by Chrys Fey
Before she could sink too far, she pulled back to whisper, “I don’t know. I like poker.”
****
After a late breakfast, Donovan persuaded Beth to climb aboard a helicopter and fly over an extinct volcano. The land below was lush with green life. Splashes of color dotted the landscape like fireworks in the sky, and turquoise water stretched for miles all around. Diamond Head rose in the distance, a king on his throne overlooking his land.
Beth was awestruck as they flew closer. “So, you’re sure this thing is inactive,” she shouted into the mike strapped to her head.
The pilot chuckled. “Positive. It’s been dead for over one hundred thousand years.”
With the reassurance it wouldn’t send a lava bomb into their helicopter, she stared out the window at Diamond Head. It dominated the whole corner of the island. The base had a thick green carpet, and the center was a massive crater of brown rock. What surprised her the most were the roads and buildings built in the middle of the crater. Not to mention the thousands of houses cluttering the foot of the mountain. If the Hawaiians didn’t fear it, then she knew she needn’t fear it.
“And there are no active volcanoes on Oahu, right?”
“That’s right, ma’am.”
She nodded at the pilot’s words and glanced at Donovan’s smirk. “What? I’m just making sure.”
After a snack of teriyaki chicken on bamboo sticks and cherry cones of Shave Ice, they ventured to Pearl Harbor. At the USS Arizona Memorial, a strange hush fell over Beth. The presence of the sailors who died on the battleship enveloped her. Sadness filled her heart. Even though the memorial was beautiful, the reason it was created broke her heart. She could feel the terror they experienced on that horrible day. It sank into her bones and made her shiver. The marble shrine with the names of the sailors who lost their lives made a lump form in the back of her throat. So many useless deaths.
Hand in hand, Beth and Donovan moved to a window and peeked over the edge at the water below. Seeing the ship right there, close enough to touch, made her suck in her breath. With the gently rolling waves and the sunlight reflecting off the water, the ship appeared surreal, ghostly.
“Wow.” The word came out on a gasp. “This is a grave for many men,” she whispered.
“Maybe this wasn’t a good idea to come here,” Donovan said. “Not exactly a happy expedition to do on a honeymoon.”
“No.” She squeezed his hand. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I would’ve been disappointed if we left and I didn’t get to see it, but it is heartbreaking.” She peered at the ship again, tried to imagine the fright they felt. It overwhelmed her, swamped her, drowned her. Lifting her face, she took a deep breath. The sun warmed her face. Whispers slipped into her ears. It could’ve been the wind, the waves, but she had a feeling the soft voices were from the lingering spirits.
Please move on, she said to the ghosts. You don’t need to be here anymore. You’re courageous, and we thank you. You’re safe. We release you.
The hairs on her arms stood. Warm tears pressed the backs of her eyelids.
“Are you ready to go?” Donovan asked.
She opened her eyes and looked out across the harbor. “Fair winds and following seas and long may your big jib draw.” A smile tugged her lips. She lifted her hands off the rail and faced Donovan. “Yeah. I’m ready.”
****
That night, they walked along the beach during sunset. Beth held her flip-flops by the straps with her left hand. Her right hand was joined with Donovan’s. The surf rolled over her feet, cool and soft. Puffs of foam clung to her toes.
The day had been one of adventure. Now it was ending with notes of relaxation and beauty. So far their honeymoon had been a dream. Her tan had darkened, her surfing skills had improved, and she would have lovely memories of the island to recall for the rest of her life. She had been happy on her wedding day, and she truly had been from scalp to toenail, but she had been wrong when she thought she wouldn’t be able to exceed her happiness when she married her soul mate. That happiness didn’t compare to what she felt at this moment. They were husband and wife. Forever. They were living new experiences with each other, as they would every single day of their lives together. She wasn’t happy. She was elated.
“So far, our honeymoon has been a dream,” she said. “If it ended tonight, I would be content for the rest of my life.”
Donovan lifted their hands and kissed her knuckles. “But it’s not ending tonight or tomorrow. We have weeks to enjoy this.”
She tried not to think about why they were staying on their honeymoon for so long, didn’t want to think about Jackson Storm. “I don’t know how it can possibly get any better than this.”
“It will. I have plans.”
She slowed. “Plans? That sounds mysterious, Mr. Goldwyn. I’m intrigued.”
He shifted in front of her and smiled. “You’ll like what I have planned. Trust me.”
The wink he gave her sent heat flowing through her body. It collected between her legs. With a single wink that was what he could do to her.
“I’ve always trusted you,” she said and pressed her mouth to his.
When his arms circled around her, she dropped the flip-flops and slung her arms around his shoulders. With her body flush against his, ocean water swirling around her ankles, and her feet sinking into the wet sand, she indulged in the feel of his lips. Kissing him in paradise, half a world away from where they said “I Do” thrilled her. The sound of the crashing waves deafened her, making her believe they were alone on the beach. Alone in the world. She tilted her head and deepened the kiss to claim every part of his mouth. His flavor and heat intoxicated her. Her head spun.
She inched back and leaned her forehead to his. “You’re an amazing man, Donovan. An amazing husband.” She gazed into his eyes. “Every day is an adventure with you.”
He kissed her forehead. “I’m an amazing man and husband because of you.”
Heart melted, she lay her head on his shoulder and held onto him. Floating on cloud nine, her gaze lowered to the sand. A piece of seaweed had looped around her ankle. Her toes were buried in the sand. She laughed when she noticed her flip-flops were gone, swept away by the tide.
****
Beth woke to Donovan lavishing kisses over her face, down her neck, and over her chest. “Mm.” She stretched. Her toes curled. “That’s a good way to wake up.”
Donovan smiled and hid his face in the crook of her neck. His lips were soft and suckling.
“Is this one of your many plans?” she asked.
“Oh, I plan on doing this…” He kissed her mouth. “This…” Lowering her lace bodice, his teeth gently closed around her nipple. “And this…” His hand slithered beneath her nightgown. His fingers tweaked the flesh between her legs. “All the time.”
She let out a sigh as he fondled her. Her hands curled into the silk of her nightgown. “I could get used to this every morning,” she breathed.
“I’m sure, but I have other plans for you today.” He continued to touch her as his lips feasted on her body.
“Well, this is a great start,” she said and enjoyed the rest of his wake up call.
Breakfast in bed, a shower for two, and a trip to Ala Moana Beach Park were Donovan’s surprises for her. The crashing waves and grassy area was a neat contrast. On a park bench overlooking the bluest of waters, Beth rested her head on Donovan’s shoulder. “I know we live in a state with over six hundred miles of beaches, but this is truly paradise. I can’t imagine anything bad happening here. It’s so beautiful and peaceful. I’m inclined to think they don’t have thunderstorms here.”
Donovan chuckled. “They get storms here. There’s also bad people.”
She lay her finger over his mouth. “Ssh, don’t spoil my delusion.”
He squeezed her shoulder. “Sorry.”
“I want to pretend good things exist here. At least during our honeymoon.”
“And you have every right t
o.”
She could almost hear his unspoken words. Especially after the last year.
Sighing, she lifted her head and pulled Donovan to his feet. “Let’s keep going.”
The salty breeze followed them on their stroll. Curved palm trees lined the walkway, and lizards darted in front of their feet. In Donovan’s left hand, he lugged a basket of goodies. At a picnic table, she pulled out sparkling water, strawberries, a container of cold pasta salad, pate, and crackers. She divided the food onto paper plates and handed Donovan a plastic fork.
The sun warmed her shoulders. The salt in the air added extra flavor to the food, making everything taste better. Full and content, Beth propped her chin in her hand and gazed at her surroundings—people walking and surfing, children playing tag and rolling in the grass, tall palm trees and rolling waves.
A scream pierced the air, cutting through Beth’s serenity. She jumped in her seat, knocking her knee into the picnic table. A splinter poked her thigh. She twisted this way and that while looking for the source of the alarm. At a nearby picnic table, a woman pointed at a tree. Her face was as white as ocean foam.
“Mom, it’s just a black snake. It’s harmless.”
The woman’s children stood next to her, laughing.
Beth settled back into place and tried to ignore her racing heart.
After their lunch, they walked back to the car, loaded in the basket, and piled inside. Donovan pulled out of the parking space and glanced at Beth. “Do you want to talk about what happened back there?”
She continued to look straight ahead. If he saw her eyes, he’d be able to read her. “What do you mean?”
“I noticed how you reacted to the woman’s scream.”
She shrugged. “I’m a self-defense instructor. I react when I hear a scream. It’s a knee-jerk reaction.” She rubbed her knee where a pink circle was already forming. “Literally.”
Donovan drove the car out of the park. “That’s all it was?”
“Yeah.” She looked out the window at the buildings and passing cars, not really seeing them. Flashes of the stories domestic abuse survivors told her fluttered through her mind. She saw April’s inflated, mutilated face and heard her own scream when she fled from Ramirez’s sinister smirk and speeding bullets.
Her gaze drifted to the side mirror. The sight of a black SUV driving too close for comfort made her sit up straighter. Her hand gripped the door. She stared at the SUV. Her breathing was rapid, and her heart pounded.
No, not here! She tried to peer through the tinted windshield but couldn’t see faces. The fear she felt, when the sedan chased her through the city and off the road, returned and coursed through her veins like lava.
She turned from the window. They’re not here. She thought it as if scolding herself. You’re being ridiculous, Beth. Jackson’s men aren’t in Oahu, and there’s no way they know we’re here. We were careful. Weren’t we?
She peeked at the side mirror.
The SUV zoomed up and stopped short of ramming their bumper.
It’s them!
Chapter Eleven
“Donovan,” Beth spoke stiffly as if she were holding every bone in her body rigid. “There’s a black SUV on our asses.”
She didn’t have to say anything else for Donovan to understand her alarm.
His gaze flicked to the rearview mirror. His hands tightened upon the steering wheel, stretching the skin taut over his knuckles. “I see it.”
“Do you think…?”
He glanced at Beth. Her face was pale, and her eyes were wide. He hated seeing fear stamped across her face, hated knowing he couldn’t erase it. “I don’t know, but we’ll find out.” He made a sudden right turn.
The SUV swerved with a squeal of tires and roared to catch up to them.
“They found us.” Beth’s words came out on a panicked rush. “How’d they find us?”
Donovan reached over and squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. We’ll lose them and call Thorn at the hotel.” He maneuvered around a car and pressed the gas pedal to the floor. The light ahead turned yellow. He glared at the intersection. His foot never flinched off the pedal. They breezed through the intersection. As they passed beneath it, the light changed to red.
The SUV didn’t stop. It shot forward in the path of oncoming cars. Through the rearview mirror, Donovan watched a car swerve out of the way. Horns blared. He released his captured breath when the cars didn’t crash.
The near collision didn’t deter the SUV one bit, though.
Beside him, Beth had one hand on the door and the other wrapped around her seatbelt. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, but I’ll be even better if you lose those fuckers.”
Wanting to do just that, Donovan switched to the other lane and made a tight turn. The SUV followed. A quick glance made his heart plummet to his colon. The passenger’s window rolled down, and a gun emerged.
“Get down!”
Beth ducked and covered her head with her hands as the gangster opened fire. Bullets punctured the back of their car. The sound of bullets creating craters in the metal echoed in his eardrums. Glass flew at them when the back window shattered.
Donovan scrunched low in his seat. Two bullets punched through the windshield inches from his head. At the next light, he made a fast U-turn that brought them onto a sidewalk. Metal scrapped concrete. The car jostled. He brought the car back onto the road with more grinding metal and rocking that had them bouncing in their seats. The top of Donovan’s head rapped against the roof. With a curse, he ignored the pain and focused on getting away from Jackson’s men.
Beth bent forward and dug through her purse. She took out her cell phone.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m calling the cops,” she shouted. “If we can’t lose them, we can lead the cops to them.”
“I’m sure a bunch of people have called the cops already.”
She tapped on the screen. “I don’t care. They need to hear about the situation from us.” She put the phone to her ear. “Busy signal? You’ve got to be kidding me!”
More gunshots sounded.
A tire blew. The car swerved. Donovan wrestled it back into their lane, catching it before it could clip the car beside them.
“Try again,” he urged through clenched teeth.
Beth redialed. “Ugh…” She lowered the phone, made sure the call went through, and brought it back to her ear. “What the hell? There’s nothing. Not even a busy signal.”
In San Francisco, a down emergency system wasn’t a good thing. Donovan hoped it didn’t mean the same in Oahu.
With a growl, Beth dropped the phone into her purse. “We’re on our own.”
Donovan glanced behind them. The SUV weaved from lane to lane, coming close to pedestrians and other vehicles.
“It’s okay,” he repeated. “I’m going to the Ala Moana Center. We’ll ditch the car and go on foot.”
“On foot?” Beth’s voice was dry, deep.
“We’ll be able to hide easier. Trust me.”
Thanks to the traffic, the compact size of their car, and breaking the speed limit, he was able to create distance between them and Jackson’s men. He turned into the shopping center, sped to the end of the parking lot, and shoved the gearshift into place.
An alert screeched from the radio’s speakers at the same time Donovan cut the engine and leapt out of the car. As he rushed around the car to Beth, he glanced at the entrance of the mall. The SUV was trapped behind a line of cars, and they weren’t letting the erratic SUV through.
Grasping Beth’s hand, Donovan hopped the curb and ran across the street to a chorus of horns. They sprinted from one side street to another, paused behind delivery trucks to check for cover, and peered over their shoulders to make sure the thugs weren’t catching up to them.
Staying close to Kapiolani Boulevard and staying hidden in the backstreets was Donovan’s one plan of escape. He didn’t want to go into a building, caging themselves for Jackson’
s men to corner and slaughter in creative and brutal ways. He wanted to stay out in the open.
Fear and anger clashed inside him like gladiators fighting to the death. He couldn’t believe these men had crashed their honeymoon, and he didn’t know if he’d be able to get him and Beth home alive. Would he be able to live up to the promises he swore to Beth on their wedding day? Would he even get the chance? He had to do everything in his power to keep his vow.
The sound of gunfire brought him around. A lone man in jeans and a black T-shirt was at the end of the street, charging toward them.
Donovan led Beth along Kapiolani Boulevard. The cars on the road were at a standstill, horns blaring. As they fled down the sidewalk, the vehicles were a blur of color. Donovan briefly wondered if the lunatics chasing them had caused a car accident, but that thought was fleeting. His main concern was getting them out of there alive.
After a couple of blocks, he directed Beth to a side street. They ran from one alley to another until Donovan felt they had lost Jackson’s men. Keeping close to the building, he slowed to a stop. With her hand on the brick wall, Beth panted next to him.
A couple hurried past. The sound of a woman wailing had Donovan looking after them. Did one of Jackson’s men accost them?
He put his arms around Beth’s waist and held her close. “We’ll stay here a moment to catch our breath. Then we’ll go into a shop and call a cab.”
She nodded. He hated how she shivered against him. He wanted to give those assholes a hell of a lot of pain for the fear Beth felt, but he had to get them to safety first.
Chapter Twelve
“I think the coast is clear,” Donovan said. He stepped out of the alley first, looked both ways, and then waved Beth forward.
She joined him on the sidewalk. Her legs wobbled. “I can’t believe those assholes are trying to kill us on our honeymoon.”
“It’s okay, baby.” He stroked her hair.
