The concept I might have taken a life hadn’t been real to me until Harry said it out loud.
“I’m more worried Grace didn’t kill him, which could mean they’re still after her,” Justin added. “Because they know what Balsuto’s capable of doing if he finds out they were trying to screw him over. That’s what they were so concerned about, and they should be. Balsuto’s not the forgiving type. They can’t afford for you to talk to him.”
Had I been a fool to refuse to believe the man I once considered my one and only true love wanted me dead? I had no doubts what Prez had in mind for me. I suspected he might have not only wanted me out of the way but had planned to shoot Ben, too.
“Maybe we should go home, leave all this insanity behind,” Justin suggested. “There’s a chance Javi is the only casualty from last night, and Grace had nothing to do with that. Regardless, it’s a good idea not to be here if bodies start turning up.”
I knew he was right, but we’d discovered almost nothing about my sister’s murder.
“I’m not worried about getting arrested. The only people who know for certain I was even in that house are dead or involved in bringing me there against my will. They can’t very well go to the police. Please, Justin. I could never face myself, not to mention my mother, if I left now.”
“Would she want to lose another daughter? Forget it. You won’t change your mind. So, I’ll just fix myself a strong drink and pretend everything’s going to be fine.”
“Make that two.” Harry and I said in unison.
He was overly generous with the vodka, but I didn’t complain.
Harry talked more about his unsuccessful attempts to find Eva or her nephew, but I had trouble listening. We’d been in Montañita less than a week, and I’d seen and perpetrated more violence than I had in my entire life. And it was the Christmas season.
I noticed no one was talking and that both men were staring at me. “I’m sorry. I blanked out.”
“Harry was saying he thought the two of us should go back to Ben’s this afternoon to see if he made it home and talk to Eduardo. It’s too dangerous for you to come, but we don’t want to leave you alone.”
“Stop right there. If you remember, I handled Ben, not once but twice. And after a pool stick to the crotch, Prez won’t be moving very fast.” If at all, I thought. “And there’s no good reason for Adelmo to hurt me. Even if I overheard something, who would take my word over his?”
Justin looked as if he wanted to speak, but Harry put a hand on his shoulder. “She’s right.”
“Okay, okay.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “But could you please promise to stay inside and keep the doors locked?”
I promised to try.
Harry glanced at his watch. “I need to see a client just outside of town about a problem he’s having with the security system we set him up with a few months ago. It shouldn’t take much more than an hour.”
After he left, Justin went to the patio to check emails. I sat at Harry’s laptop intending to send an email update to Mike but felt guilty about not talking to them in person since arriving in Ecuador and called instead. The call went to voicemail. After leaving a rambling message about how we were trying to piece together Stella’s last months, I told Mom I loved her and would get back to her later. I made no mention of my kidnapping or the possibility I was a killer.
When I finished, I joined Justin on the patio.
“I forgot to thank you and Harry for rescuing me the other night. There’s no telling what would have happened to me if you hadn’t showed up.”
“Somehow, I think you would have been just fine.”
Only I didn’t want to be fine without him, couldn’t or wouldn’t imagine being without him. I understood how reckless it was to experience such strong emotions after the short while we’d been together. But losing Stella a second and final time had taught me to reassess my life.
Before I could tell him how I felt, he came to me and traced the outline of my chin with his index finger before crushing my lips with his. The suddenness took my breath. I wrapped my arms around him, desperate to melt into his body. He slipped his hands up my back, and I trembled. After nibbling my earlobe, he kissed the hollow of my throat, bringing his mouth lower until he reached the top of my breast.
Without warning, he released me, and I stumbled into a chair. When he threw himself between me and the patio door, I saw Harry standing there, tapping on the glass. The roaring in my ears must have drowned out the sound of his knocking. I adjusted my clothes and smoothed my hair while Justin did some adjusting of his own.
“Sorry,” he said, as Harry shuffled toward us. “Didn’t hear you get back.”
Nothing like stating the obvious, I thought, and resisted the urge to giggle.
“Hate to interrupt, but we should go if we want to miss the worst of the traffic.” He was blushing. This time I giggled.
I followed the men to the entryway where Justin grazed my cheek with his lips, then gave me a proper kiss.
“I’ll start the car. Later, Grace.” Harry scurried out without looking back.
“I think we embarrassed him.”
“You know you’re driving me crazy,” he whispered in my ear. “Could you please stay out of trouble or at least not cripple or maim anyone while I’m gone?” He lifted my hair and nuzzled my neck. “God, I don’t want to go.”
“I’ll be waiting for you.” I
