Riled (The Invincibles 4)

Angel and Casper stayed with us while the other four team members assisted the island staff in getting our luggage to the cottages I’d designated.

“May I bring you a cocktail?” a woman asked when Kensington and I stepped off the dock, removed our shoes, and made our way to the pristine blue water of the Indian Ocean.

“Outstanding serv

ice,” Kensington said after we’d placed our order and stepped into the warm water.

“It will continue the entire time we’re here.”

“And how long will that be?”

“I’m thinking forever might be nice.”

She smiled again, which had been my goal. If only there were a place I could keep her safe from harm forever. I knew better, though. Such a place didn’t exist. I’d learned that very painful lesson almost seven years ago.

21

Kensington

I woke up in a state of bliss every day we were on the island. Cortez and I went for long walks on the most breathtaking beaches I’d ever seen. We swam in the ocean, made love in secluded coves, ate and drank enough to keep our bodies fueled, and then some.

While he’d said he’d like to stay here forever, he finally confessed we’d be here only a month. I did my best to stay in the moment, enjoy every day, and not think about the most perfect time of my life coming to an end. That became more difficult as time ticked by.

Cortez felt it too; that was easy to see. We’d made a promise, not just between ourselves, but with the entourage—as I began referring to them—we brought with us, that we would not discuss anything to do with the von Habsburgs.

I didn’t see them often, but when I did, it was interesting to watch the dynamics between this group of alphas, men and women. Each had a contagious confidence. They were endlessly competitive about everything. When there was a group together, at least one would invent some kind of contest. They ranged from tests of physical strength or self-discipline to who could eat the most or make Cortez and I laugh the hardest. In the midst of it all, they were vigilant about making sure no one who wasn’t supposed to be here came onto the island. I was sure they also kept a constant watch on the staff, although they were never intrusive about it.

Smoke and Siren, who appeared to work as a team, walked a very fine line between love and hate. However, both did their absolute best not to let on anything but hate to one another.

Watching the interaction between Angel and Casper and two of the men who came with us, Ink and Crash, was most fascinating of all. Both treated Casper like a beloved sister, and competed for Angel’s attention.

Ink was the biggest and most fit man I’d ever seen. I could see him competing in Mr. Universe contests—not that I knew whether those still existed. Or just bodybuilding competitions. His muscles literally bulged as if they were straining to tear through the skin that covered them.

Crash was the funniest of the group and was teased endlessly for his code name, which I learned was appropriately given. The man was, in a word, clumsy. I didn’t doubt for a minute that he was competent in any kind of dangerous situation, but in day-to-day, normal life, he regularly dropped, ran into, or broke things.

What made the name even worse was that, in addition to being an agent, he was an airline pilot.

He had a long scar running the length of his calf that was the result of a motorcycle accident he’d had in his early twenties. There was a profound sadness surrounding him when Angel asked what had happened. Later, when Cortez and I were alone, I asked too.

“He was riding with a friend on a mountain road. They came to a blind curve, and a semi-truck coming from the other way hit both motorcycles, sending Crash into the mountainside and his friend off the cliff.”

I covered my mouth with my hand. “That’s horrifying.”

Cortez nodded.

“I don’t think you should refer to him as Crash.”

He cupped my cheek with his palm. “It’s said that acknowledging the loss can help ease the pain of it perhaps better than attempting to block the memory.”

“Is that why you visit Celestina’s grave so often?”

“In part. As odd as it may seem, it also eased my loneliness.”

“Are you anxious to get back?”

He pulled me into him and ran his fingers through my hair. “No more anxious than you are.”

“You have a life to return to.”