Defending Zara (Mountain Mercenaries #6)(80)

They smiled at each other.

“To a brighter, sunnier future in Mexico,” the partner said, lifting a bottle of beer in toast.

“To Mexico,” the man agreed, tipping his own bottle back.





Chapter Twenty-Four

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Meat asked Zara for the tenth time.

A week had gone by since their relationship had officially changed from friends to lovers. He couldn’t be happier with how things were progressing between them, but he also couldn’t help but be concerned about how quickly she’d gone from content to sit alone in his house to wanting to take charge of every aspect of her life at once.

It was as if a light had been switched on after the incident at the big-box store with the Spanish-speaking woman and the police officer. She’d decided she did want to be a translator for those who needed it. And she was suddenly desperate to set the record straight when it came to what had happened to her and her parents so long ago in Peru.

The decision to talk to the press seemed to come a little out of left field, but Zara had reassured him that she’d been thinking about it for a while. She was sick of the news getting everything wrong, and all the incorrect information being spread. They’d recently learned her uncle had been responsible for spreading some of the worst rumors via social media. He was apparently done with being subtle and trying to charm her out of her money. He’d gone onto various news pages and made comments about how he’d “heard” that she’d worked as a prostitute, that she hadn’t been seen since arriving back in the States because she was a drug addict and going through rehab, and, most absurd, that she’d actually been working with her parents’ killers all these years.

And the sickest thing was that people believed that crap. Articles were written for bogus “news” sites and shared all over social media.

The last straw for Zara had apparently been when the police officer at the store had genuinely believed she was a drug runner for a cartel.

She’d talked to Rex and asked if he would arrange for a press conference. Before Meat could discuss the entire situation with her more in-depth, Rex had called the local Colorado Springs news outlets and had talked to Everly about security, and the date was set.

Instead of just local news personnel being present, it had blown up, of course, and there were correspondents from several different countries and all the major networks and shows. Everyone had applied for one of the coveted fifty slots that were being allocated to the media.

“I’m sure,” Zara said confidently, answering Meat’s question after a long pause.

Meat couldn’t ascertain any nervousness or concern in her tone or her facial expression. It made him realize all over again how incredibly tough his Zara was. It shouldn’t surprise him—she wouldn’t have survived what had happened to her if she wasn’t. But he still wanted to wrap her up and hide her away from the cruelties of the world.

They’d decided to hold the press conference in the courthouse in one of the large meeting rooms. It was big enough to house everyone comfortably, and would feel less like an interrogation for Zara. The plan was for her to explain in her own words what had happened, then take questions.

Morgan had tried to talk her out of the questions part, but Zara wouldn’t budge. She’d decided that if she didn’t let the reporters ask what they wanted, more rumors would follow, and she had nothing to hide since she’d done nothing wrong.

Meat couldn’t really argue with that logic, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

Zara had moved into his master bedroom the same night they’d made love the first time, and the question of whether she’d be comfortable sleeping on his soft mattress had been a moot point after she’d discovered how comfortable she was sleeping on top of him. It had taken some getting used to on Meat’s part, but not for long. He enjoyed being able to hold her close as they fell asleep. By morning, they’d usually moved in their sleep to lie next to each other, but she was always touching him in some way. Reaching out for him even in slumber. It made him feel ten feet tall.

“It’ll be fine,” Zara said, putting her hand on his arm.

Meat nodded and pulled her close. “I know it will. Because you’re one tough cookie,” he told her proudly.

Zara smiled up at him. “I need to do this to move on,” she said. “I hope you understand.”

“I do. Did you talk to your grandparents or uncle and let them know you were planning on doing this?”

She sighed. “I called my grandparents, but I never heard back from them. I left a message on their voice mail and invited them to come down, but I doubt they’ll be here. They made their feelings about me clear enough the last time I saw them.”

“It’s their loss,” Meat told her, and kissed her briefly on the forehead.

“It is,” Zara agreed. “I mean, I don’t miss them exactly, because I never really knew them, but I miss the thought of having relatives that give a shit.”

Meat hated the Harpers. How they couldn’t care about their only granddaughter was beyond his comprehension. Zara was amazing . . . brave and resilient. They should’ve been ecstatic to have her back. “And your uncle?”

Zara scrunched her nose. “He’s still being an ass. Leaving me obnoxious messages on my phone and whining about how if I cared about my mom at all, I’d give him money so he wouldn’t be destitute.”