Page 98 of Blind Trust
“I was thinking some of that dorky music from the seventies you forced me to listen to as a kid. Nicolás will probably like that.”
“Donny Osmond and The Carpenters coming up.” Her dad pointed double-gun fingers at her before doing a dance that was right up Kekoa’s alley.
“I’m going to go see if your mom needs any help,” Sam said, squeezing Tom’s hand before walking away. “Don’t let him get up no matter what he tells you.”
Lyla nodded, then looked to Tom. “Shouldn’t you be at home, recovering?”
“I could sit there or I could sit here.” Tom glanced around him. “This is healing.” He tipped his head to where her parents were standing. “I never meant to hurt you or them.”
She swallowed. “I know.”
“Sean was a good friend.” Tom choked on the words, and Lyla’s throat ached at the loss of a relationship she’d never know. “He wanted to protect you above all else, and we weren’t sure if whoever killed him would come after you. I thought this was the best way to do it.” He shifted on the seat and reached into his pocket. When he opened his hand, a gold chain with a trinity knot lay in his palm. “This was his, and I’ve been saving it to give to you.”
Lyla took the necklace in her hand, and a tear slipped down her cheek. “Thank you, Tom.”
“Jack just pulled up,” Brynn said as she walked over. “You ready?”
When Lyla put on the necklace and touched it, an indescribable contentment seemed to fill the void she’d felt in her life. This was where she belonged—with her parents, Tom, and her team.
Her eyes moved to the door of the bowling alley, and she smiled. In one minute, she’d be in Nicolás’s arms, where she most definitely belonged.
“Surprise!”
Nic walked into the bowling alley to an eruption of hoots and hollers. Around him, his friends, some familiar colleagues from the CIA and FBI, and Lyla’s family clapped for him, but his gaze zeroed in on the woman in a bubble-gum-colored bowling shirt, her eyes sparkling brighter than the turquoise-blue décor.
It had been thirteen days since Lyla declared she loved him. And because of the gravity of Christine León’s crimes, they’d been separated by extensive daily debriefings that kept them from exploring their feelings.
Torture. That’s what it had felt like to be limited to quick phone conversations before fatigue forced them to sleep, leaving them aching for more. If he hadn’t already committed to General DeAntona,he would’ve backed out of the Syria mission, because Nic wasn’t sure he’d be able to handle one day without Lyla in his life.
I was crazy to think I could ever leave her.
And now, on the first day free from the inquisition of lawyers, members of Congress, and the Department of Defense, the laws of attraction buzzing through Nic pushed him toward the woman he loved.
“Hau’oli la hanau e, Garcia!” Kekoa stepped in front of Nic and wrapped him in a bone-crushing hug. “Happy birthday, brah.”
“Thanks,” Nic said once Kekoa released him and he was able to breathe again. His eyes found Lyla’s again. “I’m just going to go—”
“Happy birthday, Garcia.” Brynn and Jack intercepted his attempt to get to Lyla. “Jack didn’t give it away? He’s a terrible secret keeper.”
“Hey!” Jack said. “I told him we were coming here to pick up the surveillance video from the other night.”
“And you believed him?” Kekoa teased.
“I did.” Nic gave a polite smile. It had seemed odd, but he was too exhausted to question Jack. He took a few more steps in Lyla’s direction. “I’d like to—”
“Happy birthday, soldier.” His neighbor, Mr. Brandt, ambled over with Lyla’s great-aunt Effie by his side.
“Thank you, Mr. Brandt.”
Nic was going to lose his ever-loving mind if he didn’t get to Lyla.
“Aunt Effie, Mr. Brandt, why don’t I get you something to drink?” Lyla’s mom, Catherine, gave Nic a knowing smile before escorting the elderly couple away.
Nic could have hugged the woman right there if he had a second to spare, but with Lyla in his sights—the wait was over. He closed the distance between them, and even though he wanted to scoop her into his arms and feel her lips on his, he restrained himself out of respect for her family and settled—very reluctantly—for a hug.
Torture.
This close to her, Nic wondered how rude it would be to whisk her away. He eyed a semiprivate spot behind some lockers and wondered if they could sneak off like a couple of teenagers and he could give in to the desire pulsing through him to kiss her madly. From the hungry look in Lyla’s eyes, he sensed the feeling was mutual.
