“I did my job, Julio. I protected and watched. I waited for an opportunity. Unfortunately, I didn’t find them in a cell in basements or underground tunnels. Taking on this trafficking ring came with risks, and I walked into this with my eyes wide open. It’s no different than investigating mob attacks or drug deals gone wrong.”
“They’re different because this involved you,” Julio argued. “Don’t tell me you can’t see the difference.”
“Will it change anything? It still happened to me, and there’s nothing we can do about it,” she said quietly. “Our lives changed the day they took me. Let’s not pretend you don’t feel it.”
Julio parked the truck and turned to face her. The landscaping lights dimly lit the truck’s interior. “Trust me, I have a lot of feelings about it. It seems like you’ve decided for both of us.”
Her eyes stung, and her chest ached. “They robbed us of any choices.”
“Only if you let them darlin,’” he whispered. “You don’t have to do this alone.
“Julio,” her voice cracked. “I wish we could go back and make different decisions. All this time, I considered myself smart andcapable enough to handle anything. This year has taught me I’m no different than Kara, who trusted a nice man. Or Ebony, who drank a glass of wine laced with something while she celebrated her anniversary with her now-dead husband. They’re everywhere. Even with all our resources, we didn’t prevent any of this.”
“We can’t go back, but it doesn’t mean you can’t move forward, Becca. It may take some time, but I’ll be here every step of the way.”
A soft sob left Rebecca as she yanked on the door handle. “It’s the one choice I have, Julio. I won’t let you be here for this. In fact, I don’t want any man,” she said, sliding out of her seat and running toward the cabin. She slammed the door and leaned against it, releasing all the fear, anxiety, and grief that had finally taken over. Since being rescued, she never spent a minute alone, yet somehow, she felt lonelier than ever.
Julio watchedher run inside and hit the steering wheel, letting out his frustration. He saw the anxiety when he picked her up with Kara, and he noticed the bitter anger when she snapped at the young woman. He completely missed she saw herself as an agent working a case and not as a victim. She most likely protected herself by doing her job while dealing with everything happening to her. Her comment about not letting him help her hit his chest like a boulder.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Four Weeks After the Rescue
The last few weeks felt like forever. Leo’s warning hit home. This woman didn’t resemble the warm, caring woman he’d come to love with every fiber of his soul. Julio stupidly believed Rebecca’s acceptance of the damn iced coffee meant she knew he planned to stand by her. Instead, she saw him as a threat. Starting the truck, he headed toward the farmhouse.
He entered to see Matthew cross from the kitchen into the living room. Following him, Julio took a seat by the door. Matthew poured whiskey into two glasses and handed him one.
“I take it things haven’t gotten better between you and Rebecca?” he asked.
Julio huffed and glanced around. “Where’s Kara?” Knowing the young woman visited Rachel every now and again and he didn’t want her to overhear anything
“Rachel took her upstairs. They’re playing with makeup and trying on dresses. Rachel thought Kara might be more receptive to calling her mom if she felt better about herself. Trust me,they’ll be there awhile. I saw all the shopping bags,” Matthew chuckled.
Julio grinned. “I guess some things didn’t change. I don’t know what I expected. Rebecca’s angry, hurting, and terrified despite her façade. I guess I told myself once I found her, we’d deal with it together. After the last few weeks, I’m not sure about anything.”
“Surprisingly, Rachel made a list of items the remaining women needed and bought a few things for Rebecca and Kara,” Matthew informed him.
“Wow, that’s sweet of her,” he said, feeling surprised. After a minute of silence, Julio tipped the whiskey back, drinking it in one gulp. “I’m leaving Friday for the auction. Ivan’s meeting me there with a few of his men. I’m hoping Megan will be there.”
“I’m going with you,” Matthew announced. “Ivan’s men answer to him. You, Jameson, and I represent this team, and we stand together. Don’t give up on Rebecca. I can’t imagine the shit she experienced, but once we take these guys down, she might feel better and safer.”
Julio swiped the scruff along his jaw. “I don’t know. She doesn’t seem keen on letting me in. In four weeks, I’ve seen her a handful of times. Until today, she’s avoided me. Damn, I should’ve taken food to her.”
“Rachel packed her a meal, and it’s ready if you want to take Kara home,” Matthew suggested. “She’s trying hard to show Rebecca she’s changed and only wants to help.”
“I take it, you’re dealing with an uphill battle?” Julio said, rising and pouring himself another finger of whiskey.
“Rachel knows she played a part in why the women dislike her. Hell, I never thought I’d see her and Kassie speaking with each other and offering ideas for improvements. Rachel’s over the moon about everyone enjoying her blankets,” Matthew said, handing his glass to Julio for a refill.
“It’s a nice idea. She provided them with their own security blanket. Do you know if Rebecca received one?” Julio asked.
“I don’t know. Delaney and Rachel took them to breakfast and let each pick their favorite color. I don’t recall seeing Rebecca there,” Matthew told him thoughtfully. “In fact, I haven’t seen her at many meals. We might want to check with Annabelle to see when she’s seen Rebecca last.”
Julio clenched his drink. He should’ve noticed her lack of eating first. Giving her space meant he missed vital information. How did he expect her to thrive here when she didn’t nourish her body or heal her mental health?
“When they took her, I didn’t know what to do for the first time in my life. I finally discover her, and I’m still at a complete loss. I can’t afford to make a mistake. Our future depends on her healing.” Julio gazed into the amber liquid, searching for answers. How did he explain his guilt and anger for not finding her right away and the distance between them? Like the whiskey in the glass, the bold, golden-amber liquid represented his warm relationship with Rebecca, yet the glass seemed an invisible barrier between them. If he swished it, the waves represented the last year, full of turbulence: emotion, fear, worry, and frustration. If he let it sit, did it mean everything turned stagnant, and no hope existed for them?
“Hi, Julio,” Kara said, bounding downstairs. “I saw you pull in from the front bedroom. Rachel taught me how to care for my skin. Can I help you feed the horses?”
