Page 68 of Deadly Storms (Sunrise Lake #3)

Shabina held out her left arm to show the scorpion that was tattooed two inches above her wrist. The tattoo artist was considered one of the best. Rainier knew him. He had once worked in the same occupation as Rainier.

“I want this tattoo covered, and I brought in the artwork I would like to replace it with. I believe it will cover it nicely.”

Across from her, Rainier held out his hand to her. Shabina immediately put her hand in his. There was a special intimacy in going together to get two tattoos each. One on the arm and the other on the thigh.

“Why didn’t you have this done years ago, Qadri ? You should have rid yourself of him completely.”

Shabina thought about her answer. She knew the reason, but explaining it to someone else was difficult. She’d always worn long sleeves and kept the tattoo covered. Even when she swam with her friends, she wore a shirt over her bathing suit.

“It was important to me to know I belonged wholly to myself. I wanted to know I was strong, and that he could never take that strength and belief in myself away from me again.”

“He never took your strength, Shabina,” Rainier pointed out, his voice gentle. His gaze softened to tenderness. “He tried, but you refused to give in to him no matter what he did.”

His obvious pride in her touched her. She wasn’t used to compliments or having anyone look at her with such love the way he did.

“Rainier, I know you love me, and I appreciate you thinking I’m a strong person, but you know I suffer from PTSD and the episodes are horrific at times.”

The tattoo artist’s head jerked up, his dark gaze moved over her face and then settled on Rainier’s.

Rainier didn’t seem to be in the least bothered by the fact that the man heard everything.

“ Qadri , I suffer from PTSD. Most of my men do. We’ve all seen and had to do things that stick with us.

PTSD isn’t a sign of weakness. Our brains and bodies are on overload at times and we need a little help. Everyone does. That isn’t a weakness.”

She found herself frowning. Rainier was the strongest man she knew. “Do you go to a counselor?”

The tattoo artist once more bent over her arm. He would place her own tattoo there, the one that said eye of the storm in Arabic. Rainier helped design the artwork with a friend of his.

“It isn’t like we can just talk to anyone. Most of what we did and do is classified. Finding a counselor is not always easy for men like us, but it’s necessary. It’s also necessary to reach out to one another when we’re in crisis.”

She hadn’t considered that Rainier suffered from PTSD, but it made sense.

Just his childhood alone was enough to have given him psychological issues, let alone the many missions he’d been sent on by Blom as well as his role as the assassin in the Middle East. It hadn’t occurred to her that Larado or any of the other men on her protection detail had moments like she did.

She considered herself weak because she couldn’t overcome the episodes when she was triggered.

She would never consider Rainier or his men weak.

Not ever. Why hadn’t she thought of herself like them?

Being with Rainier made her feel safe, but it was the way he empowered and believed in her that made her love him so much. More every day when she hadn’t thought she could love him more.

“Where are you putting the second tattoo? I’d like to see the artwork,” the tattoo artist broke into their conversation.

She’d almost forgotten why she was there.

“My second tattoo will go on my left thigh. You’ll see the scars.

I’d like it put there.” She showed him a second version of the Deadly Storms tattoo.

She wanted Rainier’s identity over that mass of scars.

She pulled up her skirt to show her leg.

“Can you do it?” She couldn’t keep the anxiety out of her voice.

“No problem. The way the tattoo was designed, it will fit the scars you have nicely.”

“My tattoo will be placed on my left arm two inches above my wrist,” Rainier said.

“A different version of her tattoo will be on my left thigh. It also says eye of the storm in Arabic, just like hers, but is a little different.” He showed the man the drawing of the tattoo. “You’ve seen the scars I have.”

“It won’t be a problem, Rainier,” the man assured. “Let’s get to work. Doing four tattoos is going to take some time, particularly when they’re so intricate. I take it you want as close to a gold color as possible?” He indicated the coloring on the art.

“Yes, as close as you can get.”

“There isn’t a metallic gold yet, but by mixing yellow and orange I can achieve the look you want. It just takes some time. I’ve done a few very gold-looking tattoos. I’ll show you the color before I tattoo it on.”

They sat side by side while the artist began work on Shabina’s wrist. Finally, she would remove Lefebre permanently and replace Scorpion and his claim on her with a symbol of her own strength.

She was the eye of the storm. The calm in the middle of chaos.

She had her own strength, the ability to withstand the storm.

The second tattoo would cover the ruin of her thigh muscle with Rainier. She would wear the symbol of him rising out of a sandstorm to bring justice no one else could have. He would wear her on his thigh, symbolizing she was his calm when everything else was out of control. It was perfection.

—

The party for Vaughn and Tyrone appeared to be an overwhelming success, which made Shabina very happy.

The two deserved everything wonderful they could possibly have.

Vaughn’s family seemed to have abandoned him completely, but his sister arrived halfway through the festivities.

Tyrone cried when she flung her arms around him and told him how much she approved the match and how grateful she was to him for making her brother so happy.

She hugged Vaughn and whispered she was sorry about the rest of their family not accepting them.

Vaughn was Vaughn, hugging her tightly and assuring her that she made their day by coming.

Stella and Sam had come, of course. Raine, Harlow and Zahra were there.

Patsy and her husband, Greg, came, as did one of the waitresses Nellie Frost. She was accompanied by Sonny Leven.

The vet and Carl Montgomery attended. Edward and Janine arrived together.

Chelsey Sarten had come as well, and Shabina was happy to see her.

Judy and Tom Rosewood attended, and so many more locals that Shabina’s large house seemed small.

The party was in full swing when Shabina’s cell phone vibrated. She nearly ignored it, because everyone was toasting the couple, but something compelled her to see who was calling. With trembling fingers, she took the call, hurrying out into the garden away from the noise.

“Mom? Is everything all right?” Her mother never called on her own.

“Yes, little mama. Everything is perfect. I’d like to come see you next week. Your father is going to be out of town on business. I can’t go with him, and he said he would feel better if I was with you and your protection team. I’m so excited. Will you be able to have me?”

It was the last thing she expected her mother to say, and it was all she could do not to burst into tears.

“Of course, I’ll have you. I can’t wait to see you.

And you’ll get to see Rainier with me and know he really loves me.

I know you were upset that there was no big wedding, but it was better for me to marry him quietly. He always does what I ask him.”

She hesitated. She was talking too much, but she couldn’t help it. “Well, except when it comes to safety. He’s a bit of a tyrant then, but I don’t mind.”

“I’ve always liked Rainier,” Yasemin admitted. “I have no idea why your father took such a dislike to him. I thought perhaps jealousy. You relied on Rainier when you didn’t on either of us. I told Jack that was natural after all you’d been through, but he didn’t listen to me.”

“I felt I was hurting you just by my presence,” Shabina admitted. “I needed to stand on my own two feet and get strong. To know I could withstand any storm.”

“Have you done that?”

“I believe I have,” Shabina said with conviction. “I love you, Mamma. I can’t wait to see you. Will you send me all the details, when you’re arriving and how long you get to stay?”

“Yes. I’m working that out now. I love you, Shabina. I’ll be there soon.”

Shabina hurried back into the house, looking for one person.

It didn’t matter if dance music was playing, and champagne and sparkling grape juice were being served so more people could toast the couple.

What mattered to her was that one person, the only person.

Their eyes locked across the room and she didn’t wait.

Couldn’t wait. So much happiness was almost too much to bear.

“You did this.” She flung her arms around Rainier’s neck right in front of everyone.

“I know you did.” Tears brimmed over, but they were tears of sheer joy.

“You made it happen. That was my mother. She said Jack was going out of town and she couldn’t go with him.

He suggested she come visit me. He was concerned for her safety and told her that you and my protection detail would alleviate his worries for her.

Jack would never allow her to visit on her own. Not ever. I know him. You did this.”

She caught his face between her palms and brought his head down to hers so she could kiss him. There was no other way to express her happiness. Her joy. How thankful she was. It didn’t matter that she was kissing him in front of everyone.

She didn’t normally show affection in front of others, but she was blaming her lack of restraint on him.

He put his arm around her all the time in front of others accustoming her to shows of affection.

And he did the most extraordinary, wonderful things for her.

Miracles. She had no idea how he persuaded Jack to allow her mother to visit her—even going so far as to suggest it—but she knew Rainier had brought it about.

“You are the most remarkable, extraordinary man. The love of my life. I can never repay you for making this happen.” She kissed him again because she had to.

Rainier caught her close, fitting her body against his. No matter how many times she was in his arms, it always felt perfect. Right. She knew absolutely that he was the man she was destined to be with. She had no regrets. Not a single one.