He didn’t tuck away the weapon. “Who’s that?”
The woman wore a long trench coat and her dark hair pulled back. She had to be almost sixty. Her eyes found Laine, and a big smile spread across her face.
A rush of Spanish erupted from her mouth as she ran up and embraced Laine, who returned the hug. “I had no idea you were home!” Maria said, in perfect English. “Are you back for good?”
Laine pulled away with a stiff but kind smile. “Emmy and I are leaving tomorrow. We’re actually moving. I’m so sorry we haven’t been in touch.”
Maria waved her off. “Not to worry. I’ve been happy to come around to watch over the property and keep it clean. Where are you moving?” She swung her gaze to Roarke, and the woman’s eyes narrowed with judgment.
Laine’s smile faltered. “Things are a little up in the air right now. This is my friend Roarke. He’s working in the area and came by to help since Cameron couldn’t make it.”
Maria’s eyebrows rose with disapproval, but she offered Roarke her slim, weathered hand.
“Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”
“Maria, Maria!” Emmy came tearing across the lawn, her arms opened wide.
The woman bent down and wrapped the girl in a bear hug. “Mi amor! I’ve missed you so much. Have you been practicing your Spanish?”
Emmy gave her a sheepish smile. “I’ve been busy.”
Maria let out a hoot of laughter. “Come inside and help me get settled. I want to hear all about your adventures!” She took Emmy’s hand and led her inside.
Roarke studied Laine’s pinched expression. “I take it that was a surprise,” he said, fishing.
Laine wet her bottom lip and shifted her gaze to him. “Maria’s been our housekeeper since Emmy was born. I’m not surprised Cameron had her continue to oversee the house ... I just wasn’t expecting her to show up.”
“Can you trust her?” he asked.
She dragged her toe across the grass. A few seconds went by. “Maria cares for us—Emmy especially. She’s also a loyal employee. Cameron has paid her well for many years.”
“Well, just be careful what you say. Maybe we should get Emmy away from her before she says too much.”
Laine’s eyes widened, and she opened the back door. “Emmy, honey, time to go!”
“Aww,” Emmy wailed, as she appeared in the foyer. “I want to stay and help Maria.”
“We can’t, sweetie.” Laine slipped inside, and he overheard her saying goodbye to the housekeeper. A minute later, she ushered a petulant Emmy back outside.
In the rental car, Emmy leaned sullenly against the door. Laine’s stiff posture told him all he needed to know—they needed to get out of London. Fast.
Back at the duplex,Roarke dropped onto the armchair in the master bedroom. Tomorrow they’d be on their way back to the US, and he planned to get the three of them a spacious short-term rental in Pittsburgh.
Once Emmy was in bed and Laine in the shower, Roarke dialed Striker. Kicking his ankle over his knee, he leaned back on the over-stuffed cushion.
His friend answered on the second ring. “What’s up, man?”
“Just getting ready to crash. We fly out in the morning. You and Viper heading home, too?”
“Flew out this morning. I’ve got one more connecting flight before I’m home. You sticking around Pittsburgh for a while?”
“Yeah, probably a couple weeks. I’ll help Laine get settled before I return to Kuwait.”
“I heard from Wraith. He and Havoc are coming home, too. Seems like everyone wants to come back before the next turnaround.”
Roarke grunted. Their next gig was a long one—two months.
Regret churned inside him. Two months without Laine and Emmy. Already he’d become attached to them. Once he was away, that feeling of attachment would probably lessen. Not that he wanted it to, but when he was in the throes of a mission, his mind was focused only on the task at hand.
