A Simple Deception

XXXII

"The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing." Blaise Pascal

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XXXII.

There were a number of times, quite a number really, during this journey in which Susanna had experienced fear. While fearing for Alex's wellbeing had been terrifying, she truly felt her own mortality in the hours that she was alone in Port-au-Prince.

She had been handled, pushed, sworn at, and forced into a cart which had taken her to the grandest building in town. There she had been forced into one of the rooms without so much as a question. And she had waited. Susanna knew what would happen if her brother and Captain Whitfield failed to reach Alex in time. She had not counted on being held in such a place as this. She thought it would be easier for Alex to find her in the town, and not in some sort of guarded palace.

Her heart had stopped as she heard the lock turn. Susanna had raced to the very back of the reception room and felt the wall behind her as she pressed herself against it. She had already looked to the window as means to escape, but the drop was dangerous despite the fact that it was locked. But now, the risk seemed worth it. There was a small ottoman in front of one of the armchairs in the room which she thought that she would be able to life easily enough to throw it through the glass.

But the moment the plan formed in her head; two men entered the room. The man who had locked her in was back, dressed in an official uniform and looking upon her with a distrustful sneer.

"C'est votre mari?"

Susanna hardly heard the question for the immediately recognised his companion. It was him. Alex was standing in the very room she was, his chest puffing as though his breathing was laboured. He had found her. They had found each other.

Alex's hulking size was just as she remembered, though she could see a difference in his torso, a thinness in his face that was indicative of the weight that he had lost on his arduous journey. His hair was longer, curlier, with the tight raven spirals almost tickling the tops of his brows.

But his dark gaze was just as intense, and yet Susanna saw his face softened as his eyes settled upon her. Susanna was certain that she appeared much the same way as she saw him for the first time in so long, alive.

After everything that Alex had no doubt endured, he was breathing right in front of her. And he had come for her.

Some part of Susanna's brain, in and amongst the part that was taking in the sight of Alex, managed to take in the question that her captor had asked. Was this man her husband? Susanna masked her shock, but immediately understood the ruse that Alex had used to get into this room.

Without looking away from Alex's eyes, Susanna replied, "Oui."

Her captor made a huffing sound, before he said to Alex, "Tu ferais mieux de la tenir en laisse."

Susanna resisted reacting to the very snide comment. If she was to be freed from this room, and allowed to leave with Alex, then she would wear whatever leash he advised.

"Oui, vous aves raison," replied Alex, putting on a false smile. He tore his gaze from Susanna and looked to the uniformed man. "Merci, mon Général."

This man was a general, Susanna realised.

"Rentrez chez vous avec votre femme," instructed the general, widening the exit.

Susanna's heart stammered, realising that Alex's ruse had worked, and they were being allowed to leave.

Alex extended his hand to Susanna, his expression darkening. "Revenez tout de suite!" he barked, his tone angry and forceful.