Free Mayan Lover by Wendy S. Hales Page B

“You are a
widow, Gwen.”
    Widow. Would he even know the word
divorce? “I wasn’t married to John… anymore.”
Sure enough he gave her a confused look. His eyes shifted and Gwen
followed his line of sight to two men lifting a black body bag into a
van. Her stomach knotted. It felt surreal. She wiggled from Arka’s
lap, her legs tried to fold underneath her but he caught her. She
tugged the mask from her face. “I have to see … know …
please.”
    His brows furled, yet rather than argue he
supported her while she walked the distance. “Señorita…”
one man stood at the back of the open van with his hands up to halt
her.
    Gwen set her hand to his forearm. “Sir,
please … he—” She couldn’t think of the
Spanish word for stalked. “Hunted me.” She could hear the
tremor in her voice.
    The man glanced past her and opened the zipper.
John’s body had been loaded feet first. He looked like he was
sleeping. Even had a small grin on his face. Her hand shook as she
touched the pulse at his neck. Nothing. My mother is going to be
pissed . Gwen’s shaky knees folded, but of course Arka never
let her hit the ground. He carried her a lot, probably thought she
was the weakest female in existent. He couldn’t possibly love her . Not after this. He didn’t even really know her.
Once he did …
    When she was back in Arka’s arms at the
ambulance with the mask on, Arka finally asked the question she knew
had to be bothering him. “Gwen, what do you mean he ‘hunted’
you?”
    “Arka.” Enrique spoke from behind
her. “They need to ask you a few questions. I’ll stay
with her.”
    Arka nodded and stood, shifting her to sit in
the door with her feet on the step up into the ambulance. Enrique sat
next to her feet. “I’ll be right back.” He pressed
a kiss to her forehead and joined Maggie with the group of officers.
    Enrique cleared his throat. “Can I tell
you something?”
    Gwen’s focus was on the group across the
lot. She couldn’t hear what they said, but Maggie’s
animated hand movements were pretty self-explanatory. Arka’s
brows furled and his eyes lifted to hers, slamming home the fact that
her entire history was being laid at his feet. Gwen felt humiliated
“Sure,” she muttered.
    “You are without a doubt the bravest woman
I’ve ever known.”
    Was he kidding? The look of admiration on
his face stunned her. “I am not brave, Enrique.”
    The look of admiration remained, infused with
sadness. “My two best friends growing up married each other.
For years I didn’t realize he was beating her. I tried to
reason with him, tried to help her leave him. She kept going back
until …” He shook his head. “You did what she
never could.” Gwen’s eyes returned to Maggie. Enrique’s
words shed light on how hard all of this must have been on Maggie,
too.
    “Dr. Kramer.” A heavyset Hispanic
man in a suit extended his hand to shake hers in greeting. Enrique
took the offered hand in her stead. “I am Señor Jefez,
commissioner of police. I just spoke with your attorney in the
states. On behalf of Belize, I extend my apologies. Your ex-husband’s
passport was flagged in customs, but we slipped up and missed it.”
    Gwen knew Martha had probably threatened to sue
the entire country. “Are my friends being charged with any
crime?”
    He seemed shocked by her question. “Of
course not. Señor Arka’s actions were justified
entirely.” Gwen could have sworn he muttered, “well
justified” under his breath. “The only charges are
against Jorge Diez for aiding.” Señor Jefez pointed to a
police car set off from the others.
    Gwen saw the tear-streaked face of an older
gentleman staring at her sorrowfully. “Can I speak to him?”
    Señor Jefez opened his mouth and Gwen
could tell he wanted to say no, but he nodded and waved his hand, and
an officer led the handcuffed man over. Gwen recognized his loafers
from the alley.
    The guy bowed to her over and over. “I
didn’t know. I