Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
—Deuteronomy 31:6
If she ran for the next week, she couldn’t get far enough from Jack. She didn’t care that she couldn’t breathe or that night was falling. Don’t stop, she told herself. Keep running. All the way to the other end of the beach. Or the other side of the world. However far and fast she could go to get away from him.
It couldn’t have been true. It wasn’t possible. And how come he hadn’t told her sooner? She had no idea he’d ever been to Belize before. Her mind raced faster than her bare feet. Of all the people in all the world, how could it be?
Jack Ryder had rescued her that day?
Finally when the resort was so far behind her she couldn’t see it, and when darkness spread across the shoreline ahead of her, Eliza stopped. She gasped for breath the way she had as a child that day. No! No, God, please. Not Jack. Not his brother.
She couldn’t take it, couldn’t stand the thought that he was telling the truth. He had lost his brother because of her, and if he’d only turned back… if he’d gone after Shane instead of her… they would all be so much better off today.
Her tears came and she dropped to her knees. She fell forward and wept like she’d never done in all her life. It was her fault Jack had lost his brother. How could she face him now? And if it was true… why hadn’t he told her?
Eliza could feel his presence even before he touched her. He didn’t say a word, just knelt beside her and wrapped his arms around her. He waited until her crying eased, until her quiet sobs were all that remained. Then he whispered the words that would stay with her the rest of her life.
“I was supposed to save you that day, Eliza.” He pressed her head gently against his chest. “We’ll never… never understand God’s plans. But…” He took hold of her shoulders. “You’re here, Eliza. And I’m here.”
She hung her head and fresh tears streamed down her face. “Your brother…”
“He’s fine.” Jack’s eyes welled up. He could hear Beck’s voice again. “My brother is completely whole… my parents are with him.”
“No.” She leaned into him and slid her arms around his neck. “I’m sorry… it was my fault. I swam out too far and… I didn’t want to come back to the beach.” She shook her head. “I didn’t want you to rescue me.”
He held her so close, like they were one person, not two. Until finally he helped her to her feet and pulled her into his arms. Minutes passed and the ocean air dried her cheeks. Still she stayed in his embrace. “How can I look at you, Jack?” She stared at the sea. “How? When I’ve cost you so much?”
His answer didn’t come right away. He stroked her hair and her back and finally he stepped away enough so he could see her. “What if… I was supposed to save you? For this?”
In that same moment, the two men appeared again on the beach, walking toward them, looking at them. Without hesitating Jack’s hands were on her face, in her hair, and in a single breathless instant he was kissing her.
And she was kissing him.
His kiss was warm and safe and everything she’d never dreamed. She had never wanted to know a man’s love, she hadn’t believed in such a thing. And yet here, with his lips on hers, and her heart in his hands, Eliza knew.
Jack loved her. He did.
And no matter how terrible their past, no matter how great the losses they’d both suffered, she didn’t want to go a day without him. Not as long as she lived. Her tears came again and as the men walked past them, she searched his eyes. “It was really you? You saved me?”
“I did.” His eyes were clear now. “You were so little. I thought… I thought you needed me.”
Of course. How could he have known that she didn’t want to wake up in the Palace the next day or that the awful woman on the shore wasn’t her mother? She sniffed and closed her eyes for a long moment; when she opened them she noticed something. There was no regret or condemnation in Jack’s eyes.
He had chosen to save her. And now… now it was up to her to accept the fact. To be thankful for it and believe that maybe Jack was right. Maybe he was supposed to save her. So that at the end of her nightmare he might rescue her again.
“Don’t run from me, Eliza.” He looked deep into her soul. “You’re all I have on earth.”
His words touched her and healed her from the very great grief of knowing the truth. “And you… I have no one but you, Jack.”
And then, without either of them saying another word, they walked back to their hotel suite.
He kissed her forehead. Because neither of them could kiss here, the way they’d kissed down at the beach. Not with the fire between them. Jack touched her cheek. “Call me. If you need me.”
They said good night and went to their separate rooms. Work would come tomorrow, and they would do the surveillance. But for now they had this day.
A day of honesty and heartbreak and new beginnings.
ELIZA SAT ON her balcony alone until after midnight, staring at the water, replaying the scene in her mind again and again. Her little legs being dragged under and Betsy screaming at her from the shore.
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want…
And there were Jack and his family on vacation. Playing football on the beach. Eliza had seen them, like any wonderful family. Like the family she had lost. Laughing and running on the sand, all of time ahead of them. Jack and Shane, two best friends.
She could see it all, like it was happening for the first time. Jack spotting her, seeing that she was drowning and running across the beach toward her. And his brother chasing after him. Because not another soul on the beach had done anything about it. Not cruel Betsy or some other tourist. Not the armed guards on the hillside.
Only Jack and Shane.
Again and again she played the scene over until she had no more tears, until the image of that teenage Jack became the man. The one who had baptized her and run after her and held her in his strong, safe arms. The one she loved.
And finally, fully, her sadness lifted and she accepted the truth.
Jack was right. God hadn’t made some colossal mistake when Eliza was rescued from the ocean that day. God had ordained Jack to save her. For the work she was doing to bring down trafficking rings, for such a time as this, and for the life she had yet to live. And for the man she would love as long as she drew breath. The one who had rescued her not once but twice, along a distant shore.
Jack Ryder.
THE SURVEILLANCE MISSION was more difficult than either of them had expected, but Eliza wasn’t worried. God was with them. He had brought them to this point. He wasn’t going to abandon them now.
They walked hand in hand along a tourist street just off the strip and after a few minutes Eliza recognized the men. The same ones who had walked by them on the beach. God had given her eyes to see, and she was thankful for the chance to use them.
“The men on the corner up ahead. They were on the beach yesterday.” She smiled at Jack, as if she hadn’t a care in the world. “That building behind them. I think they’re operating from there.”
“Have I told you how beautiful you are, my love?” Jack was playing the part. But he wasn’t, all at the same time. She could see that in his eyes. He pulled his phone from his shorts pocket. “Let me take your picture. With those trees in the background.”
Of course, it wasn’t the trees he wanted, but the men on the corner. The building behind them. Eliza kicked up one heel and smiled while Jack snapped the shot. “What should we do now?” Eliza walked past the surly-looking men and straight up to the door of the building. She tugged on it a few times.
Immediately one of the men turned around. “Get away from there!” He took a few sharp steps toward her, but Jack stepped in front of her.
“Back off.” Jack was taller than the guy. Obviously stronger. “We’re shopping, okay?”
The man retreated, but his scowl remained. “That’s not a store.”
Eliza pretended that was all she needed to hear. “Sorry.” She tugged on Jack’s hand. “Come on. Let’s find some ice cream.”
Jack didn’t look away from the guy until they were a few feet down the sidewalk. The next shop on the strip read “Sweet Treats.” Eliza was laughing again by the time they ducked inside.
“Go out the back door.” Jack stayed behind her. In case the guy on the corner followed them. Then with an ease she’d learned these past two years, Eliza hurried past the ice cream counter, down a narrow hallway and out the back door.
When they were in the alley, they jogged by a few stores and walked through the back of a souvenir shop. The place was bigger than most, so the two were safe here. Eliza could feel it. She was breathing hard as they found their spot between two racks of discount T-shirts.
“Your instincts are uncanny.” He had his arm around her again. “Which is another reason I love you, by the way.” He lowered his voice. “The question is, where are the girls?”
Eliza believed she knew. “There was a hotel across the street from where that guy was standing.” She took a bright pink T-shirt from the rack and held it up. “Let’s get ice cream and sit on the bench just down the street. That’ll tell us.”
Ten minutes later they were eating chocolate chip ice cream cones, acting like they were the only two people in the world, but Eliza had a view of the hotel. Again she’d been right. Three teenage girls appeared near the front door wearing short skirts and high heels. A man in a Hawaiian print shirt approached and one of the girls disappeared with him behind the hotel doors.
“There it is. Plain as day,” Jack said as they walked back to their hotel. No question they were being watched. He kept his tone and expression light. “But it took you, Eliza, to know where to look.”
Yes, Eliza thought. Because in another lifetime the girl standing outside the hotel had been her friend, Alexa. Or Rosa. Girls she had been forced to bring to the Palace. Eliza could accept that now. The past was behind her… she was a new creation because of her faith.
Jack had read her a Bible verse this morning over breakfast on her balcony. Before work started. It was from Romans 8:28. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
“See,” he had told her as he closed his Bible app. “No matter what it took to get here, today we will do good. We will fulfill His purpose in all this.”
The verse filled Eliza with hope and peace.
Halfway back to their hotel she had to use the restroom. He stayed outside the door of the building. If someone tried to follow her or harm her, Jack would stop them. Eliza had no doubt. He had loved her in ways she didn’t know existed. With his very life.
They filed separate reports late that afternoon and then strolled the resort grounds on their way to dinner. Tomorrow they would walk the street again, looking for other men, other traffickers. But already they had what they’d come for.
Now since they weren’t looking for traffickers, they could focus on the best part of the job. Pretending they were honeymooners.
Something had been on her mind since she had woken up that morning. She didn’t bring it up at breakfast, but maybe now was the time. She would have to talk in code. There was no such thing as being too careful, she’d learned that.
After dinner, the waiter brought coffee. Eliza looked at Jack, to the deepest parts of his heart. “I have one more year… at my current job.”
“I’ve been thinking about that.” He was telling the truth. She could see in his eyes that he was thinking the same thing. “I have one more year, too.”
“Hmm.” She nodded, but she felt dizzy. From the moment the mission began, she had dreaded the goodbye that was coming. Especially because there was no telling how long before they would see each other again. Or if they would. But now…
Jack smiled. “I’m thinking about a career change. Maybe moving to the South.” His eyes said so much more. “I’ve always wanted to be a professor.”
“Nice.” Her smile came easily. Did he mean it? Was he really thinking of leaving the bureau?
“What about you?” He set his coffee down and reached both hands across the table. “You could do anything, you know.”
“Yes.” A thrill filled her senses. “Well… I might open a house. For girls… girls who have no one.”
“I like it.” He angled his head, clearly proud of her. “The world needs more places like that.”
When dinner was over they found a spot on the sand and kicked off their shoes. They walked until everyone on the beach was too far away to hear them. Then he stopped and faced her. And before she knew what was happening, he dropped to one knee. Right there on the sandy shoreline.
“Eliza, I meant what I said earlier. I wasn’t acting.”
“Jack…” She put her free hand over her mouth. People would think they were playing around, or that this was an engagement trip and not a honeymoon. Eliza didn’t care what they thought.
He pulled something from his pocket. “A ring will have to wait. But I found this while you were in the restroom. A jewelry table was set up right there on the sidewalk.” He handed her the daintiest necklace. Etched into the tiny pendant were the words:
I will wait for you.
Her hand started to tremble. Was this really happening?
“Eliza.” His eyes held hers. “It will be a year before we see each other again. But when we do… whenever we’re together next…” He stood and took a step closer to her. “Will you marry me?”
Her heart felt like it would burst from her chest. She squeezed his hand, so she would know for sure she was really here. And that this moment was actually real. “Yes, Jack.” She still had hold of the necklace as she placed her hands on either side of his face. “Yes, a million times yes.”
“Good.” He kissed her, a kiss that took her breath and made her long for next year. His smile started in his eyes and then filled his face. “I was hoping you’d say yes. Because the next time we’re on a honeymoon… I want to share a room.”
“Yes!” She laughed and handed him the necklace. “Put it on me. Please, Jack. Because I’m never taking it off again.”
She moved her hair to the side, and his fingers on her neck sent shivers down her spine. When the necklace was clasped, he turned her toward him. He chuckled. “I promise… the ring will make up for it. One day.”
“No… I love it. I told you, I’ll wear it every day until I see you again. However long it takes.” She kissed him this time, and she was glad he was holding her. Otherwise she would’ve floated away.
His very presence made her feel alive. When he drew breath, she felt oxygen course through her veins. His laughter made her believe anything was possible. Except one thing. The thing she would have to do in twenty-four hours.
Tell him goodbye.
THEIR LAST PRIVATE moment was on her balcony the next day, five minutes before they had to leave for the airport. They were still employees of the FBI. Once they set foot on American soil, there could be no sign of romance, no relationship waiting in the wings.
So this was it.
He held her in his arms, and Eliza had never felt more safe. More loved. “Another year of missions.” She lifted her face to his. “What if…”
“Shh.” Jack kissed her forehead and then her lips. “Don’t say it, Eliza. God has the number of our days.”
Yes. That’s what she needed to tell herself. She would have to remember that a month from now and three months and six. When she was in danger or his mission took a turn for the worse. God had brought them this far.
His plans were far better than anything she could imagine.
They kissed once more, longer this time. Jack traced her jaw with his thumb. “I love you with all my life, Eliza. When I’m out fighting through a mission, I’ll be fighting for you.”
She nodded. “Me, too.” She touched the pendant on her necklace. “You’ll be with me always.”
Once more they kissed, and then it was time to go. Through customs and airport security, on the flight back to Houston and as the SUV dropped her off at the same hotel where he’d found her four days ago, Eliza knew she wouldn’t have to wait to hear Jack’s voice. His words would be with her, wherever she went. Right there in her heart and hanging from her neck.
I’ll wait for you.
And with everything in her, Eliza would do the same.