“All right. Seeing as you almost got shot last night, I’ll let you have your sleep in. But that Eric guy’s been in already looking for you. He’s getting to be a pain in my ass. If he weren’t a Special K member, I’d cut him off. I’ll check on you later.” Willie obviously slipped back to sleep, because the audio went silent again.
At the patio, Eric tried to strike up a conversation with a woman two chairs over. She brushed him off immediately.
“Smart lady.” Sax glanced at his watch. “Let’s head over to meet Darius.”
“Are you going to tell him about Reed?”
“No. I have to follow my chain of command, and he isn’t it. I’m afraid he’ll just fire them. I want them prosecuted. Well, I want them castrated, but that’s outside my job parameters. But definitely put in prison. I’m sorry that Darius gets dragged through the mud, but if he has nothing to do with the op, he should be cleared.”
The cart was waiting, along with the same driver who’d taken them back to the resort the day before. He greeted them with a nod but said not one word as he drove them through the jungle to the big house. He led them inside to Darius’s office, where he was waiting.
“You know who’s working with Willie?” he asked in way of greeting.
“Afraid not. I wanted to let you know that we’re leaving this afternoon. I’m going to leave this with your professional. I’m not equipped to deal with drug dealers.” Killed him to say that. “Willie’s accomplice probably isn’t going to do anything until the man and woman he thinks are onto him are gone. The sooner we leave, the sooner you can get your answer and stop this.”
Darius rubbed his mouth in thought. “That makes sense.” It was odd how calm the guy was, no tension creases or frown lines. He was too young to be using Botox.
They were escorted back to the resort. Sax pulled Jennessy aside once the driver left. “I want to go back to my room and use the satellite imagery to study the layout of the island. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me, because I don’t want you out of my sight.”
Her eyes widened. “Do you think I’m in danger?”
“I’ve learned never to underestimate anyone. And I’m not taking any chances with you.”
That earned him a beautiful smile. “I’m okay with being stuck with you.”
He could think of many other things to do in a hotel room alone with her than sit in front of his laptop. Which was why he had to dredge up every last bit of discipline not to entertain those kinds of thoughts. “You could get a little sleep,” he suggested.
“You keep trying to get me to sleep. Do I look tired?” She patted beneath her eyes. “Do I have bags?”
He chuckled. “No, you look perfectly fine. I just know you’ve been through a lot without much sleep lately.”
He settled at the desk once they were inside his room and focused solely on that. She watched him work for a while, leaning too close and asking about particular landmarks or if the specks in the water were dolphins. She yawned. Said she’d view the screen from the bed. Within a minute of lying down, she was sound asleep.
And there he was again, watching her. He forced his focus back to the computer. The next thing he knew, the squeak of the mattress frame woke him up. Which was his first clue that he’d dropped off, his head on the desk. He turned to find her sliding off the bed.
“Guess you could use a little sleep yourself, super soldier,” she teased, heading to the bathroom.
He scrubbed his fingers through his hair as he came awake. “Just a wink or two.” But a glance at the clock indicated he’d been out for three hours. That was about as much sleep as he got in a stretch since joining the SEALs.
She emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later. “I could use a bite.”
“Where do you want me to bite you?” He rubbed his hand over his mouth. “Sorry, post-nap muzziness. You meant lunch.”
She sank onto the bed with a saucy grin. “I’m flexible.”
“Don’t tempt me, darlin’.” And she did, big time. But in more ways than just sex. “We’ll pay Reed a visit and then eat.”
“Reed? Why?”
“If we do the good-faith thing in reporting Willie’s activities before we leave, he shouldn’t suspect that we know about his involvement.”
Sax donned the button-down shirt and glasses. He left his eyes their normal color, since Malcolm had taken notice. He might think he’d imagined they were brown to begin with. He’d definitely be suspicious if they went back to brown. She’d been watching him the whole time, a soft smile on her face.
He really needed to get out of this room. She looked way too adorable and sweet and all kinds of things he didn’t deserve. Being with her wasn’t about working hard to deserve her. He would never be right for her.
“What are you doing?” she asked after he forced himself to go digging in his luggage.
He held up another G-patch. “This time I’m going to damn well stick this thing on that boat.” He jammed it deep in his pocket. “Let’s go.”
The resort was in full party mode. Day after day, week after week. At one time he might have liked the idea of a day-in and day-out party, but now it didn’t appeal to him. A conga line snaked around the pool, one guy grabbing the woman’s ass in front of him. She kicked him, so obviously they weren’t together. The activities director tried to taunt Jennessy and Sax into joining, but Sax waved them off.
He and Jennessy walked into the Connections office, where Reed glanced up—and froze a moment before pasting on a smile and standing. “How are you feeling, Ms. Shaw?” He lathered on sympathy and concern as he focused on her.
“My holiday hasn’t been the same since that incident I spoke to you about. We’re leaving today, so you can take us out of your system. We’ve both had enough partying for a while.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your experience. I’m happy to arrange for a discount at our gift shop.”
She grimaced, probably at the thought of wearing a T-shirt advertising Decadence. “No, thank you.”
Reed clasped his hands in front of him. “If there’s anything else I can do, please let me know.”
“He seemed so genuine,” Jennessy said with disgust when they stepped out of the building. “It makes me not want to trust anyone.”
“Sadly, there are a lot of untrustworthy people out there. Heck, I lied to you right off the bat.”
“Well, you were undercover at the time,” she said in a low voice.
He led the way toward the buffet, which filled the air with the scent of jerk spices. “Even then, I was sort of honest with you.” They stepped to the end of the line. He handed her a tray and gestured for her to go ahead of him.
“Yes, you were.” She regarded him with an interesting look that made his stomach jump.
He focused on the array of food in all the steaming metal bins, piling tons on his plate without even thinking much about it.
“You were protective, even then, warning me about my drink. You’re also a gentleman, through and through,” she added, placing a plantain on her plate.
“That’s on account of I’d get my ass whipped if I didn’t open a door for a lady or let her pass first. It may seem hypocritical, but the men in my family pay the utmost respect to women, other than the loyalty thing.”
“Maybe that’s why they put up with their antics.”
He paused. “You might be right. Before I signed on to my new job, one of the local gals offered to let me cheat all I wanted if I’d marry her. Just so she could be a Cole. I thought it was sad that she had so little self-respect.”
“I couldn’t make that kind of offer. I’m too selfish.” She flashed him a meaningful look in reference to his earlier assertion.
He reached for the tongs and grabbed a pile of shredded pork. “Me, too. I couldn’t imagine sharing you—I mean, sharing a woman. I have a feeling I’d be way too possessive if I were in a relationship.” He’d had a taste of that when she was dancing with the boob-grabbing guy. “Which I find ironic.”
He was hungry, but not for food. “I spent way too many years eating MREs—meals ready to eat—when I was deployed. Dried-up semblances of food that traveled well.” He speared a forkful of chicken. “I’m making up for it now.”
You have a lot of making up to do.
Dayum, since when did his thoughts poke into his mind like this, telling him things he didn’t want to hear? Couldn’t hear.
After lunch she ordered a margarita, and he ordered a whiskey lemonade. She lifted hers in a toast. “Here’s to…a great team? A brief but special friendship?” By the way she was leaving those as suggestions, he figured she was open for him to add something more substantial.
“Here’s looking at you, kid.” He touched his glass to hers. “To being the Ilsa and Rick of Decadence.”
Her smile was bittersweet. “Casablanca. I love that movie. But it had such a sad ending. I know Rick was doing the right thing, but I wanted them to be together at the end anyway. They clearly loved each other. And were meant to be.” She touched her tongue to the salted rim and took a drink. “I’m still hoping for my happily ever after.”
His chest seized. Did she mean with him? Then he could have thunked himself in the head as he played her summation of the movie’s ending. He rubbed his thumb across the condensation on his cup. “You’ll get it. You’ll meet a great guy who will treat you good and won’t ever think of straying.”
She came around the table and settled on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You helped me figure out what I wanted. Like margaritas with salt and being a little wild, and…you, Sax. I want you.”
His heart stopped—literally stopped—for a couple of seconds. I’m trying to do the right thing here, darlin’. Why are you making it so hard? “I’m the wrong guy for you.”
“Here’s how I know you’re a good guy. You gave me your drink on the plane and pretended you’d finished mine so I wouldn’t feel like a lush in front of the steward. You encouraged me to find myself while warning me to be careful about my drinks. You stood up for me when that idiot grabbed my boobs on the dance floor. Not to get credit, because you didn’t know I was still in the area. And you resisted my drugged advances when no one would have been the wiser.
“But you know the biggest clue? You have been fighting what’s between us from the beginning to protect me. Even though you want to explore us as much as I do. Do you realize that I haven’t once seen you ogling any of the naked women here? And some of them have been stunningly beautiful. Some of them were ogling you. You have been completely focused on me.”
“It doesn’t mean anything, Jennessy. We’re talking a weekend, not a long-term relationship.”
“Is your interest in me waning?” she asked. “It’s been three days now. Come on, tell me the truth. I can take it.”
“No.” It was growing. “Do I believe at this moment that I could commit to you? Hell, yes.” He felt it in every cell of his being, taunting and pulling and tearing him in pieces. “Do I feel like I want to explore more for the first time in my life? Hell, yes. I’ve taken a lot of risks, but they were all risks to my safety. My well-being. I’m not taking a chance on your well-being. Because the thought of that betrayed look on your face is more than I can bear.”
“I believe in you, Sax. I believe enough for both of us, and I’ll take that risk. It would be worth it to explore what this is between us.” She removed his glasses. “It’s time for you to acknowledge your losses, Sax. Your SEAL career. This mantle your family has laid on your shoulders that deems you unfit to be a good boyfriend or husband. You say you accept being forever single, because you’re too good of a man to hurt a woman. Maybe you’ve convinced yourself it’s no real loss and that’s how you process it. Maybe you’ll look back on this moment and consider us another one of those no-big-deal losses. But I won’t.”
His chest was about to implode. A jumble of responses, rebuttals, and other crazy things, words like Let’s do this, fought to spill out of his mouth. This amazing woman had captured his heart, his admiration, and his respect, and he was torn between saving her from his weaknesses and claiming her.
Maybe wanting her was another weakness. A temptation to try at the one thing he might fail at. And his failure would be her pain. Her humiliation.
He helped her to her feet, standing in front of her. “Once you get back to your comfortable, safe life, you’ll look back at this and see that you very nearly made a big mistake. And the loss, well, that’ll only be mine.”
She opened her mouth, God love her, to no doubt give him another piece of that brilliant mind and open heart, but a trilling sound filled the air instead.
“Someone’s messing with my stuff again!”
He raced off toward his room, finding the door closed like last time. He swiped his card and pushed his way in to find…no one. Son of a bitch was already gone, wiser this time to the alarm. And so was his box!
“Where is he?” Jennessy said as she rushed up behind him.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find him.” He pulled out his cell phone and activated the GPS finder. “I don’t think he’ll crack the encrypted code to break in, but if he does, all my case files are on there. Ah, there he is. Moving faster than a walking pace, headed toward Darius’s mansion. I bet he’s on a golf cart.”
Sax started to head out but stopped. “Go to your room, pack, and wait there for me. I don’t want you hurt if this gets ugly.” His hands clenched. “And I have a feeling it’s going to get real ugly.”
She nodded, concern clear on her face. “Be careful.”
“You, too.” Leaving her felt like an ache. They’d been together every minute for the last three days. “Come on, I’ll walk you there. Malcolm’s not going to crack the code anytime soon, even if he’s a hacker genius.”
Sax left her safe and sound in her room and sprinted to the path that led to Darius’s home. Why had Malcolm taken the laptop to Darius? Sax was thankful for the regular running he did. His muscles burned, but he didn’t feel fatigued as he reached the house. He gave himself a minute to catch his breath and checked his phone. Yep, the laptop was here. He circled around the back, keeping close to the brush at the edge of the cleared area, then approached the back door.
It was unlocked, and he stepped inside the unlit kitchen and moved down the darkened hallway toward Darius’s office. He heard no voices, no sound at all. The door to the office was closed. Sax closed his hand around the knob and shoved it open.
The sight in front of him stopped him cold. He saw the blood first, pooling dark on the wood floor. Then the body, sprawled near the desk. The gun on the chair. His gaze shot back to the body. Malcolm. He knelt and pressed a finger to his artery. Nothing. Holy shit. Had he stolen the laptop and then killed himself? The box was on the desk, still closed.
“What the…”
Sax jerked toward the door, where the golf cart driver stared at the scene with the same shock Sax had probably just displayed. His gaze shot to Sax. Before he could say a word, the guy went for the gun hidden beneath his loose shirt and aimed it with shaking hands. “Hands up. Don’t move a muscle!”
Chapter 18
“You know Willie did this, set this up,” Jennessy told Darius at the small building that served as the island’s jail. She sat at the desk, only a few feet from where Sax was caged.
“But Willie wasn’t found next to the body and he didn’t know Malcolm was investigating. I will question him, of course, but I have no concrete reason for accusing him at this point.”
“Someone must have seen Malcolm come this way,” she said.
“He called to tell me to meet him here, that he had your laptop,” Darius said. “I don’t know what he thought he’d find on your very secured computer. Do you?”
Sax shook
his head. “He tried to nab it before, maybe to find out what I knew.”
“Bailey said he saw Malcolm arrive at my home. Then he saw you sneaking around to the back. He alerted me and came in to find out what you were up to. He saw no one else.”
“I can help figure out who did this.”
Darius gave Sax a somber shake of his head. “I have to follow protocol, which is to detain the suspect until the authorities arrive. They will take prints from the gun, check for gunpowder residue on all of our employees.”
“He t’reatened him,” Bailey said, pointing to Sax. “I saw him pull that man close by his throat and t’reaten him.” His eyes were wide, as though he were still spooked.
“I told him to stay away from me, Jennessy, and my things,” Sax said. “He broke into my room and tampered with my laptop. I’m not helping my case, am I?” He sat back against the wall with a sigh. “I was leaving today. I had no reason to kill him.”
“Other than for stealing your property,” Darius said. “Don’t worry. We’ll get this straightened out. But it might take a day or two for the authorities to get here. Unfortunately, I cannot let you leave.”
She met Sax’s gaze. A day or two. The dealers were coming back tonight.
Darius stood. “I must take care of some pressing matters at the house. I’m afraid you’ll have to leave, Ms. Shaw.”
Sax stood and looped his arms through the bars. “Can I give her a kiss? She’s leaving today, and I won’t see her again.”
“I’m not leaving you—”
Sax stared meaningfully at her. “Yes, you are.”
“No, she’s not. The authorities will want to talk to her, because of your association,” Darius said.
“I believe she may be in danger, and you have no grounds to hold her. She’ll cooperate with authorities via phone.”
Darius didn’t look convinced, but he waved for her to step toward the cell.
When she got close, Sax pulled her against the hard, cold bars. His mouth brushed her ear, and he whispered as though he were telling her that he loved her. “Three, five, nine, seven.” Then he repeated it. “Sorry I dragged you into all this.” He whispered the numbers one more time, then stepped back. “The phone that was on me, that’s hers. She didn’t have any pockets, so I was carrying it for her. She’s going to need it back.”
Wild Nights Page 21
