Page 55 of A Soldier's Temptation
The guard hesitated a moment like he wasn’t sure if he believed either of them, but then he continued on in his golf cart.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll apologize to those women before you question them. There may come a day when I can rationalize what you did, but it’s not this day and won’t be anytime soon. If you’re smart, you’ll stay away from us for a while.”
Colin shook his head. “They’ll both have to testify. It took some fancy wrangling just to keep you and your team out of the report. If you were smart you’d be thanking instead of threatening me.”
John shook his head and walked back to his truck. There was no getting through to him. He had a dog waiting for him at home and a woman recovering in the hospital. Getting thrown in jail for assaulting an FBI agent was not the smart thing to do.
* * *
They were resting when Colin visited about an hour after the SEALs left with John. Ari wanted to know what was going on between him and John but figured it might be better if she didn’t ask. Instead, she and Shira listened as he explained that they charged the two men with espionage as well as kidnapping and attempted murder. He even apologized for their injuries but explained that they had done a good thing for their country.
Ari wasn’t sure everything they’d been through was worth it, but at least Colin was happy. The man she’d called the voice of doom had a name—Chen Fui. As far as the FBI could tell, he’d been Paul’s handler and was probably the one behind his poisoning. It didn’t look like he’d give them much information, but Colin was still hopeful.
After Colin left, Shira shifted in her bed to face Ari. “I don’t blame you. You need to get over yourself.”
“What?” Like always it was as if Shira could read her mind. Ari had been blaming herself the whole time Colin was talking. Her friend should never have been pulled into her mess.
“Who do you think you’re kidding? I’ve been your bestie for how long? You’re sitting there feeling horrible because I got hurt. Well don’t. You didn’t kidnap me or beat me. That asshole dude did.”
“Dammit. But it is my fault.”
“No, it’s not. If we’re going to play the blame game, it’s that dick Chen that started all of this. If he hadn’t come into your life nothing of this would have happened. And as horrible as it sounds, I’m not sorry he’s dead.
Ari wasn’t sure how she felt about Paul’s death. He’d lied to her from the beginning, gotten her arrested and almost killed, but she felt sorry for him. Maybe he’d been forced into spying, maybe they had something over him, or threatened his family in China. She’d never know for sure. “I kind of feel bad for him.”
“Holy shit, girl. Whatever. Either way, none of this is your fault. I love you and I don’t want your guilt driving a wedge in our friendship. Especially not when you’re going to have all these great SEAL stories.”
“You’re terrible, you know?”
“Yup, I do, and that’s why you love me.”
“You’re right. I do.”
“I need a nap,” Shira said as she leaned back and closed her eyes.
Ari smiled. The room seemed a little brighter and the tension in her shoulders eased a bit. Maybe it was a new beginning for her. She was going to enjoy giving John shit for deceiving her when they first met. But she couldn’t be mad, not after everything he’d done for her, even if she wasn’t quite ready to let him know yet.
* * *
As promised, Ari got her discharge orders and John came to spring her from the hospital. After a teary goodbye with Shira, she promised to visit the next day. She couldn’t wait to get out of there even if going home didn’t mean to her apartment which was still disaster central and she’d be staying with John for a while longer.
Before she let John help her into his truck, she lifted her face to the sun and tried to take a deep breath of fresh air until the pain in her ribs stopped her. For the first time in over a year, she didn’t have to worry about what might happen. No one was following her or watching every move she made. It was more liberating than she’d have believed, and it put a huge smile on her face. It hurt like hell, but it was worth it. Six weeks of healing for her broken cheekbone sucked, but it was nothing compared to Shira’s recovery time.
“I have a surprise for you.”
“I’m not sure I’m up for any more surprises,” Ari said, but then she saw Mr. Darcy. “You brought him. Thank you, thank you. I missed you so much.”
John said he explained to her dog that she was hurt, and he’d have to be gentle with her. And in true Mr. Darcy fashion, he gently licked the non-bandaged side of her face. His tongue was soft as silk.
“Thank you. My two favorite men and I’m out of the hospital. This day is simply amazing.”
“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” John said with a chuckle as he gently clicked her seatbelt into place. Mr. Darcy climbed into the back and leaned his head over her seat as if to keep an eye on her.
It didn’t take long to get to their building, and as the elevator doors opened on their floor, Mrs. Laramie was waiting for them. How she knew when she’d get home, Ari had no idea, the woman always seemed a little magical.
“Welcome home, dear. I’m so glad your young man kept you safe. And your Navy SEAL too,” she said with a wink and handed her a vase filled with beautiful flowers.
Ari gave him a sort of half-smile. Oh yeah, John was going to take lots of ribbing from her friends too, he had no idea. But Mr. Darcy was the hero of her story, he’d even had his picture taken for the newspaper. Who knew he’d be so famous. Thankfully, he was still the same loving, Sir Fartsalot that she knew and loved.
