by Lea Hart
“Anything else?” Ace asked.
“We can only be in the area for thirty minutes, and you can’t touch, chase, or ride the animal or restrict normal movement. Maintain a distance of 3m from the shark’s side and 5m from its nose and tail.” Nodding, he gave them both a smile. “Other than that, enjoy. They stay close to the surface when they’re in the feeding area, so you’ll have no problem keeping them in your sights.”
“Thank you, Oscar.”
“Ready?”
“Yes. I don’t have your lung capacity, so don’t feel like you have to hang out and come up with me for air.”
“Okay, but the reason I’m out here is to experience this together. I’ve had thousands of hours in the water, so I’m good with whatever you want to do.”
“All right, but you know…don’t hold back because of me.”
He gave her a thumbs-up and sat on the edge of the boat and held Lisa’s hand as they slipped into the warm Caribbean water together.
***
Lisa accepted the beers from Marisol the bartender and smiled at her before heading outside to the table that Ace and Vince were occupying under the palm trees. “Beer?” Lisa asked as she set the bottles down.
“I would’ve gotten them,” Ace said as he stood as pulled out a chair.
“No worries,” she replied as she sat down.
Vince lifted his bottle, tipping his head in Lisa’s direction. “Whatever you’ve done to Ace, keeping doing it because I’ve never seen this son of a bitch smile so much.”
“I pissed him off to no end the first month of our acquaintance, so it’s satisfying to know that’s no longer the case.”
“Damn woman is fearless and ended up in more shitty situations in Yemen than I care to remember.”
“He’s not a fan of my profession.”
“I like your profession just fine. It’s the places you have to go to that I’m not a fan of.”
“Don’t try and clip her wings, man. Shit like that never works out,” Vince said before drinking his beer.
Lisa leaned forward and patted Vince’s hand. “I like you.”
“Back at you, girl. I like ballsy women and so does Ace, no matter how much he pretends otherwise.”
“I’m sittin’ right here,” Ace fumed.
“That you are,” Lisa said as she took his hand.
“How was the water today?”
Lisa pressed her hands together and let out a contented sigh. “We got to see two whale sharks, and I fell in love. They are so beautiful and graceful.”
“You know, we host a lot of research groups, and I’ve had the opportunity to learn a lot about them over the last couple of years. Amazingly enough, they can live between seventy and a hundred and fifty years.”
“No shit,” Ace said before sipping his beer.
“I picked up a book in your little gift shop, and I’m going to read it when we head home.”
“Where are you guys headed to next?”
“We’re going over to San Pedro Sula and hopefully spend a day in the Planeta District.”
Vince looked over at Ace and frowned. “She really does the love the world’s hellholes since it was the murder capital of the world until 2016.”
“I’m writing several articles about the US’s recent changes to the immigration policies and understanding why people are seeking refuge is an important part of creating a full picture.”
“I agree but going into the District of Planeta is some crazy-ass shit.”
“I have a local fixer, a translator, and an officer from Operation Lighting.” Looking over at Ace, she smiled. “And my very own, personal Navy SEAL.”
“Do you see what I’m dealing with?” Ace asked his friend. “This is her normal and imagine what could happen if I wasn’t along.”
“I feel for you, man, because if she was mine, I’d tie her up and never let her leave the good ol’ US of A.”
Lisa snorted. “What happened to the ‘don’t clip her wings’ speech?”
“Forget that. You are definitely someone who needs them clipped if you plan on staying alive long enough to marry Ace and have a big family.”
Lisa slapped her hand on the table and groaned as she stood. “I need a real cocktail if I’m going to listen to any more of this macho drivel.” Stomping up the beach, she tried to take deep breaths and not get herself into such a twist that she ruined the last evening on the beautiful island.
***
“Next time you think you want to help, please don’t,” Ace said as he watched Lisa walk back into the hotel.
“Sorry, man, I sometimes forget to use a filter and just say what I think.”
“Me too.” Leaning back in his chair, he looked out at the ocean. “It doesn’t work so well with Lisa, so I’m working hard to become a better man and think before I speak.”
“The right woman will do that for you.”
“I’m trying to keep my mouth shut when it comes to her career because all it does is piss her off. And, I’ve discovered that when she’s pissed, she won’t talk to me, and that’s not something I’m willing to let happen.”
“So, how are you going to handle her career and being deployed?”
“Not sure yet.” He drained his beer and then set the bottle down. “She’s taken a teaching position next semester, so I’m hoping she’s going to fall in love with it enough to want to make it a permanent gig. She’s talked about wanting to get out of the international reporting thing, but if I push, she’s stubborn enough to keep at it just to prove a point.”
Vince nodded and folded his arms. “Damn.”
“It’s not in my nature to hang back and let things happen, but I think it’s my only choice.”
“Yeah, being on the Teams is not conducive to a relaxed Zen attitude. We were molded by the fiercest most professional warriors in the world that made sure we were capable of the impossible at a moment’s notice. We had to become scary men who could go out into the night and kill monsters. That shit doesn’t leave room for any kumbaya; that’s for damn sure.”
“And yet, here you sit in one of the most peaceful places on earth, looking relaxed and happy. So, it’s definitely possible.”
“Yeah, but it’s taken me two years to get here, and I still have some bad days. And I’m not active anymore, so that makes a huge difference.”
“Are you holding something back, man? Because there has to be more.”
“You’ll meet her tonight.”
Tipping back in his chair again, Ace nodded. “Knew it.”
“She’s one of my dive instructors and from Australia.” He ran his hand over his chin and grinned. “Love of my fucking life and doesn’t put up with any of my shit.” Looking from side to side, he confirmed no one was around. “We also have a kid on the way, but Ellie doesn’t want to say anything until we hit the fourteen-week mark. So, don’t go blabbing it at dinner.”
“Congratulations, man.”
“Never thought this would be my story, but God has somehow seen fit to bless me with an amazing woman who puts up with me and gives me more love than I’m freaking worthy of.”
He slapped his hand on his friend’s back and nodded. “You deserve every good thing that comes your way.”
The woman who ran the front desk walked toward them, and Vince stood. “Duty calls. I’ll see you guys at dinner.”
“Right on, man.” Ace watched him walk across the sand toward the hotel and thought about his own situation and prayed that the lack of news from Victoria and the other baby daddy candidates was a good omen.
Heaving himself out of the chair, he headed into the hotel and hoped Lisa had enough time to recover from the caveman display he and Vince had put on. It was one thing to be one, but something entirely different to show it to the woman who had you by the fucking balls.
As he walked into the lounge, he saw Lisa in conversation with a young dude and gritted his teeth when the asshole put his hand on her arm. No one touched his woman, and the son of
a bitch was about to understand that fact in no uncertain terms.
Stalking over, he knew he was going to get himself in trouble because there was no way he was going to let that shit stand. Seeing Lisa turn in his direction with a smile, he felt a centimeter better and let out a long breath. “Hey, honey.”
She held out her hand and wiggled her fingers. “Come here and tell this sweet boy all about the SEALs. He’s thinking of joining the Navy after college, and I told him you were just the man to talk to.”
Great, he thought to himself. Now he had to keep his shit in check and act like the adult he supposedly was. Lisa took his hand, pulled him to her side, and kissed his cheek. Damn woman was making it all but impossible to keep his mad going.
“Dave, this is CPO Ace Henderson, and he’s a real-life hero, so ask him anything you want.”
“Not anything.”
She looked up, and her blue eyes sparkled with mischief. “Of course, what I meant to say was just general questions.”
Ace put his hand out and had it pumped like the kid was drilling for oil. “Nice to meet you.”
“Can’t freaking believe I get the chance to talk to a real-life SEAL.” He pulled his phone out and held it up. “Can we take a selfie?”
Ace shook his head vigorously. “Sorry, man, no can do. We fly under the radar and having my face all over social media is a no-go.”
“Damn, of course, man.” Slapping his head, he groaned. “Sorry about that.”
“No problem.”
Lisa squeezed his hand and then stepped away. “I’ll leave you two alone.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to head over to the clubhouse and work on my notes for the next leg of our trip. Come find me when you’re done.”
He pressed a kiss to her hand and nodded. “See you in a few.” Watching her walk into the next room, he felt himself smile.
“If I become a SEAL, do you think I could get a woman like that someday?”
Ace let out a bark of laughter. “Only if you’re damn lucky.” And he knew that was the truest thing he had ever said because Lisa was the best thing he could ever hope for.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Lisa walked along an unpaved street in the densely populated district of Planeta with an officer from Operation Lighting pointing out the patchwork of gang turfs. “Ramon, are you telling me that one block can be governed by one gang and the next three by their rivals?”
“Clado, que si.” Lifting his arm, he pointed toward a group of masked police officers in dust-covered body armor with their fingers on their weapons and raised an eyebrow. “Growing old here is a privilege, not a right.”
Feeling Ace tense at her back, she turned and watched his head moving right to left and then back. He’d been wired tight since they left the hotel earlier and she knew how much he hated having her out in the open. “We’re almost done.”
“Can’t happen soon enough,” he bit out.
Ramon nodded to one of the officers and then rested his hand on his gun. “There is no school and few businesses, so the community has no choice but to navigate the territories on their long commutes to more affluent parts of the city.”
“Why don’t they just move to another safer part of the city?” Ace asked.
“Have you asked that of the people living in your crime-ridden inner cities and government housing projects?”
“No,” Ace responded quietly. “Fair point.”
“Often, if a family moves, then all they’re doing is exchanging one set of gangs for another. The people who live here are existing in a tenuous state of calm alongside gang enforcers who can be neighbors, sons, or cousins. There is no black and white answer here, and to pretend like one exists is a waste of time.”
“The average age of a gang member seems much younger here than it does in El Salvador,” Lisa commented as she looked down at the crumbling building to the left. “They can’t be more than fifteen or sixteen.”
“Gang recruits are groomed from a young age, so an eleven or twelve-year-old is not unheard of,” Ramon replied as he began walking again. “This is a forgotten neighborhood and massacres are not uncommon.”
“Time to go,” Ace said firmly as he racked his gun and lifted it. “I don’t like the movement at the end of the block.”
Ramon nodded in agreement. “The police are moving toward them, so let’s not get caught in the crossfire.”
Putting her hand on Ace’s back, Lisa sighed. “Okay. The interviews that I did earlier are more than enough.”
Ace looked over his shoulder and nodded to Ramon. “Time to get out of Indian country.”
“For now,” Lisa whispered. Following Ace, she wondered how the cycle of violence would ever end, not only in this small corner of Central America but all the other places in the world.
Feeling exhausted down to her bones, she knew this would be her last foreign assignment for a while because her ability to witness the world’s horrors was just about used up.
Ashamed she wasn’t stronger and more resilient to continue the work, she let out a frustrated breath and hoped she could find a purpose that would make reconciling the fact possible.
Lisa waved to Ramon as he drove away and turned toward the entrance of the Hilton Princess with Ace following. As they walked into the marble lobby and she felt the bite of air-conditioning, she jerked at the contrast between the streets they had just left and the opulent surroundings.
“You okay, honey?”
“I’m a little spun out.”
“Figured as much. You’ve been grinding your teeth so hard, I was afraid you were going to start shooting enamel.”
Hitting the button for the elevator, she wrapped her arms around her waist. “I’m burnt, Ace.”
He switched his gun bag from one arm to the other and then pulled her against his side. “Witnessing what we did is not normal, and you’ve had a front-row seat to death lately, so it makes sense.”
The elevator doors slid open, and they walked on. “Give me some of your SEAL secrets; how do you handle it?”
“My heart isn’t as soft as yours, and I have the luxury of being in the fight. I’m the sharp end of the sword and have the satisfaction of being actively involved in the struggle against evil.” Taking her hand, he pressed it against his chest and bent over. “You have to witness it, and the only armament you have is the words you string together and put out there for the world to see.”
“I used to think that was enough, but it doesn’t feel like it anymore.” When they arrived on their floor, she walked off and waited next to their door. “How many gizmos did you put on the door today?”
“Just one.”
Rolling her eyes, she watched him disarm the secondary lock he’d attached to the door and then waited while he disengaged the additional one just inside the door. “Am I clear to enter, sir?”
Leaning back, he gave her a jaunty grin. “Since you’re so fucking beautiful, the only answer I can give you is yes.”
Pressing her mouth to his, she kissed him lightly and then entered their room and collapsed on the bed. She rolled her head and watched Ace set his gun bag down and give her a questioning glance. “What?”
“Just trying to decide if sexing you up before we go for a swim is a totally douchey thing to be thinking about since you’re having a small crisis of faith.”
She held out her hand and wiggled her fingers. “I’m all for therapeutic sex.”
He dropped down next to her and rolled on his side. “What can I do to make it better?”
“You mean other than the ‘sexing up’ and general amazingness that you’ve already shown me since we got on the plane in San Diego?”
“Yes,” he replied with a laugh.
“Nothing, this is just something I’ve got to work out on my own.” She ran her hands through his scruff and blinked several times. “Going to that service this morning for that boy who’d been lynched and dragged behind the truck was too much, Ace. He was
sixteen years old and how something like that is possible, just because some gang members heard what neighborhood he’s from is…”
“Nothing anyone can explain.”
“But I need to explain things. I need to figure the cause and effect, so I can come up with a reasonable response and then write about it.” Wrapping her arms around him, she buried her face and inhaled his familiar soapy scent.
“Honey, maybe the teaching job you’re about to start is the beginning of something great. You don’t have to bear witness to every human tragedy to make a difference in the world.”
“You’re just saying that because you don’t want me to be out on the front lines.”
“Maybe a little, but I’ve also seen what staying too long can cost someone, and I don’t want that for you.”
“It feels like I’m giving up.”
“Nah, you’re just changing courses.”
“Seems I am because I don’t know if I can talk about young kids being involved in massacres for very much longer.” Kissing his chest, she let out a breath. “I’m ready to be sexed up now.”
Lifting her chin, he grinned. “Get ready then because I’m about to show you some of my best moves.”
Wiggling her hips, she looked up and saw his fierce gaze. “I’m so lucky to have you in my life, Ace. There isn’t a better man in the world.”
“Lisa, I’m the one who’s lucky, and I’m never going to let you go.”
Lifting her face, she met his hungry kiss and was tugged under the wave of desire that he always created whenever they were together.
A perfect antidote to the day.
***
Ace watched Lisa jump into the pool and leaned back against the side, waiting for her to surface. Cresting the water almost immediately, he saw her smile as she swam in his direction. “Better?”
