Guilty Pleasures

by Donna Hill

Xavier stirred, reached out, and cupped her tender left breast. “Open your legs for me,” he said in a rough whisper.

  He climbed on top of her, lifted her legs over his shoulders, and rode her until she screamed in release.

  Propped up against the mound of pillows, they sipped their wine. Rita’s heart raced with every swallow that he took. Suppose it didn’t work

  “Tomorrow morning we dock in Miami,” he said. He finished off his wine and put it down. “Have you decided”

  She turned to him and smiled. “Are you sure you still want me as your guest”

  “I am a man who always knows what he wants,” he said, each word coming out slower than the last. He frowned as the effects of the drug began to kick in. He tried to stand but failed. His eyes rolled for a moment in their sockets. He chuckled, struggling against the inevitable. He turned his head toward her in slow motion. “There was no need to drug me.… I would have given you anything … you wanted.” His face twisted into an ugly mask. He awkwardly lunged toward her, his large hands finding her neck. She kicked and fought, gasping for air as his grip tightened.

  Then just as suddenly as the attack began, it stopped, and he slumped against the pillows.

  Rita sucked in air, coughing and choking as she stumbled from the bed. She tripped her way into the living room and called the cabin. “Now,” she choked out. Tears ran down her cheeks.

  She grabbed her clothes and quickly put them on, looked around the entire suite for any traces of her. She took the glass she’d used and stuck it in her purse. She ran into the bathroom and grabbed up the towel and washcloth, balling them both up.

  Pulling herself together, she went back into the bedroom. Xavier was out cold. Her throat knotted. She went to the bed and leaned over him.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I wish things could have been different.”

  The knock on the door jerked her upright.

  “Room service.”

  She’d expected to hear Eva’s voice. She tossed one last look at Xavier from over her shoulder and went to the door.

  Jinx stood on the other side. He took one look at her, and shame filled her.

  He brushed by her. “Let’s get this over with.” He pushed the service cart into the suite. “Get the suitcase.”

  She went to the closet and pulled out the suitcase.

  Jinx called Jake on the phone. “We have the case.”

  “Good. Hang on.” He brought the impression of the suitcase up on the computer screen. “I’m going to input the combination into your PDA.”

  Jinx waited, watching Rita from the corner of his eyes while she sat in stony silence in a chair by the window of the bedroom.

  His PDA beeped. He went to the suitcase and put in a series of numbers and letters. He pulled the latch. It didn’t open.

  “Shit.” A line of perspiration broke out across his forehead.

  Xavier groaned.

  They both looked at him. Jinx tried again.

  This time it opened to a case filled with hundred-dollar bills, but no diamonds.

  Rita hurried over to the service cart, removed the bucket of ice, and lifted the linen tablecloth. The counterfeit money that she’d spent weeks in creating sat in even rows.

  They quickly made the switch, leaving the top row with the real money and the fake underneath, locked the suitcase, and returned it to the closet.

  “You can’t very well go to the safe looking like you’ve just been fucked,” Jinx ground out.

  Rita winced, drew herself up. “I’ll go back to the suite and change,” she said quietly. “Let’s go.”

  She crawled beneath the cart onto the bottom tray and curled into a tight ball.

  Jinx pulled the sides of the table down and dropped the tablecloth over it. He checked all around to be sure Rita couldn’t be seen.

  Gritting his teeth, he pushed the heavy load out the door and into the hallway.

  31

  Jinx and Rita returned to the cabin. Eva took one look at her cousin and knew the worst had happened. She didn’t even want to know what was going on in Jinx’s head.

  “I’m going to my room to change,” Rita said softly.

  “I’ll go with you,” Eva said.

  Jake looked up but held his tongue.

  * * *

  The instant they were in Rita’s cabin, Eva jumped on her. “Tell me what I think happened didn’t.”

  Rita kept her back to her cousin.

  “Rita … Oh, God. Why All you were supposed to do was fix his drink.”

  “I know. I know.” She turned to Eva. “He’s … not what you think.”

  “Not what I think! Have you lost your mind He’s a murderer, for godsake. And if I’m not mistaken, he’s had Traci disposed of.” She told Rita about what had happened earlier.

  Rita’s insides sank. She could still see Traci being carted off by those two well-dressed goons.

  “You don’t know that for sure.”

  “Maybe not. But one thing I do know is that you hurt Jinx to no end.”

  “Since when did you give a damn about Jinx’s feelings”

  “Since I realized that … men have feelings too, Rita. That they hurt too, have wants and needs and secrets too.” She slowly approached Rita, who looked like she wanted to run. “Just like me and you. We’ve been running and searching for something all of our lives, and it’s been right in front of us for a long time. But we’ve been so busy looking for the next best thing, we couldn’t see it.”

  Tears filled Rita’s eyes. “Jinx can’t really want me. He can’t really want me, ’cause at the heart of him with all his faults and quirks, he’s a good guy—and good guys don’t go for women like me.”

  “But he has gone for a woman like you.” She reached out and wiped the tears away. “And it’s about time you started thinking of yourself as someone worthy of being loved and not used.”

  Rita hung her head. “It’s probably too late now.”

  “One thing I’ve discovered on this little excursion is that it’s never too late.” She paused for a beat. “Now come on. We have some diamonds to lift.”

  * * *

  Rita put the stash of zirconia in her oversize pocketbook. “Sure looks like the real thing,” she muttered as she closed the pocketbook.

  Jake handed her the encoded card key for Xavier’s box. “This should work.”

  “Should” Rita said.

  “It will. Trust me.”

  “Get in and out of there as quickly as possible,” Eva said. “I’ll be nearby just in case anything goes wrong.”

  Rita nodded. She looked at Jinx. He flexed his jaw and turned away.

  Eva followed her out.

  * * *

  When Rita arrived at the security desk, she cringed when she realized that the young man she’d flirted with was not on duty.

  She turned left and headed toward the noisy casino.

  Eva frowned. Moments later, Rita’s voice came through her headset.

  “You’re going to have to cause some kind of diversion,” she whispered into the tiny microphone attached to her bra.

  “Why What’s wrong”

  “There’s a different guy at the desk. The cameras are going to see that I’m not opening my box.”

  “Shit. Okay. I’ll think of something. Just go ahead.”

  Rita went back to the security desk. “Hi. I need to get into my box.” She smiled. He ignored it.

  “ID.”

  She went in her bag and pulled out her identification and slid it through the small opening.

  He looked it over then at her. “Card key.”

  She handed that to him as well. He slid it through a slot next to the computer, and a signature card spit out of the printer. He pushed it through the slot.

  “Sign at the X.”

  She did as instructed. “Busy night, huh”

  He muttered something she couldn’t understand.

  Her signature approval popped up on the screen. The side door beeped
open, and she stepped through.

  Rita walked down the narrow walkway, passing the boxes. Xavier’s was next. All she could do was pray that whatever Eva had in mind worked.

  She took the card key and slid it in. The door to the box popped open without a hitch.

  She held her breath, waiting for alarms to go off. She took the metal box out and went into the private room. She pulled the curtain.

  Pulling the bag of zirconias from her purse, she made the transfer, leaving enough of the real thing in the box as instructed.

  Drawing in a breath, she stuck her stash down in her purse, closed the box, and returned it.

  Her heart was beating a mile a minute as she walked back to the door.

  She saw Eva through the Plexiglas partition chatting amiably with the surly guard.

  She knocked on the glass to get his attention. The door buzzed.

  “Thanks and good night.” She gave him a finger wave and walked away.

  Her legs felt like spaghetti, and she was sure that at any moment a big grubby hand was going to clamp down on her shoulder and drag her away for eternity.

  She collapsed in relief when she finally made it back to the cabin.

  Jake was beaming. “Good job.”

  “It ain’t over yet. We still have to get off this ship,” Jinx said. “How long is loverboy going to be out”

  Rita grimaced.

  “At least twelve hours. Stuff works like a charm,” Jake said from experience.

  Moments later, Eva arrived. “Close one,” she breathed, shutting the door behind her.

  “What did you say to that guy anyway” Rita asked.

  “I started talking about the alleged person who went overboard. Told him how scary it was and whatnot. He said it was probably somebody throwing trash over the side. Said it happens all the time.”

  “At least it kept him busy and his eyes off the monitors. By the time they play the tapes back, we’ll be long gone,” Jake said.

  “We need to get everything packed up. I have some calls to make to my connections in Miami, make sure we’re all set.” Jinx got up from his seat. Rita approached.

  “John.”

  She rarely used his first name, Jinx thought, the sound of it softening the iron ball in his gut. He drew in air through his nose.

  “Yeah,” he muttered, keeping his attention focused on packing up the equipment.

  “Can we talk Later”

  Jinx turned his head and looked up at her. He tried to see her without Suarez’s hands all over the body he loved, Suarez’s mouth on places that should be reserved only for him … He blinked away the vision. “Not sure what there is to talk about, Rita,” he said, the words falling like snow between them, soft but cold.

  She turned away and ran into Eva’s stare. Talk to him, she mouthed.

  Rita squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.

  Eva pursed her lips into a tight pout, crossed the room in two steps, and grabbed Rita by the arm, practically lifting her off her feet. She dragged her back to Jinx’s side.

  His head snapped up.

  “Look, we all make mistakes,” Eva said, looking from one to the other. “And there is no one in this room with a clean enough slate to throw stones. We all got dirty, stinking laundry. But the bottom line is we’re … family. We love each other. You two love each other,” she said, flicking her index finger back and forth between Jinx and Rita, “and we two love each other,” she added hooking her thumb over her shoulder at Jake. She huffed.

  Jake stepped up and put his arm around Eva’s waist. “We’ve been in the game too long, bro. When you’re in it too long, you begin to believe your own con.” He reached toward Jinx. “We just get caught up, man.”

  Jinx lowered his head. He ran his tongue across his lips. “You wanna help me with this stuff or just stand there” he asked, looking up at Rita.

  Rita felt as if she would burst with relief. She blinked back tears and sat next to him on the small couch. She started wrapping up the wires. He may not be as dashing and insatiable as Xavier Suarez, she thought. But he loved her, and he wanted her in his life with no strings attached. All he wanted was for her to love him back. Her hand brushed his as they both reached for the next cable. She looked into his eyes. Yeah, she could do that.

  Eva grinned and turned to Jake. She angled her head to the side. “So now you’re a relationship counselor too, huh”

  “I call ’em like I see ’em.” He winked. “You ain’t too bad yourself.”

  She tugged his belt and pulled him to her. “I think I’m going to have to check out your credentials … later.”

  He leaned down and pecked her lightly on the lips. “Strip search” He put his hands on her waist.

  “Uh, I think there’s something I need to tell you all.” Rita stood and instinctively smoothed her blouse.

  “What” Eva and Jake echoed.

  Rita glanced over at Jinx. She walked to the center of the room. “Before … Xav … Suarez passed out.” She swallowed. “He realized he was being drugged. He tried to fight it. He … tried to kill me.”

  “What!” Jinx jumped up from the couch. He came over and grabbed her arms, letting his eyes run over her. “What did he do to you” he asked in a tone so chilling, it stiffened her spine.

  She took the scarf from around her neck.

  Eva gasped at the ugly bruises that circled Rita’s neck like a choker. But were they the result of an attack or …

  The cords in Jinx’s neck tightened, rising above the muscles beneath as if pulled by an invisible string. He picked up a glass from the table and hurled it across the room in helpless frustration.

  Jinx paced the room like a man possessed, hurling curses and threats. Pleas to settle down fell on deaf ears. He wanted to hurt Suarez, make him pay for hurting Rita. He’d been so ready to accuse her of sleeping with Suarez, and she’d been fighting for her life. He never even gave her a chance to explain. His shame slowly tempered his anger.

  He looked at Rita, and the thought that he could have lost her sucked the air out of his chest. And for what For some crooked FBI agent whose hands were far dirtier than theirs.

  Jinx ran his palm across his head and exhaled. “Let’s get this bastard.”

  “That’s the plan,” Jake said in all seriousness.

  Jinx walked up to Rita. His mouth tried to form words to apologize for thinking the worst, but nothing came out. He took her hand. “Let’s go. We need a good night’s sleep.”

  * * *

  As Rita lay next to Jinx in the comfort of darkness, a part of her hated that she led Jinx to believe that nothing happened between her and Suarez, that the bruises were all a result of her fighting for her life. But it was best this way. It was an episode of her life that she would tuck away out of Jinx’s reach. He need never know. Only she would.

  She closed her eyes, and images of her and Xavier taunted her throughout the night.

  32

  Jake checked his watch. “The ship should be docking in about a half hour.”

  “You think the drug is still working” Rita asked, clenching and unclenching her hands as she sat on the very edge of the chair.

  “Usually twelve hours, give or take thirty minutes,” Eva responded.

  “But we aren’t taking any chances,” Jake said. “You need to change your look totally. We can’t risk either Suarez or one of his boys recognizing you.”

  “My thought exactly,” Rita said. She took a curly honey-brown wig from the bag and set it on the table. “And just to be sure.” She stood and put a small pillow on her stomach and secured it with a thin belt, then lowered her billowy flowered top. She grinned at the effect. “They won’t be looking for a pregnant woman with curly brown hair.”

  Eva absently placed her hand on her stomach. She’d actually look like that in a few months. A moment of panic seized her. What was she thinking She was not mother material. She’d never had anyone to emulate, had no idea how to care about anyone other than herself—and
maybe Jake, but he was grown.

  Jake put his arm around her shoulder.

  “It’s gonna be all right,” he said only to her. “I don’t have a clue either.”

  She looked up into his easy smile. He always could read her like a book. “The blind leading the blind, huh”

  “Happens all the time.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Let’s get busy.”

  * * *

  When they emerged from the cabin, the ship was a bevy of activity. People swarmed the walkways, and crew members raced around, helping with luggage and directions.

  “Stay together,” Jake said, “and keep your eyes open. We need to be one of the first off this ship.”

  They made the slow trek to the front of the ship, where they would disembark.

  The ship rocked as it approached the dock. Eva squeezed Jake’s hand. He looked down at her and winked.

  Then behind them was some commotion and pushing.

  Jake looked over his shoulder. It was Suarez’s two bodyguards. They were shoving their way to the front.

  “Oh, damn,” Rita whispered, and then put on a pair of sunglasses.

  Grumbles and startled curses rose up and down as passengers were pushed and shoved aside. The two men cut a path between bodies.

  “Just be cool,” Jake urged. “We’re almost there.”

  The gangway opened just as the two men reached the front and practically assaulted the captain, who was at the ready to say his good-byes and thanks to the departing passengers.

  They started shouting in Spanish and gesturing, their tanned faces flushed with anger.

  “They must have found Suarez,” Eva whispered to Jake.

  “Yeah.”

  The captain raised his hand, signaling for assistance. Deep creases etched themselves into his forehead, and he listened to the men. Two white-uniformed crew members forced their way through the tight knot of people.

  There were a good two hundred people in front of Jake, Eva, Jinx, and Rita.

  “Damn, what if he’s dead” Rita whispered.

  “He better not be. They’ll hold everyone on the ship,” Jake said. He peered over heads to try to get a look at what was happening. The ship’s doctor appeared and hurried off with the two men.

  The line of departing passengers slowly inched forward.