No One Lives Forever (34 page)

When he turned down a familiar street, Christian fought the growing grin on his face.

"So how are Bianca and Hector?" He turned toward Duarte as the captain parked in front of the Guia Do Espírito. "They going to be all right?"

"You know what they say, Christian." Duarte got out of the car before he finished. "'That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.' They will be fine, I think. I promise to look in on them from time to time."

"I'm sure she would appreciate that, Luis." He smirked. "Having a good woman in your life may not be a bad thing."

Before Duarte could react beyond his shocked expression, Christian reached for the front door, but didn't have to opened it. It swept from his reach with the tinkle of a bell overhead and Bianca Salvador greeted them on the street with outstretched arms. He couldn't help but notice the special smile Bianca gave to the dashing man in uniform.

"Oh, you've come." The woman's eyes glistened, but the beaming smile on her face challenged the idea her tears were spawned from sadness. "Please . . . please come in," she greeted them, then yelled into the back of the store. "Hector. They're here."

Hector came from the back storage room with a grin on his face. His bruises had yellowed, but the cuts were still visible. Bianca had endured much the same abuse. It pained him to see it. If they were hurting, they never showed it.

Bianca had a plate of cookies from the cafe down the street. She served coffee and they chatted as if they were family, catching up on old times. It reminded Christian of the Delacortes, the family he had lost all those years ago. He stood on the periphery and watched the others, recalling the faces and voices that lurked in his memory, entwined in the nightmare of his past. One day he hoped he could sort them out and discard the pain, keeping what remained.

When the time felt right, he spoke up, addressing Hector.

"I was going to contact you once I got back to the U.S., but you stuck your neck out when you thought Jasmine was in trouble and you ended up on Chief Zharan's radar. For that, I'm sorry, but very grateful. And we had an agreement. Do you remember?"

Hector looked sheepishly at his aunt. His cheeks blushed.

"Yes, but you don't have to worry about that anymore. We are friends, yes?" Hector raised his eyebrows, a glimmer of hope on his face. "Friends don't exchange money to do what is right." He stuck out his chest and stood tall, exchanging a look with Bianca. She nodded, tussling with a smile.

"But friends help each other," Christian insisted, catching the attention of a curious Raven. "I want to set up a trust fund for you and Bianca, to help while you're away at school."

"Oh, no. That is too generous." Hector shook his head and waved his hands in objection. "Away at school? I don't go to university."

"Yet. At least, it will be up to you whether you take me up on my offer. The trust fund will be set up. I want to pay for your education, like I promised. I insist. Personally, I think it's a wise investment. You can attend a college in Brazil or come to the U.S. I'll sponsor you, once I learn what I need to do. It will be your choice. What do you say?"

Bianca clasped a hand over her mouth, her eyes welling with tears. Hector looked like a stunned rabbit. His eyes darted between Christian and his aunt. His mouth gaped open. He had no idea what to say.

"Then it's settled." Christian handed them both a business card. "I'll be in touch."

Bianca burst forth with a stream of Portuguese, hugging and kissing Christian on the cheek. She did the same with Raven. But when it came time to show her appreciation to Captain Duarte, he noticed she lingered a bit longer. Christian shook his head. If he were a betting man, he'd put money that Duarte felt the same way toward her.

"And I've got one more thing to say."

Everyone turned toward him.

Christian reached under the collar of his shirt and pulled out the Ayza talisman Bianca had made for him. He slipped the chain over his head and walked toward Captain Duarte.

"I don't know if Bianca made this talisman for me, but I want you to have it. I've got a feeling you're gonna need it."

Christian heard a soft chuckle in the room behind him. Duarte looked surprised but hid it well, as usual.

"A man with your brand of honor is rare, Luis. It was a privilege meeting you."

He slipped the chain over Duarte's head. The captain accepted his gift with a nod and a nervous clearing of his throat. For a nonbeliever, the man held the talisman in his hand with surprising reverence. Christian knew he had done the right thing.

When Duarte saw he was the center of attention, he shrugged. "We probably should get both of you to the airport."

They headed for the door, but Raven stopped them.

"I have to ask about that talisman," she said, looking at Bianca. "Fuentes had his gun pointed at Christian." She shuddered. "Yet when he pulled the trigger, the gun misfired. Do you think . . . ?"

She looked at Christian, then at Duarte. When he shrugged and saw Duarte do the same, avoiding his eyes, Raven turned to Bianca for an answer.

"You can choose to believe or not," she said. "There are things we will never understand, but I believe Ayza intervened when Christian was in trouble. And I am glad he did."

Their faces turned toward him, expecting a rebuttal.

"Don't look at me. I'm the last one who's gonna argue with that logic." He joined them in a laugh, shaking his head.

As Christian said his good-byes, he hoped it would not be for the last time. And he sincerely wanted Hector to attend college. Time would tell if the kid would take him up on his offer. Perhaps for Hector and Bianca, it was enough that he had asked.

The Dunhill jet engine droned in the background, the aircraft hurling above a sea of billowing white against an azure sky. They were finally heading home.

With the armrest raised, they sat as close as they could to one another. Raven had her head on his shoulder, her arms around his waist. The scent of her shampoo made him imagine a hot bath with her naked body next to his, bubbles up to their necks. Not a bad way to celebrate their first night back.

But Christian had one more thing that wouldn't wait until they returned. He nudged her chin with his finger, letting him look into the eyes that could hold him spellbound for eternity. He had something to ask the woman he loved.

"This may not be the time or place, but I didn't want to wait. Life's too short."

He undid his seat belt and reached into a pocket. By the time he got down on one knee, Raven's eyes were brimming with tears. Her sweet fingers cupped her lips. Christian opened the small red velvet ring case, revealing the most beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen.

A black diamond.

"It's one of the most breathtaking diamonds in the world, mined in Brazil. Its beauty caught my eye the minute I saw it. But when I found out how precious and rare it was, it reminded me of our love. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Raven Mackenzie. Will you marry me?"

Tears streamed down Raven's cheeks, and at first she couldn't speak. Thoughts of how she had almost lost him raced through her mind, but faded to a delicate and harmless mist when she imagined the life they would have together.

She pulled him to her, kissed his face and neck and whispered over and over, "Yes, yes, yes. Oh, sweet Ayza, yes."

At that moment, strange images drifted through her mind as she kissed and held the man she loved. Maybe Bianca's spirits graced her with their powers after all.

Raven remembered the family portraits hanging on the wall of her home.

The underlying strength shown in the portrait of her dead father and the unforgettable smile of the mother she had never really known. Soon her wedding portrait would join the collection of her life. She and Christian would begin their future together as man and wife, creating memories of their own. She had always believed in the enduring strength of their love, even when Christian had his doubts whether he deserved her at all.

Raven smiled at the thought. She would have the future she'd always dreamt about and a lifetime to share it with him. Between everything that had happened to them and the miracle of their love, why would Bianca's conjuring be such a stretch?