Page 24

C harmaine

There was nothing like the scent of fresh baked goods first thing in the morning.

Especially when cinnamon and vanilla were involved, two of my favorites.

Except for maybe the aroma of coffee, the darker the better.

The fragrances were a reminder of home.

With the heat still oppressive, I’d awakened early, lost in a sweet haze of lust that had quickly turned to something much darker as the memories of the last few days replaced the moments of passion.

I’d found Maddox in a fitful sleep on the couch, his large frame dwarfing the lemon-yellow sofa. Being able to watch him sleep had brought a strange sense of satisfaction.

He’d been so forlorn when I’d found him on the small balcony.

I’d watched him for over a minute before daring to go outside.

The moment I’d placed my hand on his shoulder, he’d let off a deep sigh that he’d obviously been holding for a while.

Whatever he’d been thinking about had kept him unnerved.

I hadn’t bothered to ask him to share. He wasn’t that kind of man.

In fact, he was much more complicated than I’d originally believed. At least he was finally able to get some sleep.

While I was munching on a banana, the only appetizing thing I’d found in the kitchen, the scent of fresh pastries had wafted in through the cracked balcony door. For the first time in days, my stomach had growled.

Maybe that’s why I’d made it my mission to locate the source of the delicious scent.

Plus, exhaustion remained. Coffee was needed and I’d found nothing that resembled caffeine in the cabinets.

The small bakery was just across the street to the right, a glaring beacon of edible delights and nourishment. When I was stressed, chocolate eclairs were the cure.

I’d dared slip out onto the balcony as the sun had crested over the horizon, bringing beautiful hues of lilacs and light pinks crisscrossing the sky. The air was humid, slightly damp as if it had rained in the middle of the night.

Even with the early hour, the sound of music could be heard over the morning din of noise.

The area was beautiful, certainly more so than the villages and small cities I’d visited in El Salvador. Another moment of sadness threatened to derail me, but I shoved it aside.

Maddox was right. I owed it to my friends to get back safely and crush the asshole responsible for their deaths.

Sighing, I went back inside, quietly walking past him. He looked like a sleeping giant. I grabbed the baseball hat and sunglasses, taking the time to shove my hair under the cap. I certainly looked nothing like the woman on camera.

I continued debating my decision as I headed to the apartment door.

I’d found money in Maddox’s wallet, the wad of cash holding me hostage for a few seconds.

He’d brought thousands of dollars with him, converting a small portion to Honduran lempira.

I’d grabbed the country’s currency, shoving it into the pocket of the shorts provided by Maddox’s friend.

Now I had my hand on the doorknob, my hesitation the second sign maybe I shouldn’t leave the apartment. The first had been when he’d almost awakened, muttering in his sleep. He was a tortured soul.

The words whispered from his lips had drawn my attention, holding me hostage as he’d tossed and turned. I’d almost awakened him but had sensed doing so would create another rift between us.

He certainly didn’t like his routines interrupted.

Yet every syllable lingered in my mind, although most had been broken, pieced together with grunts and sharp moans.

Except for a single sentence he’d said more than once.

I’ll fucking find a way to kill you. If it’s the last breath I take.

He’d even swung a punch in his sleep, fighting an invisible enemy.

I continued to think about them as I unlocked and opened the door, using extreme caution while doing so. Hearing no sounds, I peeked into the hallway. There was no one lurking in the shadows, no men with assault rifles ready to take aim. The quiet was almost unnerving.

With a soft click, I closed the door behind me, padding down the stairs in the boots I’d been wearing during my… ordeal.

I had no idea what to call the horrible event.

Nor could I think about what I’d lost.

After sliding the sunglasses onto my face, I took a deep breath.

Once outside, I almost became overwhelmed from the sights and sounds even for an early morning. There were a few people out, walking or biking, limited cars, but that would change quickly enough.

As sunlight filtered into the sky, I made my way across the road, scanning both sides of the sidewalk immediately.

I’d been trained to do that long before Maddox had been forced to rescue me.

If the dangerous situations I’d placed myself in had taught me one thing, it was I could never be too careful under even the best of circumstances.

I’d been accosted twice before heading to El Salvador, once outside a swanky hotel during a Christmas party. That was a decent reminder there were monsters in all walks of life.

Maybe that’s why as soon as I was safely on the other side, I sensed that someone was watching me.

Slowing my pace, I moved close to the buildings, glancing over my shoulder.

Even after another full scan of the surrounding area, I couldn’t see anyone that appeared as if they shouldn’t be out enjoying a beautiful morning.

There were no soldiers dressed in combat gear carrying assault rifles, no dark sedans or Jeeps as were so prevalent in the world of organized crime. Nothing at all caught my eye.

Maybe that was the problem. Everything was too normal. Foolish or not, I refused to allow fear to derail me. Logic would tell me that if we’d been followed or somehow our location had been discovered, the monsters would have attacked in the middle of the night.

I hurried along the sidewalk, reaching the bakery seconds later.

As soon as I walked inside, I did my best to shove aside the prickly sensations, inhaling the delicious scents as I studied both the menu and the bakery cases positioned in the front.

The scent of freshly brewed coffee hit me first, a whiff of chocolate and raspberry second.

My eagerness and sudden hunger brought a smile to my face.

There were three customers in front of me and I was happy to wait, content in making my selection. When I reached the counter, the older woman’s bright smile reminded me there was so much beauty in the world and with people. I’d simply spent way too much time chasing bad guys.

“What can I get for you?”

I was surprised when the woman behind the counter spoke to me in English. “That obvious I’m not from around here?”

She laughed. “I can tell by your boots.” She leaned over the counter, pointing her long pearlized nail to my feet. They were close to combat boots, but I’d been thankful I’d had them given the terrain we’d crossed.

I laughed. “The only shoes I had.”

“Stylish. Would you like some coffee?”

“Oh, God, yes. Liquid from the gods. I’ll take two to go.”

“Of course.”

“And a few pastries.” She laughed when she saw me sucking my finger. Now I was famished, so much so my stomach was in knots.

After pouring the coffee, she brought out a pastry box, waiting for my order. Another strange feeling washed over me.

I tilted my head over my shoulder, studying the street through the plate glass window.

Was that a man in dark clothing across the street?

What did it matter if I was correct? That meant nothing in a country that had experienced its share of brutal battles.

Yet I had to be certain. “Just one second.” As I walked to the front of the store, another customer walked in and blocked my line of sight.

In the split second it took for me to walk past, whoever I’d seen was gone.

I was being foolish. Right?

This time the girl behind the counter spoke in Spanish, the man addressing her. I wasn’t paying any attention, the rapid beating of my heart dulling every other sound.

A cold chill passed through me and I was instantly aware of how much danger I could be in. Backing away, I continued to scan the street, bumping into the customer who’d walked in just seconds before.

“Oops. I’m so sorry.” I touched the man’s arm, instantly bristling from the harsh look he gave me.

“You should be more careful,” he hissed. There was no hint of recognition, no indication he was anything but a disgruntled customer.

“Like I said. I’m sorry.”

A few beads of coffee slipped past the edge of his cup onto his fingers and his gaze didn’t leave my face even as he exchanged the cup from one hand to the other, wiping his fingers on his dark pants.

Dark clothing.

Just like the man I thought I’d seen across the street.

He said nothing else, only taking a deep breath and heading toward the door.

If he was looking for me, there’d been no hint of recognition.

The lump in my throat was difficult to swallow.

I turned quickly, trying to tell myself that I was still anxious from everything I’d been through.

Coming here had been a mistake. I didn’t feel safe, not when I wasn’t close to Maddox.

“What would you like?” the woman repeated, studying me curiously. She was ready to fill the box, the lid standing at full attention. Maybe she was even annoyed with my hesitation.

“Um…” I glanced over my shoulder, but the stranger was nowhere in sight. “I’ll take one of each of those.” I pointed to my selections, honestly not realizing what I was getting.

She hurriedly added them to the box and closed the lid, placing the coffee in a small bag.

When I’d paid her for the items, I walked slowly to the door, forced to take several deep breaths before I felt secure enough to walk outside. There was no sign of either man, but the strange sense of foreboding remained.

With my head down, I headed along the sidewalk, keeping as close to the building as possible.