Broken Together by K. S. Ruff Page B

allowed this child to be violated. I didn’t know who I could
trust on the police force, given the ambassador’s prominence and his wealth. So
I took Manuel, the little boy, directly to Chief D’Souza. He was the highest
ranking person I could trust.”
    “Is
Chief D’Souza a Templar?” That would certainly explain the trust.
     “Yes.
Chief D’Souza is the one who petitioned for me to be inducted.” Rafael wrapped
his arm around me as we resumed walking. “He had his suspicions about who was
involved in the pedophile ring. We took Manuel to the hospital before placing
him in protective custody. Then we developed a plan for nailing the other
members. I was assigned to protect the politicians and the celebrities we
suspected were participating.”
    “Were
you able to implicate anyone else?” I inquired softly.
    “One
other individual. Only seven individuals have been prosecuted so far, although
I’m sure there were a lot more people involved.”
    I
peered up at him. “Is this what Chief D’Souza wanted to talk to you about?”
    Rafael
stopped walking again. “Yes. Benjamim told him I was in town. He wants me to
come back and help him put an end to this pedophile ring once and for all.”
    My
heart sank. “Is this a request from an old friend or an order from the Templar?”
    “It’s
currently being framed as a request, which leaves some room for negotiation,
but the President of Portugal has deemed this a national priority. Portugal has
lost its standing among the international community for allowing these children
to be violated for so long, and our citizens have lost faith in their
government.”
    I
hugged myself as I stepped in front of him. “I understand this is important.”
    Hope
flickered briefly… then sadness… and fear. “Would you be willing to live here
for a few months, possibly a year?”
    My
heart struggled in fits and bursts to start beating again. I knew. In my heart
of hearts, I knew Rafael wanted this. He’d sacrificed so much for me, indulged
and supported me in every way. I knew I should do the same. If I truly loved
him, I’d stand by him. I’d support him in this so he could put this case to
rest. But to walk away from my family and friends, my career, my degree
program, and my country? Tears welled in my eyes. “I… I don’t know, Rafael. How
do you see this playing out?”
    He
pulled me close. “I don’t see this taking more than a year, but it is possible.
He wants me to return to work immediately.”
    My
head fell to his chest. We stood holding each other for the longest time. Although
we were standing in the middle of a long, narrow street, it felt as if we’d
reached a fork in the road. We were going to have to choose between Rafael’s
dreams and mine.
    My
heart ached. The hands of time began to wind the wrong way. Months simply fell
away. I was holding Michael. I could feel his pain. We’d just returned home
from the hospital and were mourning the loss of our baby. I tried to comfort
him, but he walked away.
    Time
surged forward with a violent jerk. I was kneeling in the snow in the middle of
Lexie’s driveway. Kadyn was hurt. He couldn’t forgive me, not after everything
that had happened with Michael. Tears streamed down my cheeks as he drove away.
    Time
twisted cruelly until I was kneeling at the edge of Michael’s sailboat. Rafael
was pouring Michael’s ashes into the ocean. I reached out so I could feel Michael
one last time. The only thing I could feel was Michael slipping away.
    Somehow,
this felt the same.
    *
* * * *
    I
was pacing across Rafael’s living room, anxiously awaiting his return. I’d
barely slept last night and was now running on fumes. Rafael left to speak with
the police chief hours ago. With every minute that passed, I grew more fearful.
I’d been doing some serious soul searching while he was away.
    I
decided I could walk away from Seeds for Peace. I was certain I could find a
career in Portugal that would be equally rewarding. But