AllFreeNovel
Share Us
If I were the smart woman I believed myself to be, I’d get up and walk out, perhaps go as far as to leave the ranch. Those honed instincts of mine were screaming that Tryst Avila spelled all kinds of trouble for me. Particularly given what I already knew of the man.
Like me, he’d lost his spouse. Mine was more recent; Tryst’s wife had died a decade ago. They’d met when they were both in their early twenties and married shortly after. “Love at first sight,” the dossier quoted him saying.
Tragically, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in her late thirties. The aggressive form of the disease was often incurable, which had been the case with Tryst’s wife.
There was no mention of a relationship since she passed. He lived a relatively solitary life in Mexico but frequently traveled to the Central Coast of California. He was a past member of and current advisor to a “good guy” vigilante society known as Los Caballeros. The group had existed in “secret” for several generations, first in Spain, then in the States.
Nothing in what I’d read gave any indication that he was a womanizer. It seemed more to the contrary. Had I misconstrued an innocent conversation to be something more? Was my attraction one-sided?
“These thoughts, I do not like as much.”
“Stop it,” I said, laughing.
“Your aura is powerful, Jaicon.”
I raised a brow. “As is yours, Tryst.”
He sat up. “I fear meditation is out of the question for both of us.”
“I should return to thecasita, anyway.”
“I will go with you.”
I wanted to tell him it would defeat the purpose of my wanting to put space between us. However, my desire to spend even a few more minutes close to him compelled me to keep my mouth shut.
“What?” I asked, noticing his grin had broadened.
Tryst reached out and touched my chin. “Do not bite your tongue, Jaicon.”
The restof the day was hectic with the arrival of those rescued from the ten shipping containers in Port Felixstowe. A total of one hundred and eighty-three people had been transported to the ranch via private planes. Our job was to find out where each person was from and reunite them with their families. Given many were refugees who’d traveled to Mexico from other parts of the world, that process would not be easy.
A few spoke English, but the majority were either Spanish- or French-speaking. Some, who were from Haiti, spoke Haitian Creole.
Many of the operatives helping victims spoke fluent French or Spanish. Creole was more difficult. So I kept busy, assisting as best I could. And, while my stated purpose was to aid in reunification, questioning the victims about their experiences in order to identify suspects was a more accurate description of my mandate. Thus, I walked a fine line in my interaction with the victims.
On one hand, the people I spoke with had been through enough. The last thing any of us wanted to do was make them feel uncomfortable. However, in order to prevent a similar crime from happening to others, finding the perpetrators of the abductions was imperative.
Every so often, my eyes would meet Tryst’s, who was working side by side with the physicians K19 had arranged to provide care for those needing it. Even from a distance, I could sense his kindness and how it affected those with whom he spoke.
That he’d agreed to house everyone who arrived here for as long as they needed was admirable in itself. With anyone else, I may have wondered if they knew what they were getting themselves into. Not with Tryst, though. I sensed he would honor his offer regardless of what was eventually required.
It was close to sunset,and I was making notes on a tablet about the last woman I’d spoken with when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Knowing it was Tryst without needing to look, I almost rested my head against it.
“How are you holding up, Jaicon?” he asked.
I looked at those assembled for the dinner Tryst had arranged to be served. Most appeared haggard and emotional. No different than I would’ve been had I gone through a similar experience. “Better than they are.”
He stepped closer, brushing the front of his body against my back. “What they’ve experienced is unimaginable, and yet, they are so brave.”
“For the majority, their arduous journey began long before their abduction.”
“You should take a break.” Before he removed his hand, his fingers gently kneaded my trapezius. “You have been on your feet for several hours.”
I looked over my shoulder. “As have you.”
“Then, we should both take a break. Will you join me for dinner?”
I followed him over to the buffet line, waiting until the last of the “guests,” as Tryst so kindly referred to them, had been served.
