Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 8

but hanging out in Mexico, me lily white, you dark as night, we don't fit in."
    "No, we don't," Mac agreed. "Fine, I'll drive. You duck down when we get close. We'll pull up behind the Abbey, get out and move with as much stealth as possible."
    "We'll head to the basement, grab the kids and get out." Grayson's face was an unreadable mask.
    "Sounds easy when you say it that way," Mac uttered.
    "Don't get shot."
    "Right back at you." They were both trying to act like this was no big deal but Mac knew different. He reached out and clasped onto Grayson's shoulders, looking him in the eye before pulling him into a tight hug. Grayson leant back enough to kiss him, drawing him into a passion filled haze that left him frantic with worry about Grayson's safety. They clung to each other like survivors of a boating accident. Neither wanted to lose the other in the storm. The kiss broke and Mac let go of a tortured sob. "Don't do anything stupid. I mean it."
    Grayson laughed, his voice catching. "I'm always doing something crazy. We'll get through this. Come on, time to go."
    They drove in silence, Grayson with his hand on Mac's leg until they drew close to the monastery. Then he ducked down, hiding from any watchers. Afternoon prayers were in session, making this the perfect time for the attack. The path to the main building remained empty as Mac and Grayson raced forward. Lucky for them their clothes were still in the same room. Mac grabbed his lock pick kit, Grayson his gun. They gathered their money and IDs, knowing they wouldn't return to this room, the first place they'd really acknowledged their desire for each other.
    Before Mac opened the door, Grayson placed his hand on Mac's arm, his body pressed up against Mac's.
    "I'll never forget this room or what we did here."
    Mac touched his lips to Grayson's. "Gray, neither will I. When we get home, I want you to move in with me."
    Grayson's breath hitched and his eyes went wide. Mac smiled, glad he had the ability to shock the guy.
    "What, don't tell me you didn't see this coming. You had to have known."
    Grayson pressed in closer. "Wished for, hoped for, fantasized about, hell yes, but I never let myself get far enough to thinking we would be a reality."
    "Babe, I love you. We've known each other for too many years not to jump on this. You're my best friend and partner, now let's make it real. Move in with me, be my life partner."
    Grayson gave him a quick hug, his eyes bright and his face pink. Grayson switched gears in a second, his expression turning hard. He opened the door, his gun drawn and his gaze on the hall. They were clear and Grayson waved him on. They moved quickly, making little noise. The door opened fast since Mac had already worked the mechanism before. At the bottom of the stairs they encountered no one. They rushed to the door the other monks had gone into. They broke in using Mac's pick set.
    When the door pushed open, an empty room was revealed. "Shit, where are those kids?"
    They tried the other rooms, disappointed to find every one of them empty. They needed to give up, change tactics. The monks would be done with afternoon prayers, getting ready to do their chores.
    "Think, think, think. Come on Mac, where the fuck are these kids?" Mac hated this. They'd come back, sure the kids were here but they found no sign the kids had even been held here. He couldn't leave the kids out here all alone. Grayson had told the parents they would find them and they would.
    "Fuck, I was sure the kids were here, especially after they knocked us out and tried to kill us."
    "Who do you think those men were?" Grayson asked.
    "Not priest or monks or what ever you want to call them."
    "We need to go speak to the abbot." Grayson marched up the stairs, his back stiff as he opened the door, checking the hall for movement. They made their way through the monastery, ignoring everyone they came in contact with. Which, with the monks overlooking them wasn't too hard since they naturally kept to their own business. When they approached the office, Grayson didn't hesitate. He swung open the door and rushed in. Abbot Benton yelped as shock filled his face.
    "Who were those men?"
    The abbot spurted and stuttered, his hands going to his face then back to his sides over and over again.
    "Benton, tell me, what happened to the Carpenter kids? And who the hell were those men?" Mac yelled.
    The abbot shut his mouth and straightened up. He looked off to the side, his jaw flexing as he ground