Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Leila unexpectedly reached out to thread her fingers through Diego’s hand and pressed the back of her hand against his thigh. That touch, featherlight but all-consuming, instantly sent a wave of peace through him. She had that low energy, exuding calm.
So what if he knows you can heal in a pinch. Is it really that big of a deal?
The moment she sent the images into his mind, Joe’s piercing gaze locked on her. “You have something to say, Leila, I would prefer you speak it aloud.”
Her chin went up. “If I wanted everyone to hear it, I would have spoken aloud.”
Joe burst out laughing. That was one of his gifts, Diego decided. He could defuse a situation easily. It was impossible to tell if his laughter was genuine. It felt and looked as if it was, but Diego was well aware Joe had many gifts.
“I suppose you have me there. Let’s get on with this, Diego. You were telling me about Luther’s injuries. Were they severe?”
That was a direct question requiring a direct answer. Leila’s finger slid over his knuckles in a caress. Support. Encouragement. He’d never had that. Well, he had—he’d had Rubin, Ezekiel, Mordichai and Malichai, and he supposed he could count Luther, but it wasn’t the same. It didn’t feel the same. Leila was a woman he was falling in love with. He didn’t expect her to reciprocate, at least not to the extent that he knew he was capable of loving her.
“Diego?” Joe prompted. “Is there a reason you’re reluctant to tell me about Luther’s injuries? I have a very high clearance.”
Diego sighed. “It isn’t that, sir.” He decided if Joe was going to pull rank on him, he would be formal. “I have some small healing ability, and I had no choice but to use it. I didn’t have the time or equipment to operate on him. I’d never used the ability on a human being and was very reluctant, but given his injuries and the fact that I couldn’t be in two places at one time, I did my best with what I had.”
Silence met his revelation. Joe slowly turned his head, first to look at Rubin and then Ezekiel.
“News to me,” Ezekiel said. “I had no idea.”
“I didn’t either until yesterday,” Rubin admitted.
Joe turned back to Diego. “Why wouldn’t you let us know you were capable? Healing is a rare gift and can be used in the field when there’s an emergency.”
Diego sighed again. “I’ve seen you heal. And Rubin. It’s incredible work. I’ve used it on animals but never had the confidence to use it on a human. I felt it didn’t come from a good place and the ability wasn’t…” He trailed off, searching for the correct word. He didn’t want to say “pure.”
Rubin had always been his example. When Rubin healed a patient, he gave everything he had selflessly. There was no motive other than to make that patient better. That would never be so with Diego. He might heal those he loved or respected, but he would never be like Rubin. He didn’t have the ability to feel empathy for a great deal of the population.
“You have always used your gift of healing exclusively for animals?” Joe clarified.
Diego nodded. “I have many other enhancements that I work at either controlling or strengthening. We have two healers in our unit. And now Jonquille. So, three. I contribute in other ways.”
“Did it occur to you to ask to be mentored?”
Diego shook his head. “Again, I felt as if I had a very mild talent.”
“You healed Luther and then what?” Joe persisted.
“We thought it best to separate. I know that part of the mountain like the back of my hand. I grew up there. I knew I could outrun the ones who had taken Leila. There is only one place to safely land a helicopter, so I knew their destination.”
“Luther went after Bridget, and you went up the mountain after Leila,” Joe confirmed.
“Yes. I was a little less than a mile from them when I went up a tree to check how many and what they were doing. Leila was in very bad shape, and the men had decided to finish her off and just tell Chariot she didn’t make it.”
“They were going to rape me,” Leila interrupted. She wasn’t about to allow Diego to get in any trouble for killing Chariot’s soldiers. “He saved me.”
Joe’s shoulders straightened, his mask falling into place. Ezekiel stood, moving restlessly in the corner of the porch. Diego could feel that pent-up dark energy from where he was.
“I made the decision to take them out. They had weapons drawn, and it was only a matter of time before one of them shot her.” There was no apology in his voice. At the time, Diego believed he had no other choice if he had any chance at all to save her life.