Ellie glanced out the window of the plane as it flew over the Gulf of Mexico toward Texas. They would then continue on to Colorado, where their flight would be landing in a few more hours. The reality that they were safe had yet to completely sink in. Diego had been admitted into a hospital in São Paulo, where he was expected to make a complete recovery, and the doctor had agreed to return to the United States temporarily in order to testify in front of a grand jury. After a few days of doing her own debriefing with the authorities, she planned to head home.
Ryan shifted next to her in his seat. He was still sound asleep, and it gave her a chance to study his profile. The night he kissed her might have made her look at him differently, but it hadn’t really changed anything between them. Now that they’d found their way out of the rabbit hole and Wonderland, things would go back to normal. Or at least as normal as normal could be after what had happened. She’d spend a few days at his father’s ranch to rest, then she’d go back to her own life and he’d go back to his.
Imagining anything more ever developing between them was nothing more than wishful thinking on her part.
They talked the first few hours after leaving São Paulo, before she managed to get a couple hours of sleep. But as exhausted as her body was, her mind couldn’t stop racing. Telling him stories about her father had somehow felt like a healing balm. She’d felt for the first time since her father’s death that she could pour out all her anger and frustration and sadness over the loss. But as cathartic as it had been, complete healing was going to be a slow process.
His eyes opened and he caught her staring. “Hey.”
“Morning.”
He yawned. “I’ll take your word for it. At this point, I’m not really sure if it’s morning or night.”
She chuckled. “I’m not, either, but it looks like you got a good night’s sleep.”
“I did. How are you? Did you get any sleep?”
“A little, though I’m still tired. I’m having a hard time settling my mind.”
Arias had been captured with enough evidence to put him away for a very long time. His men were being arrested from Rio to Texas, and for the first time in months, she was finally free. Something she was still enjoying getting used to.
“Trust me,” he said. “I understand.”
“And maybe this is going to sound crazy, but even though I can’t ever fix the fact that my father is gone, bringing Arias to justice, seeing him handcuffed, and of course the fact that we survived—along with Diego and the doctor—somehow managed to bring with it a sense of healing and closure.”
“That’s not crazy at all.”
“Good, because I’m beginning to realize that with His strength, I’m stronger than I imagined.” She readjusted the pillow behind her head, ready to be off the flight. But at least they were away from Arias and his grasp.
* * *
He squeezed her hand. “I could have told you that.”
She let out a low laugh. “Seriously, though, back in Rio I kept reading through Isaiah 41—over and over—about how I don’t need to fear because He is with me. I thought that was impossible. Then I feel like I faced the impossible and I realized He was there. Every step of the way. Even when things go wrong. He’s still there, giving me the strength I need.”
“If you ask me, you really are a lot stronger than you think. I always knew that. Stubborn, focused, determined...like that day ten years or so ago when I challenged you to jump off the roof. You stuck out your chin, threw your shoulders back and climbed onto that roof like you owned the place.”
She laughed. “You do know that bringing that up doesn’t work in your favor?”
He matched her grin. “Looks like I still need to find a way to earn back those brownie points.”
“Yes, you do. But I also feel like I’m a different person than I was even a week ago. It reminded me that while I might be stronger, I’m also not invincible. That life is fragile and precious. You can’t just sit back and let it pass you by. You have to be intentional in living. I know that’s what I plan to do.”
He winked at her. “Does that mean you’ll let me take you diving one day?”
“Oh...I’m not making any promises.” She studied his strong jawline and the curve of his lips and felt her heart stir. No...that wasn’t a place she could afford to go. “I think one of the hardest parts, though, of letting go has been the guilt.”
The flight attendant came by offering bottled water, but Ellie just waved her away.
“Guilty how?”
“Even if it isn’t rational, I wonder what would have happened if I’d met my father somewhere for dinner, and he hadn’t been at the house. If I’d shown up a few minutes earlier and scared away the intruder. The only thing that might have changed things was my father going into protective custody. But even then, he wasn’t going to let a man like Arias keep him off his case.”
He laced her fingers with his. “I never told anyone this, but I’d promised to drive Heather to the store the day she died. We planned to pick up the menu from the caterers, then go over it during lunch for any last-minute details. But I ended up backing out because something came up at work. It’s been impossible not to ask myself all the what-ifs. What if I hadn’t canceled? What if I had been the one driving? She might still be alive today.”
“There’s no way you can know that.”
“Like with your father,” he said. “I’m sure, my head knows that, but that doesn’t stop the guilt and the questions.”
“Bad things happen, and sometimes we can’t stop them.”
“And sometimes,” he said, catching her gaze, “it strengthens your faith when you realize you have no strength of your own.”
* * *
Ryan’s father was waiting for them in the Denver airport when they walked out of security, toward baggage claim. He was wearing his typical dress pants, button-down shirt and cowboy boots.
“It’s good to see you, son.”
Ryan hugged the older version of himself, then took a step back, noticing that while his father appeared relieved to see him, his focus was on Ellie.
“Jarrod.”
“Ellie, I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you safe,” he said, pulling her into his arms.
“And you as well, sir. I owe you my life.”
“I’m still waiting to hear the entire story, but it sounds as if the two of you made a pretty good team down there.” He took a step back and looked at her. “And you still look great.”
“I don’t know about that.” She laughed. “We don’t have any luggage, but thanks to a new set of clothes and a shower at the airport lounge in São Paulo at least I’m finally clean. Or as clean as one can be after a thirteen-hour flight.”
“About that quest of yours.” His smile faded slightly as his father looked at him for a few seconds, then back to Ellie. “I keep thinking that your father would have been just as irritated at you for not following the plan to return immediately. Going to the Amazon was—”
“I know it wasn’t what you wanted us to do, and I am sorry,” Ellie interrupted before his father could throw out a string of descriptive words. “And if I’d known how dangerous it was going to be, I would never have gone. I just needed to put an end to this. And I thought the doctor was the way.”
“You don’t have to explain what you did—or apologize for that matter—though I have to admit that waiting here while all of this played out and not being able to really do anything was torture. But as frustrated as I felt, I also know that your father would have been proud of you. His life revolved around ensuring justice took place, and he would never have let a risk stop him from making sure the truth was made known. It was one of the things I loved about him.”
Two men dressed in black slacks and white button-up shirts, and wearing earpieces, stepped up behind his father, their hands clasped behind them. “Dad, what’s going on?”
“There’s been slight setback,” He glanced behind him at the men. “I’m afraid this isn’t over yet.”
Ellie wrapped her fingers around Ryan’s forearm. “What are you talking about?”
“There is a chance that your life is still in danger.” His father hesitated before continuing. “Arias escaped from the authorities while they were transporting him to São Paulo.”
“What?” Ellie’s eyes widened. “You can’t be serious.”
“Trust me, I’d never joke about something like that.”
Ryan wrapped his arm around her waist, trying to digest the information. If Arias was free... “So what does that mean for us? They had a hit out on her.”
“The authorities don’t think he’ll come after you because now there are so many who can testify against him. Instead, they believe he’ll disappear...set up in another country. But they’re on his trail and convinced they’ll find him. In the meantime, US and Brazilian authorities and Interpol are also using their resources to find him.”
“But you can’t be certain,” Ryan said.
“No. That’s why I’ve arranged for security while picking you up and at the ranch. It should just be for a few days, and, Ellie, you’re welcome to stay there as long as you want. I’ve also heard from your aunt, and she’ll arrive just before we do. She was anxious to see you, so at least you’ll have family with you.”
“I appreciate that. Everything you’ve done for me, but when does this end?” She glanced at Ryan. “What if it doesn’t end? What if they don’t find him? I don’t know how to keep living this way. Running and hiding. Constantly looking over my shoulder. That’s why I went to the Amazon in the first place. To stop this. And even without the doctor’s evidence, we now have enough to put him away for the rest of his life. But if Arias is free, everything changes.”
“I’ve been assured that this is just temporary. A couple days at the most. But we need to go for now. I’ve got a car waiting right outside.”
They started walking toward the exit, with security now both in front of and behind them. Apprehension settled once again in Ryan’s gut. He didn’t like this. At all.
“I know this is frustrating,” his father said, “but they’re on his trail, and I’ve been assured it’s just a matter of time before they find him.”
Ryan glanced at Ellie. Just a matter of time. And if they didn’t find Arias? Then what? Ellie was right. She couldn’t just keep running.
“What about the leak in my father’s office?” she asked. “Have they found out who it is?”
“They believe they’re closing in.”
Passengers were lining up to their right around the empty luggage carousel that had been marked for their flight. Ryan glanced down at the jeans and yellow-and-green Brazilian national soccer team’s T-shirt he’d picked up at the airport before they’d taken off. Talk about traveling light. They’d have to pick up a few essentials, but somehow things like deodorant and an extra change of clothes no longer seemed important.
“How long were you planning to stay, Ryan?”
He glanced at his father as they headed toward the exit, his arm still around Ellie’s waist. “I’m not sure now. But I spoke with my boss back at the airport in São Paulo. Told him I needed to make sure all of this was finished before I took on another job.”
“Good, because I’d like you on the security team.”
“Of course.”
He jumped as a buzzer sounded and the carousel began spitting out luggage. He drew in a deep breath. He needed to stay calm and focused, despite how personal this had become.
Ellie looked up at his father. “How did he get away?”
“A man like Arias has deep pockets and connections. They ambushed his police transport vehicle. An officer was killed and two injured.”
“I risked my life, Ryan’s life—the doctor’s and Diego’s—and now he’s out there again, free and spewing orders?”
“What I do know is that you’re safe for now,” his father said. “They can’t get to you here, Ellie. I’m going to make sure of that.”
One of the security officers started talking into his radio as they started out the doors into the perfect fall weather. Ryan glanced around them, his senses on high alert despite the fact that this was supposed to be a safe place. That this was supposed to be over. Because her question had been legitimate. How had this happened?
He turned to his father. “What’s going on?”
“Mr. Kendall...” The security guard behind them pushed them toward the curb. “We need to get you out of here. Now.”
He held Ellie tighter, hating the loss of control he felt. The enemy might be right in front of them, but he had no idea who or where.
A black SUV with tinted windows stopped along the curb in front of them.
“Get in...now.”
A third bodyguard sat in the driver’s seat of the running vehicle.
They piled into the three back seats, before the doors were shut and locked.
“What’s going on?” Ryan asked.
Their driver spoke into his radio, ignored the question. Someone shouted outside. One of the bodyguards ran back toward the baggage claim.
“Dad, what’s going on?”
“I don’t know.” He leaned in toward the driver. “Should we be getting out of here?”
“I’ve just been told to wait.”
Thirty seconds later, the guard returned, slipped into the front passenger seat and gave them the all clear.
“Sorry about that. We were tapped into the airport security and heard a call come through about an abandoned backpack in baggage claim. Turns out a frazzled mother had accidently left her diaper bag near the luggage carousel. It’s over. We’re good to go now.”
Ryan glanced back toward the airport as they drove away, his gut telling him this was still far from over.