“How in pissing hell did you get ahold of Xavier?” Demon couldn’t believe this crap.
Satan shrugged. “It seems that most of the wedding guests have cell phones. At least six posted their number. Called one. Got lucky.”
“What are the odds of any of this shit happening.” Demon smacked the coffee table. “Who gave you the location of that beach? The one you suggested as a get-out-of-jail card?”
“A Trinidadian priest who’s also an avid naturalist. Spends a lot of time in the Venezuelan coastal villages. Brings in doctors, nurses to tend to the locals.”
“A priest? Jacinta was raised in a cloister.”
“So?”
“Odds again. That same beach was where I first ran into Jacinta. With Emilio and a few of his amicable friends. Emilio’s her half brother, by the way.”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. How?” Satan slumped back against the floral-patterned cushion.
“Jose Genro was once Pedro’s lieutenant. He stayed at Pedro’s estate. Pedro’s little sister, Rosa, lived with him. Jose knocks up Rosa and tries to escape with her. Pedro objects. Paralyzes Jose, who later on marries Elvira Vilas. Rosa has a baby, Jacinta, sends the kid to a cloister. Fast-forward a few years. Jacinta wants to take her first vows to become a nun. The sisters insist that she live in the outside world for six months. Emilio runs into Jacinta. Figures out who she is and decides to use her to torture Pedro.”
Satan straightened. “Her eyes. They give her away. I knew right away who she was. So will Pedro.”
“Hard to miss. The second I saw her eyes, I knew she was Rosa’s kid. I thought I’d been set up. Big-time.” Demon shook his head.
Satan scrubbed a hand over his face. “You’re slipping, strategy man. A few holes in that story. One—how did Rosa get the kid to a cloister?”
“I think I’ve solved that one. Jacinta’s mentor is an ex-FARC guerilla, one Sister Helen.”
“No fucking way. A nun guerilla? Did you hit the mother lode or what?” Satan raised both brows.
“Oh, you haven’t heard the whole shebang yet. I started this whole thing because of Rosa’s death. That plus that little kernel of info delivered to me via Father Lawson.” Demon knuckled his eyes. “The nuns tossed Jacinta into the world two days after Rosa died. What I can’t figure out is why. She was safe in the cloister.”
“Unless she proved a risk to the cloister? Pedro did burn down a fully occupied orphanage. A cloister wouldn’t be a problem.” Satan drummed his fingers on the chair’s arm.
“Don’t buy it. We’re missing something.” Demon steepled his fingers and studied the lazy ceiling paddle fan doing a three sixty.
“You two an item?”
That got Demon’s attention. “She’s twenty, Lorcan. I’m thirty. She’s lived all her life with unleavened bread, silence, and this insane prayer schedule. Do you know she’d never had chocolate or ice cream until recently? Never seen a movie? She’s lived in the outside world for less than sixty days. The last thing she needs is a tarnished asshole like me. She’s a shiny new penny. And I’m fucking not.”
Few people knew of Demon’s past. Until the start of this mission, Demon hadn’t shared information about his origins with any Hades Squad member besides his best friend, Devil. But because the risks he took could impact the whole team, he had been forced into full disclosure.
“She needs protecting—I can’t think of anyone better for that assignment. Shiny pennies don’t last long in this world. You and I both know that.”
Demon sighed. He leaned his head on the top of the chair. “Yeah. Damn thing is I can’t even begin to imagine not having her nearby. She’s amazing. Brought down a jaguar with a knife. Held off two a-holes who tried to rape her. You should’ve seen her on that beach that first night. And she thinks I’m handsome. Apparently Franco Nero has nothing on me.”
“You’re so fucked. Totally a goner. She’s got you wrapped and packaged. Looks like I’m the only Hades Squad pigeon not plucked.” Satan chuckled. “And I aim to stay that way.”
“Ya think? I wouldn’t count on that. I sure as shit never expected to be broadsided like this. She wants to go back to the cloister and take care of the old nuns. I didn’t use a rubber. Just the once.”
“She’s really hit you hard. Once is all it takes. Jesus, you’re really totally lost. You love her?” Satan nudged his knee. “Going to get shackled?”
“You ever heard that saying—if you love something, set it free; if it comes back to you, then it’s yours—yada yada?” Demon dragged his hands through his hair. “Well fuck that sentiment. She’s mine and that’s all there is to it.”
Satan rolled a shoulder. “No skin off my back. And she doesn’t seem to be objecting. So why the poker up your ass?”
“Fucking guilt. Dumb-ass emotion. Useless and then some.”
“’Nuff talk. We need to get down to the nitty-gritty. I’m taking five of the men downriver in an hour. We’ve pinpointed two locations where Fredo and Lucia may be. I’m guessing you have other plans for tonight.” Satan reached into his back pocket and pulled out his phone.
“Too right. How many men do we have?”
“Thirteen. What’s the plan? This is where we’re heading. Where’s the cloister in relation?” Satan had pulled up a Google Earth map on his phone and was busy arrowing locations.
Demon played with the map and finally brought up the mountain range where the cloister was located. “Here’s the cloister. Jacinta wants to speak to Sister Helen. Problem is I think she’s dead. Jacinta hasn’t heard from the nun for about three weeks. I had planned on taking her to the cloister tonight. But having you here changes things. Xavier’s flying in soon. I’ll take a couple of the men and fly there, check out the cloister, and come back before dawn. That’ll leave six men protecting Jacinta. I’m good with those numbers.”
“What if the nun’s dead? The cloister’s too far away for us to hook up.” Satan pocketed the phone.
“No need for us to hook up. Ten to one they’re all dead. I don’t see Pedro taking any prisoners, you?”
“Wrong. He won’t kill the nun until he has Jacinta. And after the cloister and Fredo and Lucia?”
“I go after Pedro. You take Jacinta to New York. The women will eat her up.”
“Yeah. They will. She’ll be in good hands. Between Destiny, Nalini, Jess, and Sinner’s mom, they’ll suck Jacinta into the fold big-time.” Satan shook his head. “Hard to believe. Less than eighteen months and all of you gone. Married.”
“I’m not married yet.” Demon didn’t voice the question eating away at his gut. Would Jacinta say yes if he proposed? He just didn’t fucking know.
Satan waved a hand. “Matter of time. We’re going to need a passport and ID for Jacinta. I’ll get started on that.”
Demon was still lost in the vision of Jacinta surrounded by his team members’ wives and Sinner’s mom. He shook his head. Satan was dead-on; the women would welcome Jacinta big-time. Especially Jess, his best friend’s wife.
The drone of a distant plane grew louder.
Both men glanced at the sky.
“That would be Xavier arriving. Want to go and meet him while I settle things with Jacinta?”
“Sure. I’ll get him situated, but then I have to head out to get Fredo and Lucia.” Satan stretched and then stood. “Later.”
Demon found Jacinta wrapped in a large white towel, beads of moisture still clinging to the cusp of one shoulder. He couldn’t resist lapping up the water. Their eyes met in the bathroom’s mirror. She wasn’t wearing the contacts, and he didn’t want to start an argument by giving her the pair he had asked Xavier to obtain the night before. He knew how much she hated wearing the colored lenses, but Satan’s comment about her eyes giving away her identity rang in his head.
“I didn’t see any packages in the bedroom. Didn’t you go to the gift shop?”
“That’s because there aren’t any. And I did, but it’s siesta time. The gift shop isn’t open until just before supper. The resort has a small chapel and a priest comes to say mass once a week. There’s a service at six tonight. I should like to attend. Will you come too?”
“Can’t, kitten. I’ve a few things to do. You go ahead, though. I’ll come get you for dinner.” Crapola was she going to be pissed at him. “I stopped at the front desk and asked them to scrounge up some food for us. It should be here any moment. There’s money on the dresser for the tip. I’ll shower and then join you for a quick bite.”
Demon fully intended to slip a sedative into her food. It was near five thirty. He needed to be in the air pronto. She’d miss mass, and he’d do what he had to.
He slipped the packet of pills Satan’d given him into the pocket of a bathrobe hanging from a hook on the door. After a hurried shower, wearing the same bathrobe, he cleaned the fog off the mirror and checked his stubble. Not too bad, but he’d have to shave before waking Jacinta later tonight.
“The food’s here.”
Demon opened the door, and she flashed him a brilliant smile.
“What is this?”
She held up a peachy drink wearing an umbrella. A decorative swizzle stick sporting several slices of fruit topped by two huge maraschino cherries finished off the punch.
He didn’t bother to belt the robe and walked to her wearing a grin and sporting a huge boner. “Fruit punch.”
Her face fell.
“What? Why the upside-down smile?”
“I thought it might be rum punch. I’ve always wanted to try that.”
“We can have one later, before dinner.” He opened the armoire and picked out a pair of black jeans and a black T-shirt. He’d wait until she’d fallen asleep to put on his boots and weapon up. He palmed the envelope from the pocket.
She eyed his ass when he shed the bathrobe. “I bought the condoms from the pharmacy. They’re in the drawer by the bed.”
“Are you propositioning me, kitten? Come here.” Demon crooked his finger and dropped the packet onto the table.
“Oh, no. If I am to be ready for mass, I must first eat and then pray.”
He shook his head. “What’s the sense in doing that? Isn’t mass the same as praying?”
“No. Do you believe in God, Demon?”
“Think you got tied up with the antichrist? I believe there’s a higher authority. Is it Jesus Christ or Buddha or Vishnu? I don’t know.”
She blew out a long breath. “Thank you. For being honest. I believe. And it is important to me that you believe something.”
Damn, he loved her. Fuck, he’d even consider going back to church on a regular basis. Wouldn’t Mrs. Chapman go ape shit over that one? Sinner’s mom had a way of browbeating him with one stern look. The woman made Demon nervous. Three minutes in her presence and his palms dampened.
He shot Jacinta a quick glance. Maybe Mrs. Chapman could be an ally. He wanted them married ASAP, and she had ridden the other Hades squad members into church and the ceremony with astounding, blinding speed. A vision of Jacinta in a church filled his head. His throat got scratchy and tight, and blast it if his palms weren’t sweaty. Demon dressed in a blur and found that Jacinta had arranged their sandwiches on a cute little table by the window.
“Is there any ketchup?” Demon asked her the question as a distraction.
“I’ll check.” She placed her napkin on the table and walked over to the room service cart.
Demon retrieved the sleeping pill and dropped it into her punch.
“Yes. And mustard. Would you like both?”
“Thanks.” Demon stirred the fruit punch, scooted over to his side of the table, and slumped into the chair. “I’m meeting with Satan after we eat. We’ll probably be working late. I’ll get an extra key from the front desk, so I won’t disturb you if you take a nap.”
“They have a small library. It’s near the gift shop. I think I’ll see if I can find a book to read after mass. I’m not sleepy at all.” She set the miniature ketchup and mustard bottles on the table, sat, and took a sip of the punch.
“Like it?” Demon chomped on a french fry.
“Very much. I shall have to ask how it’s made. I love the umbrella. I had a doll when I was little. This would’ve been perfect for her.” She fingered the brim of the paper decoration.
He’d never considered that a cloister would be decidedly lacking in toys. “What other toys did you have?”
“Don’t look like that, Demon mina.” She covered his hand with hers. “I had my imagination. And my training. And books. Many, many books.”
“Was Sister Helen in charge of your education?”
She laughed. “They
all
educated me. Sister Concilli taught me Latin and Gaelic. She’s from Ireland.”
That explained that intriguing lilt in her voice.
“Sister Claudette taught me German. I learned embroidery and weaving from Sister Theresa.”
“Weaving? As in a loom and yarn?”
“Yes. It’s very comforting, the weaving, once you get the rhythm.” She took a dainty bite of her chicken salad sandwich. “I thought to make that my trade. Weaving.”
“What did you weave?”
Demon noticed her lids drooping.
She shook her head and blinked. “Many blankets, which the priest distributed throughout the village.”
Jacinta leaned back in the chair and couldn’t quite stifle a yawn. “We never had big lunches. Mother Superior said it made you too sluggish and sleepy. I see what she meant now.”
“Finish up your punch, and then I’ll put the cart outside.” He checked his watch. “I have a few minutes before I have to meet with Satan. Come cuddle with me.”
She drained the last drop from the glass, popped the cherry into her mouth, and started to rise, but he reached over and scooped her into his lap before her feet touched the wooden floor. “Tell me about the cloister. One building or more?”
“Three. The main building. The chapel. And the chicken coop.”
She proved surprisingly cooperative, and before Jacinta fell asleep, Demon had a good idea of what to expect and how to approach the cloister. He left her tucked under the covers not fifteen minutes later.
Demon met with Satan to go over a few last-minute details before climbing into the single-engine water plane. The two men he’d picked to accompany him on the journey had already boarded.
Xavier fired the engines the second Demon buckled up.
The journey lasted less than thirty minutes, and thanks to the detailed maps and aerial photographs of the area Satan had downloaded, they landed right at the bottom of the mountain that housed the cloister.