Page 60 of The Hero
Bob wanted to tell him that, yeah, he needed Marlowe ... but he merely shook his head. “Don’t forget about me. I want to go home today,” he warned. “Don’t play games with me on this, JJ. Please.”
“I hear ya. We’ll get you home, don’t worry.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m glad you’re all right,” JJ said, putting his hand on Bob’s shoulder briefly. “I admit that when Marlowe told us where she was, whereyouwere, I was shocked. But my mind immediately turned to how we were going to get you home. You’re my brother, Bob, and to steal a Navy SEAL saying, a brother doesn’t leave a brother behind. I’ll be back up later to check on you and to make sure the discharge papers are in the works.”
And with that, one of his three best friends in the world left the room.
Bob lowered his head and rested his cheek on his hand as the doctor finished cleaning and stitching his back. He’d had a close call. He knew that more than most people. It was only thanks to Marlowe and his friends that he was home and on the mend.
Some people would look at his wife and dismiss her as weak. Because of her size, because she was a woman, but he knew better. She was stronger than just about anyone he knew. And he’d spend the rest of his life making sure she knew how capable she was. That she felt loved down to her core.
He also made a mental vow to ensure Ian West paid for what he’d done. For setting up Bob’s woman and getting her thrown into jail for what would have been the rest of her life. As long as the man suffered no consequences for his actions, he’d likely do it again. Steal a country’s heritage right out from under their noses, and if caught, throw some other innocent man or woman under the bus.
Well, that wasn’t happening as long as Bob was alive. Ian West would rue the day he hurt Marlowe. Period.
Marlowe felt like a completely different person after the long hot shower she’d had at the hospital. Chappy had patiently stood guard while she’d scrubbed every inch of her body three times and washed her hair twice.
Then he’d led her to the cafeteria and wouldn’t let her leave until she’d finished the entire plate of food he’d bought. He’d taken her to the gift shop next, standing there with his arms crossed, again not budging until she’d picked out a T-shirt, socks, and a ridiculously comfy pair of slippers for herself, and a shirt for Kendric. He’d easily scrounged up a pair of scrub pants for her, and she had to admit she felt one hundred percent better by the time they met back up with Kendric.
The doctor discharged him—with a frown and two full pages of discharge information, which Marlowe promised to follow to the letter. And the ride to Newton in Cal’s fancy SUV was eye opening. She’d never sat in a car seat as comfortable or felt leather so soft.
But by the time they arrived at Kendric’s apartment, it was obvious he was in a great deal of discomfort. Marlowe had no concept of what time it was, other than it was nighttime because it was dark outside. Her internal clock was completely messed up by all the international travel and the sleep she’d had while on the way to Maine.
JJ, Chappy, and Cal helped get Kendric into his apartment and onto his bed. JJ said something about being back in the morning with food, but Marlowe barely heard him as she was more concerned about making sure Kendric was settled.
It wasn’t until everyone had left and it was just her and Kendric in his room that she had a moment to reflect on everything that had happened.
“Punky? Come here,” he said, holding out a hand.
He was on his belly in his huge bed, wearing only a pair of boxer shorts. Bandages covered the wounds on his back.
She walked over to the bed and sat next to him.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Marlowe blinked in surprise. “Yes, why? I should be asking you that.”
“Because you’ve been through a lot recently. I feel as if you haven’t had any say in what’s happened to you in a very long time. And I don’t want you to think you’re stuck here. Or that you have no other choices. My cell phone should be around here somewhere, I never take it when I’m on a mission. It probably needs charging, but you can call your brother and get him to come pick you up at any point. I think he’s already planning on coming up to check on you, but you can speed that up if you want.”
“You think I want to leave?”
“Do you?” Kendric countered.
For the first time, Marlowe felt uneasy. Was this his way ofaskingher to leave without having to come right out and say it? Did he regret saying he loved her? Had he simply been grateful for her help, and now, back with his friends and safe at home, in a familiar setting, he’d changed his mind?
“Shit. I don’t like that hesitation,” he muttered. He went up on an elbow and didn’t quite hide the wince from the pain the movement caused. “For the record, I want you here. With me. In my bed. As my wife. I love you, Marlowe. So much it scares me. I don’t want you to leave, but I’d never force you to doanythingyou don’t want. If you want to go stay with your brother for a while, get your bearings, I won’t stand in your way.”
“I don’t want to go,” she said quickly, relieved beyond what she could express in words. “I love you too, Kendric. I think I have since you first appeared out of nowhere when I got outside that prison.”
“Good. Just one more thing then, before we get some sleep.”
“Yeah?” she asked when he didn’t continue.
“I need you to find our wedding certificate and pin it to the wall where it belongs.”
Marlowe grinned, and butterflies swam in her belly. She immediately stood and went out to the other room, where Cal had dropped the bag containing their clothing. Kendric had also been given a clean pair of scrub pants to wear home. The T-shirt he’d worn in Cambodiahad been discarded before they’d even boarded the plane, but the pants were inside the bag. She reached into the back pocket and pulled out the folded and battered piece of paper. She unfolded it as she walked back to the bedroom, where Kendric was waiting for her.
