Page 74 of Under His Sheets
“But why?”
“Rom, Leo and I were not authorized to be there. We were not acting on behalf of the task force. We were, eh…vigilantes?”
“But—”
“We were taken to jail, and nothing happens quickly in Spain, especially not during the holidays. We sat for three days before our comandante’s commanding officer got us out, and then we were put into military custody for disobeying orders.”
“But—”
“And then he discovered that his subordinate,ourcomandante, was also acting against orders, and on and on. Debriefing after something like this takes a long time. I wasn’t allowed to contact anyone, amor, or I would have let you know I was okay.”
“And Romeu and Leo?”
“They are home now as well.”
“Please tell me your family knows?”
“I saw them this morning, after I brought your things to the school.”
“How did you—? I can’t believe you found my guitar!”
He shrugged. “I know some people in Barcelona. The items showed up in a pawn shop. I picked them up. Oh, and my parents want us to come for dinner this weekend.”
“Oh God.”
He laughed. “And Felip gave me quite the tongue lashing.”
“I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have told him anything, but you’d disappeared, and everyone was so upset?—”
“I’m glad you told them.”
“I swear, I will keep your secrets from now on, but?—”
“I will have no secrets. I have resigned my commission. From now on, it’s winery business and private security for me. And taking care of my broken boyfriend.”
Tears stung my eyes, and I tried to breath normally but I was in shock. “I was afraid I’d never see you again.”
“So was I,” he said, reaching around to squeeze my leg.
He pulled into the parking lot of the surgery center where I’d been receiving my treatments and he parked. He didn’t move right away.
“Alonso? Are you all right?”
He sighed. “Mostly. I am angry I. I failed to protect you.”
“Please get me out of this car so I can touch you.”
“I will,” he said, still not moving. “But first, Randall, I would understand if you did not want?—”
“Get me out of this carright now, Alonso Segura, or I will?—”
“Or you will what?” His eyes widened in the rearview mirror.
I growled, and that finally got him moving. He climbed out of the car and opened the back door wide. He stood before melooking fucking gorgeous in dark denim jeans, boots, and a black parka. “Can I help?”
“I can do it myself,” I said. But it took what felt like forever to get to my feet. He kept reaching out for me, but I shook my head, wanting to do it alone. Since I’d been sitting down, everything had tightened up, and I needed to move slowly. The pain pill had kicked in but my stomach was off. I should have eaten something with it. Too late now.
When I was finally standing before him, I tried not to slouch. My therapist had been all over me to watch my posture, otherwise my shoulder wouldn’t heal right and I’d have pain for the rest of my life and on and on.Getting yelled at in Catalan when I barely understood was not fun.
