by Han, Barb
The winds kicked up to a cacophony of lightning flashes against the backdrop of heavy clouds and thunder.
She regained her senses and stood up.
Lauren took a big risk in coming here to save her brother and had immediately been thrust into a whole new stratosphere filled with danger, death, and a desire she might never right herself from again.
Chapter Four
Thunder cracked as a lightning bolt raced sideways across the sky. Jaden’s ears rang, his head pounded. Lauren’s wide golden eyes threatened to fracture the emotional wall he’d built.
The air was heavy and thick.
She’s an asset. This is a mission.
Jaden focused his gaze on the surf. Something white bobbing up and down in the water caught his eye.
Lauren must’ve seen it about the same time because she sprang to her feet. “What’s that?”
“Can’t tell from here.” Jaden eased up until he was standing, every bump and bruise he’d acquired that day thumping with pain. “I’ll check it out.”
She paused, studied his face, and said, “Might be something we could use to get off these rocks.”
“Or nothing. A piece of sail.”
She strained to look. “That’s bigger than a sail.”
“Let’s see if it can help us.”
Jaden crouched down at the edge of the water. The swells had momentarily lightened up. Good. The winds were fairly calm. Better. He scanned the water. No fins. Didn’t necessarily mean no sharks. He sighed sharply.
All he could do was pray the tiger shark was gone while he looked for any other potential danger in the water, as sprays splashed up and over the rocks surrounding him.
Jaden checked his leg. No blood. Good. Sharks were drawn to blood. In fact, one could detect a droplet of the red juice in a million drops of water and smell it within a quarter mile of its snout. If a shark was near, it’d investigate. That much he already knew. He double-checked his cut. It was good. The makeshift bandage she’d made had stopped the bleeding.
Wading waist-high, he counted the waves, and on three dove into one.
He squinted, trying to get a better look at the mystery object. He didn’t have to swim long before reaching it. A wind surfing board. Looked to be in decent condition and like it would hold his weight.
This would keep them out of the water, insulate them against dangers lurking there. He planted his gaze on Lauren with laser precision as he paddled to the shoreline. Didn’t take long to reach the rocky coast. He rolled off the board and examined it properly.
“Not bad. Rig and the sail have been ripped clean off though. Still, it should work.”
***
“How bad were the waves out there?” Lauren asked, touching a small cut on his arm.
“Got tossed around a little.”
Jaden’s gaze shifted to the sky, and then back to the water. “We have to make our move.”
“Can you?”
“No choice.”
True, but as Lauren followed him to the pile of equipment, the thought of leaving the relative safety of the island and facing the unknown in the ocean tightened her insides. At least on the lumps of barren brown, they weren’t battling the treacherous seas and dangers lurking just below the surface.
Sure, she could handle swimming a short distance, but could she go the distance knowing there had been sharks around too? Besides, every bone in her body cried out for rest.
Jaden leaned in and lifted her chin. “You’re going to make it. We’ll be back to the mainland and dressed before supper. Believe it.”
She nodded, wishing she possessed half his confidence. Instead, she felt sick. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead. Everything scared her at the moment. Her brother was as good as dead. There were sharks and God only knew what else in the water. They couldn’t be certain which way was land. She could die. Her life could end and her body never be recovered.
Suddenly, the idea of never being kissed by Jaden edged in her thoughts. Would she die without ever tasting his full lips? Was it irrational thought reigning heavy on her emotions? Making her body crave his touch?
Probably.
The notion of her last breaths being taken without feeling his lips move against hers overtook reason.
She looked deep into this mystery person’s eyes. The reality of a man like him needing to hide his real identity dawned on her. Was she about to die with an agent, a stranger, without knowing his name?
“Who are you really?”
He angled his face toward her and studied her. A shudder of awareness ran through her as she looked into blue eyes, darkened with hunger and primal need.
His strong hand held her head, tilting her chin up toward him, drawing her lips near his. His other arm was like a steel band around her hips.
“Does it matter?” When he spoke, his chest rumbled against her.
“I would —” The rest of her words were silenced when his mouth crushed hers. She parted her lips for him, and his tongue delved deep.
Heat and a shot of overwhelming need warmed her from the inside out.
He broke off the kiss far too soon when thunder rumbled, shaking the ground. She stood there, stunned.
No one had ever kissed her so completely.
He glanced up at the sky, at the darkening clouds, and said, “We have to go now.”
There was a rough edge to his voice when he spoke that resonated with her. Need. Frustration. Survival.
“Okay.”
He slipped on his facemask and tucked his fins under his arm as he continued, “All we have room to carry is a whistle and your fins. It isn’t much.” He put on his belt and stuffed the small items inside pockets.
Lauren scanned the board. Should be big enough for both of them. He was right, though, not much else. “What about your compass?”
“Right. Got it.” He limped toward the board. “If you’re at the front, I’ll swing to the back. I can wear my fins.”
“Okay.” Lauren glanced around. The winds kicked up again, slapping her hair around her face as the swells waged all out war on nearby rocks.
One good look at Jaden said he’d made a tough decision to leave anything behind. She understood his frustration. Who could know what they’d need once they got out there?
All her hopes of survival rested on a ten-foot-long piece of foam and a man she barely knew.
Rocking back and forth in the swell, Lauren went belly down as she scanned for any other signs of danger.
Weighty, gray storm clouds blanketed the sky, casting a dark shadow everywhere.
How many hours ago had it been since she’d touched down in Antigua? Jaden wore a watch, but what was the use? Knowing just how long ago lunch had been wouldn’t get a meal in her rumbling stomach any faster.
Soaking wet and shivering harder with each gust of wind, Lauren battled bone-chilling tiredness as she waited for Jaden to settle on the back of the board. Just a few more minutes and she could paddle to stave off the cold.
The board rose and tugged as he lumbered onto it. He’d left the lower half of his body hanging off the back so he could extend his legs into a good stride. His hands closed around her calves, his signal to go.
“You ready?” he shouted.
Ready to dive back into that? Not really. It was something she had to do. Sprays of foam slammed her face from every direction. She choked on water. “Let’s do this.”
Jaden pushed off the rocks and, in turn, gave them the edge they needed to pop over the first big swell. A thought churned her stomach, while her nerve endings frayed. She hoped they were heading toward the mainland, but how could he be sure which direction they needed to go?
She paddled in stride as Jaden kicked against the raging sea. Rain pelted her face, and waves slammed her with salty water that made her eyes and nose burn. The icy waves crashing over her were no more chilling than the hopelessness crashing through her.
They’d been battling the waves for what felt like an hour when fatigu
e threatened to pull her under. Could land be much further? Who knew? Wasn’t like she could see much past the end of the board.
Or were they paddling further out to sea?
She squinted, strained to see through the wall of water. Nothing in sight. Panic tightened her chest. There were sharks out there; it was almost worse not knowing exactly where they were. Yet, it seemed like there wasn’t anything out there, just white caps, heavy sprays, and a man behind her she was being forced to trust.
Muscles in her arms burned, but her skin was cold. How long had she been paddling? She must be nearing exhaustion. She turned and shouted, “I can’t keep doing this.”
Jaden was quick to reassure her, offering an encouraging wink and a smile. “You’re doing great. We’re almost there,” he shouted.
“Where?” She turned back around to face front in time for a wave to crash into her. She choked on water and gasped for air as her fist went up to her chest and pounded. It was useless. She saw the situation for what it was. They were lost, and he was trying to buy time by boosting her morale.
Anger bubbled up as she propelled her arms forward until they were so numb she could barely lift them. Thoughts of Max, alone and beaten, propelled her arms forward when she had nothing left. Catching sight of a big wave rolling in their direction, she turned and shouted, “Hold on.”
She pumped her arms until the board crested the wave. At that height, she caught a glimpse of the mainland.
It was surprisingly close.
Another wave crashed down hard, and Lauren spun off the board. She swallowed a mouthful of saltwater, gagging. It burned the back of her throat and nose as she struggled to break the surface.
The surf churned her around as if a bull had caught her during the Pamplona Bull Run in Spain.
When the wave released, she reached bottom, and then crawled up on all fours pushing forward without opening her eyes. Another swell crashed on top of her and churned her upside-down. Oh. God. Max. What would happen to him now? She wouldn’t survive, and he’d be killed. Her head pounded.
Jaden had said he’d save her brother. Why did words from a complete stranger offer so much comfort?
Everything went black.
***
Jaden fought the rushing tide. He’d hit bottom. Sand chugged up his nose, in his mouth, his eyes. He coughed up saltwater, shook his head, and tried to get his bearings. He squinted through burning eyes.
The beach.
They were on the beach. Fatigue dragged him down like a shark pulling its prey under water. He rolled onto his side and wiped the sand from his face. Visibility sucked. He couldn’t be sure which shore they’d landed on, or if cartel waited nearby.
Lauren.
Where was she?
There. Not three feet away. She didn’t amount to more than a lump in the surf. His chest tightened. Nothing could happen to her. To his asset, he corrected. She didn’t move. It was hazy between them. He could barely make out her face. His gut tensed, his neck muscles strained. She had to be okay. For the sake of his mission. The cartel wanted her. He needed to figure out why. In keeping her close, he held the chips.
“Lauren.” His voice came out as a croak, his throat sore from choking on saltwater.
The next thing Jaden knew, the surf crashed on top of him again, yanking him back toward the sea. He crawled toward shore, sat straight up, and then did a quick-check for signs of more injuries. Legs looked okay. Muscles ached, and he was more tired than when he’d come off a three-month assignment in the jungle, but he was intact. He crawled to Lauren. She was folded over on her side, her chest slightly moving.
He felt for a pulse, got one, and then gently shook her.
Her eyes blinked open. Closed quickly. An inch-long gash scored her forehead above her right eyebrow. Blood pulsed from it.
“You’re gonna be okay, you hear me?” He couldn’t even think of what he’d do if something bad happened to her. A vice grip squeezed his chest when she didn’t budge.
He sure didn’t plan to leave her out here. No amount of pain would stop him from taking her to the emergency safe house. If they’d landed on the south side of the island as he suspected, Gregory would be waiting at Beachside Condos. Jaden couldn’t get a message to his contact with a dead cell. He hoped like hell Gregory would be ready.
Jaden lumbered to his feet and scooped her up. He couldn’t see more than twenty feet in either direction. Chunks of debris flew past his head. If the winds had seemed harsh at sea, they’d more than doubled in velocity on the beach.
Battling against them, he struggled to hold her up and keep his footing. He needed something, but what? What could he use?
There was nothing useful on the beach. He needed to scout the area. They could be a hundred yards from the hotel and not know from lack of visibility. He couldn’t leave her where she was. Moving her out of the surf, he gently lay her down. He hated the thought of leaving her, even for a minute, while looking so defenseless. Damn it.
Leaning closer, he cupped her face in his hands. Her once bright eyes were fading. “I’ll be right back.” He planted a firm kiss on her lips.
She didn’t so much as blink.
Nothing on the beach looked familiar, not that he could see far. He battled to orient himself. Suddenly the fact that the island had three hundred and sixty-five beaches sent a jolt down his spine. Jesus, how could he figure out where they were? They could be on any one of them — not to mention sand was flying everywhere, blurring his vision and burning his eyes.
He coughed up the little crystals that had flooded every orifice.
Turning his back to the sea, he jogged toward palm trees, ignoring the frustration tightening in his chest. Lauren had to be all right. He would find safety. There was no other choice. His hands fisted at the thought of the cartel getting to her before he got back. They get to her, and his trail would run cold.
Cell phones and water didn’t mix. His was soggy toast. There’d be no way to signal for an extraction.
Luckily, the beach was small. Just beyond the wall of trees, he stumbled on a road. No cars, but it was better than nothing. He veered right and listened for sounds of life. Anything.
Instead, he got more howling wind, which seemed to be picking up steam with each blow. Coconut trees were already twisting in every direction. At least none had folded in half.
Yet.
Even so, another danger was present. Falling coconuts. The irony of people dying more often from rogue coconuts than shark attacks was tough to suppress. He’d survived one already. Could he be so lucky as to avoid the other? Luck was fickle. Jaden had always depended on hard work and focus.
If anything happened to Lauren before he got back, he’d never be able to live with himself. Cursing the thought, he reminded himself that she had to be all right. The thought of her exposed out on that beach gnawed at his insides. He told himself professional pride had him desperate to see her again.
Next to the wall of palms, he caught sight of a dark silhouette. Whatever it was, it was substantial. He got close enough to make out the outline of a horse.
It was obvious the horse had been abandoned, left to its own devices. What that said in the bigger sense frustrated him to hell and back, but worked to his advantage for now so he wouldn’t complain.
He got close enough to make out a saddle on the horse’s back. There were other horses too. Must’ve been abandoned when the storm intensified. Their bowed backs meant they were old rentals. Trail horses on the island were ridden pretty hard, not coming near the standard of care animals received in the States. They wouldn’t scare easily.
Still, they were loose. This would require caution. He located a shed where he found saddles and tack.
Jaden slowed his pace as the horse’s nostrils flared. Meant he was spooked.
Glancing around, Jaden scouted for a distraction. But what could he use? Grass should work. He palmed a handful and inched closer.
“Here you go. You hungry?” He used as ca
lm a voice as he could, considering he practically had to shout to cut through the howling wind.
The horse didn’t shy away, allowing Jaden to inch closer. That was good.
Moving steadily, Jaden focused on making deliberate actions. He lowered his hand, careful not to lift it too high and give the impression he was a threat.
The knotted ropes hung freely on the ground. When they were inches from Jaden’s hand the horse snorted, and then took a couple steps backward.
Stay calm. Jaden inched forward again. “Good boy.”
The sorrel horse reared its head and turned up its ears, keeping a close eye on Jaden’s hand. He took another step, his hand so close it could touch the ropes. The horse bobbed its head before lowering it enough to nibble at the feed.
Jaden brought his other hand around and patted its neck. A crack slammed his right shoulder. Something that felt the size of a softball had nailed him. Blinding pain followed. Not wanting the horses to scatter, he swallowed the urge to unleash a torrent of curse words. He glanced down at what had hit him. Coconut. If it had fallen a little bit farther left, he’d be dead.
Death wasn’t an option with his asset on the beach, vulnerable.
Jaden edged around the horse while patting its neck.
“Easy.”
Moving his hands slowly and steadily, he saddled and bridled the horse. Mounting him, Jaden patted his sloping back. He eased onto the worn saddle that fit like aged leather shoes. Allowing plenty of slack in the reins, he kicked stirrups out of the way and wrapped his feet around the horse’s underbelly before giving a slight squeeze. The horse responded, breaking into a trot.
A metal garbage can spun around in front of him, turned, and flew past, not more than a foot from his head. He ducked other flying debris as a two-by-four slammed into a nearby tree. The horse spooked.
