Wild Heart
Page 18
There was another vacant lot next to it and beside that a lime-green home that was still occupied. Across the street was a brand new 6-unit, two-story apartment building.
We took cover in the desolate structure and hid there for quite a while.
The stars flickered overhead, and crickets chirped.
The black SUV cruised through the neighborhood, searching for us. We crouched low as it rolled by the abandoned structure, a flashlight beam slashing the night.
We waited until the vehicle turned the corner.
There was a red Jeep parked at the curb with the windows and top down. When all was clear, Dean left the shelter of the building, ran down the sidewalk, and slinked inside the Jeep. Within a few minutes, he had the vehicle started. We dashed to the Jeep and hopped inside. Dean drove casually out of the neighborhood.
I called Wyatt and told him we were ready for an immediate evacuation. Dean drove us straight to the airport, and we ditched the Jeep and the guns. We shook hands and thanked him for his assistance, just as the sun crested the horizon. Dean hopped into a cab, and I never saw him again.
I was starting to breathe easier, but we weren’t out of this yet.
We were walking across the tarmac to Wyatt’s Cessna when we were suddenly surrounded by Mexican Police. There was no doubt that the cartel had put the word out to law enforcement to look for three Americans on the run. Angry barrels of fully automatic assault rifles stared at us. We were only a few yards away from the aircraft—a few steps to freedom.
My stomach twisted, and I envisioned a lifetime in a crappy cell with no running water and only a slop bucket. Maybe a crusty slice of bread and a gulp of nasty water per day, if I was lucky. Then I realized I didn’t have to worry about a lifetime in a Mexican prison. We’d be handed over to the cartel and dealt with accordingly.
We raised our hands in the air and exchanged wary glances.
52
I told the police in Spanish, “In my backpack, you’ll find an exit fee. We must have forgotten to pay it.” I smiled. “My apologies.”
An officer approached and took my backpack. He looked inside and found my clothes and the two fat stacks of $100 bills. About $20,000, plus several thousand pesos. The officer held up the loot. The other policemen surveyed the cash and exchanged glances.
It was hard to say how this would go down. They’d either take the money and let us go or take the money and hand us to the cartel.
There was a long, uncomfortable silence.
The sergeant finally nodded to his crew, and their weapons lowered. In English, he said, “Enjoy your flight, gentlemen.”
With that, the squad dispersed, and we proceeded to the aircraft. We climbed aboard, and Wyatt went through the preflight checks. It was a long nervous few minutes as we waited to be cleared for takeoff. Finally, we raced down the runway. The nose lifted off the ground, and soon we were angling towards the sky, flying over the teal water.
I breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back in my seat.
Mission accomplished. Sort of.
When we got back to Coconut Key, I was ready for a good meal, a stiff drink, and a little relaxation. I called Shiloh and told her she didn’t have to worry about Armando anymore. But I couldn’t say that she would be safe from Juan Valverde or the cartel. For that matter, I couldn’t say that we were safe from Juan Valverde or the cartel.
Shiloh decided to enter the Witness Security Program, and I wished her well in her new life.
I had slept on the flight back home, recharging my batteries slightly. After a shower and a change of clothes, I was ready for a nice dinner. JD joined me at Diver Down, and we feasted like kings. Teagan worked the bar and seemed like she was getting along okay after the traumatic incident.
“I’m not even going to ask what happened down there,” she said.
“It’s better if you don’t,” I replied with a grin.“Although JD is now officially an international celebrity.”
Teagan’s brow knitted, not quite sure what to make of my comment.
My phone buzzed with a call from Chloe-C. Her album was topping the charts, and her world tour was selling out every venue. She’d call me sporadically between gigs. Her voice was a little raspy from singing every night. “I can’t talk long. I just wanted to let you know, due to scheduling conflicts, we’ve got two dates in NY without an opening act. Wild Fury can have them, but I need to know by tomorrow. I’m talking two nights in the Garden… sold out.”
Since I was now the manager of the band, I said, “I’ll run it by JD and see what he says.”
I couldn’t imagine the band turning down the opportunity. I thanked Chloe and told her I’d be in touch.
Daniels called shortly thereafter. I caught him up to speed on our little excursion. “Well, rest up. You know what’s coming next.”
The spring was always a chaotic season in Coconut Key. It was a nonstop month of mayhem. Throngs of college students from all across the country descended upon the island every year to drink, raise hell, and hook up with random strangers.
The influx of teeny bikinis came with a downside—increased traffic, drunk and disorderly crowds, and emergency rooms packed with college kids that had overindulged. Last year, we dealt with a particularly heinous predator. I was optimistic that this spring break would be relatively tame.
But I was wrong.
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Author’s Note
Thanks for all the great reviews!
I’ve got more adventures for Tyson and JD. Stay tuned.
If you liked this book, let me know with a review on Amazon.
Hope you are well during this challenging time. Thanks for reading!
—Tripp
Tyson Wild
Wild Ocean
Wild Justice
Wild Rivera
Wild Tide
Wild Rain
Wild Captive
Wild Killer
Wild Honor
Wild Gold
Wild Case
Wild Crown
Wild Break
Wild Fury
Wild Surge
Wild Impact
Wild L.A.
Wild High
Wild Abyss
Wild Life
Wild Spirit
Wild Thunder
Wild Season
Wild Rage
Wild Heart
Wild Spring
Wild…
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