by Kelly Moore
“I would like that.” I take the bottle from his hand and place it on the coffee table. Getting up, I straddle him, locking my lips with his. I’ll take what I want and then be done with him. His tongue mingles with mine, but I can tell he’s not into it. Was he not into it all the other times either, and I didn’t see it? I wiggle my ass on his crotch. He’s not hard.
His rough hands splay on my hips. “You taste good,” he says.
Damn liar.
“I want you,” I say into his mouth. I feel him tense ever so slightly.
His dog barks incessantly at the front door. “I need to shut him up before the neighbors complain.” He lifts me off his lap, places me on the couch, and goes to the front door.
Picking up the bottle of wine, I pour two glasses. I make sure he’s not looking and take out the small vial from between my breasts, pouring it into his drink. I tuck the glass container in between the couch cushions.
Derrick comes back inside with his hand gripped around his dog’s collar. “Sorry,” he says, putting him in the guest room and shutting the door.
“It’s okay,” I say, handing him a glass of wine when he sits beside me. “Here’s to a romantic evening in.” I hold my glass in the air, and he clinks his with mine.
I take a sip and watch him gulp his down. Derrick always did love a good drink. Grabbing the bottle, I pour him more. I want to make sure he gets every last bit of the drug. “Did you get your personal business handled?” I rest back on the couch.
“Yeah. It’s all cleared up, and I can spend the evening with you.” He slides his hand under the hem of my dress.
Tempting. I could fuck him before the drug kicks in. “Good, because I have plans to make you breakfast,” I purr. Sliding my hand over his crotch, I give him a squeeze. “I can’t wait to have you buried balls-deep inside me.” I nuzzle against his stubbled cheek.
He swallows hard. “I…” He tries to clear his throat. He blinks a few times, then his eyes glaze over when he looks at me. The drug is just starting to take effect. In a few more minutes, he’ll be paralyzed. “What did you do to me?” He gets up, stumbling into the coffee table.
I stand over him as he clumsily crawls toward the guest room, trying to get to his dog. He rolls on his back and reaches his hand up, but it falls before it makes it on the doorknob. The fucking dog is barking again.
“How was the wedding, Derrick?” I spit out his name. “That’s right, I know.” I lean down over him. “You could’ve had it all with me. You’ve chosen the wrong woman again. Now you’re going to pay for your stupid mistake.” I tweak his nose between my fingers.
“Don’t touch her,” he says without being able to move his lips.
I stand and straddle him. “My sister is the last one on my list. I swore to her that if she ever saw you again, I’d kill each of you so she’d have nothing left. I guess my threats only lasted so long on her. Stupid girl.”
“I’ll kill you,” he slurs.
“You’re pathetic. By the time the drug wears off, I’ll be long gone.” I step over him, snatching my purse. “And that adorable little niece of mine will no longer exist. It’s a shame you’ll never get to meet her.”
I open the front door and take one long, last look at him. I can’t believe I’ve wasted all these years on him. I salute him, slamming the door.
Rushing back to my motel, I grab my luggage and stuff it into the trunk of my car. I haul ass to the nearest airport to get on a plane traveling to Miami then catch another plane to the island. I toss my weapon out the window when there is no one behind me. Parking the car in the rental zone, I head to the ticket line. Once I’m through security, I call headquarters. Thorn answers the phone.
“Tell Mrs. Derrick Rebel she’ll never see her daughter again.” I hang up and board the plane.
Chapter 21
Fallon
I jump when Thorn slams down the phone. “Shit!” His nostrils flare.
“What is it? Is Rebel okay?” My heart instantly starts pounding with fear.
“Call Lawson, tell him to get to Rebel’s house as soon as possible.” He shouts out orders to Theo.
My hand shakes as I grasp his arm. “Was that Nina?”
His teeth grind together. “Yes.”
I cover my mouth with my hand. “What did she say?”
He presses his lips together and looks down.
“Thorn, what did she say?” I ask loudly.
“She knows you’re married…”
I know there is more when his voice trails off. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“She said…she said you’ll never see your daughter again.”
My limbs start to shake, and I let out a roar. “No!”
Theo comes running back into the war room with his cell phone gripped in his hand. “What happened?” His eyes are wider than mine.
“She knows, and she’s going after Lily,” I cry out.
“Did you get ahold of Lawson?” Thorn asks.
“Yes. He’ll be there in five minutes. I tried Rebel’s phone, but he didn’t answer.”
I go to my knees. “If she knows, she killed him,” I sob louder. “This is all my fault. I should’ve never come back.” My hands cover my face again.
Theo gets on the ground in front of me. “We don’t know what’s happened yet. You can’t jump to conclusions.”
I drop my hands and clench my fists at my thighs. “You know what she’s capable of! She’ll keep her promise to kill all of us!” I scramble off the floor. “I have to get to Lily!”
“Once we find out where Rebel is, we’ll go with you,” Thorn says.
I grab one of the laptops and starting punching in my search. Nina changed her password again. I try a couple things before I’m locked out. “Damn it!”
“What are you lookin’ for?” Thorn is hovering over my shoulder.
“Can you access the passenger lists of all the flights leaving Portland, headed to Florida?”
He picks up the phone and barks orders to someone to get him the list.
“We need to be on a plane out of here, now,” I yell at Theo.
“I’ll arrange a military plane and get us clearance to land on the island.” He starts to walk away.
“You’ll need to make sure there is a boat available for us.”
“I’m on it.”
I snatch Thorn’s phone from his hand, dialing Rebel’s number. “Please pick up,” I cry. No answer. Lawson’s number beeps in. I switch over. “Did you find him?”
“Yes. It looks like Nina slipped him a paralytic in his drink.” His voice is filled with rage.
“Is he okay?”
“He will be once it leaves his system.”
“Tell him I’m going after her. I’ll beg her for forgiveness so she’ll stop. Tell him…I’m so sorry, I’ll never be able to come back…and…I’ll keep Lily safe.” I’m shaking as I hand the phone back to Thorn.
Theo is back in the room. “I’m going with her.” He directs the comment at Thorn.
“Did you get transport?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll meet you down there once Captain Rebel is able to leave.”
In no time flat, we’ve boarded a military plane. Taking out a laptop from Theo’s bag, I start punching the keys.
“What are you searching for?”
“Any traces of where Sean might have taken Lily.”
“He’s not still on the island?”
“God, I hope not. He was to disappear with her after I left. We both knew there was a good chance that Nina was either tracking me or that I’d get caught.”
“So, she may not know where he went either.”
“Right.” I intensely study the screen line by line. “He didn’t leave a trail.” I blow out a breath.
“That’s good. Nina can’t track him either. Theo puts his hand on mine.
“None of this is good.” I rest my head back. “I don’t know where he is. I may never find my little girl.” Tears st
art to flow. “I should’ve left well enough alone. If I had stayed on the island, none of this would be happening. I’d have Lily.”
“This isn’t the end. We’re going to find her and stop Nina.”
“How many times have we tried? She slips through our fingers every time.”
“Not this time. I promise.” He squeezes my hand.
I lift my head. “I’m not going to beg her. I’m going to kill her. It’s the only way this ends.”
“Do you really think you can kill your own sister?” He stares at me.
“Yes.”
“I don’t want you to have to live with that the rest of your life. Let our team do it.”
“And give her the chance to kill one of you? No way. I will die with her before I watch that happen.” I’m so sorry, Rebel, I cry to myself.
“Any one of us would die for the cause.”
“What about your unborn son? Do you want him to be raised without a father?” I wipe away my tears.
“No. But that’s a chance we take with this job.”
“I won’t let you do it. You’ll drop me off, and I’ll go after her myself.”
“Rebel would murder me with his own two hands if I let his wife go off and get killed.”
“Wife.” I let out a soft laugh. “I didn’t even get a chance to be his wife.”
“You will, Hazel. I’ve never met two people that have been through more than you the guys and survived. Fate has intervened, or a cosmic power, whatever you believe in, every step of the way. What were the chances of the two of us meeting on that airplane all those years ago? And then, me becoming part of a SEAL team led by Rebel. We ended up back in Portland only to meet again. Not to mention the connection between Lawson and Fiona. After all that, then we find out you and Nina are sisters. That’s crazy.”
“Then you and Fiona end up on the same island as me and Sean,” I say softly.
“See, fate,” he says. “So, there is no way the two of you don’t end up together.”
“I hope you’re right.” I lay my head on his shoulder.
“Why don’t you try and get some rest. Once we get arrive, I’m sure there will be no time for that.” He kisses the top of my head.
I try to drift off, but every time I do, Lily’s little face flashes before my eyes. We were so close to stopping Nina once and for all. I married the man I loved. He was going to meet his daughter, and we were going to live happily ever after, just like in the stories that have been told for years. I don’t think I’m meant to have a happy ending. It’s more of a Shakespearean tragedy. A sister killing a sister. In this story, I’m not sure which one will survive. She’s smarter and more cunning than me. But I have much more to live for than her. That’s my driving force. I will defeat her, even if I have to go down too.
The hours have dragged by. My fear has built, and my body is so tense. As soon as the door is open and the stairs on the military plane are let down, I take off running. Theo arranged for a car to be waiting for us.
I slap my hand on the trunk of the car to get the driver to open it. Theo is steps behind me, carrying what bags we put together. I jump inside and tell the driver the address. He shifts in gear, and Theo hops in right before the vehicle starts rolling.
“Damn, Hazel. You trying to leave without me?” He slams the door.
“Sorry.” I open the bag I carried over my shoulder and pull on a pair of fingerless leather tan gloves. Spreading my fingers, I notice my pink nail polish is chipped. To think, I once cared about such a thing is silly to me now. Rebel’s dog tags are next. I put the silver chain over my head and straighten the tags. Removing my weapon, I make sure it’s loaded and that I have extra ammo.
“You look like one of the Gunners getting ready for battle.” Theo stares at me.
“You’ve all taught me well.” I half laugh. “I’m not taking any chances.”
Theo’s phone rings. He picks it up and shows me Rebel’s number on the screen. “Do you want to take this?”
I yank it from his hand. “Are you okay?”
“You should’ve waited for me.” His voice sounds slow.
“There was no time. Nina had a head start. Thorn was able to find her alias on a manifest. She landed an hour ago.”
“I’m not letting you or Lily go. Your message of you’ll never come back, is not happening.”
“Please, I’m begging you to stay away.”
“Like fuck I’m staying away from my wife when she’s in danger! And I’m not letting Nina take away my child that I’ve never met. Our plane lands three hours behind yours. Wait for me.”
“Three hours is too long. I’m going after her.” I hear him still talking as I hang up the phone. He calls right back, and Theo tries to calm him down.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to her.”
I hear yelling.
“Okay, okay, just get here.” He hangs up. He glances over at me. “My job is on the line.”
I take his hand in mine. “Thanks, Theo.”
The driver turns onto the resort property. “Stop here!” I tap him on the shoulder. He parks along the long entranceway, and I hop out. He pops the trunk. I take off in a run.
“Wait!” Theo yells, but I ignore him.
I don’t stop running until I’ve made it to our cottage. A cleaning lady is inside. I know her. “Sean. Is he gone?” I’m out of breath.
She nods. “He left several days ago.” I rummage around the room, looking for any clues. It’s completely empty. Running back outside, I set out for the tiki bar, but Theo stops me.
“Slow down.” His voice sounds angry.
“They’re gone,” I rasp.
“You didn’t expect to find them here. You running around like a chicken with its head cut off is going to alert everyone here, so unless you want Nina to see you coming, I suggest you slow down.”
He’s right. “Sean would leave me a clue even though I made him promise not to. It’s not in the cottage.” I point in its direction.
“You’re thinking the bar?”
“Yes.”
He grabs my hand and drags the bags behind us. “Keep an eye out for Nina,” he says, glancing around the pool area.
I let go of his hand as soon as we are within feet of the tiki hut. Opening the few cabinets, the fridge, and boxes of glasses, I don’t see anything. Standing in the middle, I chew on a nail. “If I were going to leave a note, where would I put it?”
Theo taps me on the shoulder. “How about there?” He points up to the parrot head mask Sean had worn to disguise himself.
I snatch it down and pull out a crumpled piece of paper. As I open it, I recognize Nina’s handwriting on the back of it. “I beat you to it,” is written in red ink. “Tick Tock” is scribbled on the bottom.
I turn over the paper.
* * *
It’s December all year long.
* * *
Sean
* * *
“What does that mean?” Theo takes the paper from me.
“It’s a clue to where he took Lily.” I take off to the area in the hotel where they keep the brochures on things to do. I thumb through several of them and stop. “That’s it.”
Theo pulls out the flyer I have my finger on and reads it. “Christmas Island.”
“Yes. Sean and I went there once to hear a band. We both agreed the next time we moved, we’d go there.”
“Do you think Nina has already figured it out?”
“I’m guessing by the note she left, yes. We have to charter a boat.” I grab his hand, leading him toward the hotel marina.
I talk to one of the men in the outdoor office, and Theo calls Rebel. I hear him mention getting a helicopter and going straight to Christmas Island.
The man behind the counter is very accommodating, and within fifteen minutes, we have boat fueled and ready to go. He gives me directions as to how to get to the island.
Theo throws our bags on board, and we head out. I can only hope we’re n
ot too late.
Chapter 22
Sean
“You’re worried about Fallon, aren’t you?” Ember pushes the lettuce from the cutting board into salad bowls.
“Yeah. I hate not being able to talk to her.” I run my hands through my hair. “I have no idea what’s gone down while she’s been gone, or if she’ll ever come back.”
“Did you leave her a way to find us?”
“I left her a clue, but I’m not sure she’ll find it.” I pick up Lily, who fell asleep on the couch. Brushing the hair out of her face and kissing her forehead, I lay her in bed, covering her up with a blanket. I walk back out into the kitchen, and Ember is placing the bowls on the bar.
“She’s a smart woman, she’ll find us.”
Closing the distance between us, I nuzzle against her neck, placing a soft kiss below her ear then gaze up at her. “I’ve never been more terrified than burying that guy’s body the other night.” We waited until it was pitch dark, loaded him in the trunk, and laid Lily in the backseat to sleep. We drove into a wooded area on the other side of the island. We took turns digging a hole big enough for his body. My hair stood on end the entire time, thinking we were going to get caught at any moment.
“Yeah, it reminded me of burying my husband’s body.”
I’m so shocked, yet interested in what she said that I unwrap from her and sit at the table. “You mean at his funeral, right?”
“No. I killed him in self-defense, but nobody would’ve believed me because everyone thought he was such a good guy.”
“I’m a little afraid of you at this moment.” I chuckle.
“I called my best friend. She came over, helped me roll his body in the bloody carpet, and we buried him in the woods outside of town.”
“No one came looking for him?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. I left town.”
“Wow!” My mouth hangs open. “Remind me never to cross you.”
She pops me with the dishtowel. “Don’t ever hit me or try to light me on fire, and we won’t have an issue.” She points to the wide scar on the back of her arm.
