The Secret by Elizabeth Hunter

drove over the twisting roads. The sun shone down on them, despite the bite of cold in the air. It was Italy, but it was still winter, and clouds were gathered on the horizon. But Ava had wanted to rent a scooter instead of a car, and he had indulged her.
    The address Max had given them led them past a small village and up another steep hill. They came to a gate on the road with the number of the house. He could see it at the top of the hill. Ava opened an unlocked gate and began to climb. A steep fall of stairs cut into the hillside brought them to another gate, this one guarded by a solid man Malachi guessed was American. His stance said professional; his bearing spoke of experience. He was younger than Malachi but would be a reasonably skilled opponent if he were not human.
    “Hey, Ruben,” she said, her voice a little breathless from the climb.
    “Ava.” The guard’s tone offered surprise, even if his eyes were invisible behind dark sunglasses. “I didn’t know—”
    “Yeah, I know I’m a surprise. You gonna let me in, or do I have to call him?”
    “I…” Ruben hesitated, but then his shoulders relaxed a fraction and he opened the door. He glanced at Malachi, gave him a little nod, then turned back to Ava and took off his glasses. “He’s not expecting company.”
    Malachi noted that he’d been assessed and filed away as Ava’s bodyguard. It was incredibly strange to be among humans who just expected to have armed men following them around for security.
    “Really?” Ava raised an eyebrow. “He’s not expecting company?”
    Ruben sighed. “Okay, he’s not expecting his daughter. You know how he is. Ava, I wish…”
    Malachi realized, quite suddenly, that this bodyguard was more than familiar with Ava. That he actually cared about her.
    The guard had probably known her for years. He might even live in her father’s household. Did she consider him a friend? They might have traveled together. Eaten together. How strange to live and travel with people you employed. Were they friends? Was true friendship possible when one was employer and the other employee? The thought added a new layer of loneliness to Ava’s history.
    “I know how he is, Ruben.” She brushed a hand along the human’s arm. “It’s fine. Is Luis here?”
    “Not right now. Went into town to do some stuff. There’s no Internet up here.”
    “I bet he loves that,” she muttered. “Do me a favor and don’t call Luis, okay?”
    Ruben’s tone was pleading. “Ava…”
    “Fine.” She sighed. “Call your boss so you don’t get fired. Is Jasper alone?”
    “Right now? Yeah.”
    “No girls expected?”
    Ruben shook his head. “Not until later.”
    “Got it.” She took his hand. “This is Malachi. He’s with me.”
    Ruben examined him with newly suspicious eyes.  
    That’s right, human. I am much more than her bodyguard .
    “Hey.” He held out a hand. “I’m Ruben.”
    “Malachi.” They shook hands, and Malachi was relieved the human didn’t do the idiot measuring hand squeeze. That never ended well for humans. He did, however, make a point of meeting Malachi’s eyes. The threat was unspoken but clear. The man considered Ava his responsibility.
    They stared at each other until Ava said, “And it appears we all have plenty of testosterone. Ruben, let go. Malachi’s my… boyfriend.”
    “Boyfriend?” Ruben was definitely surprised. He dropped Malachi’s hand and stepped back.
    “I really don’t like that word,” Malachi said.
    “What should I call you? My lover? Husband? Ma—”
    “Boyfriend is fine.” He squeezed her hand, glanced at Ruben, then nudged her toward the door. “Don’t you need to see your father?”
    “You’re so cute when you’re annoyed,” Ava said lightly, and he could read the tension in her voice. She was nervous and trying to hide it.
    “Come on.” He let go of her hand and put a steadying arm around her waist. “Ruben, where can we find Jasper?”
    The guard’s keen