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“Don’t let go,” he demanded. “Just keep holding on.”
CHAPTER 27
In the small hours of the morning, with the night still clinging to the windowpanes, Harry finally let his guard down. He and Rose shared a meal, the first in what felt like an eternity, and allowed the tension of the past days to wash away in the quiet of the little house. They were faking it a bit. Pretending this was some kind of getaway for new lovers. As if romance alone had brought them here. But it was good enough for now. For a few precious hours, they slept, nestled in a peacefulness that was all too rare.
But the respite was short-lived. The sound of gravel crunching under tires jolted Harry from his slumber. It could be more danger. More trouble. But with a quick look out the window from behind the blinds, he saw it was not.
Mick was back, and the urgency in his arrival pierced the calm like a cold wind through a shitty old window. The warmth they’d create together would have to thaw again for a little while.
Harry shifted his weight as he dressed. His body was heavy with a weariness that was more than only physical. Rose dressed quickly too, her expression showing the same as his. Happiness that it had happened, and disappointment that for now it was over.
They met Mick in the tiny kitchen, his back pressed against the fridge.
"I have to leave," Mick said, the words heavy on his tongue. "Charlize's mom... she's gone. I need to be there, with her."
Harry could see the conflict raging within Mick. Duty against the heart, the call of the job against the call of love. And in that moment, Harry knew that Mick's path lay elsewhere, away from whatever was left to be done here.
“Of course,” Rose said, trying to be reassuring. “She needs you. It’s time.”
"The problem is Topeka," Mick replied, uncharacteristic desperation in his voice. He rubbed at his temple as he went on. "We don't know where she went. This area is isolated, her options limited. She didn’t have many resources. Topeka leaving was a bad idea and could go very wrong.”
Harry understood. They had all reached their breaking points, their crossroads, and Mick's had led him back to Charlize.
“We’ll deal with it. I’ll get with Kenan. I’m sure there’s a game plan. You need to go.”
“The game plan is to get back to town. Keep an eye out. Carmen is sending in other men to scour the area and make sure the immediate threat to Verde Lago is over. They’ll also be looking for Topeka. The evidence she has is paramount to being able to save lives in the future.”
“We’ll help,” Rose promised.
Mick's next words were spoken with a finality that left no room for doubt, even his own. “I have to get there, Harry. I have to be by her side."
“You do,” Rose agreed.
He hugged her and shook Harry’s hand.
“We’ve got it from here. Let Charlize know we’re sorry for her loss,” Harry said.
Mick hesitated at the door. “Why does this feel harder than dodging bullets and taking down bad guys? Going to be with the woman I love should be the easiest thing I do.”
“It is,” Rose said sweetly. “But going to see the woman you love who’s hurting profoundly is not easy. But you’ll be exactly what she needs.”
As Mick's car disappeared down the road, Harry felt for him. Rose was right. It was one thing to protect someone you love at all costs. But how could you stand helpless next to them when they have a broken heart you can’t fix. It was something he hoped he never had to do with Rose.
“Do you think we can go back to Verde Lago?” Rose asked quietly. “I’m missing Nathaniel terribly.”
“It sounds like they need to clear the area and confirm everything is still secure. I’m sure Kenan will reach out soon. I know it’s hard to be away from him.”
“Near impossible.”
“Do you regret leaving there? I know you wanted to talk to me...”
“I knew it was right at the time, and I still believe it. You deserved to know how I felt and if you’d been killed without me having a chance to tell you, it would have wrecked me. Nathaniel deserves a mother who can be whole and healed. Talking to you was part of that. I’ll get back to him as fast as I can. And I’ll be better for it.”
Harry pulled Rose into his arms and kissed her gently. He loved her. Loved the feel of her and the sound of her voice. He loved this tiny house and the way he’d pretended for a little while it was theirs. He’d never be foolish enough to tell her that now. Not yet. But it didn’t make it any less true.
Topeka was still missing, her safety uncertain, and the threads of the life they were all trying to protect were fraying.The only way he could truly help Mick through this hard time was to do the job that needed to be done.
“We need to get a message to Kenan. He needs to know we’re around to help. That we’ll look for Topeka, make sure the threat is gone from the area. Whatever we can do.”
