by Louise Dawn
“Steamed carrots and green beans are not yucky. They’re good for you. Plus, I’ve baked a chicken dish.”
“Fine. You look sad, Mommy. Do you wanna dance?”
Pearl laughed. “Again? We danced twice this morning. Not another Disney song. This time Mom gets to choose.”
“‘We are the Dinosaurs?’ Please, Mommy?”
“Fine.” Pearl groaned, picked up her phone, and searched for Aysha’s favorite song. When the ballad started, Aysha marched up and down the kitchen before they both broke out into an uncoordinated dance, which finished with giggles and tickles.
Aysha sat down at their tiny dining table and played with a Barbie while Pearl served up the food. She didn’t quite have enough for the both of them, so she pulled out a packet of ramen noodles and cooked her dinner while Aysha ate.
Just as the microwave dinged, the doorbell rang, and Pearl walked through the small living room to the front door. After looking through the peephole, she cursed under her breath and opened the door. Pearl’s lungs refused to work as she took in the glorious sight before her—Antonio Torres in a tuxedo—a freaking tuxedo and a mouth-watering smile. How to fell a woman where she stood.
Aysha’s running footsteps indicated that she’d abandoned her vegetables. “Neo! Neo! You look like my Ken doll!”
“Really? Does Ken’s bowtie cut off his oxygen supply?”
Aysha looked up and frowned.
“I mean ‘air.’” Antonio chose a four-year-old friendly word. “Cuts off his air.” Sagging against the door, the tall agent pretended to choke, and gasp and Aysha giggled.
Only then did Pearl spot the grocery bags in Antonio’s hands. She folded her arms and stepped back. “We weren’t expecting anyone.”
“I know. I’m heading to a boring-ass charity ball—my father’s doing—and it’s in the neighborhood. Thought I would swing by and say hello.”
Antonio often swung by to say “hello.” At least three times a week, he always brought gifts, annoying the hell out of Pearl. His generosity had all started the day they’d moved in, and a furniture van had pulled up with two brand new beds. Next had been a sofa set. And a television.
When Pearl had tried to refuse, Antonio had claimed that the condo came fully furnished and that the new furniture was a long-term investment.
After they’d settled, he’d swing by with household items and groceries. Pearl’s pride resulted in the same argument every time. She wasn’t a charity case! Well, maybe just a little. Aysha needed to eat, and Pearl had meticulously divided up the food for her child’s meals.
The fact was they needed all the help they could get. As predicted, she’d been unable to make the first month’s rent, and that grated her. Pearl had to put that money aside but couldn’t. Aysha needed to go to school, and Pearl needed a second job. Or a better-paying full-time job.
Her customer service position allowed her to work from home with a free work laptop, but it didn’t pay well—minimum wage on thirty hours per week. And she’d applied for hundreds of jobs.
Pearl’s ideal wish list had been two remote jobs, but with her experience? No luck, and she’d been trying for weeks.
She’d also been rejected from two diners and a burger joint. Not even the fast-food industry would take her. Which wasn’t a bad thing because leaving Aysha at a strange daycare didn’t feel right—not while hiding from a psycho ex-husband.
Antonio pushed off the doorframe and walked confidently to the kitchen. He moved so gracefully—like a panther. Pearl wanted to rip off that jacket and run her hands across that firm stomach. Her crush on the capable man had grown over the past two months. Their budding friendship was all thanks to his proactivity.
Her hesitation was based on not knowing his true motives. Did he just feel sorry for his new tenants? And it circled back to feeling like a charity case. Pearl looked down at her fluffy slippers and purple leggings. And a gorgeous man, dressed to the nines, stood in her messy kitchen. Pearl wondered if he had a date for the charity event. If so, did she live nearby? Lucky lady.
“I brought you some yogurts. And there’s milk and bread… eggs.” Antonio unloaded the bags. “Also, some—”
“You don’t have to do that—shop for us. We’re fine.”
He paused. His dark brown gaze ran over her length before he continued unpacking. “I’m heading out of town for a week—a sudden work trip. I didn’t want these groceries going to waste.”
“Where are you going?”
“California. We’re tracking a suspect. If you don’t need the food… it’ll just go to waste.”
“Okay.” Wrapping her arms around her waist, Pearl nodded. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t finish my vegetables.” Little hands grasped the counter.
“And that’s something to brag about?” Pearl laughed.
“Well, I’m not impressed.” Antonio leaned over and squinted at Aysha. “Bichito, you need to grow up to be big and strong if you want to ride a Rhinocorn.”
“What’s that?” Aysha asked with wide eyes.
“Remember—Rhinos that are secretly unicorns. Without the bum glitter.”
Pearl suppressed a giggle.
“Here, I have the intel.” Antonio pulled a kid’s book out of a bag. “See… I told you they were cool.”
“What’s inkel?” Aysha asked.
“Intel? The right information.” He handed over the book.
Pearl caught a glimpse of the title, “Rhinocorn Rules.”
“Bichito, can you read?” Antonio asked.
“Kind of. Not really.” Aysha excitedly turned the pages.
“Well, your mom will have to read that for you. But, when you can read, could you read ‘Rhinocorn Rules’ to me?”
His request hit Pearl in the chest, and she didn’t like the feeling. There was already a fragile bond forming between Antonio and Aysha. How long would he be hanging around? His exciting life included protecting embassies, chasing bad guys, and looking like James Freaking Bond. Pearl and Aysha would choose their own path, and they might not be in Virginia in the foreseeable future. This was just a rest stop while Pearl gained her bearings.
Something he’d said had rubbed Pearl the wrong way. Antonio could see her shut down the minute he mentioned Aysha’s book. Perhaps he’d gone too far. But, dammit, he’d stumbled across the book online. Okay, so maybe he’d looked for kid’s books on rhinos.
He’d remembered Aysha’s first words to him in Sri Lanka when she’d mentioned leaving half her toys behind. He’d wanted to help—remove the burden from Pearl’s shoulders. He knew that they battled financially, and that Pearl still looked for a decent job.
Checking up on the pair had become part of his regular routine. Pearl had lost weight—either due to stress, or she wasn’t eating properly. Antonio couldn’t do much about the first issue, but he could put food in the fridge.
He wasn’t stupid—years in the field had honed his observational skills, and he’d immediately spotted Aysha’s singular plate along with the smell of ramen noodles in the microwave.
“Aysha, go and watch your show. Take your book to the sofa.”
The little girl skipped to the room next door.
“Any news on Rajin?” Pearl asked in a low voice.
“No.” Antonio folded the grocery bags neatly. “He’s in hiding, but they still think he’s in Sri Lanka. There is no record of his escape across the border.”
“You’ll tell me if—”
“Always. The minute I hear any updates.”
Pearl nodded and folded her arms. She looked cute in an oversized t-shirt and her bright leggings. The last thing that Antonio wanted was to head to some stuffy dinner. The urge to hang out on Pearl’s sofa seemed way more tempting.
Over the past weeks, they’d gotten to know each other over texts and occasional visits. Initially, when she’d bought a cheap burner-type phone, he’d found reasons to text her. Soon, they’d message each other about random events in their day. Now
, they were friends of sorts. But Antonio wanted more—and that wasn’t going to happen.
“You should go. I’m sure your date is waiting.” That statement was the closest Pearl had come to ask after his personal life.
“No date—I’m flying solo. I’ll be swooping in and out. If you don’t hear from me, call for backup. I may be cornered at the refreshment table by a sleazy politician.”
“Sounds dangerous.” And she smiled at his small joke. Antonio internally cheered.
“It is… only experienced special agents can negotiate those perilous waters.”
“I know those waters well—for a few years, I swam in those slimy circles.”
“Any tips?”
“Don’t drink the Kool-aid.”
Antonio laughed. She looked serious, and he leaned in.
“Do you miss that life?” he asked. “The pageantry and pomp?”
“I miss Sri Lanka and my friends. And the clinic where I volunteered. That’s what I miss. I never wanted to be a trophy wife.”
“I prefer this version of Pearl Bandara,” he stated honestly. “The mussed, short hair and those epic orange socks.”
Pearl grinned. “They match my hideous leggings.”
“Nothing hideous about you, Cielo.”
“Oh, look at you! The charmer in his black tux.” Pearl leaned over and slapped him on the arm. “Go on, get outta here. I’ll walk you to the door while I check on Aysha.”
The ball was now in its full boring swing. After arriving at the banquet hall, Antonio immediately searched for his family, first spotting his mother at their table. Her graceful fingers played with the stem of her wine glass as she watched the dance floor. She sat alone, and he quickly made his way over, happy to join her. Antonio would kill for his family.
“Mom!”
She stood, looking elegant in a black tulle gown, her long blonde hair curled in a low knot. Antonio pulled her into a hug, careful not to mess up her make-up and hair.
“You came.”
“Of course.” Antonio spotted his younger brother, Santana, dancing with his new girlfriend. “Safety in numbers, right?”
His mother laughed and sat back down. Santana is on leave, and it’s great to have him in the house.
Antonio sat beside her. “Except, Leo wriggled out of attending.”
“Your brother is in the field; cut him some slack.”
“Spook bastard. He’s probably lying on a Burmese beach.” Antonio was one of three siblings. All three brothers had served in the military. Santana still served as a Green Beret. Like Antonio, Leo had left the service and joined the CIA, which suited him perfectly. He’d always been a shifty asshole.
Growing up, Antonio and Leo had always clashed, but Antonio still loved his older brother, who’d taught him how to fight clean and then how to fight dirty.
“Don’t be mean. Your brother’s work is dangerous—just like your past military deployments. You kids will be the death of me.”
Past military deployments.
Those words grated. And it would be “future deployments” if Antonio was accepted into MSD. As a DS agent, he still faced danger. Antonio had completed the 11-week ATLaS High Threat Operations Course, which prepared special agents for any global threats they may face. Along with Antonio’s extensive training and experience in the 5th Special Forces Group, that lined him up as a top applicant for MSD.
MSD—Mobile Security Deployment—was composed of specially trained Diplomatic Security Service Special Agents that typically operated in high-threat environments with little outside support. Their assignment was to protect members of the U.S. federal government overseas, particularly at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.
Specialized training prepared them for emergency security and crisis management. MSD teams swept in for rescues and defense in volatile environments. Antonio wanted that position, and he wanted to see regular action.
“I see Dad is doing the rounds.” Antonio pointed at the meticulously dressed older man. General Hector Sanz Torres knew how to dominate a room. “He seems to be on form; has he fully recovered from the flu?”
“Nothing keeps your father down for long. Doesn’t he look handsome? You both look so much alike.”
Antonio did look like his Spanish father. Both tall, muscular, and bronzed. Leo and Santana had a paler complexion like their mother.
His mother nudged him. “That woman is here.”
Antonio elected not to answer. He knew that Bianca would attend the banquet and would never miss out on an opportunity to shine. His ex-girlfriend shone like a blazing torch which took a lot of work. Her appearance meant everything.
She wasn’t always like that. When they’d first met, Antonio had been drawn to the classy beauty, and she’d wrapped him around her finger. Bianca possessed charm. But the more time they’d spent together, the more Antonio had noticed her vanity.
She’d latched onto his prominent family like a hungry shark, and he’d initially been blind to her ambitions. When he’d left the military and joined DS, Bianca wasn’t able to forgive him.
She’d sided with his father during that turbulent time. Antonio had worked out his differences with his dad. With Bianca? Not so much.
“Bianca is with your ‘friend.’” Antonio’s mother took a sip of wine.
That stung. So, they were still dating…
Antonio scanned the room, bracing himself. Bianca always pulled him in—she had a powerful allure.
And there she was… Standing across the room in a smoking-hot red dress—looking like she’d stepped off a movie set.
Antonio leaned back and studied her profile. Usually, seeing her in person would make his palms sweat and his heart race. Not tonight. Tonight, he felt sorry for the ambitious beauty. Would she ever find fulfillment while chasing money?
When she spotted him across the room, Bianca strode his way. Her hips swayed, and she tossed her long chestnut hair over a shoulder, the shiny mass falling to her waist. Antonio knew how many hours she spent in the salon to achieve that look—his bank account still recovered from the loss.
Looking away, Antonio wished for an escape, but he hadn’t yet greeted his father and caught up with his brother. Bianca wouldn’t cheat him out of that opportunity.
His mother stood. “Before I say something I’ll regret, I’ll join Hector. Will you be okay?”
Instead of watching Bianca approach, Antonio watched his mother leave.
“Audrey still won’t speak to me. We’ve run into each other at several events, and she still gives me the cold shoulder.”
“You can call my mother, Mrs. Torres.”
“It never used to be that way—I was like her daughter. You’re looking well, Antonio.”
“What do you want? Jeremy is waiting for you.” Antonio nodded at the soldier in the corner.
“Leave him alone.”
“Leave your boyfriend alone? Wait… or leave my ex-best friend alone? Which is it?”
“It’s been six months, and you’re still acting like a child.”
Antonio stood and stepped close. He leaned in as his breath stirred her hair. “Walking into our bedroom and finding my girlfriend riding my friend’s dick... how do you want me to act?”
“Don’t be crude.”
“Are you getting bored of Jeremy already? Is he not positioned high enough on the food chain?” Her heavy, sweet perfume hung in the air.
“I just wanted to talk.” Her breath hitched. “The way things ended….”
“The end is all that matters. Now go away. You make my skin itch and not in a good way.”
“Miss Parker.”
Bianca jerked at the General’s voice. Antonio stepped back.
“Sir, I was—”
“Just leaving.” Hector smiled at Bianca. “You were just leaving. I have not seen my son in over two months, and I’d like to catch up. Buenas noches, Miss Parker.”
Nodding stiffly, Bianca withdrew from the conversation and headed back to Jeremy.
“That was an abrupt dismissal.”
“You wanted her to stay?”
Antonio shook his head as he pulled out a chair, and they both took a seat.
“Good, because then I’d question your sanity.”
“Bianca is in my rearview mirror.”
“And what’s trapped in your headlights? Where are you heading, Papi?”
“I’m heading out the door if we’re going to have the same tired conversation.”
“I just want you to find success. Tonio, you don’t look happy.”
“When have you ever worried about happiness? You demand perfection, and I’m okay with your high expectations. Are you getting soft in your old age?”
“I’ve always wanted my sons to find joy. I get comfort from my marriage, and Audrey is my everything. When will you start dating again? I need grandchildren.”
Jesus. Antonio rubbed his neck before scraping his chair back. An image of Pearl and Aysha flashed, and Antonio pushed the thought away.
“You won’t meet a nice lady while working behind a desk.”
“I still go on deployments. I was just in Sri Lanka!”
“That version of a deployment is sitting behind a safe embassy wall.”
“Not true. DS agents are always in the field and see plenty of action.” Antonio wanted to tell his father about the MSD position, but what if he didn’t get into the specialized unit? Keeping quiet, he leaned his elbows on his knees and watched the crowd.
“You’re a well-honed fighting machine, and you crave a team spirit along with sand, camel manure, and a target. I know because I was you once.”
Antonio frowned, realizing that he was right where he needed to be. His thoughts turned to Pearl and her predicament. Until they caught Rajin, Antonio would keep an eye on his rental property.
Clamping a hand on his father’s shoulder, Antonio made an observation. “You look tired. Still burning the candle at both ends?”
“Sleep is overrated in D.C. But I do have time for a family dinner. Let’s all get together—perhaps next month.”
“Send me the dates. Now, I’m getting a drink from the bar. Want anything?”
