She tried not to squirm when his hand brushed down her spine. She needed to throw Leiko off her trail, so she forced herself to relax into his touch. Picking up the shot, she said, “To luck.”
The liquid left a piquant trail down her throat and fuzzy warmth spread to her lower belly and limbs.
“Now that I’ve given you an orgasm, I guess I should follow it up with a slick line, something like, ‘Come here often?’”
“Clever.”
“See what I did there?”
“I did. Does this actually work for you?”
He gave her a disarming grin. “You’re still talking to me, aren’t you?”
An unexpected giggle bubbled up her throat. She’d never been picked up in a bar before. It was such a cliché, and yet, if she wasn’t on a mission, she might have been tempted. Christian had the most intense blue eyes—lighter than Jimmy’s—which were striking in his swarthy face. The deep cleft in his chin was also intriguing.
“What brings you to Saba?”
She felt Stewie staring at her and gave him an apologetic look.
He shrugged and moved away to fill another drink order. The bar crowd was multiplying fast.
“I’m on holiday,” she said to Christian.
“Really?” He leaned closer. “I own a scuba adventure company in Antigua. Do you like to dive?”
“Not even a little.”
“Do you have any hobbies besides looking smoking hot in that dress?”
“Careful, your cheese meter just dipped into the red zone.”
His eyes sparkled. “I just call it like I see it. What do you like to do for fun?”
The band finished a slow, unfamiliar instrumental tune and woke up the bar with a popular calypso song. One of the dreadlocked musicians picked up a microphone and started to sing, “Shake, shake, shake, Señora…”
On impulse, Sophie said, “I like to dance.” She was playing a part after all and this was her chance to live vicariously through her alter ego.
“With legs like those, that doesn’t surprise me. What’s your name?”
“Penny,” she said, borrowing the name from her favorite movie.
“Lucky Penny. Well, that’s appropriate, because this is your lucky night. I happen to be a great dancer. Let me show you.” Christian grabbed her hand and tried to tug her off the stool but she protested.
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
“I’m really not in the mood to dance.”
“I insist.”
“The lady doesn’t want to dance.” Stewie had come around the bar. He stood beside Sophie with his hands on his hips, glaring at Christian.
“Buzz off, little man. I saw her first.”
Stewie only reached the logo on Christian’s polo shirt, but he didn’t back down. He poked the bigger man in the chest. “This is my bar and she’s my date. You’re the one who needs to take a hike.”
Christian swayed as if he’d had one too many screaming orgasms. “Come on, Lucky Penny. You can’t tell me you prefer this hobbit over me?”
When he grabbed for her hand again, she pulled it away.
Stewie stepped forward. “Get out of my bar or I’m calling the cops.”
“You’re starting to become a nuisance, Bilbo.” Christian put his hand over Stewie’s face and shoved him away so hard he slid across the floor on his bum and plowed into one of the heavy wooden bar tables.
The music stopped. Spectators cleared a circle making room for a fight.
Christian slid his arm around Sophie’s waist and tugged her off the stool.
“Let go of me!”
“This is what you came here for, isn’t it?”
“Let go!” Sophie pushed at his chest, but his grip only tightened. “Stop it! You’re drunk.”
“Maybe a little, but I promise it won’t interfere with my performance.” His hand slid up her thigh and dipped under the hem of her skirt.
“Get off me!” She stomped the heel of her shoe so hard the stiletto pierced his leather loafer. He screamed like a little girl and let go of her to reach for his injured foot.
“Are you okay, hun?” A cocktail waitress appeared beside Sophie.
“Yes. Where’s Stewie?”
“The ice princess is taking care of him at the end of the bar.” The red curls around the waitress’ face danced as she nodded toward Leiko.
“You crazy bitch, you put a hole in my foot!”
When Sophie turned around, Christian grabbed her upper arms and shook her so hard her teeth knocked together.
A large hand shot between them and grabbed Christian’s throat. He released her to grab at the hand that was choking him and futilely tried to pry it away.
“The lady said she ain’t interested.” Jimmy’s tone was quiet but menacing. “No means no, buddy. I suggest you take a hike before I have to hurt you.”
He released Christian with a shove.
The man staggered back a step before catching himself. He massaged his throat. “She’s a goddamned cock tease.”
“Yeah, but she’s my cock tease.”
Sophie stepped toward Christian. “Well, you’re a bloody coward! You’re backing down now, aren’t you? Afraid to have a go with someone your own size. You must have bollocks the size of marbles.”
“Cool it, Duchess. I don’t want to hurt the guy. We aren’t here for that.”
“Did you see what he did to Stewie?”
Jimmy put his arm around her waist to pull her back. “Take a hike, man, before this gets ugly.”
The two men stared at each other for a moment as if sizing each other up. Finally, Christian cursed beneath his breath and headed for the door.
The music started up again, a cover of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry.”
“I must have been right about the marbles,” she shouted after Christian’s retreating form.
“Duchess, you’re going to get somebody’s ass kicked before the night’s over and I have a bad feeling it’s gonna be mine.”
“Are you serious? That wanker wouldn’t stand a chance against you.”
Jimmy’s eyebrows rose with surprise.
“I’ve seen you fight. You can handle yourself.”
“Well, you’re pretty damn good with those stilettos.”
She grinned at him. “Let’s check on Stewie, shall we?”
She took his hand and led the way through the crowd to the far end of the bar where Leiko was holding an ice pack to the back of the bar owner’s head.
“Are you okay, Stewie?” Sophie asked.
“Are you here to finish him off, you Amazon slut?” Leiko said.
Taken aback by the vehemence in the petite woman’s voice, Sophie had to remind herself this was part of the plan. “I just want to know if he’s all right.”
Leiko looked past Sophie. Her eyes widened and a dimpled smile transformed her dour face. “Jimmy Panama? Is that you?”
The ice pack fell to the floor.
“Passion Flower? What are you doing in Saba, darlin’?” He grinned as if he was genuinely pleased to see her.
Leiko squealed and launched herself at him. Twining her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, she pecked his clean-shaven face with kisses. “I’ve missed you so much, Boo! What happened to your beard?”
“It fell off. The glue doesn’t stick no more.”
She let out a pealing giggle that would have better suited a chipmunk.
“Christ, you two know each other?” Stewie looked horrified by the notion.
“I think about our wild weekend in Key West all the time, Boo.”
Sophie’s stomach burned. Boo?
“You think about him all the time?” The sullen expression on Stewie’s face matched the burning sensation in Sophie’s gut. “When were you in Key West?”
“Fourth of July weekend.” Leiko twirled her fingers in Jimmy’s hair. “Remember that night on the deck of your boat beneath the fireworks—”
“K
a-boom,” Stewie said before he lowered his head and covered his face with his hands.
Jimmy slid Leiko down his chest until her knock-off designer stilettos were back on the floor.
He’d had sex with this woman on the deck of The Salty Lizard? Just the thought of it made her nauseous. The burning inside her gut intensified and the fire spread into her limbs. In three months’ time, would Sophie be just another woman whose real name he couldn’t remember?
“Leiko told me she spent a week in Key West last summer,” Stewie said. “I shouldn’t be surprised the two of you crossed paths. I can’t compete with you, Panama.”
Was Stewie just going to hand this woman over to Jimmy and walk away? If Stewie lost Leiko, Sophie would lose the letter, and she couldn’t let that happen.
“You screwed around with my husband on our boat?” Sophie’s jealous shriek sounded so convincing, she even shocked herself with its intensity.
“Your husband?” Leiko looked at Jimmy for confirmation.
Jimmy shrugged and stepped away from Leiko. He slid his arm around Sophie’s waist, holding her back as she went berserk.
“You husband stealer! You flea-sized whore! Let go of me, Jimmy! Let me show her what’s what!”
“Calm down, darlin’. Let’s not pretend I don’t know what you were up to tonight. I thought we had a deal. You get to have your fun, and I get to have mine.”
She stopped struggling but stretched across Jimmy’s forearm to hiss into Leiko’s face, “The last woman I caught my husband having fun with on our boat ended up with one less toe.” She demonstrated what she meant with the heel of her stiletto, grinding an invisible toe beneath the sharp point.
Leiko backed up and Stewie caught her in a protective hug. He puffed out his chest. “I think you two better leave, you’re causing a disruption.”
Jimmy let go of Sophie and got up in Stewie’s face. “Me and my wife were just having some fun. You think you can make me leave, Four Eyes?”
Stewie slid off the stool moving Leiko behind him. “Yeah, want to try me? I can have you arrested and your ass thrown in jail for the contraband you been peddling all over this town.”
“You’d be arrested for buying it.”
“The governor won’t lay a finger on me. He owes me a favor.” Stewie pulled an envelope out of his pocket and slapped it against Jimmy’s chest. “Here’s the money I owe you for the goods. If you want me to keep my mouth shut, I suggest you take your loco wife and get off my island.”
Jimmy nodded and pretended to be chastised. “I don’t want no trouble, boss.”
“Then get the hell out of my bar.”
As they made for the exit, Sophie glanced back. Leiko was hugging Stewie and nuzzling his neck, and he was eating it up.
Jimmy held the door open and Sophie ducked under his arm to exit.
“What was that last part about?” she asked.
He waved the envelope at her. “Your letter. You done good, Duchess.”
“Give it to me.”
He held it just out of her reach. “Hold up a minute. It’s starting to rain. I’d like to get back to the cottage before this storm kicks into high gear.”
The wind whipped Sophie’s hair as she followed Jimmy across the parking lot. “It’s freezing. I thought we were in the Caribbean.”
“It’s the tropical depression. It’s heading straight for us.”
“Brilliant.”
“Don’t worry. It should blow over by morning.”
When they got into the car, Jimmy gave her the envelope. She was eager to read it but decided to wait until she had proper lighting.
The ride back was a quick one. There was no traffic and Jimmy flew up the dark mountain road as if he’d traversed it a thousand times.
They darted up the stone path toward the cottage, hurrying to beat the rain, but Jimmy stopped short in front of their door. He held up his arm to hold her back.
“What’s wrong?”
He put his finger to his lips, and she closed her mouth. He pointed to the thick tree that sat in the bend of the path, silently ordering her behind it. She stood beside it instead, resting her hand on its knotty surface.
A gust of wind rustled the palms. The flurry of cold air made her shiver.
Jimmy took his gun from the waistband of his shorts as he approached the door again. When he glanced over at Sophie, he slashed his hand through the air, motioning her back farther. She moved behind the tree but peeked around it.
Jimmy’s palm barely touched the door when it creaked inward on loose hinges. He held his gun out in front of him and stepped inside—
A kick knocked the weapon from his grasp, sending it skittering across the path. It landed on a stone step, where it teetered on the edge, threatening to fall into the dense undergrowth just beyond it. Jimmy blocked a punch but couldn’t escape the hands that grabbed him and hauled him into the room.
The rain came in a sudden deluge, stinging her face and exposed skin as it pounded the earth.
Loud grunts came from inside the cottage. A crash. The little dog in the next cottage up the hill barked madly.
Sophie looked for the gun. If she could get to it, she might be able to help Jimmy.
The moment she stepped out from the shelter of the tree, her dress was soaked through. She reached down for the weapon and tripped. A burning pain shot through her knees and palms as she landed hard on the rough stone. She reached out for the gun again and slipped. Her fingers bumped the weapon, sending it over the edge and into the thicket.
It was gone.
During the flashes of lightning, she scanned the area for a shovel or branch—anything she could use as a weapon. Another flash illuminated a chunk of chipped stone three stairs up. She palmed the rock and found it heavier than she expected it to be.
Another crash inside the cottage scared her to her feet. She paused just outside the doorway, tasting the rain on her lips. She readjusted the rock in her hand and gathered her courage before she charged into the room.
Two dark shapes wrestled on the floor between the foot of the bed and the dresser. She flipped on the switch and squinted against the brash light. A lone assassin garbed in black faced away from the door and had Jimmy pinned to the ground.
The men stopped struggling.
She raised the rock over her head, preparing to use it when Jimmy snarled. “God damn it, Jonas, what the hell are you doing?”
The other man’s peal of laughter was acrid and a little unhinged. “Just keeping you on your toes, brother.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“You are a sick bastard, Jonas.” Jimmy pushed his brother off of him before he hauled back and punched him in the face. Pain blasted through Jimmy’s knuckles and stung like a bitch, but it was a small price to pay for the gratification. Jonas bounced off the edge of the bed and landed on the floor on his back. He was still laughing. The brittle, choked sound coming out of Jonas’ mouth was something Jimmy had heard so rarely in his lifetime, he had to laugh too.
“Will someone please tell me what’s happening?” The Duchess was standing just inside the doorway, holding a chunk of rock the size of Gibraltar as if she wanted to bash somebody’s skull with it. Probably his. Her red dress—or what little dress there was—stuck to her curves like a soggy label on a beer bottle. Her twin peaks were so prominent she might as well have been naked.
His brother was getting an eyeful too.
Jimmy jumped to his feet and stalked to the bathroom to grab a towel. He tossed it at Sophie. “Cover yourself, darlin’, before you catch cold.”
She patted her face dry. “Why did your brother just scare the living daylights out of us?”
“Because he’s an ass.”
Jonas got up and tucked his T-shirt into the waistband of his cargo pants. As usual, he was dressed head to toe in black. “I have intel,” he said. Jonas wasn’t a man of many words, but he had a way of speaking volumes with just a few syllables.
“Can you give us a minute,
Duchess?”
“Is it about my father? Do you know where he is?”
Jonas remained silent.
“It ain’t about Mad Dog, darlin’. I’ll fill you in after he’s gone. He won’t talk as long as you’re standing there.”
“Unbelievable.” She pushed past Jimmy and shot Jonas the evil eye as she headed for the bathroom. “This is far as I go. If you want more privacy you can step outside.”
As if on cue, a boom of thunder rattled the roof and a surge of rain blew in through the yawning cottage door.
Jimmy kicked the door closed before turning back to Jonas. “What’s up, little bro?”
“Florez was on the move as of oh-eight-hundred hours this morning.”
“Where?”
“Santa Marta, Colombia. Boarded a large seaplane with a dozen soldados.”
“Did you see Tulio?”
Jonas shook his head.
Jimmy muttered a curse. He pulled his wet T-shirt up over his head and used it to dry his chest before tossing it onto the dresser beside his duffel. “Where were they heading?”
“A private island called Clipper Cay.”
“I’ve never heard of it. Where’s it near?” He unzipped his bag and rooted around for a fresh shirt.
“The western coast of Montserrat.”
“Any chance that’s where Bautista has been hiding out?”
“Unconfirmed, but likely.”
Jimmy picked out a faded Miami Dolphins tee and slid it on. “Who owns the island?”
“John J. Doe out of Zurich, Switzerland.”
“Convenient.” Righting one of the wooden chairs they’d turned over in the scuffle, Jimmy took a seat at the little table by the front window. He stretched out his legs and crossed his ankles. “So how did you find us? Did that little shit Romario Keylard sell me out?”
Jonas was staring at the floor. “Not Romario. His uncle.”
“Sabato Banton?”
A pair of cold, empty eyes lifted to Jimmy’s face. “Albatross got to the kid.”
Jimmy’s stomach did a queer flip. “When?”
“Last night. Romario wouldn’t give up your location, so they shot him.”
“Goddamn it!” Jimmy came to his feet. “He’s just a kid. What’s his condition?”
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