by Elle James
Most of the beach goers had gone in, with just a couple of families left gathering their belongings and their children. Before long, the beach would be empty except for those brave enough to walk at night in the moonlight. He didn’t see anything that would keep them from sitting out on the deck.
When he returned to the bungalow, he found Sophia standing near the sliding glass doors in the shadows. “All clear.”
Sophia sighed. “Good. It looks amazing at this time of day with so few people on the sand.”
“Would you like a glass of wine?” Blade asked, heading for the kitchenette.
“Yes, please,” Sophia said. “I would love a glass.”
“Wait here, and we’ll go out together.” He poured two glasses of wine and carried them out to the porch.
After Sophia took her seat in a lounge chair, Blade handed her a glass and then he settled in the lounge chair next to her. They had a good view of the beach, but not the sunset. It would set behind them. Still, he enjoyed the sound of the waves and the salty tang in the air. The rain from the night before had evaporated, making the land steamy. They sipped their wine while talking about the Mayan ruins they’d seen that day and other places they’d like to visit in Mexico and South America.
“One of these days, I want to go to Machu Picchu in Peru,” Sophia said.
Blade nodded. “That’s on my bucket list, too. I’ve heard wonderful things about it.”
“I guess I’ll have to save a lot of tip money,” she said with a crooked smile. “Or go to work as an accountant and waitress at night.”
“If you don’t want to be an accountant, why don’t you cross train into something else?” Blade asked.
“I really haven’t given accounting much of a chance. It reminded me too much of my folks and their passing. I need to give myself permission to move on, but I don’t want to leave Sarge high and dry at the Salty Dog. He’s been so good to me.”
“I’m sure he could find somebody to replace you. And if you don’t want to give up working at the bar, you could work part time for him like you said.”
She smiled over the rim of her glass. “That’s what I was thinking.”
Before long, a knock sounded at the door of the bungalow.
Blade rose from his lounge chair. “I think we should take it inside now,” he said to Sophia.
She nodded and got up with him. Sophia followed him into the room, and they closed the sliding glass doors.
While Blade answered the main door to the bungalow, Sophia closed the blackout curtains over the patio door.
Before opening the door, Blade checked who it was, and then held the door wide. Ramón, the security guard, carried a box into the bungalow and laid it onto the table.
“Thank you, Ramón,” Sophia said.
“De nada,” he replied. The security guard spoke to Blade in Spanish explaining that he’d had a couple of men asking questions of the other guards and some of the staff members, wanting to know where the two of them were staying. At first, they’d only had Sophia’s first name, but before long, they were asking for them by their full names. Both of them. “And did the staff tell them which bungalow we were in? There was some confusion at the front desk. One of the clerks thought that we were in the hotel proper—and we were supposed to be—until we were upgraded to the bungalow.”
“To your benefit, I understand the people in the room you were originally assigned were surprised by a visit from some of those men. Our staff escorted them out, but they will be back. I spoke with management and suggested that we move you to a sister resort.”
Blade shook his head, his lips pressing into a thin line. “They would just follow us there.”
The security guard nodded. “The manager did change the name on the reservation so that others couldn’t look in the system and find you.”
“Remind me to thank him,” Blade said. “What is the likelihood of a cartel attack on the resort?”
The guard shrugged. “Not very likely. The resorts bring in money and employ a lot of hard-working people. For the most part, they’ll wait until you leave the resort. If you choose to take part in one of the excursions, you might want to use the name that the manager set up for you. I believe it is John and Jane Smith.”
“We’ll do that. Thank you for the information and thank you for bringing our food to us.”
The guard nodded. “De nada.”
When the security guard left, Sophia raised an eyebrow. “That was a long conversation. I really need to brush up on my Spanish.”
Blade conveyed the information the security guard had given him.
“So, are we back to being trapped in our bungalow?” Sophia asked. “And now, is our bungalow at risk?”
“I’ll see if we can get moved to a different bungalow tomorrow. It might help to switch it up a bit.”
Sophia’s lips pressed into a thin line. “All because some spoiled little cartel brat got a boo-boo, and Daddy is taking his side.”
Blade nodded. “That about sums it up. In the meantime, we have food.”
They settled into eating shrimp, crab legs, and crab cakes, polishing it off with a glass of wine.
“We don’t have to go anywhere tomorrow. We can stay in,” Sophia said.
“I think we’ll be all right as long as we use the names that the manager set us up with. Besides, I was looking forward to a little snorkeling.”
Sophia grinned. “Does that mean we’re going to the Isla Mujeres?”
He nodded. “If I can get us in at the last minute before it fills up.”
“Great. I was afraid we were going to miss out on the snorkeling, and I’ve never been snorkeling in a place like this.”
“You’re going to love it. It’s so clear, and the fish and coral are very colorful.”
When they finished eating, they cleaned up and put the remaining food away in the mini refrigerator. They’d have it for breakfast the next morning before they set out on their excursion. Afterward, they settled on the couch together, drinking wine.
Sophia waited to see what Blade would do after all that had happened that day. Would he insist on sleeping on the couch again? When he didn’t make a move to go to bed, she stood, took his wine glass from him, set it on the coffee table and held out her hand. “The night isn’t over,” she said. “I know you have another packet in your shaving kit. I saw it.”
“I don’t know, Sophia,” Blade hedged.
“We’ve already stepped over that line,” she reminded him. “We’re going to be here for a few more days. Why not enjoy it?” She took his hand and pulled him to his feet. “Do I have to twist your arm?” She smiled up at him. “Because I know how to do that.”
“You don’t see me arguing,” he said as he followed her into the bedroom.
They stripped their clothes off before they made it to the bed. They made love until midnight, exploring each other’s bodies and enjoying lying naked together.
Blade was the last one to close his eyes, his gaze feasting on Sophia with her face flushed and her strawberry-blond eyelashes brushing against her cheeks. She might consider her freckles a nuisance, but Blade loved all of them. He enjoyed discovering where they were on every part of her body.
Blade lay awake thinking about what the security guard had said. Maybe they would be better off staying in the resort hotel with the relative security provided by the staff. They’d done fairly well dodging the cartel on their way to Chichen Itza and back. Going out might be like playing with fire. The longer they played, the bigger chance they had of getting burned.
So far, the men had only asked questions. Nobody had made a move to accost them.
Blade wondered what they were waiting for. Not that he wanted them making a move, but not knowing was getting to him. It was times like these that he really needed to talk to members of his team. He left the bed, went into the living area and dialed Rucker’s number.
“Yeah, Blade, what’s up?” Rucker answered, his voice groggy.
&n
bsp; “Just need a second opinion.”
“Hold on, let me go into the living room. I don’t want to wake Nora.” Less than a minute later Rucker said, “Shoot.”
Blade explained what had happened since the incident at the cathedral.
“And nobody’s made a move yet?” Rucker asked.
“Not a single move,” Blade said. “But they’re watching.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, other than keep Sophia close,” Rucker said. “Really close.”
“I am,” Blade said. Closer than he’d admit to Rucker. The team didn’t need to know that he’d already crossed the line with Sophia. They’d give him hell. At that moment, he didn’t need their hell, he needed help.
“And just so you know…” Rucker said, “we all decided to stay in the Fort Hood area. Except Dash who went up to Dallas to see Sunny. Even so, I expect him back by tomorrow. So, if you need us, let us know.”
Blade sighed. He felt better knowing he could trust his brothers to be there for him. “Thanks, Rucker. It’s good to know you guys have my back.”
“Always, man.”
After he hung up, he felt a little better. Knowing his team was only a phone call and a plane ride away, he went back to bed and laid down next to Sophia.
She snuggled up next to him and rested her head and arm on his chest with one leg sliding over his hips.
He pulled her close and pressed a kiss to her forehead. He liked the way she smelled, like flowers and sunshine. He hoped that he would be enough to keep her safe for the rest of their vacation.
Chapter 10
Sophia woke in Blade’s arms the next morning luxuriating in the strength of the muscles surrounding her. He made her feel safe, and she liked that.
“How does coffee and leftover shrimp sound to you?” he asked, his voice rumbling against her ear.
“Actually, that sounds pretty good. Want me to get up and heat it up for you?” she asked.
“I was thinking I’d get it for you.”
She tipped her head up to look him in the eye. “How about we do it together?”
Sophia slipped a T-shirt over her head, and Blade pulled on a pair of shorts.
They padded barefooted into the kitchenette where the coffeemaker sat on the counter.
While Blade made coffee, Sophia got the leftovers out of the refrigerator and popped them into the microwave. Soon, they were seated on the outside porch enjoying the sunrise, coffee and shrimp. It was almost as if they were on a regular vacation without any trouble from the cartel.
“I’m looking forward to snorkeling today.” Sophia sipped her coffee, careful not to burn her tongue.
“I thought about that all last night,” Blade said.
She smiled over the rim of her mug. “Did you come to any conclusions?”
“I almost feel like we shouldn’t go. I called Rucker and asked for his advice.”
“Oh, yeah?” Her eyebrows rose. “And what did he say?”
“He didn’t know what to do either,” Blade’s lips twisted. “He just said keep you close.”
“Well, I’d say you’ve done a pretty good job of that.”
Blade smiled over at her and held out his hand. She took it.
“I hate standing around worrying, and then nothing happens.” She set her mug on the table beside her lounger. “Makes you wonder what they’re waiting on. Or, if we’re just being paranoid.”
“I’d thought the same thing,” Blade said. “But better safe than sorry.”
“If it’s all paranoia, then we’ve wasted an entire vacation.”
Blade squeezed her hand. “All right, we’ll go snorkeling, but we’ll sneak in at the last minute. In fact, I think we’ll make reservations with another resort. An independent outfitter.”
“You make the arrangements, I’m going to get ready.” Sophia left the lounge chair and entered the bungalow.
Blade went online to find a reputable outfitter offering a snorkeling trip to Isla Mujeres. He made the arrangements with only an hour to spare and hurried into the bungalow to let Sophia know where they had to be and when.
Dressed in their disguises, they left the bungalow and walked along the beach to the next resort, where they caught a cab from there.
Blade maintained situational awareness all the while, checking his rear, looking for anybody following them. He felt confident that they’d made a clean getaway.
Once they were on the catamaran and had set sail from the port, he relaxed. Between Cancún and the Isla Mujeres, the catamaran crew found a quiet cove and stopped so that everybody could get off and snorkel in the reefs.
Sophia was amazed at all she saw. Different fish, a turtle and beautiful coral. The best part was that she got to enjoy it with Blade. The day couldn’t have been more perfect. They enjoyed sandwiches that the catamaran crew had provided, and Painkiller drinks.
The crew was beginning to gather things for the return trip when a speed boat and a couple of jet skis roared toward them. The jet boat aimed straight for the catamaran.
The captain of the tour boat started the engines and tried to maneuver out of its way.
At the last moment, the jet boat spun sideways throwing a massive wave onto the catamaran. Sophia got caught in the wave and washed overboard, along with a man and his fiancée.
Sophia went under and fought to get to the surface. She’d removed her life vest and had been lying in the sun. Fortunately, she was a strong enough swimmer to get to the surface and grab a gulp of air. Before she could get oriented, a jet ski swept in beside her. The man driving it yanked her up onto the jet ski, draping her over his lap.
She tried pushing against his thigh and against the side of the jet ski, anywhere to get some leverage, but he smacked her face hard enough her head spun. The man driving the jet ski pulled away from the catamaran.
“No!” Sophia cried as the catamaran and the people on it grew smaller in the distance. Waves splashed in her face, choking off her screams.
Blade hadn’t been able to reach Sophia in time to catch her before she’d been swept overboard. He held onto the deck rail as the wave washed over the boat and its occupants.
Unable to stop what was happening, Blade watched as Sophia was swept off the boat. He prayed she hadn’t hit her head on her way over and sunk unconscious below the surface.
When the catamaran rocked back upright, Blade searched the water for any sign of Sophia. At that moment, a jet ski zoomed past them, the rider looking suspiciously like one of the barrel-chested bouncers from the lounge. He circled the side of the boat where people had been dumped into the water.
Three heads popped up out of the water. A man and two women. Blade could easily identify Sophia because of her pale skin and freckled face.
Apparently, the man on the jet ski had as easy a time identifying her as well. He swooped in, grabbed her by her arm and yanked her onto the jet ski.
His heart in his throat, Blade dove in as close as he could get to the jet ski.
By the time he surfaced, the jet ski was pulling away from the catamaran with Sophia draped across the man’s lap.
The jet boat and jet skis sped away.
Blake could do nothing about it. He swam to the catamaran, pulled himself out of the water and hurried to the boat captain.
“You have to follow them,” he demanded.
The captain shook his head. “I can’t. I have two people in the water. I have to get them out first. There’s no way we can catch up.”
“Then you have to get me back to Cancún. I have to report this as soon as possible.” Blade’s gaze followed the boat and jet skis as they disappeared into the distance. His chest was tight, and his gut knotted.
“Once we get the people aboard, I have to get a headcount. Then we can leave.”
Blade pushed past the captain and hurried to the end of the boat where he and the crew helped the other woman out of the water and then the man.
The captain performed a headcount of the passengers and crew.
Blade did his own. Their counts matched. They had the same number of passengers as when they’d left the marina at Cancún, minus one.
Sophia.
Blade paced the deck all the way back to Cancún. As soon as the boat pulled up to the dock, he jumped off, pulled his cellphone out of the waterproof bag he’d carried aboard and hit the number for Rucker.
“You must be missing us badly,” Rucker answered.
“The cartel got Sophia.”
“Shit,” Rucker said. “I’ll mobilize the team. As soon as I know our ETA, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks,” Blade said. “Out here.”
Blade didn’t know how or when they’d get to Cancún, but his team would be there for him and Sophia as soon as they could get a flight to Mexico. In the meantime, he had to gather all the intel he could.
He suspected the cartel wasn’t done. By kidnapping Sophia, they could lure him out into the open so they could capture him, too. Then they could exact their revenge on him for what he’d done to Calderón and his men.
As far as Blade was concerned, the sooner they found him the better. At least then he’d know where they’d taken Sophia. Then he could come up with a plan to free them both.
Not having a whole lot of faith in his ability to find Sophia and bring her back, Blade caught a cab back to the resort and immediately went in search of the housekeeper, Maria. He also wanted to talk to Ramón. Unfortunately, his favorite security guard was not yet on duty.
He had to find Maria. Maybe she knew someone who could help.
Blade started with the concierge, asking where he might find the housekeeper, Maria.
The concierge referred him to Hector, the housekeeping staff director. He could find the director in the laundry room. After getting directions, Blade hurried there, desperate to find Maria as soon as possible.
Hector turned out to be a short barrel of a man. He carried an electronic tablet and stood with a couple of women who were folding sheets.