Page 16 of Stolen Salvation

“Sounds like a load of old rubbish to me.”

“I agree.”

Charlie almost bit her tongue trying not to ask what she’d said to Noah. Hurricane’s smirk told he knew it too.

“Well, you two cynics can believe what you like. Personally, I’m going to be rooting for the home team.”

Val had finished her breakfast as Charlie picked at hers, her appetite not what it was. “The home team?”

“You and Bish. I don’t know what happened, but my bet is it’s fixable.”

Charlie sighed deeply and pushed her plate away, the last of her desire for food now gone. She wished Valentina was right, but she knew better.

Glancing at Noah, she found him watching her over the top of his coffee mug. He was so handsome, not just outwardly but he was beautiful inside too and she’d broken him. “Some things can’t be fixed.”

Val squeezed her arm in comfort, and she blinked away the tears she felt building. She was more broken than ever, and she had nobody to blame but herself.

“Want to help me with some training with Scout and Monty?”

Charlie nodded and stood. “Sounds good, but no more matchmaking ideas. Noah and I are done. Like a Taylor Swift song.”

She gave Hurricane a small smile at his chuckle and turned to go with Valentina. Some time away from Noah would help her get her equilibrium back on track hopefully.

Chapter 7

“Take it easy, Bish.” Hurricane blocked the kick Bishop sent his way and countered with a low jab.

“Can’t handle a little sparring, Hurricane?”

“I can handle whatever you dish out, but I don’t want to have to hurt you and embarrass you in front of our audience.”

Bishop turned to see who he was talking about and got caught by a sweep to the ankle. His body landed hard on the matt; the wind knocked out of him as Hurricane’s grinning face appeared over him. “Asshole move.”

“Maybe but I needed to do something to slow you down. You’re like a fucking machine today. Anything you want to talk about?”

Hurricane offered his hand and Bishop waved it away, jumping to his feet and unwrapping his hands from the tape. “Nah, nothing.”

“You sure it’s good her being here, man?”

Bishop knew exactly who his friend was talking about. Charlie was everywhere, laughing and chatting with all his friends, but with him, there was just a cold shield of ice. “It’s not forever and we have a plan now. We’re heading out later this morning.”

It was only seven am and he’d needed to get a workout in if he was going to survive this undercover happily ever after with his ex-wife.

“True, but if you need to talk, I’m here. Okay?”

Hurricane was a good guy, one of the best and from all accounts, one of the best pilots the Royal Air Force had ever seen. Bishop didn’t know his story as he kept it to himself. Only Bás and Duchess were privy to that, but whatever it was, they were lucky to have him.

Bishop slapped his friend’s shoulder. “Thank you, man.”

Walking back to the changing rooms, he and Hurricane went over the plan again. He and Duchess would be back-up for him and Charlie as they went into the clinic. Bishop couldn’t say he wasn’t concerned about it, being involved in anything to do with kids was hard for him but it would be doubly hard for Charlie. While she clearly hated him, he’d come to the realisation he couldn’t hate her.

Showered and changed, he headed toward Bás’ office and found the door open with Charlie sitting opposite his boss.

Surprise and wariness snaked down his spine at seeing her there.

Bás waved him inside. “Bishop, come in.”

Charlie looked at him from under long eyelashes and glanced away. She was still avoiding him. Great!