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Chapter

Eighteen

Robbie didn’t want to let Alice go that night, but they both returned to their respective suites to shower and sleep.

The next morning, she was bright and happy.

He could tell she was pretending and pushing the worries away, but they were snarling and barking at them like a determined Pit Bull Terrier.

They drove to the Valerio Catullo Airport with their four bodyguards and boarded one of Brandon’s planes.

Brandon called, apologizing that he and Madelyne couldn’t come meet them and then cheering when Robbie told him he’d earned the million dollars.

Alice gave him a soft smile, but there was too much concern in her eyes.

His overconfidence on the phone wasn’t translating to his heart.

Did she really love him if she wouldn’t choose to fight for them?

The flight was long but comfortable. Robbie loved the chance to simply be with Alice, talk, rest, eat, watch The Italian Job with Mark Wahlberg, and reminisce about the places in Venice they’d seen.

He’d liked Venice, but it had been rough to be at their ‘honeymoon destination’ and not truly be together, not to mention how it had felt to be hunted.

He’d loved their time in the Dolomites. He and Alice had reconnected, and she’d admitted she loved him. He squeezed her hand .

Everything would work out. He’d make sure of it.

Robbie had never failed on an assignment. He wouldn’t fail at loving Alice and being there for her.

As soon as he had that thought, it hit him.

He had failed at assignments. He and Chase had protected three Syrian mothers and their seven children and that choice had taken the life of the senator their unit was protecting.

He’d failed on a trafficking assignment last spring, and who knew how many innocent people had been trafficked because of his mistakes?

What if he failed with Alice too?

As they descended to the De-Kalb, Peachtree Atlanta Airport, his stomach was doing funny things and worry smacked him in the face. How would he make it all work? Panic made his chest tight.

He said a prayer. He’d have to have faith and trust in God above, just as he did on dangerous missions.

The good Lord had guided and strengthened him.

Even when things hadn’t gone right, he could see the Lord’s hand.

Robbie couldn’t give up on Him now, and he couldn’t give up on Alice.

What they had was special, a once-in-a-lifetime love.

Robbie was being given a second chance, and he refused to make the same mistakes.

His phone buzzed as they landed. He glanced at it.

Aiden Porter. The gut churning was back with full force.

Usually it was Nick Jacobs that Robbie worked through.

If Aiden was calling, something was wrong or the mission was of the utmost importance.

Aiden might have information on Big Buddha, but Robbie feared that wasn’t the reason for the call.

“What is it?” Alice asked.

Robbie forced a smile. “My boss.”

Her smile looked as fake as his felt. “You’d better get it. After two weeks of vacation, you might have to get back to work.”

“Alice…” Robbie let the call go to voicemail. He’d never let Aiden’s calls go to voice mail before. “You want me to go back to work?”

“What I want has nothing to do with it.” Her dark eyes were earnest. “I’ll support you as you go back to work.”

The jet taxied off the runway and to an exclusive hangar.

Robbie licked his lips. She’d support him. Was the give and take already happening, or was she letting him go because she wasn’t ready for a relationship and this would extend the deadline of them both having to commit to put each other first?

“You know I’m coming back to you as soon as I can,” he said firmly.

She nodded. She looked stiff, uncomfortable, and as if she was forcing herself to stay positive. Ah, Alice. Even if she was afraid of him being killed or afraid of him not coming back, she’d try to love and support him.

“I love you, Robbie,” she whispered.

His heart swelled at those endearing words. She loved him, but was love enough? Did she trust him? How could he earn her trust and be there for her if he left for a work assignment?

Robbie kissed her softly, pushing the worries away once again.

His phone buzzed again. He forced himself to pull back and answer the call.

The plane taxied to a stop as Aiden’s upbeat and charming voice came on, telling him they had a unique, dangerous, and time-sensitive job where his language skills and battle experience were a must. Nick was busy tracking a lead on Big Buddha or he would’ve called.

Robbie listened, and he thought he responded correctly.

He remembered telling Aiden he’d cut his hair and shaved.

Aiden responded to stop shaving, but it was fine.

The job didn’t require a ‘hairy mammoth’.

Robbie sort-of chuckled. He couldn’t take his gaze off of Alice as she stood and stretched from the long plane ride.

She was supporting him.

Still, he felt like he should say no and quit the career he’d been made for. He’d had no choice but to quit his Army Ranger unit to protect his teammates. Quitting Aiden was the last thing he wanted to do.

No. Losing Alice was the last thing he wanted to do.

Could he have both?

Right now, it felt like Alice was half-in, half-out. Was the miracle of being together even a possibility?