Page 33 of Rowe

“Yes. I know it was wrong, but I had a description and I found that face quickly. He had a scar on the left side of his face. When I showed my sister, she nearly had a panic attack. I waited, promising her I wouldn’t do anything stupid.

“Then she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and died. A week later, Nico was on my doorstep telling me he wanted his kid. I refused. I pointed a gun at his head. I was a mess. Hair half up, half down. No makeup and exhausted from staying up with Kiera.”

“What did you do?” asked Rowe.

“I waited. I went to a different bar every night and finally found him. My sister was much prettier than me, but I was enough to make Nico turn his head. I’d dyed my hair, put on a ton of make-up, a short dress, and made sure I was practically falling out of it. He was easy.

“I offered to buy him a drink, and he said we should get to know one another out back. I followed. Before he could even touch me, I shot him in the head. Three times.”

“Damn,” frowned Christopher.

“No cameras. No witnesses. Nothing.”

“Then how would Victor know you killed his son?” asked Rowe. Mara swallowed, looking down at first, then lifting her chin.

“His men saw us leave together. I didn’t realize they were in the bar. I heard later that he killed those men for not protecting his son. But they lived long enough to give a good description of me.

“At the house, that morning I was early, when Rossi saw me, he stared like he knew me. I looked different. Darker hair, no make-up, shorts and t-shirt, no skimpy dress. But it was enough.

“When they took us, he ordered those men to keep me alive until after the storm. That’s why I was alone on that concrete block. He had something else planned for me.”

“Damn,” muttered Rowe.

“See. I need to leave. I should have told you when my memories returned but I was too scared. I didn’t know you and didn’t trust you. Yet. I do now but you can see why I have to go.”

“What I see is why you need to stay,” said Gator. “For sure you cannot leave now. Before, we would have bet that Rossi would have moved on, left you alone and hoped you wouldn’t open your mouth. But killing his son? He won’t let that go.”

“I know,” she choked out. “Please just let me go. I don’t care anymore. I just don’t care.”

Rowe didn’t say a word. He lifted her in his arms and marched out the door toward his own cottage. Sadie, Summer, Ramey, and Margo started to follow. Their husbands grabbed their arms, shaking their heads.

“Let him handle this,” said Matt. Summer frowned at her husband, watching Rowe’s back disappear into the darkness. “He won’t hurt her.”

“I know,” said Summer. “But will she hurt him?”

Rowe opened the door and settled Mara on the sofa. He moved around the island, opening and closing the refrigerator, then walked toward her with two bottles of water. He sat beside her but said nothing.

“You’re angry with me,” she whispered.

“I’m not angry. I’m disappointed. Did I give you any reason that you couldn’t trust me?” he asked.

“No,” she said shaking her head. “No. Please don’t think that. I-I was scared and uncertain. Surely you understand that.”

“I can understand that. But when someone is scared and uncertain they ask questions. You had dozens of doctors, nurses, medics, security, and others in and out of your room. You could have asked any one of them about us, about me!” He yelled not meaning to, but he was angry now. He wasn’t even sure why.

“Rowe,” she whispered turning to face him. “I’m sorry. Please don’t be angry at me. I was scared. Scared for me but scared for all of you as well. I know now that I have to stay here. You’re all right. He would find me out there. But you have to promise me that if it comes down to me or someone here, you’ll give me up.”

“I won’t promise that. I can’t. I will protect you with my last breath,” he said staring at her. Mara stared into those crazy golden eyes. She shook her head.

“Why? Why would you do that for me?”

“Because somewhere in all this mess, in all the days and nights watching you fight for your life, learning about how you protected your niece, every fucking little thing, I fell in love with you.”

“Y-you. You fell in love with me.”

“Yeah. Stupid, right?” he scoffed. She shook her head, reaching for his hand. Hers were so tiny, so delicate he was afraid to even touch them.

“No. No, not stupid. Rowe, you were the first man I saw. You were the one beside my bed. You and Jethro.” Rowe stiffened, frowning at her. She smiled. “He never held my hand. He touched it but said he couldn’t hold it or he’d be beaten to death. I didn’t understand it then.”