Ivy
I hated hospitals.
My mother had died in one, and I’d promised myself when she’d been on her deathbed that I’d do everything in my power never to spend much time in one again if I could help it. Then there was the ever-present nervousness I felt. The needles. The sickness. And of course my experience over the last few months didn’t exactly make people in white coats in sterile halls my favorites.
Unfortunately, there was no helping it this time. Oscar was in surgery to repair a puncture in his lung. The prolonged trauma had required a bit more of an invasive procedure, but the nurses had felt his chances of survival and recovery were excellent.
Jolie sat in the chair next to Ryder as I paced the floor. I’d called Cami, but since we were still more than two hours away from home, I’d told her just to stay put. I had yet to find out if The Vicar and The Angel had been among those that evening who’d been captured or killed, and until I knew for certain that she was safe, I wasn’t sending her anywhere on her own.
A doctor came through the double doors, and I rushed over.
“Oscar Cortada’s family?” he asked.
“I’m his wife.”
“Would you like to go somewhere to talk, or is here fine?”
I glanced around at these people who were just like his family. “Here is fine. We’re all family.”
The doctor nodded. “I fully expect Oscar to make a complete recovery. We were able to patch up the hole and right now have a chest tube in. That will come out in a couple of days, and he’ll have to stay with us for a little while, but he should be just fine.”
“Oh, thank God!” Relief had my knees buckling, and Jolie and Ryder ran over to catch me before I hit the ground.
“You, on the other hand, probably need to be looked at.”
I shook my head. “I’m fine. Just the shock of the day settling in.”
“Still, I’d feel better if someone looked you over. Come with me.”
I growled under my breath, and I was pretty sure the doctor, who was old enough to be my father, chuckled a little at my annoyance. He took me to a room and sat me down on the bed. After checking my vitals, he called for a nurse.
“Start an IV drip. She’s dehydrated and probably in shock.” I opened my mouth to protest, but he lifted a finger. “Once it’s finished, you may join Oscar in his room.”
“Fine.” The word definitely didn’t come out as appreciative, but it couldn’t be helped. I was desperate to see my husband, and all of this just felt like an unnecessary delay.
The doctor grinned and took my hand in his. “He will be fine. But you’re no good to him if you’re passing out.”
I nodded, and he seemed mollified by my reluctant acceptance. “I’ll go get your friends and bring them here.”
“Thank you, Doctor…?”
“Dr. Forrester. And you’re most welcome.”
Jolie and Ryder came in several minutes later, and I closed my eyes once they were there chatting quietly in the background. I had so many questions to ask, but none of them seemed important until I was able to see Oscar.
After an hour, the IV drip stopped, and the nurse came in to unhook me and remove it.
“Can you take me to him?”
She smiled. “Doc said you were anxious. Of course, dear.”
I followed her down the hall and into another hospital room. Oscar lay on the bed, his face unrecognizable amongst all the bruising and cuts. I gasped.
“It’s a miracle that man lived after all he’s been through. He must have a really good reason to live.”
She patted me on the back, and I walked in and pulled up a chair next to Oscar’s bed. I leaned closer, taking his hand in mine. His right arm was in a sling—the doctor had told me it had been dislocated, and although so far he wouldn’t need surgery, they’d have to keep an eye on it.
He was very lucky, indeed. We both were.
I rested my head on the bed while holding Oscar’s hand, and drifted into sleep.
***
“Ivy?” A ragged voice woke me up, and I jerked my head up to meet the swollen eyes of my love.
“Oscar!” Tears sprang to my eyes and ran down my cheeks as I peppered light kisses across his forehead and cheeks. I was careful not to actually touch him with my lips. I didn’t want to hurt him.
“How did I—I mean, what happened?”
“The team found us. Ryder put a tracking device in my locket.”
I showed him the locket with the tiny chip inside.
“Good ole Ryder. Santos?”
I shook my head. “Dead.”
Oscar closed his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“About what?”
“That you were forced to protect yourself. To protect me. Taking a life, it’s not an easy thing.”
“I don’t regret it. I’d do it again. I feel no remorse over what I had to do. He chose this life. No one made him turn evil. Regardless of what happened to him as a boy, there is no excuse for what he did. I’m glad he’s dead.”
Something akin to relief crossed Oscar’s face before he reached out his good hand to take mine.
“The Angel? The Vicar?”
“I don’t know. Ryder and Jolie went home. Levi and Cade are here, but they’re in the waiting room. I haven’t talked with them yet.”
“Would you mind getting them? I’d like to know what we’re up against.”
I nodded, squeezing his hand before walking into the waiting room to find the two heads of the Shadow Force team.
“He’s asking for you.”
The two men stood and followed me back to the room. As soon as they entered, Oscar launched into a full interrogation.
“Tell me what the status is. Did you find them?”
Levi sighed and ran a hand through his hair, chuckling softly.
“Nice to see you, too, man. Glad you’re alive.”
Oscar seemed a little ashamed. “I’m sorry. Thank you for getting to us in time, man. You know I’m grateful. Just anxious to know what went down.”
“I get it. And to answer your question, no. The Vicar and The Angel were nowhere to be found. Santos is dead, thanks to Ivy. As are a fair number of their hired thugs. But the other two were gone.”
“Dammit. I just want this to be over.”
“You and me both, man,” Levi said.
“Can you tell us anything about your time there? Anyone stand out? Did they say anything important?” Cade questioned gently, stepping a little closer to the bed.
Oscar started to shake his head and then stopped.
“Actually, there was this woman. A doctor. She came in after I woke from the beatings Santos delivered. My lung had collapsed, and she treated me with antibiotics and relieved the pressure in my chest. She saved my life. You guys would never have arrived on time if it hadn’t been for her.”
“We almost didn’t anyway. I can’t believe Santos got the jump on us. What did she look like? Did you get a name?” Levi put his hands on his hips. It was clear these guys weren’t used to failure in any sense of the word, and Levi definitely saw their close call in rescuing us as a failure.
“No name. But she was young, maybe early thirties. Pale skin, jet-black hair, and the most unusual-colored eyes. One blue and one brown.”
“Wait—mismatched eyes?” My head snapped up at that, and I moved closer to Oscar’s side. It couldn’t be the same compassionate woman who’d helped me at the barn, could it?
“Yeah. Really striking. She was kind to me. I questioned why she was there in the first place, and she said she had no choice, that they were holding ‘him’ hostage. She didn’t say who ‘he’ was, though.”
“So we have an angel of mercy among the devils. An angel with different-color eyes,” Levi added.
“I met her too. The last time I was captured. She was very gentle and tried to put me at ease. I was struck by how different she was from the rest of the people who’d poked and prodded me.”
“We’ll get Ryder on it when we get back and get some rest.” Levi shook Oscar’s hand. “You rest and get better. We’ll let you know what we find out when we have something to report.”
Cade shook Oscar’s good hand as well, and the two left. Oscar scooted over in the bed and patted the empty space. “Did you sleep in that chair all night?”
I nodded, yawning.
“Come here.”
“No—I’ll hurt you.”
“No you won’t. You look like death, Ivy. Come here. Let me hold you.”
I couldn’t deny him anything, not after all we’d been through. So, I crawled onto the bed, curled into his side, and fell fast asleep.
***
It was four days before they let Oscar out of the hospital, and he still had another week of recovery ahead of him before he’d feel mostly normal. Although, listening to him talk, he felt pretty good already.
So far, I’d had to beg him to stay off his feet, swat at his wandering hands so many times I’d lost count, and crawl out of his vise-like embrace when he pulled me down onto his bed.
“Don’t deny me, Ivy. I almost died.”
“You can’t keep using that on me. And I’m not denying you. The doctor said you needed one more week of rest.”
I was sitting on the side of his bed, trying to wrestle my way out of his arms once again.
“Ivy.”
The seriousness of his voice made me pause, and I stopped struggling against him. He released me, sitting up to his full height before moving to my side. Then he did something I wasn’t expecting. He dropped to one knee.
“Ivy Bell, marry me.”
I laughed nervously, trying to cover up the hot tears that threatened. Good grief—it seemed that all I’d done since reuniting with Oscar was cry. Although these were happy tears, I’d be glad when things settled down. “We’re already married, Oscar. Now, stand up; you’re going to hurt yourself.”
He shook his head. “Marry me again. I want to stand up in front of God and all our friends and your sister and declare my love for you. I want them to know that I will spend my life making you happy. Marry me.”
“We don’t have to do that to commit ourselves to each other. I love you. You love me. We’ll make it work.”
“I want a new memory for our new life. Marry me.”
I couldn’t help the emotions that leaked from my eyes as I took in his healing face, still bruised and cut but looking so much better.
“Yes. I’ll marry you.”
Oscar whooped and scooped me into his arms, careful with his shoulder and rib, holding me so tight against him, I knew he didn’t want to let go. Then he kissed me, his tongue sliding against mine, tasting me, claiming me. My hands thrust into his hair and pulled on the curly locks, making him smile against my lips. I struggled to get closer, pressing tight against him.
“You sure chose a terrible time to ask me to marry you. It’s not like we can do anything about this.” I motioned between us.
“You don’t think so?”
“Oscar, I already told you. One more week.”
“That’s how long you have.”
“I know. You’re just going to have to wait.”
“No—that’s how long you have to marry me. Next weekend.”
“That’s hardly enough time to plan a wedding.”
He shrugged, taking a step back. “Too bad. That’s it, Ivy. I’m not waiting another day past Saturday.”
I swatted at his good shoulder and practiced a pout I hadn’t used in twelve years.
He laughed. “Oh, no, you don’t. Don’t you start that!”
Laughter bubbled up and over, and I leaned in to his embrace. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Ivy Bell. Always and forever.”
***
The team gathered in the conference room later that day to discuss the case and what we knew so far. Oscar insisted on being present, and I went with him, anxious to know if there were any updates to finding The Vicar or Angel Rubio.
“I’ve done some searching for a Dr. Bellamy. Still nothing. Can’t find anything to show he existed except for his name,” Ryder started.
“What about the mystery woman?” Oscar asked.
He shook his head. “There are no reports of a missing woman with that description, and if it’s an accurate one, she wouldn’t be easily overlooked. I found nothing.”
“Dammit!” Levi slammed his fist against the table. “It’s like we’re dealing with ghosts. Any chatter about the virus? Any leads on where they plan to disperse it?”
“The Dark Net is quiet. Too quiet. That makes me think there’s something coming, soon.” Ryder’s face was worried, and none of the information put me at ease.
“We have to find that virus before they release it,” Cade said, shoving his hands through his hair.
“Santos told me something about underground bunkers like the one I was held in. He said there are two others in Georgia that they’ve secured. Clearly, he never thought I’d make it out of there alive to use that information, but I think that’s where the antidote is being created. If we can find the other two bunkers—”
Levi finished Oscar’s statement. “We find the virus and The Vicar, and we end this thing once and for all.”
“Exactly.”
“Ryder, look for any properties in the area that could be a fit. Even underground tunnels, old underground railways, anything that someone could purchase and turn into their private lair.” Levi stood, pacing the floor.
“Already on it, boss.”
“Until then, we need to fill Washington in on the possibility that we may be looking at a terrorist event soon.”
The words sent a chill up my spine. Young adults, people my age and younger—teenagers even—would die unless we could find these monsters and stop them.
“What about the woman? Could we find her? Maybe she could help us. If we could earn her trust, rescue the person they’re holding hostage, perhaps she’d be an asset to our cause.” I couldn’t get her out of my mind. She seemed so different from the rest of the personnel there, like an ally. I had to believe she would help us if we could ensure her safety and her loved one’s safety.
“It’s possible. But until we figure out who she is and what she does for the Cabs, we’re at a dead end. But if we can find the bunkers, maybe we can keep this thing from being released in the first place.”
Levi stood, leaning forward on the table.
“Ryder, keep us posted on the bunker research. I’ll make a call to Washington to fill him in. Good work, team.”
Ryder stood to go back to his office, but I caught him before he could exit.
“Any word on Lola?”
He smiled, placing an arm around my shoulders as he escorted me out. “Her parents came while we were rescuing you and Oscar at the bunker last week. She’s back home in Virginia. Lydia says she should make a full recovery.”
“Wonderful. I’m so glad you were able to find her parents.”
“Me too. Let’s just hope I can find this mystery woman, or the Dr. Bellamy fellow. Either way, we need a break in this case and soon.”
His words brought home the reality of what we were dealing with. The drama wasn’t over. It wouldn’t be over until every last one of Los Caballeros was captured or dead.
***
After dinner, I crawled into bed with Oscar, wrapped in his arms, safe from the world. At least for now. I knew that Los Caballeros still wanted my blood. I knew that Cami and I wouldn’t really be safe until we caught them, but for that moment, lying in Oscar’s arms, I was as safe as I could be.
“After we marry on Saturday, I want to take you on a honeymoon. I know we can’t go anywhere right now with this hanging over our heads, but I’ve reserved a room at The Four Seasons Hotel for two nights. And once we catch these bastards, I’m taking you away from here.”
“That sounds amazing.”
“Any idea what you want to do? Where you want to go?” Oscar leaned up on his good elbow and peered down at me. “I’ll follow you anywhere, Ivy.”
I smiled up at him. “I want to stay here in Atlanta, with my husband, sister, and our new family. I want to have babies here. I want to make a life for ourselves here. And I’d like us to live in my house for now, at least until after this is over. At least until Cami is ready to move out. Then we can move wherever you want.”
Oscar grinned back so wide, I thought his cheeks would split in two. “Good. That’s what I want, too. I have fond memories of your home, and I’d be honored to share it with you and Cami.”
He leaned down, pressing his lips to mine, building the heat that pulsed between us every time we were together. I knew we’d never grow tired of each other. It was impossible. My desire for him matched my love for him. Never-ending.
Oscar pulled away. “I have a question for you. Are you on the pill?”
“No—why?”
“So that night when we—” He waggled his eyebrows and motioned between us. “You know, did it. We could have—”
“Made a baby?” I smiled, my heart warming with the possibilities of our future. “Yeah, it’s a possibility.”
“Want to increase our chances?”
“I don’t think we should. The doctor—”
“The doctor hasn’t been separated from the love of his life for the last decade. I’m fine, Ivy. And I want to make love to you. Now.”
Well, who was I to deny a man what he wants?
Oscar flipped us over, my body lying over his. “We might have to get creative.”
Laughing, I cradled his face between my hands and kissed him, long languorous kisses meant to drive him insane. When he growled low and menacing in his throat, I knew I’d succeeded. I sat up, straddling him with my knees on each side of his body, and lifted my shirt over my head.
“No bra?”
Since it was obvious, I didn’t bother answering his question. I leaned forward, trailing my mouth down Oscar’s neck and chest.
“I changed my mind. I hate this.”
I pulled back, a little offended. “You hate having sex with me?”
Oscar chuckled. “No… I hate not being in control.”
With a quick twist of his hips, I landed on my back, his body over mine, propped up on his good elbow. “I’ll just have to do this one-handed.”
Turns out, Oscar is equally as talented with one arm as he is with two.
After our frantic and somewhat creative lovemaking, I lay spent in Oscar’s embrace, grateful for the moments I got to share with him. Grateful for the team members who risked their lives to save ours. Just grateful for life.
“Are you happy?” His lips tickled my ear, sending tingles across my skin.
“So happy.”
I turned in his arms to look at him, his eyes so intent, so concerned about me.
Then, softly, Oscar took my lips with his, kissing me slowly but urgently, as if there was no tomorrow. And after the last few weeks—and, even more, the last decade—apart, we knew that tomorrow was never guaranteed. So, live each day to the fullest, cherishing those you love.
And we did.