“We watch everyone who might be remotely connected. I didn’t know they kidnapped your brother. That changes things.”
“You think I’m involved?” she said incredulously.
“Surely, you knew those men back there were cartel.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“No, you just brought an overnight bag full of money to complete strangers.”
“No. I brought a hundred and fifty thousand dollars to save my brother’s life,” she shot back.
He contemplated that for a moment. “You weren’t supposed to lead us anywhere.”
Her eyes shot icy daggers at him. “You
do
think I’m involved.”
“I didn’t.”
“Until now?” she demanded. It was high time she knew exactly where she stood. They were stranded out to sea. He was her only hope of survival.
“Before today, I was convinced you were innocent. Then, you led me straight to the men with guns. You brought an overnight bag full of cash. You tell me what to believe.”
“That I’m innocent. That I hate those scumbags worse than you do.” She raged against the tears threatening. A few tumbled and rolled down her cheeks anyway, salty as the cursed seas. She told herself she was angry at her brother for not being stronger, for not leaving that horrible childhood they’d had behind, for not doing as she had and refusing to let it ruin his life. All of this had nothing to do with Jaden’s accusations.
“Not possible.” A flash of darkness moved behind his eyes. “Then tell me more about Max. What’s your involvement with him?”
She heaved a sigh. “I should know about my own brother. But I don’t. I didn’t know about his illegal involvement until you told me.”
“Are you saying you had no idea before?”
“Of course I did. He’s been doing shady things for a while. We haven’t spoken in a decade, save for that one time, remember?” Her voice cracked at the end of her sentence.
“Why’s that?” Her file hadn’t revealed any contact. Yet, Jaden couldn’t be sure. She was smart. Very smart. Smart enough to negotiate her way through one of the most deadly cartels and set up a meeting on a beach.
She glared at him. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“Look, I got a dead man back on the beach who should be alive right now.”
“Which is an interesting point.”
“Meaning?” he asked.
“Where’s
your
cavalry?”
His stone-faced features cracked as if the thought rattled him. “The way I see it is we have each other right now and not a heck of a lot else going for us.” He managed to say, “Sorry,” and look like he meant it.
She glanced up at the sky. “Your job teach you anything about weather?”
“I’ve seen a lot of storms.”
“Any chance this’ll pass?”
“I’d hoped.” His voice was filled with dread. “See those large, rounded puffs of clouds covering the sky with a grayish veil? Always comes before the weather gets worse.”
“Great.”
Things could actually get worse?
“You’re cold.” His hand closed on Lauren’s arm, sending shivers up it, and she felt herself being drawn toward him.
She pulled back immediately.
Clutching at her wetsuit, she hopped to her feet.
He grabbed her ankle, stopping her from taking a step while the pain of movement caused his face to crinkle. “Look. I’m outta line.”
She should’ve felt anger, and she did, but she also felt her pulse rise and tingles skitter across her nerves. She cleared her throat.
He pulled her closer. “Our body heat will warm us both.”
His touch caused her nerve endings to quiver and her senses to kick on high alert. Her gaze dropped to his broad chest, and she watched as it rose and fell in rhythm with hers.
“I shouldn’t —”
“Hold on, sweetheart. You’re shivering. It’s the best I can do.”
At that moment, Lauren wanted nothing more than to relax into his strong body, to let him ease her mounting concerns about the weather, and better yet, about her life. She wanted to get lost in his touch and feel his warm, perfect skin blanket
“You think I’m involved?” she said incredulously.
“Surely, you knew those men back there were cartel.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“No, you just brought an overnight bag full of money to complete strangers.”
“No. I brought a hundred and fifty thousand dollars to save my brother’s life,” she shot back.
He contemplated that for a moment. “You weren’t supposed to lead us anywhere.”
Her eyes shot icy daggers at him. “You
do
think I’m involved.”
“I didn’t.”
“Until now?” she demanded. It was high time she knew exactly where she stood. They were stranded out to sea. He was her only hope of survival.
“Before today, I was convinced you were innocent. Then, you led me straight to the men with guns. You brought an overnight bag full of cash. You tell me what to believe.”
“That I’m innocent. That I hate those scumbags worse than you do.” She raged against the tears threatening. A few tumbled and rolled down her cheeks anyway, salty as the cursed seas. She told herself she was angry at her brother for not being stronger, for not leaving that horrible childhood they’d had behind, for not doing as she had and refusing to let it ruin his life. All of this had nothing to do with Jaden’s accusations.
“Not possible.” A flash of darkness moved behind his eyes. “Then tell me more about Max. What’s your involvement with him?”
She heaved a sigh. “I should know about my own brother. But I don’t. I didn’t know about his illegal involvement until you told me.”
“Are you saying you had no idea before?”
“Of course I did. He’s been doing shady things for a while. We haven’t spoken in a decade, save for that one time, remember?” Her voice cracked at the end of her sentence.
“Why’s that?” Her file hadn’t revealed any contact. Yet, Jaden couldn’t be sure. She was smart. Very smart. Smart enough to negotiate her way through one of the most deadly cartels and set up a meeting on a beach.
She glared at him. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“Look, I got a dead man back on the beach who should be alive right now.”
“Which is an interesting point.”
“Meaning?” he asked.
“Where’s
your
cavalry?”
His stone-faced features cracked as if the thought rattled him. “The way I see it is we have each other right now and not a heck of a lot else going for us.” He managed to say, “Sorry,” and look like he meant it.
She glanced up at the sky. “Your job teach you anything about weather?”
“I’ve seen a lot of storms.”
“Any chance this’ll pass?”
“I’d hoped.” His voice was filled with dread. “See those large, rounded puffs of clouds covering the sky with a grayish veil? Always comes before the weather gets worse.”
“Great.”
Things could actually get worse?
“You’re cold.” His hand closed on Lauren’s arm, sending shivers up it, and she felt herself being drawn toward him.
She pulled back immediately.
Clutching at her wetsuit, she hopped to her feet.
He grabbed her ankle, stopping her from taking a step while the pain of movement caused his face to crinkle. “Look. I’m outta line.”
She should’ve felt anger, and she did, but she also felt her pulse rise and tingles skitter across her nerves. She cleared her throat.
He pulled her closer. “Our body heat will warm us both.”
His touch caused her nerve endings to quiver and her senses to kick on high alert. Her gaze dropped to his broad chest, and she watched as it rose and fell in rhythm with hers.
“I shouldn’t —”
“Hold on, sweetheart. You’re shivering. It’s the best I can do.”
At that moment, Lauren wanted nothing more than to relax into his strong body, to let him ease her mounting concerns about the weather, and better yet, about her life. She wanted to get lost in his touch and feel his warm, perfect skin blanket
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