by Kelly Wood
Ben crouched down and eased away from the path Regan and Liam were on. He knew he’d heard something in this direction. Most likely it was just an animal. But, just in case it was one of Guy’s men, Ben wanted Regan away from here. She’d be safe with Liam. At least, Ben hoped she would.
Ben eased his foot down, not making any sound. Adrenaline flowed through his system, heightening his senses. He could hear birds chirping and the rushing of the water nearby. Sunlight peeked through the tree canopy and left patches of light dancing on the leaves and ground. It truly would be a beautiful place if he weren’t surrounded by danger.
Ben pulled his gun from the back waistband of his pants. He flipped the safety off slowly, barely making a click as he did. He knew he was close. He’d told Regan it was most likely an animal, but years of training and self-preservation told him another human was nearby. Ben braced himself and prepared to fight.
Ben ducked down and looked under the branches. He gasped at the sight.
Gray lay before him. His face was deathly pale and sweat covered him. Ben watched as his chest moved with each breath. The movement was subtle and labored. Gray was not in good shape.
Gray’s eyes opened, glazed and fever-ridden. He looked at Ben but didn’t really see him before closing them again.
Ben raised his gun and prepared to fire. This was his chance. His moment to take back what was his. Ben leveled the gun for a head shot. The least he could do was make it quick and painless. His finger squeezed the trigger slowly. He could do this. He would do this.
Wouldn’t he?
He’d wanted Regan for years. Since the moment he saw her. She’d been his once and he’d blown it. He’d been weak and kowtowed to his father. Ben had left her. Left her with nothing, broken. But Regan was strong. She’d picked herself up and moved on. She’d met Gray.
She’d married Gray.
Regan. Married. Gray.
She did the one thing she swore she would never do. Regan got married.
To Gray.
Not to me, Ben thought.
Ben’s decision wavered. His hand shook as he tried to aim the weapon. He eased his finger off the trigger.
Regan loved Gray.
The thought repeated itself over and over again in his mind. Regan loved Gray. She was so desperately in love with Gray that to find him, she’d asked Ben for help.
Ben realized he was being weak now. It was cowardice to shoot a sick man in cold blood just to steal his wife. If Regan found out, she would never forgive him. His chances with her would be ruined. They may look bleak now, but there was still a chance. After the kidnapping, she had called him. No one else. When Regan needed help, she’d come to Ben. And he’d come running. Just as he always would.
Ben eased the gun back into his waistband. He wouldn’t shoot Gray today. Killing didn’t bother him, but he’d never killed an unarmed man. And today wouldn’t be his first.
But it didn’t mean he would help him either. Ben turned and walked away, never looking back at the sick, dying man.
Chapter Thirty-One
Guy Bianchi
Pulhapanzak Falls Parking Lot
Honduras
Guy’s world was crumbling around him. Frank and Michael both pointed guns in their direction. Juan, Jose and Guy outnumbered them but hadn’t had time to draw their own weapons. On top of it, no one was keeping an eye out for Gray.
The tension mounted as everyone stared at one another but didn’t speak. Guy looked around him for an escape, but there was none. They all stood out in the open. There wasn’t even a tree he could hide behind if bullets started flying.
“Where is he? Where is my son?” Michael asked. His gun pointed directly at Guy’s chest, never wavering in its true aim. Frank kept his gun trained on the other two men. Moving it between the two of them. Michael trusted Frank to take down anyone who posed a threat, even if their relationship was strained right now. Frank and Michael would work out their differences later. A thirty-year relationship didn’t just crumble from one deception. Frank being here now to find Gray already showed their unity to one another.
Guy put his hands up to show he intended no harm. “I don’t know. Honestly.” Guy kept his eyes on Michael, resisting the urge to look toward the falls and Gray’s possible hiding place.
“When people use the word ‘honestly’, it’s usually a red flag they are lying through their teeth. I’ll ask one more time. Where is my son?” Michael emphasized each word slowly.
“I. Don’t. Know. He escaped. We’ve been looking for him,” Guy said, using his right hand to include Juan and Jose.
A small smile tugged on Michael’s lips. Pride that Gray was able to escape rushing through him. Gray was a son worthy of a father’s love. He was strong, smart and capable.
“Tell us everything. How, where, when? Every small detail. What you have been doing to find him. Everything.” Michael needed every detail to formulate a plan in finding him.
Guy told him everything. Every detail. There was no reason to hold back, they’d be dead shortly. Juan had called in el jefe. Any minute now, the drug cartel would arrive and the power would shift in his favor. He may take a beating for his screw-up bringing Gray to the meeting, but el jefe wouldn’t kill him. Their operation worked too smoothly to end the relationship, and el jefe would lose time and money trying to establish a new route into the US.
“I have one question,” Guy held up his finger. His arms were starting to shake at holding his hands in the air for so long. He slowly lowered them so Michael wouldn’t think he was attempting anything. With them at his sides, they were closer to the gun resting in the small of his back.
“Go ahead.”
“How did you find me here?” The question had been troubling Guy since they’d arrived. If they’d stopped at the hostel to ask any questions, his staff would’ve called him with a warning. Not that they would’ve told a stranger his whereabouts anyway. The staff was well-paid by Honduran standards to help keep him safe. Their loyalty was true.
“GPS from your car.” Michael felt no need to keep the information to himself. Guy would be dead soon enough. “We tracked the rental vehicle Regan was using, too. It was easy enough to find another car, leaving the same airport and heading in the same direction, only hours earlier. I do love technology. It makes everything so easy these days. Right now, Regan’s tucked away at your hostel, safe and sound.”
“She’s quite an inventive girl. I didn’t expect her to track us. You, I’d hoped for. Her, a surprise,” Guy said.
“It was easy enough for her. Gray left her clues to follow,” Michael said. Guy couldn’t hide his surprise.
“Clues?” Guy asked.
Michael laughed. The two other men looked at each other in confusion. Michael didn’t know if they spoke English, but it didn’t matter.
“You should’ve paid more attention to him. He flashed his passport to the camera in the hotel so we knew you would be traveling internationally. Nice try with the fake ticket purchases, but we tapped into the local airports security system. Facial recognition software found you easily enough. Imagine our surprise, when we found a locale written under the toilet paper dispenser in the men’s room. Once Regan told us Gray was leaving clues, it was almost too easy.”
Guy had misjudged Gray. Guy assumed Gray to be weak since he’d left behind the mob life for a simpler one. The thought never crossed Guy’s mind that Gray would be so creative in leaving a trail, so he hadn’t been paying close enough attention.
A little slice of fear entered Guy for the first time. Bringing Gray to the exchange was a mistake. A big mistake. Not only had he escaped but he knew intimate details about the drug cartel. Guy hadn’t worried before because he hadn’t realized how perceptive Gray actually was. Guy would have to dance around to stay on el jefe’s good side. Their system was actually in serious jeopardy with Gray missing. Guy didn’t know if Gray had already gotten word out about his activities or if he was still in the cave. Jose said he never saw
him leave, although no one had been watching for the last twenty minutes or so. Guy could be long gone by now. Sweat ran down Guy’s spine as the fear mounted. Everything truly was out of control now.
“You’re going to die for this.” Juan spoke in English for the benefit of their captors but the message was really for Guy.
Neither Frank nor Michael hesitated, both pulling the triggers at the same time. Juan and Jose dropped on either side of Guy. Now both guns were pointed at him.
Guy smiled at the sound of roaring engines. El jefe was coming. Perfect timing, Guy thought. Guy hadn’t underestimated Michael’s need to play with his victim before killing them. It was legendary in certain circles of Las Vegas. Even after thirty years, his need to show his power and superiority was still there.
No matter what happened to Guy, Michael would be dead soon. El jefe never left witnesses. Guy would take joy in watching him die.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Regan Harris
Pulhapanzak Falls
Honduras
Ben made good time in rejoining our group. He waved away whatever had drawn him away from us when I asked. I forgot about it and focused on our next task.
I wanted to rush from the forest and check on my friends as quickly as possible, but I understood why Ben was showing caution. I didn’t know how Liam stopped himself, though, from rushing to Jax’s side. I used my elbows to move me forward another few inches. I ducked down and peeked under leaves to see.
Gracie and Jax leaned against the vehicle. I breathed a sigh of relief and started to rise when another person moved into my line of sight. I dropped back down quickly, hoping he hadn’t seen me from the road. The man stood in front of Jax. I couldn’t see his face or even enough of him to describe him later. What I could see was the gun in his hand. I inhaled sharply and then dropped my head onto the back of my hand. I stole a glance at Liam.
Anger and worry warred on Liam’s face, both emotions overtaking him until he got control of them. His face relaxed and his eyes focused. Gone was the loving boyfriend. In his place, the trained detective from Chicago. Ben eyed the scene with detachment, formulating a plan. I chewed on the side of my finger with worry.
“What’s the plan?” I whispered.
“Go with our cover story,” Ben said.
“What?” I asked.
Ben whispered his idea to Liam and me. I’d called Ben because he was the best person I knew who could handle dangerous situations. I had to trust that Ben was making decisions for the good of our group. For our safety. So far, we’d made out okay. I had to trust him now. I’d be putting my life on the line and trusting him and Liam to save it. Fear gripped me. I didn’t want to do it, but I also wanted my friends to know they weren’t still alone.
I slithered on my stomach farther back into the woods. With ten yards between me and the road, I stood up and started calling out to Gracie and Jax. I couldn’t see anything other than the trees. The man guarding them could turn and shoot me as I exited the tree line. The plan was Ben would whistle if that seemed to be the case so I could turn and run. It was flimsy at best, but we weren’t working with a lot.
My heart raced as I neared the road. I strained, listening for the sound of the whistle. My muscles were tensed and ready to spring into action at the first sign of danger.
Nothing.
I took a deep breath and broke through the tree line. I stumbled onto the road, falling and catching myself with my hands. My palms scraped along the gravel. My clothes were still damp and covered in mud from crawling around the jungle.
“Oh, thank God. There you are. I got turned around and walked in circles.” I waved my hand down indicating my clothing. “And fell down a lot. You know me. Such a klutz.”
Gracie and Jax’s eyes bulged when they saw me. The man guarding them whipped around to look at me. He instantly started yelling. I was supposed to act like a lost tourist and play dumb.
“¿Quién eres? ¿Qué haces aquí?” The man pointed his gun at me and used it motion me to stand with Gracie and Jax. It was what Ben had hoped for. That he would put his back to the trees where they were hiding.
“Lo siento. Mi español es pequeño. Hablas inglés?” I’m sorry. My Spanish is small. Do you speak English? I raised my hands and joined my friends. He split his focus between me and the trees. I needed his full attention on me so they could act.
“No.” The one word came out harshly. “¿Quién más está contigo?”
“Despacio, por favor. Español pequeña.” Slow down, please. My Spanish is small. I used my thumb and forefinger to illustrate small, holding them an inch apart. I wasn’t kidding when I asked him to slow down. My Spanish was only passable, at best. I’d already exhausted my limit. The only phrases I had left were ‘Where is the bathroom?’ and ‘May I have ice in my drink?’
“Orinar . . . Árboles . . . cayó.” I used hand signals to piece my broken words together about how I used the bathroom in the trees and fell down. I pointed to the trees behind me so he wouldn’t turn away.
Over his shoulder, I watched as Liam and Ben exited the woods. Both moved slowly and silently. I had no way to warn Gracie and Jax so they wouldn’t give the men away. I just hoped they played it cool.
Jax gasped next to me. The man whipped his head around toward the threat, but it was too late. Ben brought down the butt of his gun and knocked the man out cold. His body crumpled to the ground.
“Help me,” Ben said to Liam. They worked together to pick up the body and moved it to rest inside the trunk of the stolen car.
The five of us looked down at him with the hatch lid open. Someone’s cell phone rang, jerking us out of our trance. Everyone felt their pockets and checked their displays before looking back at the unconscious man, finally realizing the ringing was coming from his phone. No one moved to reach for it. The man never even twitched as the ringing continued. When it stopped, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“Is he dead?” Jax asked.
“No. He’ll be fine when he wakes up. He’ll just have one hell of a headache.” Ben wiped the sweat from his brow.
“We can’t leave him here,” I said. “It’s a hatchback. He could just crawl out when he wakes up.”
“We can’t let him go,” Ben pointed out. “What happened here? We heard you honk.”
“Two SUVs flew past us heading to the parking lot. But then the last car stopped and let this guy out,” Jax said, pointing to the unconscious man. Gracie said he just kept asking us what we were doing. She honked as a warning to you.”
“I tried to tell him we were just waiting for a friend but then he pulled the gun. I don’t think he believed us until Regan came out of the woods,” Gracie said and laughed. “You surprised us all.”
“Why did he fire the gun?” I asked.
“That first shot came from over there.” She pointed down the road. “Then he fired into the air to scare us. Like I said, he didn’t believe our story.”
“You said the cars went to the parking lot?” Liam asked. Jax nodded.
“It’s got to be the drug cartel Guy mentioned,” I said.
“We should leave now,” Ben said.
“We can’t,” Gracie replied before I could argue with Ben about staying to find Gray.
“What do you mean?” Ben asked.
“There are roadblocks set up in both directions. A local warned us to leave while we still could, then the other cars came,” Gracie explained.
“So, we can’t leave and we can’t stay all because of the cartel. And we still don’t know where Gray is,” I summed up.
Ben’s face flashed with annoyance. I let it go. I felt a little guilty over calling him. I knew he still had feelings for me, and I was just using him for his know-how.
A thought struck me. “Frank and Michael are here, too. We saw them earlier.”
“Frank and Michael are here? We never saw them.” Gracie’s hand flew to her heart and she stood up straighter at the words. As much as she hurt over their b
etrayal, they were still family to her, and she worried for their safety.
“They must’ve come from the other direction,” Liam said looking down the road.
“We have to go get them,” Gracie pleaded.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Regan Harris
Road along Pulhapanzak Falls
Honduras
“We can’t go get them. It’s a drug cartel. There’s been gunfire. It’s over. We lose.” My heart sank at the thought. We were losing since we couldn’t find Gray.
“We have to. Listen to me, Regan.” Gracie turned to face me. “Guy knows this area. He knows the people. Michael and Frank are rich and connected. We need them to find Gray. Without them, we are just a ragtag group beating a path through the jungle. Are you listening? We need all of their help to find Gray.” Gracie waved her hand toward the expanse of trees behind her.
“Gray would go back for them,” Gracie’s voice was soft as she delivered the blow.
Gray would go back for them, but Gray wasn’t here. We were. And, Gracie was right, we were nothing but a ragtag group thrown together under circumstances. I didn’t believe Gracie for a second that she wanted to save Frank and Michael. She didn’t want them hurt but she wouldn’t put her life on the line for them.
But for Guy? Absolutely. He was her one true concern.
I twirled my hand in a circular motion between all of us. “We would be going up against Guy, the two men with him, and two car loads of drug dealers. That’s five against... thirteen people, maybe. No way.”
“Twelve.” Gracie pointed at the open trunk and the man still out cold. “Maybe less. Maybe the cars weren’t full.”
“Why isn’t anyone else trying to talk sense into her? Hello? It’s a crazy idea,” I said.
“We may not have a choice.” Liam pointed down the road. An SUV roared out of the parking lot. The head and shoulders of a man hung out of the passenger window. He raised his gun and aimed at us.
