Page 60 of All The Way Under
Brody presses his lips together and out.
“Abso-fucking-lutely not. You’re underestimating my tolerance for bullshit and semantics. I’m in the Navy,remember? It’s one of the most cumbersome businesses on planet Earth. I jump through hoops for that. I will jump through hoops for you. Now, will you promise me the same courtesy? You’ll stick around when I’m angry, moody, or otherwise mean because you know it comes from a good place?”
“Brody, I saw through that charade right up front. You know that.”
Our drinks come, and he drinks his light beer, and I have a mouthful of my water. After a long sip, he pulls the mug from his face, leaving a white foam mustache.
“Do you want to come with me to my brother’s lake house in Montauk this weekend? Nolan and his girlfriend, Catherine, will be there. There are jet skis and a boat.”
Brody looks out the window again.
“It’s a big house, so your security detail will have space if that is a condition for you leaving your house.” He pauses, taking a sip of beer. “Probably not as big as the houses you’re used to, but I think it’s nice. I don’t get out there nearly enough. I’m on a mission to change that.”
The way in which he’s immediately enmeshing me into his realm and life feels wonderful. I don’t have to hide in his world. He must hide in mine. It gives me the best idea.
“Yes. I’m sure it’s beautiful, and I don’t care at all how big or nice it is. I love that you want to include me already. Thank you.”
Tears threaten, but they’re happy.
“I can’t wait to meet them. I don’t know if I’ll have to bring security if you’re there. Maybe one guy, maybe two. I’ll talk to my parents as soon as we get back.” I clear my throat. “My parents have a house there too. My sister Bronwyn and her husband will be staying there this weekend.”
Are we doing this?
“Maybe they can come, swing by? You’ll love my sister,” I explain, using my hands to talk. Thinking about a meeting between them causes a riot of emotions. Good ones.
“Is she like your mom?” Brody asks.
I pull a face. “Nothing like my mother. But she’s also not like my dad either. Bronwyn and her husband are into the art scene, but mostly it’s all her charities that keep her busy. You and she have similar charm. The sarcastic wit layered with a pugnacious undertone.”
“Fabulous. I can’t wait.” He smirks, and I believe him. He is excited to meet her. “Are you okay after everything that happened? I’m not good at talking about feelings, but I wanted to ask because you killed two men and endured being caged. That’s something I can get over, but I was wondering if you’re okay.”
“It’s kind of sweet when you force yourself to be this thoughtful,” I say.
He brushes off his shoulders.
“I had a video call with my mom’s psychiatrist the day after I got to Lisbon. I feel relatively okay about the whole thing. The doctor called it psychological robustness. Catchy right? Probably inherited it from Bianca.” I snort-laugh. “Thanks, Mom.”
Our food arrives, and thankfully, the waitress looks calmer as she asks if we need anything else.
“All joking aside, I might have the mental toughness of a Navy SEAL. What do you think about that?”
“I’d say I met my match, then. Because if you’re going to be with me, you’re going to need mental toughness.”
Brody eats his pasta at hyper speed. He pauses when he asks for another beer.
Soft music bounces off the old stone walls, giving the illusion of a real date, where doors don’t have to be locked.
“I talked to my friend, Mark, this morning, and he said Collin and Turner are on their way back to the US. They’ll beat us back. No one knows they were rescued because your last name overshadows everything else, but it’s a good thing. They’ll have peace while they pick up the pieces of their life.”
At the mention of the brothers, my heart rate picks up immediately. Maybe I’m not as healed as I thought. They remind me of the guards, and the guards remind me that Ravelo was never found.
“Did they find Rav yet?” I whisper.
Brody looks at me, stoic, handsome, and uneasy.
“They have not, but I’m not going to be able to talk to you about this stuff for much longer. You shouldn’t worry about him for another second. He has a flag on his passport. He can’t travel without being found, nor will he have connections back home. We’re not going to stop looking for him.”
“I read on the news that the main ringleaders were captured, along with all the other guards. Do you think another kidnap ring will just pop up on the same base?”
