t want to stay, we can change our plans. Florida is still warm this time of year.”

“You’re rich,” she said. “We rarely talk about your job, and while you aren’t‘own an island’rich, you are‘own half of Bajka’rich. Did your millions come from endeavors I don’t want to know about?”

“Some,” he answered honestly. “But if it buys me mercy in your eyes, those days are forgotten pages in the history books. I’m not a good man. I’ve never lied about that, but I’m no longer the monster I once was, either. You know I’m…” he paused, glancing at the driver as if unsure how to confess his sins. “…Older.”

Bel nodded, suddenly afraid of what he was about to reveal. Not because it would change her opinion of him. After witnessing him use his own back to shield her from an IED blast, nothing could ever undo her feelings for him. It was because he rarely talked about his life before her. When he remained silentabout his past, she could pretend his lifespan was normal, but when he recounted his history, it reminded her he would forever look forty while she would grow old and die.

“If you met me at my beginning, you would’ve hunted me down and relieved me of my head.” He leaned against her to hide his voice from the driver. “In the first ages, I wastrulythe beast my kind was famous for. I was not a man worthy of you, and I gained much of my wealth in ways I’m ashamed of. I’ll tell you my truth one day if you like.” He brushed her cheek with gentle fingertips. “Not on this trip. This is our first vacation together, and I don’t want to ruin it with my sins. But if youreallywish to hear it, I’ll tell you.”

“How bad is the truth?” she asked.

“There were decades where I was almost heroic. You’ll enjoy those tales, but the first centuries might change your opinion of me.”

Bel pulled away, her movements forcing him to sit up, and she studied his hand gripping hers, waiting for the sickness to take over. She waited to be appalled, waited to feel the urge to flee, but nothing happened. Deep down, she always knew his death-black eyes warned of a devil in human form, but she’d made peace with that because he was also her guardian angel. She’d accepted that both heaven and hell dwelled within him, and to judge his ugliness was to dismiss how much he’d evolved. She’d irrevocably changed him for the better.

“No.” She leaned forward until her lips brushed his, kissing him softly as the car parked before the resort’s entrance. “It won’t change my opinion of you. I know who you are in here, Mr. Stone.” She pressed her palm against his thundering heartbeat. “I don’t need to learn about your past to know I want you in my present, but I’ll listen when you’re ready to tell me.”

“You’re the only person who’s allowed to know everything.” He deepened the kiss before opening the car door, but whenshe twisted to exit her side of the vehicle, he gripped her hips and dragged her out with him. “But to address your concern, my current millions are a result of my age, not my brutality, so you have nothing to be ashamed of. Honestly, if Iwasn’ta millionaire, I’d be embarrassed. I was there when Wall Street was born. I should understand how to work the system.”

“Okay, Grandpa,” Bel giggled.

“That’s Grandpa, Sir, to you, young lady.” Eamon playfully slapped her ass. “Didn’t your dad teach you to respect your elders?”

“Calm down before you give yourself a heart attack. At your age, you shouldn’t get so riled up.” She waggled her eyebrows.

“Go get us checked in before I demonstratejusthow much I can do at my age.” He lovingly patted her behind before releasing her. “I’ll grab the luggage.”

“Is that a threat or a promise?” Bel called over her shoulder as she walked down the flower-framed walkway.

“What do you want it to be?”

“Both!” She smiled as his deep chuckle colored the air. Eamon’s confession might alarm most, but it made her heart unexpectedly light. Eamon Stone was a man who hid every aspect of his life. For centuries, he lied about his truth. He’d been alone and isolated in his reality, but he found a partner in her, someone he could finally be honest with, and no matter how dark his history was, Bel wanted to be his safe space. He was her protector, her fiercest defender, and while she couldn’t stop a bullet with her shoulder to save him, she could listen to his decades of pain.

“Welcome to L’Oasis,” the pretty girl at the front desk said as she approached. “How can I help you?”

“Hi, I’m checking in. The name’s Eamon Stone.”

“Stone…” The woman started typing, and after a few minutes, she set two quaint keys on the counter. “You’re inbungalow twelve. If you exit through that door and follow the path, it’ll be on your left. There’s a beautiful pool across from you which is perfect for morning swims. Also, here’s a map of the island and your itinerary. I see here that you’re Dr. FrankVictors’guests for the charity event.”

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