Chapter 74

NOLAN’S POV

The operations were finally over. It was time to head home.

We were stationed in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city, waiting for the chopper to fuel up and take us home. 

Camila leaned against a steel pillar, her arms crossed, boots clicking softly as she shifted her weight. She looked too at ease for someone who had carried out dangerous operations back to back for one month.

“Are you always this quiet or I broke you?” she asked, sizing me up with her eyes.

“Just waiting to get the hell out of here,” I muttered, watching Dimitri scroll through messages on a secured tablet nearby. She smirked and pushed off the pillar, walking towards me.

“Hmm, I guess you don't really have the stomach for it,” she said, moving closer. “If you asked me, I’d say otherwise. You’re a natural.”

I glanced at her, unamused. “I don’t think that's a compliment I’d like to take.”

She gave a dramatic sigh, brushing imaginary dust off my jacket. “You’re still thinking about Raul’s sponsor, aren’t you?”

“Shouldn’t I be?” I shot back. “You should have let me kill him when I had the chance.”

“And ruin my operation? No can do.”

Dimitri finally looked up from the tablet, joining the conversation. “We’ve got to be smart about this, Nolan. That guy’s got more eyes and ears than we can count. You go after him now, you’ll be digging your own grave.”

“I know that,” I said, running a hand over my face. “I just hate the way this feels. Like we walked away.”

“We didn’t walk away,” Dimitri replied. “We kept the peace—for now. The real work begins once we’re back home.”

Camila rolled her eyes and plopped down on a nearby crate. “Ugh, you boys and your brooding. So, what's the plan then? Are you going to talk in riddles all night or let a girl in on the grand scheme?”

I stared at her. “And why would I do that?”

She laughed, kicking her legs slightly. “Because I’m adorable, loyal, and deadly. Isn’t that your type?”

Dimitri snorted. “You forgot manipulative.”

“Pfft,” she waved him off. “That’s part of the charm.”

I scoffed. “Nothing is charming about you.”

“Ouch.” She clutched her chest like I’d stabbed her. “That one actually hurt, Nolan.”

“You’ll live.”

Before she could offer a witty comeback, one of the crew members walked in.

“Bird’s almost ready. Five minutes,” he said before disappearing again.

I stood and cracked my neck. “Finally.”

We walked out into the cold air together, the sound of the helicopter growing louder as we approached the landing zone. Dimitri moved to speak with the pilot, pointing at a map displayed on a tablet.

“Ready to go?” I asked.

“All set. Should be a smooth ride,” Dimitri said.

We climbed aboard, strapping in and ready to take off. 

Camila sat beside me, her leg casually brushing against mine.

“So, excited to see your wife?” she asked teasingly.

I didn’t answer.

“She’s still mad, huh?”

Silence.

She leaned closer. “If things don’t work out, you know my arms are always open for you.”

I turned to face her. “That’s not helping.”

“Oh, I’m not trying to help. I’m hoping you’d run back into my arms.” She winked, her voice laced with heat.

Dimitri groaned. “Can you two save the foreplay for after we land?”

Camila grinned and crossed her legs. “Don’t be jealous, D.”

“I’m not jealous. I’m just trying not to puke.”

I leaned back in my seat, letting their banter fade into the background as I stared out the window. The city lights disappeared behind us, and all I could think about was Anna.

The image of her face the last time I saw her haunted me.

I hadn’t texted. Hadn’t called.

I closed my eyes, blocking out the chaos.

But Camila didn’t give up.

“You know, Nolan,” she said, her voice now laced with something closer to sincerity, “you can talk to me about anything. Don’t bottle things up so you don’t explode.”

I cracked one eye open. “Thanks for the therapy session, Dr. Camila.”

She smiled. “Anytime. You can pay me in kisses.”

Dimitri fake gagged beside us. “I swear, I will jump out of this damn chopper.”

“Relax,” Camila said with a smug grin. “We’re just having fun.”

I gave her a long look. “This isn’t fun for me.”

“You just need to give in, pretty boy.”

I didn’t respond.

I simply closed my eyes, patiently for when I’d get home.

The ride back was quiet. No more banter. No more snide remarks from Camila. Just the steady hum of the chopper.

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“Thanks. I don’t want to hear from you for like a week,” I said as I retrieved my bag from Dimitri’s trunk and made my way into the house.

I stepped into the house and paused.

It was too silent.

I shut the door behind me and called out, “Maria?”

No response.

I dropped my duffel by the door and walked in to scan the living room. The place was neat like it had been cleaned not long ago.

I made my way down the hall and into the bedroom. The memory of the last time I was in this room came flooding in. The lamp I’d shattered on the floor was gone.

I peeled off my jacket and shirt, leaving them on the bed, and walked into the bathroom to wash off the dirt from traveling for so long.

Fifteen minutes after I stepped out of the room dressed in my sweatpants and drying my hair with a towel. 

I walked into the kitchen to grab an apple from the fridge and turned to leave. Then I heard a sudden gasp.

Maria was standing at the entrance of the kitchen with her hand clutched to her chest.

“Dios mío—you scared me.”

I lowered the apple. “Sorry.”

She moved into the kitchen, her apron dusted with flour. “I didn’t know you were back, sir.”

“Neither did anyone else,” I said. “Where’s Anna?”

Maria’s brows knit together. “She hasn’t been home.”

My jaw tensed. “What do you mean?”

“She left about a week ago,” she said, dropping the grocery bag on the kitchen island.

I set the apple on the counter. “Really?”

Maria glanced at me, concern flickering in her eyes. “Maybe she traveled for work?”

I nodded slowly, pulling my phone out of my pocket. “Thanks.”

The moment I stepped into the living room, I stared down at her contact and hesitated for a second. Then my thumb hovered over the call button.

Just as I was about to call her, the front door creaked open.

I looked up to see Anna walking into the house with Ivan behind her.

Her coat was draped over her arm, her hair pulled back into a low, messy bun.

Our eyes met, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.

Her eyes widened as they met mine. “You’re home.”