Page 82 of Her Defiant Warrior

“So, let me get this straight,” Farah started. “You could be role-modeling a healthy male female relationship, or your kids could learn relationships from TV, the internet or worst of all, my daughter. Is that how you want to play it?”

“This is not a conversation for carrots and hummus.”

“Margaritas?” Farah asked.

“Cheesecake?” Bonnie countered hopefully.

“I’ve got cookie dough ice cream.”

“Sold.”

* * *

“What the hell are you doing picking me up from the airport?” Jase said as he saw his brother at baggage claim. He gave his brother a big hug.

“I wanted to see you before you disappeared into the depths of a Little Creek debrief.”

“Hey Renzo,” Kostya held out his hand.

Renzo shook Jase’s lieutenant’s hand.

“I’d stay and talk,” Kostya began, “but, I—”

“Kostya!”

All three men turned when a beautiful blonde woman came running their way. Kostya’s face transformed as he smiled at his wife. He held out his arms and caught her as she jumped up into his arms.

Jase chuckled as they kissed, then turned to his brother. “There’s my duffel bag. One perk of first class, my bag comes off first.”

“First class?”

“Made friends with a prince, so I got a perk,” Jase grinned. “Let’s get going. So, tell me why you needed to talk to me. Is it the family? Angelica? The folks?”

“No, to all of the above. They’re all fine. Angelica took the part, so she should be stable for the next year or so on the movie set. Nope, it’s about me. I need some advice.”

“Shit Renz. Out of the two of us, you’re more level-headed. Malik’s even more level-headed than you are. Why come to me?”

“I need advice about me. I’m not reading myself clearly, so I wanted an outsider’s, who knows me, opinion.” Renzo said as they crossed the bridge over to the covered parking.

Jase laughed. “That kind of makes sense, in a teenage girl’s way of thinking. Hit me with it.”

“I have loved traveling around. I’ve loved it. I take after dad. Taking on different projects, traveling the world and building things has made me happy.”

Jase nodded. “We all know that.”

“Do you ever think I could do something else? Do you think I could be happy staying in one place?”

“I’m thirty-seven. That means you’re thirty-five. You’ve lived most of your life as a rolling stone. I’ve got a question for you. Have you ever been bored? Tired? Lonely?”

“Well sure. That’s when I come home and see all of you.” Renzo unlocked the rental with his key fob.

“It used to be, we wouldn’t see you for a year or two. Now we see you every six months. What does that tell you?”

They got into the Chevy Malibu.

Renzo didn’t say anything as they drove out of the airport. Jase knew his brother. He liked to process in silence.

“Do you own your own car?” Jase finally asked.