We Met In Argentina

by Alexis Gold

  “Lance! Lance!” She cupped her mouth and called as loudly as she possibly could.

  The waves were beginning to settle. The storm had started to die and the light from the east had lit the waters and chased away the eerie darkness that had encompassed them throughout the night. The dark greens and blues of the stormy sky had turned to the pinks, fuschias, oranges, and yellows of a tropical sunrise. Jenna’s eyes quickly scanned the waves, but she couldn’t see a head bobbing or a figure anywhere.

  “Laaaaaaaaaance!” she screamed, tears beginning to well in her eyes.

  “He’s dead. You know it. He drowned out there. His body belongs to the sharks,” Lia spat, her words like poison to Jenna’s aching heart.

  Jenna couldn’t hold it together any longer. Her despair hit her hard, and she felt her knees give out from under her. Her head was pounding, her body was exhausted, and she desperately wanted to find Lance.

  “Yeah, cry like the helpless, weak woman you are.” Lia smiled at Jenna as she sat and watched her cry.

  Jenna suddenly felt all of the pain disappear, replaced by boiling rage for the woman in front of her who had ruined so many lives. She wiped away her tears and slowly stood up. Her body was stiff and painful, but she ignored the sensation as she rose and squared her shoulders. She stepped up beside Lia and looked down at her.

  “Shut up, bitch.” Jenna backhanded Lia as hard as she could. The power of her rage and anger sent the woman’s head back to hit the railing, the force rendering her unconscious.

  “That’s better, didn’t want to listen to you anymore,” Jenna growled, as she looked out over the waters and searched for any sign of life.

  She saw something in the distance, the splashing of a figure in the water. He heart raced. She squinted, and as the skies began to lighten even more, she could make out the strokes of a man as he swam toward her boat.

  “Lance!” she exclaimed, and a huge smile broke on her face as he came into sight.

  He swam up next to the boat and reached a hand up; Jenna grabbed it and hauled him up onto the boat with her. He was shivering from the cold waters, but wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

  “You’re freezing! We need to get you somewhere warm.” She stepped back and brought her hand to his face, which had drained of color.

  “I’ll be fine. You’re freezing too,” he said through chattering teeth.

  “Where’s Franco?” Jenna asked, her eyes looking to the surrounding waters.

  Lance shook his head. “I’m not sure. I tried to keep beside him but the waves drove us apart.”

  Jenna shook her head. “I’m really glad to see you, handsome.”

  He smiled back and wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers. She felt like her heart was going to burst with joy; the man she thought to be dead was here with her, alive and well and embracing her.

  She laughed with relief. “What a hell of a night.”

  “Meh, wasn’t too crazy.” Lance smirked at her, and she laughed and gave him a playful punch.

  “Maybe for you. Apparently your family does all sorts of crazy shit.” Jenna gave him a side eye and then looked to Lia.

  Lance frowned and approached his unconscious sister. He touched her face and looked at her cautiously. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand what happened here. But let’s hope we can get her some much needed help.”

  Jenna nodded and stepped up behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed. “We’ll make sure she gets it. I’m just glad we’re all OK”

  He nodded and turned around to face her. Then he took her face in his hands and kissed her once again. The sunrise was now in full bloom, the warm light began to dry their skin, and the breeze had died down. The warm air began to simmer and off in the distance they heard the whirling blades of a helicopter.

  She held a hand to shield her eyes from the light that was growing brighter on the horizon and saw the shining silhouettes of choppers headed toward the warehouse that billowed putrid, thick black smoke.

  Her brow popped up as she gave a snort. “NOW they show up. Danielle and I are going to have to have a talk about their lack of urgency.”

  Lance chuckled and squeezed her tighter. “Yeah, they’re timing could use some work. Do you think they have a suggestion box?”

  She gave him a sarcastic look. “I hope so, cause I have some suggestions.”

  They smiled and watched as choppers hovered around the warehouse, and two others began to head toward their boats. Jenna looked at Lia and then up at Lance.

  “You know they’re going to take her into custody, right?”

  He nodded and spoke solemnly, “I know. It’s where she needs to be right now.”

  A chopper zipped toward them until it hovered above. The wind pushed at the waters and the two of them had to shield their faces from the force. A man in full SWAT gear was lowered down onto the boat. He was clad in black and wore sunglasses, and his tall, lean figure stood equal to Lance. His feet planted on the deck, and he reached out a hand to shake theirs.

  “Jenna Lockley and Lance Pierce?” he asked as he shook each of their hands.

  “That’d be us,” Jenna replied.

  “I’m Sergeant Whitley, special task force. I got the message from a friend we have in common.”

  He smirked at Jenna as they both thought of Danielle.

  “I appreciate you coming. I owe both of you a drink back in New York.”

  The man laughed and smiled back. He lifted his sunglasses to reveal bright blue eyes that met theirs curiously.

  “You were investigating the disappearance of Lia Pierce, correct?” He unhooked the rope from his harness and the chopper backed off from over the boat.

  Jenna looked to the unconscious woman. “We found her, but it’s a long story.”

  He looked at Lia and then to the fiery ball in the distance, and his face twisted in surprise.

  “I’m guessing it had something to do with that?” He pointed over at what remained of the warehouse.

  “You’d be correct,” Lance replied.

  “Looks like we might have a real mess to sort out.” Whitley looked at the surrounding area and back to the chopper, which had flown a distance away and was hovering with a rescuer being lowered down.

  “Ahh, looks like they found Franco.” Lance grinned. He really wanted to see that guy put in cuffs.

  “Yeah, we heard he was tied to all this as well. Hopefully we got a few things that will stick this time and put him away for a while.”

  They all nodded and watched as Franco was pulled up from the waters, disgruntled and soaking wet. He reminded Jenna of a wet rat being pulled from a trash bin.

  “Serves him right.”

  Whitley waved the chopper away as it flew back toward him, and in the distance, a few boats could be seen heading their way.

  “I’m going to take Miss Pierce into custody. We will need to get your witness accounts, but I understand you’re both probably exhausted from the last twenty-four hours. Do you need a ride back to where you’re staying? Or any medical attention? You two look beat to shit.”

  He gave them a smile and the two laughed back. Lance wrapped his arm around Jenna’s shoulder and pulled her close.

  “If it’s OK with you Sergeant, I think both of us would like to head back home and sleep for the next couple days,” Lance said as he held her.

  He nodded and reached out to shake their hands again. “We’ll be in touch about the accounts. You two have a safe trip back home.”

  The other boats came up next to theirs. A few more officers stepped on board and began to help Whitley untangle Lia and put her in new restraints while Jenna and Lance worked to untie the boats. Then Lance helped her onto his, turned the key, and they gave a wave to the men as they began their journey home.

  Jenna didn’t let go of Lance’s waist the entire ride home. She relished in his warmth, his smell, and his body. She had never been so happy to be with someon
e in her life, and she never wanted to let him go again.

  He gently guided the boat into the boathouse, killed the engine, and tied it up. Jenna waited patiently on the beach, her eyes looking up to the beach house that had become her current home. He closed the door behind him and locked it, then grabbed her hand and lifted it to his lips.

  “Are you ready, beautiful?” Those bright, green eyes shone in the morning light as he smiled down at her.

  She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Handsome, I am so ready for a shower, food, a massage, and sleep.”

  He chuckled. “I think I can make all of those happen.”

  Jenna clasped his hand, and the two began to climb the stairs toward the house.

  Chapter11

  Jenna stood under the hot water as it poured down her skin. It soothed her sore muscles and joints and brought a deep sense of relaxation to her aching head. She took a deep breath of the sweet steam, rolling her shoulders and letting the streams of hot liquid roll over her. Lance had finished his shower and had order takeout; she knew it would be there any moment but right now she couldn’t step out of this delightful shower. He was right, showers really were one of the best parts of life.

  She heard him whistle as he dressed in the bedroom, his cheer not at all diminished by the long night of events or the fact that his sister had just been arrested for extensive work with a cartel. Jenna thought of Lia and sighed. It was sad to see things end like this, but at least she was safe. She realized that he would digest all of the past twenty four hours in his own way, but right now both were glad the entire ordeal was over and they were back at home, safe and sound.

  Jenna heard the ring of the doorbell and Lance leaving the bedroom to go grab the food. She turned the water off, sad to have it end what seemed like too soon. She reached up and grabbed the extra fluffy white towel he had hung for her next to the shower. She smiled and sighed as she buried her face in it. The simple pleasure was more than she ever thought she’d see again just a few hours ago. She stepped up to the mirror and wiped away the steam; the person who stared back startled her.

  While Jenna had seen her rough days on the force, she didn’t think she had ever seen herself in quite this bad of shape. Her lip was swollen and sliced, and though the bleeding had stopped, it puckered painfully. She had a black eye, a slice across her forehead, and the dark imprint of hands on her neck. She swallowed hard; being choked until she was unconscious was something she never, ever wanted to experience again.

  She turned around and studied her naked figure. Her skin was bruised everywhere. Dark patches brushed her flesh like she had been sent through a tumble cycle. She chuckled. She pretty much had been now that she thought back.

  She heard a light knock at the door and heard it creak open. When she looked that way, Lance smiled back at her, with his own black eye and a gash that went across his temple from when he had been knocked out.

  “I have food and ibuprofen. You ready?” He opened the door and stepped in next to her, his bare chest covered in his own set of bruises and scrapes.

  Jenna put her hands on her hips and looked back and forth between the two of them. “We look like Fight Club dropouts.”

  He smiled, stepped in front of her, reached around, and grabbed her naked ass.

  “Best lookin’ flunkies I’ve ever seen.”

  She smiled in return and reached up for a kiss. His lips parted and he happily obliged. She felt him stiffen ever so slightly under his loose shorts, and she reached down and stroked his cock a bit. He moaned with pleasure and grew harder. She threw her head back and laughed.

  “After all of that, you’re still ready to go?!” She was genuinely shocked.

  His eyes gleamed. “Always for you, beautiful.”

  She kissed him for that and squeezed his hand as she brushed past him.

  “Breakfast first and then it’s a maybe after a nap.” She winked at him, and he smiled as he followed her to the kitchen to get the table ready.

  Jenna slid on only a silk kimono that was hung on the bedpost for her. She never thought a simple fabric would feel so good. Her head still hurt, but the pounding pressure had turned to a dull throb. She rubbed her temples for a moment, then opened her eyes and looked out the bedroom window. He had opened the curtains, revealing the beautiful day outside. She smiled as she looked out at the cliffs and beach beyond. The afternoon sun was bright and flaunted splashes of greenery, blue skies and water, and pink, orange, and red wildflowers. She sighed. Life was good.

  She turned around and headed down the hall. Lance sat at the table with plates full of delicious empanadas, rice bowls, tiny cakes, and fresh squeezed juice. He beamed up at her, proudly offering his loot, and she grinned back.

  “Now, this is exactly what I was talking about when you asked what would be good for lunch and I said everything.” Jenna sat down at the table and pecked him on the cheek with a grateful kiss.

  “I thought you might like this arrangement.”

  “You were correct, sir,” Jenna replied as she lifted a hot, fresh empanada to her mouth.

  The two ate in blissful silence. The fresh, local food was bursting with flavor and provided a simple relief to their aching heads and bodies. Jenna didn’t know if it was the night’s events or the lack of food and water over the past twenty-four hours, but she swore this was the best meal she had ever had.

  Lance leaned back and patted his stomach, as he let out an exhausted sigh and looked at her.

  “Sleep now?” His face had softened with the onset of exhaustion and a food coma, and his eyes drooped ever so slightly.

  Jenna set down her own fork and nodded. “Yeah, if you can get me out of this chair.”

  The two chuckled and sat for a moment. Lance reached his hand over and took hers. He held it there for a moment as he leaned back and closed his eyes, perfectly content in the moment.

  “So, who’s going to break the bad news to your dad?” Jenna broke the silence with a small smile.

  Lance glared at her playfully. “Way to ruin the moment.”

  He stood slowly and stretched, then headed over and grabbed his phone.

  “I guess I’ll take care of it now.” Lance unlocked the screen, grabbed another cake, and headed toward the back patio.

  Jenna watched as he sat down under the umbrella, propped his legs up, and held the phone to his ear. That was going to be one hell of a conversation.

  Jenna stood as well, stretched her tired bones, and got to work cleaning up the leftovers. She moved slowly as she put things away, wiped down the table, and then took one more glance outside. Lance was still on the phone, and she felt the exhaustion pull heavily on her eyelids. She headed back down the hall, where the bed was made and the comfy, fluffy comforter called her name.

  She collapsed on the bed, closed her eyes, and smiled as she breathed in the fresh linen and curled up in the puffy blankets and squishy pillows.

  “Why did I ever leave you?” she asked the bed.

  Without another word, she felt the wonderful sensation of sleep begin to tug at her. She let herself succumb to its power, drifting away with a smile on her lips.

  *

  Jenna slowly awoke, the weight and warmth of big arms around her making her smile. Lance snored softly beside her, and she felt his big body pressed pleasantly against hers. Jenna reached her hand up to his forearms and pulled him closer as she snuggled herself as much as she could to be near him. This was exactly where she wanted to be.

  Jenna laid there for a few hours. She fell in and out of sleep, periodically waking to strange dreams or startling with flashes of the journey from hours previous. Lance moved in his sleep, but his arms continued to hold her and pull her close to his chest as he turned onto his back. The two were intertwined, legs wrapped around one another and skin pressed tight, never wanting to let go.

  She heard him yawn and looked up. He lifted a hand to his face and lightly ran his fingertips over it, before testing the lump on his head and le
tting out a small hiss.

  She frowned and reached up to pull his hand away. He dropped his hand and looked at her with sleepy eyes.

  “Still there?”

  She nodded, leaned in and kissed him, then gently pulled back and looked back in his eyes. “Anything I can do to make you feel better?”

  He grinned and pulled the blankets away, his hands sliding on the waistband of his shorts to tug them down and reveal his half hard cock.

  “I could think of one thing.” He looked at her with a playful smile.