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“Faith, you don’t want to see their bodies,” she warned.
“Hope, I love you, but you’ve got to stop protecting me. As a teenager, I watched The Walking Dead almost every day after school while you and Grace were at work.”
Hope grunted out a surprised laugh and exchanged a look with Chad.
“She is tough,” Chad agreed. “Did you see her scald Ramone’s face off with nothing but vegetables? Almost as impressive as you throwing that knife.”
“Ah, thanks, big bro. You’re the toughest man I know. Next to Captain Levi.” Faith teased with a wink.
“Don’t,” Chad warned, but he was grinning.
“Thank you for coming for us and protecting us,” Hope said.
“I couldn’t have done it without both of your inspiring help. I fancied the spider distraction. Brilliant.”
“You’re still our hero. We didn’t shoot two despicable jerks in the forehead.” Faith beamed at Chad and then looked at Hope. “And now you have to kiss him again.”
Faith was such a matchmaker.
Chad’s emerald eyes twinkled at that. “You can’t deny Faith anything, right?”
“You two.”
She kissed him, but it was too quick.
Faith was creeping away again, but she stopped and held up a finger. “Oh, and also forgive him for kissing that nurse last night.”
“That nurse …” Chad’s eyes widened with understanding. “Oh, Hope, no. That’s why you left the castle.”
Chad’s phone buzzed at his hip.
“You should get that,” she said, pulling away from his arms. “Also Roger said he had men below the castle waiting to move in.”
Chad and Faith both looked at her in frustration. She moved toward the stove, turning it off.
“I’ll have my men check,” he said in relation to her information. He pulled out his phone and checked the screen. “The local police,” he said. He walked away to speak to them and headed for the front entry. Policemen filtered into the house a few moments later.
“Talk to him,” Faith begged.
Hope swallowed and shook her head. What was she supposed to say? She’d fallen in love with a man who couldn’t be faithful. She didn’t want his excuses; she wanted his devotion. A hundred percent. He was an incredible hero. He’d rescued them and restored her hope in miracles from above.
Yet still, she wanted more.
What good was a knight in shining armor if she couldn’t trust she was the only lady he’d ever love?
Chapter Fourteen
Chad was chafing to get the police done and out of here so he could talk to Hope. Somehow she’d seen pictures or a video of that nurse kissing him and it had upset her. It made him sick to his stomach. He never wanted to hurt her, and he inadvertently had. His reputation as a player would be a concern for her with her parents’ history. He’d asked her about that before, but she’d always brushed him off or changed the subject. He had to get to the root of her concerns, and soon.
General Ray and the troops showed up just as the police were taking care of the bodies and getting their evidence. They’d caught four men lurking in the woods below the castle. Chad conferred with Ray and thanked them all for coming. Ray could work with the police chief to share information from Roger or Ramone’s cell phone that would help him or Interpol find Naomi Rindlesbacher.
Chad kept checking on Hope and Faith’s positions. Would she run away from him again?
The ladies were each interviewed by the police, and then they quietly cleaned up the kitchen together. He noticed Faith eating a little, but Hope didn’t touch a thing.
Two officers escorted them upstairs to check their bedrooms and then left them to shower and get ready. Faith had come back down a few moments ago, dressed in a very flattering dress, makeup and hair done, obviously trying to catch Captain Levi’s eye. The captain seemed determined not to engage her.
That was for the best with the little Chad knew of Levi’s heartbreaking past, but he hated to see Faith get her feelings hurt. She was like a younger sister to him. If only he could claim her as a sister. Faith had reacted calmly to two men being killed in front of her. He wondered if she was in shock and the aftereffects would hit her later. Right now, she was independent and brave. He was proud, and he knew Hope would be as well.
