Her breath quickened. “The horse was green.”
Steel murmured, “‘And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.’ Revelations.”
“The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Those Revelations?” TB asked.
“That’s right. Any horses right now, but I’m guessing if they show up in this mess, you’ll see them in either white, red, black, or green.”
“And Daleyza’s family lives in a converted mission.” This reminder came from Demon. “Ancient biblical verses. A Spanish mission. How do those connect to the Cult of Dionysus and the Salieri?”
“For Tribe? Maybe not at all,” God said. “But for Mythos? It could mean something a whole lot more. Just keep your eyes open and let me know if you see anything.”
“We’ve exited the cable car,” Nemo informed them. “They’re headed for the parking area. Howard got into a rideshare, and the other guy is walking toward town. What do you want us to do?”
“Follow them. TB and Demon will take our new friend. You and Gem take Howard. Report every fifteen minutes to Midas. Your trackers are activated, so if we don’t hear from you after twenty minutes, we’re coming after you.”
Demon alerted them. “Medusa just pulled up and is taking the happy couple with her to follow Howard, who’s heading west by vehicle.”
“Medusa, follow him, but stay far back. If we lose him, we at least have a point of origin. The rest of you, continue with the plan to go back to the hotel. We’ve secured additional transportation for us incase, at any point, we need to split up or be on the move quickly, so check in with me for keys and locations.”
A chorus of agreements came over the line as people muted their comms.
There was a subtle pause, and then the back of a finger smoothed down her cheek. “You have always had worth,belleza. Some people may be blind, but you have never been less, no matter what they failed to see.”
The smile that bloomed was slight, but his words warmed her heart. One of the things she had always loved about him was that praise came readily, along with compliments. As if he knew she’d suffered from a lack of both and wanted to build her up.
His hands covered hers on the table, and he spoke softly, so no one around them could hear. “I bungled things horribly the other night. My words weren’t meant to make you believe that I was rejecting you.”
She didn’t want to talk about this. Not now. She was too overwhelmed. However, she didn’t think she’d ever want to talk about it, so they might as well get it out of the way. “Nevertheless, they were a rejection. Your words about relocating me have made it clear you have no intention of trying to be part of my life when this is over.”
“I didn’t think I would be welcome back into your life.”
The look in his eyes was genuine. He truly believed she no longer desired him in her future.
She wanted him still. The other night proved that beyond the shadow of a doubt, especially since she initiated their lovemaking. He’d responded with the fire she remembered from their marriage. If anything, it had felt even more desperate, as if he worried it would be the last time between them. So he wanted her as well.
But was chemistry enough? Was it even enough as a foundation on which to build?
More importantly, did she trust him enough to let him back into her heart?
Up until the night in his apartment, she’d been certainhis emergence back into her life was a sign they were meant to be together. But that night, his words and actions, or lack thereof, made her question that belief.
“I… I guess I don’t know,” she said honestly. “There’s been so much pain, Fanso. Even before we lost Tobias, I sensed you slipping away from me. I was already grieving, so when you left to go back to the Navy, it nearly broke me. If I hadn’t needed to care for Livia, I’m not sure I would have survived. Then you were ‘dead,’ and I mourned for so long. It was like I kept discovering new ways to lose you.”
“And thenMadreworsened,” he finished.
“Sí.” And here came the most difficult truth of all. “It’s clear you could have someone in your life, since all your friends do. But you made no move to come for me. To right what was wrong. What do you think that says to me, Fanso? How can I not think that if I let you in, you could vanish again? I honestly think it would kill me.”
Raising her hands to his lips, he kissed her fingers. “Now is the worst time in the world to be worrying about this. We both need to focus. We’ll be in a great deal of danger, and while I’ll do everything I can to protect you, things can always go wrong. Let’s get through this. Then, when we’ve rescued Ka-Bar and Waters, when they’re home, and this is all behind us, we’ll deal with it.”
What he said was probably wise, but she would be lying to herself if she didn’t feel as if she was being brushed off by him again.
“Your wheels are spinning again.” The man knew her too well. Of course he’d sense her uncertainty. “Belleza, I promise. We will deal with it. I promise onMadre’slife, I’m not putting you off, shutting you out, or plotting how to leave you again.” He kissed her hand again. “Trust me, Leeza. One more time. Like you used to.”
She did. Absolutely. He meant it. At least, he did right now. But what was to say that something wouldn’t happen in the future that would cause him to abandon her again in a misguided effort to protect her?
24
AUGUST 24, 2024
