Page 30 of V-Day
“No!” he cried.
“Yes,” she breathed, watching the pulse jump in his throat and temple. “Jesus, Cristián. When have youeverbeen modest? You’re letting your brother dominate your life.Still.”
Cristián’s face hardened. “You’re wrong.”
Chloe swallowed. “For a genius, Cristián, you’re fucking stupid.” She whirled and walked away, her heart running way too hard, her gut swirling and her head beating with a thundering echo of her heart.
Cristián didn’t call her back. That made it worse.
Perhaps it had been a mistake to come here. Only, she had been so sure about him…
She had put so much on the line just to get here, to see him. When she had arrived at the big house at Acapulco, she had known the people there would treat her with suspicion. She had given themHarry’s Cloak, which she had spent three days putting on the final touches, to offset their natural suspicion.
What had isolated her was the sense of camaraderie which infused the big house. Everyone understood why they were there and that they were wanted. They were intense, passionate, working together and helping each other face every crisis in a way which gave Chloe a glimpse of what Cristián meant when he spoke about a close family.
Right until now, as she walked away from him, Chloe had not realized she—the great lone wolf and recluse—had begun to think a sense of belonging might be a good thing.
Parris Graves was suited up, her helmet on, moving among her team and giving orders, when Chloe reached them. Parris ran her gaze over Chloe, assessing. “Ready?”
“Yes,” Chloe said.
“Where is Cristián, then?”
“Coming, I suppose,” Chloe said dully.
Parris lifted her brow.
“Sir!” One of the tall Rangers strode up to her, a laptop in one hand. “They want to know if the hand-held targeter will do or if you want the heavy pack?”
“I need the range the heavy pack can give us. Tell them to strap on another parachute and drop it. I want it here by tomorrow…never mind, I’ll tell them.” She held her hand out for the computer.
“Tell them you don’t need anything,” Cristián said, from right behind Chloe.
Chloe jumped.
Parris rolled her eyes again. “More gadgets?” she guessed.
“It works. We’ve used it beforeandwe can paint a target from a mile away. Can yours?”
Parris considered him, then turned the laptop around in the Ranger’s hands and tapped the space bar with a heavy prod. “Sorry to bother you, Major. It appears we have this sorted out. Local equipment we can have in hand inside five hours.”
The major nodded. “Best I can do is fifteen hours. Good luck.” The screen went blank.
Parris snapped the laptop shut and looked at Cristián with a hard stare. “If your stuff doesn’t work, it won’t be me sawing off your balls. It’ll be the Insurrectos, and they won’t use a sharp blade, either.”
Cristián didn’t smile. “I hear you,” he said.
“Right. Let’s get this dog and pony show on the road.” She lifted her voice. “Up and at ‘em, gentlemen! The Marines won’t wait for us!”
“Wait! Please! Just one moment!” The call came from behind them.
Everyone turned.
Cristián’s mother and two women, both identical to Téra in appearance, were hurrying toward the cleft.
