Page 48 of Spook’s Honor

She’s worried I can tell, but she doesn’t try to stop me. Instead, wrapping her arms around me and laying her head on my chest, holding me tight. I rest my chin on the top of her head, closing my eyes. Breathing in her scent as I inhale a deep breath.

“Be safe and come home,” she whispers.

“I will,” I promise. “Now kiss me, baby.”

She tilts her chin up, standing on tiptoe, pressing her lips to mine. We kiss long, hard, and deep. Making it count.

“Love you,” I whisper when we part.

“Right back at you, honey,” Honor replies, a tremulous smile tugging at her lips. “Go,” she orders.

With one last glance back, I turn, grab the bag I’d dropped when we embraced, and shoulder it for the short walk to the clubhouse, where Rowena, Maverick, Tru, and Janis are waiting.

***

That kiss stays with me on the four-hour flight to Florida. Rowena and I go over the plan several times, and she brings up the schematics for the alarm system and the house. I don’t bother asking where or how she got it. She has her own way of doing things and her own resources. I take it as a win that she’s on my team.

There’s a limo waiting for us when we get to the airport. The five of us enter it. I’m surprised at how quiet the twins have been. It’s not like them.

“You girls good?” I ask.

They nod. “We’re good. I know you all think we only know how to mess around, but I promise that we know how to handle ourselves. We can behave and won’t embarrass Maverick.”

Maverick snorts. “Never thought you would. One of the reasons I asked you both is that you’re family and I trust you, the second is that you know how to protect yourself, and the third is that you’re not a stranger to events like this.”

They grimace, “True,” Janis nods. “Kind of figured we were done with these once Tru was out of the limelight.”

I’d forgotten that Tru had been a champion motocross rider and would have attended events not dissimilar to these. Explained why they had dresses.

“Besides,” Tru looks me in the eye. “He tried to hurt our family, and I know you don’t know us well, but nobody fucks with the Monde family.”

“I like them,” Rowena says, amusement lacing her tone. “Maybe we should hire them.”

Fuck no.

Surprisingly Janis replies, “Thank you for the compliment, but no thanks. We like what we do. Living on the edge is not for us. We don’t mind helping, but we couldn’t deal with the stress you all live with.”

“Fair enough,” Rowena nods. “It’s good that you like what you do. I like my job: it's not for everyone, but for someone like me, it’s perfect.”

The car falls silent. It’s the most I’ve ever heard Rowena talk, and I’m even more surprised to learn something about my protégée that I didn’t know.

Janis glances at her curiously. “Do you have a man, Rowena?”

Rowena eyes Janis suspiciously for a minute. I know she won’t find anything there except genuine interest and curiosity.

A smile tips the corners of her lips, and her eyes soften when she replies. “I do.”

“You do?” I turn and stare at Rowena, my shock clear. Rowena lets out a tinkling laugh.

“Yeah, boss, I do. He’s not someone you have to worry about though.” She reassures me.

“Well shit,” I mutter. “What does he think you’re doing when you leave for weeks at a time?”

“He knows what I do,” she replies. “He’s always known. We grew up in the same town. He was there the first time I took my revenge. He knows all my secrets, and I know his.”

“Rowena,” I growled, concerned that this may be a problem.

Rowena keeps her eyes steady on mine, “Trust me boss, you don’t need to worry about it. In fact, if you think really hard, you’ll know who it is.”