Page 19 of Rebel Protector

“What about your father? Where was he?”

She hesitated. “I never knew him growing up.”

“I’m sorry. My mother passed away when I was a kid, but I don’t remember much about her.”

“I recall reading that in your file,” she said softly. “It couldn’t have been easy, growing up without a mom.”

He shrugged. “My father did the best he could.” His eyes clouded over, but when he looked at her again, they cleared. “How did you end up here?”

“Oh, well, that’s another story.” She fast-forwarded ten years. “I went to Costa Rica on a surf trip.”With this guy...“And while I was there, I spotted the advert for the job at the American Embassy in Panama.” It had been time to move on.

“That’s where Markov found you,” Dom finished.

She glanced up in surprise. “He tell you that?”

Dom nodded. “Said he stole you from them.”

She tilted her head to the side. “You could say that. He was very persuasive.” She didn’t elaborate, but she didn’t need to—he got the picture.

“You’re a bit of a gypsy, aren’t you?” he remarked, taking out his wallet.

“Please, let me.” She reached into her bag, but he waved her away.

“I’ve got this.”

She smiled her thanks. He was full of surprises.

“I guess so. I haven’t found anywhere to settle down yet, but I hope to one day.”

Or anyone to settle down with.

To be honest, she wasn’t sure she was the settling down type. She’d been bouncing around for so long it had become a way of life. When things got stale, she moved on. When things got serious, she moved on. Maybe she was a gypsy, after all.

He stood, easing to his feet like a lithe panther. She tried to do the same, but she was stiff from her fall, and her shoulder ached where he’d barreled into her.

“You okay?” he asked as she grimaced. He didn’t miss a thing.

“I’m fine.” She draped her bag over her good shoulder, and they started walking back up the road.

“Here, let me take that for you,” he offered, removing the bag from her shoulder. It wasn’t heavy, and she was about to resist when he sent her a “don’t argue” look.

So, she shut her mouth and let him carry it.

“What’s it like working for Markov?” he asked.

She watched the cracks in the road as they walked. “It’s fine. I like the job. The estate’s beautiful, more like a resort, and I pretty much do things my way. No one’s looking over my shoulder like they did at the embassy. Alek only cares if things run smoothly.”

Dom glanced at her. “For what it’s worth, he was singing your praises.”

She smiled. “Good to know.”

“And you’re cool working for a guy without knowing what he’s really up to?”

They gave the market a wide berth, taking a street that ran parallel to it. Sirens and loud voices still echoed in the distance. They were only a block from the pickup point.

“It’s better that way,” she said. Why was he so hung up about that? Who she worked for had nothing to do with him. It wasn’t like he was a paragon of virtue.

“It doesn’t seem to bother you,” she blurted out.