Defending Zara (Mountain Mercenaries #6)(83)

Almost.

“You were fucking phenomenal,” Meat whispered in her ear.

She’d expected him to be upset on her behalf. When she lifted her head, she saw that he was pissed, but she saw the pride he had for her as well.

“You could’ve just refused to answer her question and moved on, but you put her in her place and explained exactly how her question was rude as hell.”

“I did, didn’t I?” Zara asked.

“You sure did.”

Then they didn’t have any more time to talk privately, as they were surrounded by all their friends. They moved to the room where Allye and Morgan were waiting for them, and even though the day had been hard, telling the world exactly what had happened to her and how she’d felt as a kid, hoping against all hope someone would find her, only to be crushed when they didn’t, Zara couldn’t help but feel lucky.

She’d survived. Her parents would be proud of her, she had no doubt about that. And she had good friends who would do whatever it took to find her if she ever disappeared again. Most had been through their own hell. Even Renee, who had lived a quiet, normal life in Denver, had been nothing but supportive.

The plan was for everyone to go to Gray and Allye’s house to have a late lunch and decompress. Meat leaned down and asked, “You still want to go to Gray’s house? It’s okay if you’d rather go home.”

Zara thought about it but shook her head. “No, I’d like to go. I admit that I was nervous, but now that it’s over, and I’ve set the record straight, I want to celebrate. I’m alive. And I want to get to know my new friends better.”

Meat got a peculiar look on his face, and she frowned and asked, “What?”

“I just . . . I’m in awe of you, Zar. Every day you surprise me. In a good way.”

“I’m just me, Meat. I’m nobody special.”

“You’re wrong. But that’s okay, you can think what you want, and I’ll stand by your side, secure in the knowledge that no asshole will ever get another chance to dim the light inside you.”

Zara shook her head and smiled. “You’re crazy.”

“Yup. You continue to live in your delusional world,” Meat said with a grin.

She reached up to pull him down to her, but Meat didn’t make her work for what she wanted. He leaned over and she kissed him. “Thank you for being here with me today.”

“No place I’d rather be, Zar.”

“I know that even though I’ve told my story, people will still gossip. They’ll take my words and twist them. My uncle will probably continue to harass me and beg for money, but I know what’s really important.”

“Yeah?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Friends who’ll stick by you no matter what.”

“Try to pry me away,” Meat said with a snort. “Come on. Let’s see if we can’t get everyone out of here and back to Gray’s. I’m sure you’re hungry.”

“I’m always hungry,” Zara said with a laugh.

Meat pulled a protein bar out of his pocket and held it out to her. “That’s why I brought this for you. To tide you over.”

The sight of the small bar in his big hand made Zara want to cry. Meat was always looking after her. Even when he was seemingly lost in his computer, researching something for his reclusive handler, Rex, or when he was elbow deep in wood shavings in his workshop, he’d always respond to any question. Or do something surprising like this . . . pulling a snack or piece of chocolate out of his pocket and handing it to her without a word.

But instead of crying, Zara took the food and smiled up at him. She held on to his hand as they walked out of the courthouse to his car. She was well and truly on her way to being the best person she could be, and Peru, and what she had gone through, may as well have been a million miles away.





Chapter Twenty-Five

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you and hang out at the back of the bar?” Meat asked as Zara entered the kitchen.

“I’m sure. Are you still worried about my uncle?” she asked.

“Zara, Alan’s a douchebag, and I’m about ready to lose my shit with him,” Meat said.

Zara was severely disappointed in her uncle. He was her mother’s brother, and she wished they had a better rapport, but that ship had definitely sailed. It was a week and a half after the press conference, and he still wouldn’t stop harassing her and spewing empty threats, now insisting that if Zara didn’t give him half of her money, she’d regret it.

Ball and Everly had gone up to Denver just two days ago to personally deliver a threatening message of their own, which hopefully would shut him up.

Technically, Everly had gone to serve him with a restraining order that forbade him from contacting Zara on the phone, in written form, or in person.

But when Everly had gone back to the car, Ball had delivered a message of his own . . . telling Alan in no uncertain terms that if he dared even breathe in Zara’s direction again, he’d lose everything. They knew all about his drug activity, and Ball made sure Alan knew that if he sent one more email, or got in touch with Zara in any way again, the man’s dealer would learn how he’d passed information to the local PD in return for cash.

“I’ll be fine,” Zara insisted. “Everly will be there tonight, and if anything happens, she’ll take care of it.”