by Shady Grace
Best thing for her to do would be to set aside the events of last night and try to enjoy the rest of the day without thinking how it felt being in Jack’s arms. After her shower, she decided to go for a nice walk and check out the sights. She had nine hours to kill before the meeting.
Up until a few days ago, her life prospects were shady at best. She never imagined ever being able to come here to this beautiful place, even if it was on a mission that could be considered dangerous. Just knowing she had caught up on her bills, and had plenty of money left, made her feel on top of the world.
The day before her flight to Cuba, Jamie had strolled into Jones’s club after receiving her first payment from Monty. Her entire body shook and it felt like a wrench squeezed around her heart, but she still paid her dues as she promised she would.
Jones looked up from his notorious red sheathed accounting book that day, with a sly smile. “You look like you could use a hit.” He withdrew a thin slab of polished jade, with a three-inch-high mound of cocaine sitting on top—a fake promise of paradise to many victims. “How about a big bump for old time’s sake, eh, babe? I’ll carve out a line for you….”
Jamie stared at the cream-colored personal stash that was uncut. She exhaled, feeling the wrench around her heart release as she shook her head. “I don’t need that in my life anymore,” she said with stark conviction, and tossed the envelope onto his desk. As she headed back to the door leading into the main area of the club, his two bouncers stepped forward, blocking her exit. Jamie lifted her chin and faced them head-on, knowing that if they were ordered, they could hurt her, or worse. Never again would she let herself be treated like a lapdog without a good fight.
“Let her go,” Jones said. “She’ll be back. She always comes back.”
Never. I’ll take a bullet before I bow to you or that shit again.
Immediately after leaving the club, Jamie cleared up what she owed to the landlord and other outstanding debts. Within three days she’d gone from not knowing how she was going to survive, to having almost twenty thousand in her pocket. Now, she was in Cuba, enjoying the wild tropical nights, the beaches, and the culture—a far cry from life at home. While she was amazed at the drastic change in scenery, the weather, and the attention from Jack, she still had a mission to complete.
The first meeting would take place this evening.
Monty promised that all would run smoothly as long as she followed the instructions exactly. All she had to do was make an exchange and then wait for a phone call to make the second delivery at another destination. Although she was scared half to death about what she was doing, she knew she had to go through with it.
Not so long ago she was a tough cookie who sold blow with the best of them. Not her most shining moment, but it was a part of her past, and she was just a dumb kid trying to make a few bucks. Then she had managed to really screw up her life by getting into the drugs she was supposed to sell. Life had a funny way of making good people suffer. Her life in particular had been a constant whirlwind of mistakes. But she cleaned up her act and she was proud of herself for that. Now, with this job ahead of her, she had to bring up that tough character and get through this in one piece. Monty was counting on her, and Jamie wasn’t going to let him down. She couldn’t bear to lose Monty’s trust and friendship because she’d made a mistake. Jamie had nobody else. He was her only family, and if he was getting money out of this deal as well, then she couldn’t afford to fail.
Along the beautiful cobblestone streets she was in awe by the incredible architecture of the buildings. Some places were getting a fresh coat of bright-colored paint while others seemed to be in a decrepit state. Many buildings were in the midst of renovation, keeping with the historical charm of the city. Laundry hung out of windows. Vined plants connected from building to building. Some of the streets were so narrow she couldn’t believe cars drove on them. The cars themselves were from the fifties and sixties, and in every color imaginable. So much color and vitality surrounded her at every corner.
Laughter and music filled the air. A balmy wind swept through the streets, kicking up dust along its path. A man on a motorbike with wicker baskets piled higher than his head, whizzed past at an alarming speed. Jamie whirled around and watched in shock as he veered around traffic and didn’t drop a single basket. Kids ran unsupervised every which way, and adults could be seen walking around with open liquor, even gambling in the streets. So much to see in this busy place. So much to take in.
“Taxi?”
Jamie spun around with a start as a young man on a bicycle taxi pulled up beside her. He hopped off the bike and gestured to the seat behind him. Jamie stared in disbelief at the passenger seat which looked like a chair that might’ve come from his kitchen. She wasn’t certain if the chair had been screwed to the wooden board beneath it, or if it just sat there freely. Either way, the contraption looked precarious at best.
“No, thank you.” She turned away and kept walking.
Five seconds later someone touched her arm. She glanced down to find a young girl in a tattered blue dress smiling up at her.
“Where you come from?”
“Canada. Do you live here?”
“Oh yes.” The little girl smiled wide, revealing a mouth with several missing teeth. “Up there.” She pointed up to one of the ramshackle buildings and Jamie’s heart sank. The girl reached into the pocket of her skirt and withdrew a single cigar, gesturing for Jamie to buy it.
Jamie stared down at the little girl’s dirty fingers and blinked hard. She didn’t know what to say to the girl. Maybe she had to beg for her food, or dig in the garbage for a morsel. Feeling sympathetic for the girl who was obviously poor, Jamie reached into her clutch and was about to give her a few dollars for the cigar when she sensed someone behind her. A spicy vanilla aroma assaulted her senses. Her pulse raced immediately and a familiar ache blazed between her legs. Apparently getting her wits together wasn’t going to happen, not with him around.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You’ll have every kid within a mile trying to sell you something worth less than what you pay.”
She couldn’t get enough of that smooth, deep voice.
Jamie turned around and smiled up at the handsome face she had kissed only a short while ago, as she left him lying there naked. “Good morning.” She remembered every vivid detail from last night, but as much as she enjoyed being with him, Jamie was also scared to stick around. If she stayed until the morning with him, then she ran the risk of starting something she shouldn’t. Best to be aloof with a man who was still a stranger. “I’m sorry I took off like that.” Her cheeks heated and she cleared her throat. The little girl was still standing there watching and listening. “I’m not used to…staying.”
She wanted to run her fingers through his hair again. Wanted to touch his scars and learn where they came from. Most of all she wanted him to kiss her over and over as he pushed deep inside her body.
She took a calming breath and squared her shoulders, faced him straight on and tried not to appear like she was thinking about having him in her room this time.
“I’m free for part of the afternoon.” He reached out and ruffled the young girl’s hair. “Run along now.” The girl stuck out her tongue and took off down the street.
Jamie stared after her, flustered by Jack’s presence, and confused about his exchange with the girl. “Do you know her?”
“I’ve seen her around many times. She’s a jintero. A street hustler.”
Jamie’s eyes widened as she watched the girl run up to another person and do the same thing. “I never would’ve guessed that sweet little thing to be a hustler.”
Jack chuckled. “They’re everywhere. She’s harmless enough. There are many poor people in this city, especially in the Old Town. Some of them have learned several languages in order to sell to the tourists. People aren’t always what they appear to be, right?”
Jamie fought to control the shock jol
ting through her by his last words. Did he know something about why she was here? “I suppose you’re right,” she said, as calmly as possible. “I never really thought about it.”
He stared hard at her for a moment, before he gestured to the street ahead. “Care to walk with me?”
Jack seemed to know where he was going, and she had no solid plans until tonight. “Sure. I’d like that.” At least he’d make sure she didn’t get ripped off by a child.
As they walked down the narrow street, music filled the air from the open bars as well as the street musicians. Jamie tried not to keep staring up at Jack as they walked side-by-side at a slow pace. She had no idea what to say to him. Maybe she should apologize for her behavior last night. The grim line of his mouth and the intent focus of his gaze worried her. He seemed pissed-off.
“Look, about last night. I’m really embarrassed—”
“About taking off, or about what happened?” He glanced down at her, almost with accusation in his eyes. Her chest tightened, unsure if he was really upset that she’d left him, or perhaps he believed she really was a slut after all and routinely fucked strange men. “I admit I was disappointed to find you gone when I woke up. I’ve never known a woman to do that before.”
He slowed to a stop and faced her. His thorough perusal made Jamie suddenly very conscious about her appearance, even though he’d already seen her naked. He knew the feel of her body, the sound of her moans. He knew all those torrid details. Why did she have the impression that he was judging her?
She swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. I…I just, felt that I should return back to my room, is all. I hope I didn’t upset you?” He shrugged, but the expression on his face and in his eyes seemed as if he didn’t believe her.
Jamie reached out and touched his arm, only to pull back when he stared down at her hand as if she’d burned him. Maybe he resented her for what happened between them last night, or maybe she really was an asshole for leaving. But she couldn’t help her feelings and emotions. She couldn’t take it all back and wake up in his arms this morning. How could she make him understand that she was scared? The clean Jamie Fields had always been scared, and never let a man get too close. Without even knowing, Jack Daniels had found a crack in the wall erected around her, and managed to dig his fingers between those solid bricks.
“I’ve never done this before, Jack. Really. I wanted to stay with you, but I didn’t know if I should. That’s all. I swear.”
He nodded and continued walking. Confused, Jamie followed him and nearly had to run to keep up, his strides were too long for her short legs. “Did I do something wrong?”
He shook his head, almost as if he was in self-doubt. “No. I just had a bad phone call this morning. That’s not your fault.” He offered a quick smile. “Care for a drink? I know I could use one.”
She checked her watch and laughed out loud. “It’s 10 a.m.”
He seemed to struggle keeping his expression straight. “Look around you. Does it look like it matters to them?”
A group of men were laughing across the street, each of them passing around a large brown bottle. They didn’t seem to notice the world around them. Maybe Havana didn’t fall under the usual customs many other people lived by.
“Okay. Drink it is,” she said, a little more at ease. She was on vacation after all. Why not let loose and enjoy herself? She needed to get her mind off the mission at least for a few hours. All she could think about was that the exchange could possibly end her life, or at the very least, get her into some serious trouble. After what happened with Jones, she didn’t need any more problems in her life.
They fell in step again at a more leisure pace. Cars honked around them, people laughed and shouted in the streets. Everywhere she looked, people were smiling. Everywhere something exciting was happening. But she suddenly didn’t want this. The idea of bringing him back to her room had a much more satisfying appeal, even if he did seem upset by something. She couldn’t stop thinking about his hands on her, even as her mind fought to control her fears of the meeting tonight.
“So you didn’t get to tell me why you’re not at the lodge,” he added.
Unsure how to answer that without sounding suspicious, she decided on a half-truth. “Well, a friend offered me a trip.” She shrugged. “I couldn’t refuse such a beautiful place as this. It’s like a whole other world here.”
“That it is. Havana is a place where lovers meet and transactions are made.”
Jamie frowned. And transactions are made. Odd that he would say that when that’s exactly what she was about to do in a few hours. “Is that what you’re here for?”
He faced her now, a dark, almost questioning expression on his face. “My work always involves transactions. How about you?”
She raised a brow, confused by his strange behavior. “I’m on vacation. I think we both know my job involves cleaning up after people, not making transactions.” Please let that be a good enough answer.
He shrugged. “Fair enough.”
“Must be nice to travel to places like this and deal with people.”
When he didn’t answer, Jamie decided that maybe his job wasn’t really all that great. Perhaps she should just leave it at that. Even though it was nice to at least know somebody so far from home, and they’d already spent a night together, his vague response to his work bothered her. Was he hiding something as she hid something from him?
Jamie opened her mouth to ask more about his work when he halted. “This is my favorite spot. Right here.” He guided her to a narrow door that looked nothing like the entrance to a decent bar. When she stepped inside, an idea sprung to mind that this place could host a murder scene. Any questions she’d had about his work seemed inappropriate for the moment.
The bar was tiny and in desperate need of renovation. Three shabby tables were lined up on one side, with dilapidated chairs leaning against them. On the other side was a row of booths, the leather seats worse for wear. Two drunk men sat at one end of the small bar, situated in the middle of the room, arguing in Spanish. They didn’t seem to notice as Jack led Jamie to one of the roughshod booths. A lone man sat on the other side of the bar. He didn’t look up at all when they walked in.
Jamie sat carefully, hoping the cracked leather on the seat didn’t rip the new dress she had just purchased. She glanced around and grimaced as she noticed nicotine or something much worse running down the walls from ceiling to floor. The wood floors also could use a good scrubbing to her housekeeping eye. This was where Jack wanted to take her? Not exactly romantic.
She took in the atmosphere with suppressed disgust as Jack took his seat across from her.
“I know it’s not the best looking place, but nobody makes a mojito like Zamira. She has a secret ingredient that nobody will ever discover.”
“You must know a lot of people around here.”
He nodded. “I’ve been coming to Havana for almost ten years now. One of the drunks over there is her husband, Luis.”
“And the guy over there?”
Jack glanced over his shoulder and shrugged. “No idea.”
The fact that he took her to a place where he knew some people was encouraging, even though she worried she’d return home with a disease. Still, he seemed happy to be in this tiny, ramshackle bar, and she was glad for some familiar company.
“Hijo!”
“And there she is,” Jack said, smiling as he turned to face a robust woman charging toward their booth. Her frizzy black hair bounced vigorously and her apron looked as though she had slaughtered many a pig out back. Jamie tried her best to hide the revulsion on her face as Jack stood, opened his arms, and accepted the woman’s embrace. Apparently the apron of death didn’t bother him at all.
“I hoped to see you again.” She turned and shouted, “Luis, mira!”
The husband in question swiveled around and nearly fell from his stool. Jamie chuckled under her breath as the woman’s hammered husband stumbl
ed over and shook Jack’s hand, then wrapped him in a sudden bear hug. Zamira rubbed Jack’s shoulder, eager to fuss and fret over him. “Sam—” she began to say but trailed off when Jack gave her a sharp look.
Jamie looked away, uncomfortable and feeling as if she was intruding on their conversation.
The mention of Sam seemed to bother Jack. While the trio exchanged a few words, Jamie continued watching them, feeling awkward and more out of place in this homely bar. Jack hadn’t tried to introduce her to these people he seemed to know well. She was a stranger in this place, as he was a stranger to her. She’d met him at a fishing lodge just over a week ago, and had sex with him last night. What the hell was she doing?
He admitted to not being in retail but didn’t offer much of an explanation either. She stared at his broad back, overwhelmed with questions. It seemed odd that he would be here, right now, at the exact same time as she. Could he have something to do with why she was here? Suddenly, she felt sick to her stomach. What if Jack wasn’t what she thought him to be? Maybe she had sex with someone who might hurt her when everything was all said and done. Her thoughts were so conflicting she didn’t know which side to lean on. On one hand, he treated her with gentleness, opened doors for her, and complimented her. On the other hand, she knew nothing personal about him except in a physical sense.
“Sorry about that.” Jack took his seat again, appearing the opposite of his usual cool and confident self. His smile seemed forced and he looked about the room as if distracted by something. Jamie detected a slight aloofness with his stiff body language as well, and it made her uncomfortable. “Zamira will bring our drinks shortly,” he added, almost as an afterthought.
Jamie wondered if she should ask him some questions, try to get to know him a little better, maybe learn what his job was all about for real, where he lived, and who this Sam character was that made him react so strongly. But Jack didn’t owe her anything. He certainly didn’t owe her any explanations about his life. He’d saved her the trouble of getting ripped off by a young girl, and then asked her to join him for a drink. That seemed harmless enough, even though now she felt paranoid.
