“She’s fine. We rescued her, and she should be at the hospital in Garissa now,” Julian said.
“You rescued her?” Mena shook her head, unable to believe it.
“Not just me. The whole TIDES team. We got a read on where Tubeec was from the video call and ambushed the compound to save both of you,” Julian explained.
A tear slipped down her cheek. If she had waited, this nightmare could have been over hours ago. Julian and TIDES had been coming for her when she’d escaped.
“At least two of us survived.” Mena thought of Grace’s bloody body lying in the alley behind the Irungu Center as Tubeec and his men kidnapped them.
Julian grabbed her hands, raising them to his lips. His kiss was gentle, against her skin, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. “Grace survived the shooting. She’s in ICU but improving little by little every day. Might take several months, but the doctors believe she’ll make a full recovery,” Julian said.
Relief surged through Mena’s body. Dizzy from the unexpected good news, Mena leaned into Julian, welcoming his strong arms around her. The sheer proximity of him had an instant effect. Her body craved him. Her lips yearned to kiss his. “I can’t believe you found me. I can’t believe you’re here.”
“You doubted me?” Julian asked, raising an eyebrow, a grin playing at the corners of his mouth. His hand caressed the side of her face. Mena leaned into his touch as a tear slid down her dirt-streaked skin.
“I’m sorry,” Mena choked out.
“Hey, hey, don’t say that. I’m an asshole for trying to joke with you at a time like this. You forgive me?” Julian asked, slipping an arm around her.
Mena nodded, unable to speak. Love swelled within her as she stared into Julian’s gorgeous face, glistening with sweat.
“Let’s get you cleaned up,” Julian said.
As Julian lifted her with ease, Mena wrapped her arms around his neck. She buried her head in his shoulder as he carried her into a small bathroom around the corner from the living room. Lowering her gently onto the floor, he stood behind her as they stared at each other through the mirror.
Mena glanced at her own haggard appearance. Her hair was grimy, plastered against her scalp. Her eyes were tired and haunted.
Julian slid his hands along her arms until he reached her palms. “Thought you said you weren’t hurt.”
Mena glanced at her bloody hands, cut and scraped from crawling across the desert terrain. Her body was numb, unable to feel the pain of her injuries.
“It’s no big deal,” Mena said.
Julian turned the knob of the faucet. A soft trickle of water flowed into the basin. He gently moved her hands under the stream, massaging them softly as blood colored the water before disappearing down the drain.
“I don’t know what I would have done if I lost you,” Julian admitted. “If I had made one wrong move, ignored one instinct, hesitated for one more second, I wouldn’t have been here to protect you. Instead of standing next to you right now, I could have been too late. I’m not sure I would have been able to go on—“
“Don’t say that,” Mena said, lacing her wet hands in his.
“Not saying it doesn’t stop it from being true,” Julian said. “I don’t want to know what life is like without you.”
“You won’t have to,” Mena said.
“Can you promise me you won’t get kidnapped again? This is the second time. I kinda need you to stay out of trouble,” Julian said, winking at her.
Mena let out a laugh, her body relaxing from his attempts to lighten the mood. She was safe because of Julian.
“You’re so beautiful,” Julian whispered.
Mena smiled, biting her lower lip as she glanced at herself in the mirror. “Liar. I’m a dirty mess, and I stink … bad.”
Julian scrunched his face as he playfully waved a hand in front of his nose. “Yeah, but that doesn’t stop you from being the most gorgeous woman in the world.”
Julian turned her toward him and kissed her on the lips, his mouth moving tenderly over hers as his tongue swirled against her tongue. A familiar passion built between them. She was grateful to have this intimacy with him again.
Breaking the kiss, Julian leaned his forehead next to hers. Their breaths synchronizing, she ran her fingers through his hair.
Stepping back, Julian took his time unbuttoning her dingy white shirt and pushed it off her shoulders to the floor. His hands slid down her arms softly before he focused his attention on her trousers. Unbuttoning her pants, Julian slid his hands against her hips, pushing the pants to the floor.
