Defending Raven (Mountain Mercenaries #7)(11)

Hopefully being reunited with her husband would allow Mags to begin to heal.

The sounds and smells that assaulted Zara as she made her way toward the barrio were both scary and familiar at the same time. Once upon a time, this had been her world. Despite having no trouble navigating it, the area now felt alien. Foreign. It wasn’t a good feeling.

Once she entered the barrio, she continually looked around nervously as she walked, relieved when she didn’t see Ruben or any of his friends. Most people would be inside their huts sleeping through the hottest part of the day. She hoped to find at least one of her friends inside the hut they all used to share. But it was possible they’d moved on to another barrio, another hut.

Zara approached the shack that she’d last been in a few months ago, and memories threatened to overwhelm her. She knocked lightly on the piece of corrugated metal being used as a door and called out in Spanish, “Hello? Gabriella? Carmen? Is anyone there?”

In seconds, the metal was pushed to the side, and Zara was staring into Teresa’s eyes.

“Madre de Dios,” the other woman said breathlessly, then burst into tears.

Zara pushed her way inside and quickly saw that everyone but Mags was there.

They all started talking and crying at once. It was several minutes before Zara could control her own emotions enough to explain what was going on. She fell back into using Spanish as easily as she’d picked up English.

“What are you doing here?”

“Did you not go to America?”

“You look beautiful!”

Zara smiled at her friends. “Give me a second, and I’ll explain everything!”

Everyone quieted down, and Zara spent a few minutes quickly telling them about Meat, and Colorado, and about her grandparents and uncle. When she was done, everyone was just staring at her incredulously.

“I’m rich,” she said softly. “All those years, and my grandparents didn’t try all that hard to find me. So I’ve decided to use the money for good. I don’t need it all. I’m here to see Daniela and you guys, and to set up a clinic so people like us can get medical care when we need it. And in the future, I’d also like to set up a food bank too.” She wasn’t exactly lying. She did want to set up a clinic, but that wasn’t the real reason she was there.

Everyone started talking at once again, and Zara could only smile. She’d missed these women. They’d been such an important part of her life for so long. Allye, Morgan, and the others back in Colorado had done a lot to make her feel welcome, but these women had been through a lot together.

“Wait until Mags sees you!” Gabriella said in excitement.

“Where is she?” Zara asked.

“It’s Wednesday,” Carmen explained.

Zara nodded. “That’s right, I’d forgotten.” And she had too. No one knew where Mags went three days a week. She wouldn’t talk about it, and everyone had just gotten used to the fact she was gone on those days. No one asked too many questions in the barrio.

Zara hadn’t planned on staying in the barrio for long, but she also wasn’t going to leave without seeing and talking to Mags. She couldn’t go back to the motel and tell Dave he’d have to wait until tomorrow. It was bad enough he’d have to wait the rest of the day for her to get back, but it couldn’t be helped.

She also worried about Meat hanging around outside, watching over her, but she just had to accept that he could take care of himself.

A part of her had been scared the women wouldn’t be here anymore, and she was relieved that wasn’t the case. If it had been, Zara knew Dave would’ve lost his mind.

“How have things been here?” Zara asked. “Are Ruben and his friends just as bad as they were?”

Maria frowned. “Worse. The other day, they broke in and stole or destroyed just about everything we had.”

Looking around, Zara could see that the hut was nearly empty. She shook her head in frustration. “I’m so sorry.”

Bonita shrugged. “It is what it is.”

“Well, I have good news for you, then. I’ve not only returned with my boyfriend, but all of his friends too. And today they’re shopping. I gave them a list of things I thought you could use or would want. We’ll have to figure out a way to hide everything from Ruben’s bullies so they don’t come in and rob you again, but I think you’ll be happy with what they bring.”

And just like that, the excited chatter started up again.

Zara was thrilled to see her friends so happy, even if it was momentary. Life wasn’t easy in the barrio, and it felt amazing to be able to give back to them after all they’d done for her.

She hadn’t told them that she also had plans to buy a house near Daniela’s that she hoped to move them all into—she was saving that bit of news for later. She couldn’t save everyone in the barrio, but she could do something for the women who’d shown her what true friendship was about.

She talked with her friends for at least an hour, and Zara knew it was getting late. She was still worried about Meat, and about Dave simply showing up out of the blue if he found out they’d ditched him. The last thing she wanted was for Mags to accidentally run into him. She needed to be warned that he was here. But a part of Zara didn’t want to leave. She’d enjoyed reconnecting with Bonita and Carmen and the others. While she didn’t miss her old life, she did miss these women.