Into the Flames (Perilous Connections: Book Two) by Delka Beazer Page B

her bottom lip that i s nearly healed and I know who has done this.
    S till I have to be certain. “What happ ened and what are you doing in Montserrat? ” My voice is cold with anger and I try to smile to soften its effect on an obviously traumatized Stacy.
    She sn iffs like a lo st child, and her gaze darts around the wooden pier, towards the restaurant now filled with tourists, then over towards the taxi men patrolling the side s like vultures waiting for the feast.
    She shudders in my arms. “Emmanuel. He found me. H e thought I knew where you were. ”
    His name suc ks the air from my lungs . I grasp her tighter to keep us both upright. This is also my fault. Another layer of guilt further weighs me down . “I’m s o sorry Stacy.”
    She sighs , a pitiful sound. “It doesn’t matter now cause you’re here.”
    I close my eyes and rest my chin on her forehead. What on earth did she mean? Does she really think th at I can save her from Emmanuel? T hat I even stand a chance at saving myself?
    The only real protection I had apart from my fists which are at best a weak comparison to Emmanuel’s is the cold, sm all weight of the single key that is secured underneath the sole of my left foot. The only proof that could sto p Emmanuel from killing me if I can con vince him to listen long enough and more importantly to report my w ords to his boss, my former employer , Pablo Guarez . The very man on whose orders I am being hunted to be killed.
    I gently detangle Stacy’s hands from around my waist. H er hold doesn’t feel right anymore. We are no longer lovers. I search around her shoulder but Dap hne is nowhere in sight .
    My heart thunders with fast building apprehension and I frantically scan the crowd.
    H as she chosen this moment to sneak off an d find someone to listen to her story ? T hen I see her , seated with Elaine and Aubrey at the table and my stress level plummets.
    I tug a reluctant Stacy over towards the table. There is no question in my mind that I have to protect Stacy, since I’ m responsible for her mess and that means she must stay with us .
    It ’ s only minutes later as I begin the silted introductions and I sit to scarf down a plate of eggs , bacon and toast that my reaction to Daphne’s momentary disappearance hits me.
    A fter Stacy’s arrival and I’d lost sight of Daphne for those several seconds, my fear had had nothing to with her dashing off an d informi ng immigration like she’d threa tened to do on the ferry . R ather I see with sickening clarity that all of it, every ounce of fear that had rushed into my bod y as I’d searched for her had been because I was afraid I would never see her again .
    I take long, slow swallow s of my warm coffee and contemplate this totally unexpected t urn that this whole mess has taken and how best to rid myself of these dangerous feelings.
    At least I can try and solve one right away. “Elaine?”
    I’m no t surprised to find Elaine watching me with reignited interest. I glance at her and she quickly r earranges her features into one of disinterest . “Yes, Nate?”
    “Is it possible that we can meet up with one of your relatives in town thi s morning right after we’re done here? ”
    She nods. “I think so. But I need to make a call.” She looks at me , and it strikes me for the firs t time in several weeks that I’ m not carrying a cell phone. Elaine obviously expects me to have one.
    “Don’t have one.” Holding her startled look, I dare her to question me about this shocking abnormality. She doesn’t but i f I had thought her merely interested in all the crazy things which have happened since Daphne brought me home , that is nothing compared to the raging questions I see in her eyes now. She litera lly cannot credit the reality of my lack of a phone and my stubbornne ss in refusing to satisfy her unasked questions.
    I r emain obstinately silent. Let her think whatever the hell she wants.
    She mumbles something about asking the