Dominic frowned at his words but didn’t say anything.
It wouldn’t matter what he said.
Mark knew his place in this world.
He wasn’t met for the long term, he was just here to serve a purpose.
***
He was mentally counting his things, packing them into his bags, and double checking everything. He wouldn’t be able to come back if he missed something.
He didn’t even know if he was coming back from this at all.
If the cartel had a new leader and he was willing to stand against Dominic, everyone that he had come to care about was in danger. It had only been Rick they had taken last time, he wouldn’t be able to stand by if the cost next time was Alice or Christine.
That innocence should be protected.
No matter the cost.
At the knock on his door he paused and went to open it. It had to be either Rick or Danny, nobody else even knew he lived here.
The small cabin was technically on Dominic’s property, but it was back in the swamp lands of the 150 acres that they all lived on, where nobody hardly ever went.
The little cabin was perfect for him though.
Simple, with just one bedroom and one bathroom. It had a living room and kitchen combo that was small, but it made for a cozy atmosphere when there were storms around.
A place for him to escape to.
At least it had been.
He swung the door open more than a little surprised to find Christine.
“Christine? Are you okay? Does Rick know you’re here?” He couldn’t picture the man letting her drive all the way out here without him. The two were rarely seen apart nowadays.
“I needed to talk to you.” Her hair was down, slightly hiding her face, but he knew that she wouldn’t have looked at him anyways.
She hadn’t since that night.
“Can I come in?” She whispered, as if she was afraid that he wasn’t going to let her in, but he stepped back gesturing for her.
“I need to say something to you,” she said as she turned toward him and he shut the door behind them.
“Okay. I’m listening.” He said, keeping his voice low and calm. He could see the slight tremble in her body, and guilt hit him hard over the fact that he was the cause, as he braced for her words.
“Christine, I don’t think …” He sucked in a breath, his words coming to a halt as her head came up and her eyes met his.
“I need you to know how thankful I am that you saved me. Not only once, but you repeatedly put your life on the line for me. So I need you to know that what I see when I look at you, it doesn’t have anything to do with that night.”
He paused, shock folding his system, rendering him mute. He didn’t even know where to begin with her words, but she was still looking at him. Her dark blue eyes pleading with him, and he found himself moving forward.
“Like I told you before, Christine. It was my honor. I’m just sorry that I couldn’t find another way to do it.”
“He was going to kill me, Mark. If you hadn’t taken that shot, I wouldn’t be here. Rick probably wouldn’t be here.” She whispered the last little bit as if the words were painful.
But she was right.
Rick was the kind of man that threw everything he had into the love that he carried for her. He wouldn’t have survived losing her.
