Defending Raven (Mountain Mercenaries #7)(23)

Nothing was going to keep him from his wife. Nothing.





Chapter Six

Mags ignored the growling of her belly as she crept through the barrio. She’d been staying away from the hut longer and longer each day because she felt the pull toward her husband stronger with every second he stayed. Even though she hadn’t spent much time with him, everything he’d done since he’d burst back into her life reminded her why she loved him so much.

He was protective and kind. Loyal and strong. He’d changed, yes, but then again, so had she. For him, however, all his good traits just seemed to have gotten more intense. Sleeping in the dirt outside the hut she’d been staying in? That was crazy, but he didn’t even seem to give it a second thought.

She knew it was only a matter of time before she gave in and told him how much she still loved him and how scared she was. She’d thought if she avoided him long enough, he’d eventually get the message and leave her alone.

But she was kidding herself. She knew she was. There was no way Dave would leave. Not now. Not when he’d found her after ten long years. That wasn’t the kind of man he was. Even if he’d gotten remarried and had a family, he would still do everything in his power to bring her back to the States, to make sure she was safe. But knowing he didn’t have a family, that he hadn’t moved on, made it all the more obvious he was never going to leave her here. That he’d do whatever it took to get her to talk to him.

She was so conflicted. Truth was, she didn’t want Dave to leave . . . but she wasn’t sure she was brave enough to tell him why she had to stay.

The sun had set, and the barrio was dark, but she made her way up the alley to the shack easily. Strangely enough, she could hear laughter coming from a few of the huts near hers. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d heard happiness in their dismal, depressing world.

And come to think of it, she hadn’t seen Ruben or his friends lurking around either. Usually she’d see at least one of them as she slipped into the barrio. They kept watch over everyone who came and went, but she hadn’t seen any prying eyes tonight.

A little concerned, Mags eased through the back entrance to the home she shared with her friends—and stopped in her tracks.

Dave was there. He wasn’t sleeping outside like he had for the last week. He was sitting in the middle of the floor playing cards with Gabriella, Maria, and Teresa, while Bonita and Carmen sat nearby sewing. Everyone was smiling and seemed to be having a good time, even though they couldn’t understand a word Dave was saying.

The second the group saw her, though, the smiles fled from their faces, and they looked at her in concern.

“Are you all right?” Carmen asked.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” Mags asked. She couldn’t stop herself from staring at Dave. Her eyes were naturally drawn to him. And as she examined him closely in the dim light, her heart stopped for just a second before it started up double time.

He had a black eye and what looked like the beginning of bruises on his face. His knuckles were split, and it was more than obvious he’d been in a fight.

“What happened?” she asked in Spanish, then English.

Dave didn’t answer, merely kept his intense gaze on her, and Mags felt as if she were pinned to the spot.

“Ruben decided he was done watching and attacked Dave,” Teresa informed Mags. “We didn’t stay around to see, but Zara said he was amazing. He took on Ruben, Eberto, and Alfonso all by himself. Then Marcus and Fortuno and some others joined in. But Zara called her man, and they came running. They beat them up, Mags! It was great!” Teresa’s words were all strung together as she got the story out as fast as she could.

Mags’s eyes ran over Dave from his head to his toes, wanting to make sure he really was all right. Ruben was an asshole and a typical bully, and when he wanted, he could definitely make life hell in the barrio. She couldn’t decide if what Dave had done would make things better or worse.

But then she remembered the laughter she’d heard. It seemed as if, for the time being, things were better.

“We need to talk,” Dave said as he slowly stood.

Mags had always loved the way her husband seemed to tower over her. At six-three, he was a tall man, but with his muscles and brawn, he seemed even bigger. It had always made her feel safe . . . but after all she’d been through, his size intimidated her now.

As if knowing how she was feeling, Dave took a step back. “I will not hurt you,” he said, slowly and carefully.

“I know,” Mags responded immediately.

Dave shook his head. “You obviously don’t know, if your body language is any indication.”

Forcing herself to relax, Mags shook her head sadly. “I’m not the same person I was ten years ago,” she told him.

“Neither am I,” he countered. “But my love for you hasn’t changed. In fact, I think it’s grown in intensity. I’ve spent every moment of the last ten years searching for you. So long that it’s hard to believe you’re actually standing in front of me. Though I’m just now figuring out that you might be here physically, but mentally, you’re still lost to me.”

Mags stared at the man she loved more than almost anything and knew she was hurting him. Had known this would happen. It was one of the reasons she hadn’t tried to get in touch with him after she’d been let go from del Rio’s employ. She was so messed up in the head, she couldn’t even remember who she’d been before coming to Peru. Her life as an insurance underwriter and Dave’s wife was as foreign to her as her current life would’ve been to her old self.