Free Broken Together by K. S. Ruff

three
times… four, counting this trip.”
    “They’ll
visit more once Kristine is done with school,” Benjamim predicted. “You know
how grueling school can be, and Kristine’s working while attending school full
time.”
    My
eyes widened with surprise. A man I knew nothing about seemed to know all about
me.
    “You’re
all he ever talks about,” Eva explained. “He’s also shared a number of
pictures. That’s why it was so easy to shop for you.”
    They
led us out onto a large patio where plush outdoor furniture framed a square
coffee table. A variety of olives, bread, cheese, and thinly sliced meat were
sitting on the table, along with a stack of appetizer plates, cloth napkins,
four sparkling waters, and two bottles of wine. The furniture was nestled
between a palm tree and a large swimming pool with a built in hot tub. Two
stainless steel patio heaters were glowing softly between the chairs and couch.
“The temperature drops once the sun falls,” Benjamim explained.
    Rafael
and I sat next to one another on the couch. Eva claimed the chair closest to
the house, and Benjamim settled into the chair opposite her. The patio had an
amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean, although it felt odd, seeing the sun set on
the same ocean where it rose in Virginia.
    I
scooted closer to Rafael. “I’d love to hear some stories about Rafael.”
    Benjamim
topped off our wine. “I assume she’s heard about the GOE?”
    “ Grupo
de Operacoes Especiais, the Portuguese Police Special Operations Group,”
Rafael explained.
    I
nodded.
    Benjamim
smiled. “Rafael was the youngest officer to be admitted to the GOE. He applied
shortly after securing his master’s degree from the Higher Institute of Police
Sciences and Internal Security. Only five percent of the applicants survive the
first stage of training. Unlike Rafael, most of the candidates have spent years
on the force. He’d been on the force for less than a year when he applied for
the group.”
    Rafael
snagged a couple of olives. “The first stage of selective training is brutal,
but it only lasts seven days. The second stage of selective training takes two
months. You still have to undergo basic training when you’re admitted to the
group, but that part was fun.”
    “Fun?”
Eva repeated incredulously.
    Rafael
shrugged. “We were trained in VIP protection, precision shooting, hostage
extraction, hostage negotiation, and martial arts. I learned how to drive fast,
and I got to blow stuff up.”
    I
laughed. “That explains why you’re so adept at driving the Porsche.” I knew
Rafael was glossing over things, but I suspected he’d been trained to do that
as well. He joined the special operations group because his parents were murdered.
He wanted to protect others from that same dark fate. Those other candidates
may have been more skilled and more experienced, but Rafael’s demons had
rendered him a fiercely determined candidate.
    “He
served in the special operations group for six years before agreeing to work
for Michael,” Benjamim continued. “Two years in counter-terrorism, four years
in VIP protection.”
    I
felt… guilty. I couldn’t believe Rafael endured all that training and
relinquished that career so he could babysit me.
    Rafael’s
eyes softened. “I wasn’t planning to leave the force, at least not initially. I
only agreed to use my personal leave to watch over you while Michael checked on
the renovations in Paris. The day I decided to leave the force was the day I discovered
you crying on that park bench.” He scowled. “Michael wasn’t entirely honest
about where things stood between the two of you. Kadyn threw me for a loop. You
went to Montana, and then Justin kidnapped you. Michael couldn’t stay away
after that. He sent me back to Paris to oversee the security installation for
the mansion, and… well, you know the rest.”
    I
grasped his hand. “I’m so sorry.”
    “I’m
not.” He brushed a tear from my cheek before he kissed