Page 59 of The Guardian

A small woman entered quietly and picked up our plates then put them onto the trolley that had been by the door.

Maya spoke to the girl as she smiled at her, “Thank you so much, Signoria.”

The maid paused to give her a quiet nod and smiled back at her. Then turning, she pushed the cart out the door.

“Your manners are impeccable, Maya,” another compliment from Mancini.

“Oh no, it is not for politeness’ sake. I know how it feels to be a…” Her voice faded away. Then she added, “Servant. So anywhere I go, I make sure to appreciate them.”

He stared at her as if he couldn’t fathom someone who seemed so genuine and gracious.

“Maya is one in a million,” I said.

“Henry!” Maya exclaimed.

I turned to look at her. “I am sorry I embarrassed you, but I am just being honest here. The reason we are all sitting here in this study to help you is because you are simply put… the kind of person that reflects the best of humanity. In fact, I cannot wait to meet your parents as they raised you to be…” I almost ran out of words to impart how special she was. “…Just an incredible person.”

The study went quiet.

“Here, here,” Rain chimed in with his agreement. “Although I have to wonder how you got so lucky, Henry.”

More silence, then Mancini broke into laughter.

I looked over at Rain and rolled my eyes.

Mancini was still smiling as he announced, “Now, as we are finished with our lunch and our appreciation of the Maya Angel. We can discuss the plan.”

I vowed to stay quiet now as I had said enough to embarrass my Brit ass for a while. All I did was nod.

“I have called in a team,” Mancini explained. “However, you will not see them at all until they take action. I have called forth many favors to get you the tactical help you need in order to survive this. They will be in the background. I also commandeered a jet from a friend that will take you to a private airport just outside the rain forest on the far side of Catemaco. It is mostly unknown to the public. Then your guide will meet you and escort you to a hidden safehouse.”

The three of us simply stared at him in total shock. A rescue team, a private jet, then a guide and a safehouse? How in the fuckall had he accomplished all of that in just four hours?

“Also, keep the false identities that Rainmaker informed me of earlier today,” Mancini went on in that smooth Italian timber he had. “You may need them as the League could already be aware of you. Even if you do not go through customs at an airport, you still need to be invisible.” He paused when his laptop pinged. Tapping some keys, he stared at the screen for a minute as his expression showed surprise.

The room remained quiet as we all waited for him to speak again. It took several minutes. I felt like I might burst with frustration. This man looking surprised at something indicated that it was very big news. Did whatever he saw on that screen have to do with us and this proposed trip? The longer it took the more I felt like it did. I braced myself for bad news.

Finally, Mancini raised his head to look at Maya. “Mia cara, you especially, need to stay in disguise and remain as hidden as possible.”

She gave him a nod. “I have no one that might recognize me. And even so, I was a local in Catemaco for a few years.”

He took a breath and let it out slowly to finally share what he’d read on his laptop, “There has been a development in Mexico that is not good news for you.”

Looking afraid, she scooted forward in the chair to ask, “I-is it...” She paused to swallow heavily. “M-my family?” Obviously, she was afraid to hear that they died.

He shook his head. “No, la mia ragazza, it is about you,” Mancini told her in a very soft voice that the world probably rarely heard from him. “You are wanted by the Mexican government.”

Staring at him with her dark eyes appearing huge in her beautiful face, her mouth popped open.

“What in the bloody hell?” I exclaimed.

Mancini turned his laptop around and showed us whatever it was that made him look this upset.

Maya looked a bit ashen as she read the Spanish wanted poster aloud, “El ángel sangriento. Se busca: Asesina en serie. Maya Perro.”

I looked at the screen, then over at her ashen face. I knew a little Spanish. But not enough to read this much of it.

“Holy crap…” Rain whispered as he knew several languages and he did understand.