Ryder. Yes, that was it.
What a stupid, stupid name.
A stupid name, yes—but he wouldn't make the mistake of thinking the man himself was stupid. Far from it.
Why was he here?
He nonchalantly made his way over to sniveling bastard, secretly smiled when the pathetic man jumped at his approach. So, he was nervous. Good. Maybe he'd learned his lesson last week.
He casually nodded toward Hannah and her friend. "How long will the newcomers be staying with us?"
"Until Sunday."
"Sunday." His suspicion grew a little more. The timing was inconvenient—very inconvenient. Anything that had the potential to disrupt his plans was inconvenient.
"What do you know about them?"
"Nothing. He's Allison's brother. They're here on vacation and came to see her."
He inclined his head to the two women looking their way, offered them a warm smile that betrayed none of his disdain, then turned back to his unwilling partner. "And you believe that?"
"I have no reason not to."
"Then you're an even bigger idiot than I first thought." He took a careful sip of his water. "Get rid of them. Tomorrow."
"And how do you suggest I do that?"
"How you do it doesn't concern me, as long as you get it done." He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Or you may find yourself going for a nice long swim like our other friend."
The color drained from the man's face but—as expected—he said nothing.
He turned away from the sniveling bastard, his pleasant smile still in place. He'd have to come up with an alternate plan—he didn't trust the bastard to follow-through with his orders. He was too weak, too incompetent.
And expendable. Definitely expendable.
Did he realize his time was already drawing near? Probably not. He had apparently convinced himself that he was needed, when nothing could be further from the truth.
But not yet. There was still use for him.
For a few more days, at least. After that...
Well, after that, it was just a matter of taking care of business.
He hadn't quite decided how he'd dispose of the man. Something fitting, of that he was certain. The different scenarios lifted his spirits and placed an even bigger smile on his face.
And, as always, stroked his appetite. Just in time for dinner, too. How convenient.
Dinner first. And then...dessert.
He looked around at the small crowd gathered under the pavilion, his gaze settling on the girl. Yes, definitely dessert.
He was looking forward to it.
Chapter Ten
Hannah had always considered herself to be in shape. Not athletic—she didn't go to the gym to work out or lift weights or jog several miles every day. But she did eat healthy—down here, there was no other choice—didn't shy away from hard work, enjoyed an occasional hike, and generally kept herself fit. Again, being down here, doing what they did, certainly helped with all of that.
That's why she hadn't balked when Ryder said they'd be walking. It was only three miles. Yes, they usually drove back and forth from their little compound to the building site each day, but that was because there were so many of them. Not to mention they were usually hauling everything they needed for the day.
It was only three miles. It wasn't that far. She was sure she'd been on hikes that were longer.
Except she'd never been on hikes at night.
In the dark.
Along uneven terrain.
Without a flashlight.
And why had she never noticed how damn hilly this route was? They were walking along the same road they took every day but the inclines seemed much sharper than she remembered—and definitely longer than the downhill portions. How was that even possible?
Her only consolation was that she wasn't the only one unable to keep up with the pace the two men set. Allison was right beside her, her breath coming in slightly labored gasps that matched Hannah's.
And neither one of them was carrying a pack, like Ryder and his friend were.
Hannah squinted her eyes and peered ahead, searching for the two large shadows somewhere in front of them. They were there, she knew they were. But she couldn't really see them, not through the thick darkness that cloaked everything around her, not when they were both dressed in black: black t-shirts, black cargo pants. And she certainly couldn't hear them. How could two men as big as they were move so silently?
It was creepy. Creepier even than the shadows moving all around her. Hannah had always felt safe down here, had readily embraced the slower pace and the open friendliness of the people who called the remote island home. Had quickly adapted to the change in routine, her day governed by the rising and setting of the sun.
The absolute darkness that settled over the island while the sun slept had never bothered her, had never given her pause before—until now. The shadows had taken on an ominous cast, their mere presence somehow threatening. Anything—or anyone—could be lurking just to her right, waiting to jump out at her, and she would never know it until it was too late.
The mere thought was enough to make her jumpy. She veered to the left, moving away from the lush vegetation lining what passed for a road. Her foot hit something and she stumbled, her arms flailing out to the side as she frantically tried to regain her balance. A hand closed over her arm and she swallowed back a scream—only she must not have done a very good job at it because a warm chuckle washed over her.
Ryder.
How sad was it that her body recognized the touch of his hand long before her mind caught up? How sad was it that just the sound of his chuckle, low and warm and a little husky, was enough to weaken her knees?
To weaken her resolve. Last night had been proof of that.
She brushed his hand off and straightened, then wiped at the strands of hair that had fallen into her face when she stumbled. "I'm fine. I'm good."
"You sure about that?"
"Yes, I'm sure." The words came out a little sharper than she intended, filled with the same embarrassment heating her face. At least the darkness was good for hiding something—unless he had a cat's vision and could see through the dark with no problem.
"How much farther do we have to go?" Allison asked the question before she could.
"We're about halfway."
Hannah and Allison groaned in unison. "Halfway? Seriously?"
"No, I'm teasing. We're almost there. I figure a half-mile at the most." She heard Ryder rummage through his pack—at least, that's what she thought he was doing. A few seconds later, something cold and wet was placed into her hand. She almost jerked back with a sharp gasp and caught herself in time.
It was nothing more sinister than a bottle of water. She uncapped it and raised it to her mouth, gulped half of it down then lowered it and recapped it.
"Are you sure that's all?"
"Yeah, give or take, from what I remember of the drive. Look around. Can't you tell?"
No, she couldn't tell. The darkness had completely disoriented her. They could be ready to walk off a cliff and she wouldn't know it.
A shudder raced over her, prickling her skin. She tried to push the thought away but it was already there, right in front of her, the memory as clear as the horror from this afternoon.
Naomi, scrambling for something to hold as she slid toward the cliff edge. Brown eyes wide with fear, her mouth opened in a silent scream.
Hannah running, nearly tripping as she dove for Naomi, her own scream piercing the air.
The feel of soft cotton against her palm as her hand closed around the young girl's shirt. The horrible sound of fabric tearing and the deathly certainty that she'd lose her grip. The cold fear that paralyzed her when the girl's slight weight dragged her forward.
Fear of another kind—slick and oily and nauseating—when Ryder had started sliding off the ledge. She'd seen the expression in his eyes, the complete disregard for his own life as he demanded that they pull her back first. S
he'd been so certain she'd never see him again. So sure that her last glimpse of him would be his face as he fell seventy feet to the surf below—
Hannah shuddered again and forced the memory away. Ignored the cold sweat beading on her forehead and along her hairline as she uncapped the bottle and tilted it up, draining its contents in two long swallows. Could the other three see the way her hand shook? Hear her short gasps as she struggled to pull air into her lungs? Sense her fear simply by the way she had momentarily stiffened?
No, of course not. It was too dark, they couldn't see anything. Even if they could, they weren't paying attention to her. Ryder and Ninja were standing off to the side, their shadows slightly darker than the night, their voices too low to make out the words as they spoke. And Allison was right next to her, too busy downing her own water in thirsty gulps to notice anything else.
"You two ready?" Ryder's voice, still pitched low but clear. Hannah nodded, realized he probably couldn't see her, then started to answer with a yes.
"Not really." The answer came from Allison, a hint of irritation in her voice. Ryder laughed, just a breath of sound that washed over Hannah. And damn him, how had he gotten so close to her without her realizing it?
His fingers brushed hers a second before he took the bottle from her hand. She heard the sound of a zipper sliding, the crinkle of plastic as he shoved the empty bottle into his pack. "Too bad. You should have stayed back."
"This wasn't my idea." Allison's grumble was meant for Hannah's ears only but Ryder laughed again, the sound already drifting away as he moved ahead of them. Hannah sighed and followed, Allison right beside her.
"This really was a stupid idea."
"I know."
"We could be sleeping right now."
"I know."
"Kevin is going to have a fit if he finds out."
"The weasel isn't going to find out. And if he does, I'll deal with him." Ryder's voice drifted back to them, filled with the barest hint of amusement. Allison grumbled then quickened her steps.
"You're not supposed to be eavesdropping."
"Then stop being so loud."
"I wasn't being loud! I was whispering. You just have ears like an elephant. And is there a reason we aren't using a flashlight? I can't see anything."
"A light would make us a target."
Hannah stumbled, caught herself and hurried forward. "A target for who?"
"The bad guys."
"There are no—" She was going to say bad guys but stopped at the last second. She couldn't say that, not with any certainty. If there were no bad guys, they wouldn't be out here walking in the middle of the night. They wouldn't be hiking to a cave to spy on whatever treasure might be lurking in that damn chest they had found.
And suddenly, everything became real. Too real. Her heart slammed against her chest and more sweat beaded along her hairline—sweat that had nothing to do with the still, humid air clinging to her. Up until a few minutes ago, this had been nothing more than an adventure. Even when they'd learned about the dead man, Hannah hadn't really considered the ramifications, had thought it nothing more than a coincidence even if Allison had tried to convince her otherwise. She'd been thriving on the make-believe, wrapped up in the romance of pirates and buried treasure.
Words like target and bad guys had never entered her mind. Those words didn't exist in her world, not unless it was a fictional world in a book she was reading.
But they very much existed in Ryder's world. The casual way he had tossed them over his shoulder, as if they were part of his everyday vocabulary, told her that much. The realization chilled her, made her wonder exactly what it was he did now. She knew he'd been in the Army, doing some kind of specialized stuff, but she had no idea what. And she knew he worked for a private company now, doing...she didn't know what he did. She'd never bothered to ask, had always tuned Allison out whenever she talked about her brother because it was easier to do that than to remember the way he'd broken her heart when he'd left all those years ago.
The toe of her shoe caught on something and she tumbled forward, came to a stop against the brick wall of Ryder's back. No, not his back—his chest. His arms came around her, steadying her, and for one second, she allowed herself to think about last night. To remember the way he'd held her, grounding her even as she flew apart. Big, strong, his size and presence almost overwhelming. Their lovemaking hadn't been gentle but he hadn't hurt her. Not last night, not all those years ago. At least, not physically. He'd always been so careful, almost like he was afraid of hurting her—
Except for now. He quickly dropped his arms and stepped back, fast enough that she nearly lost her balance again. And oh God, how stupid could she be? She wasn't that forlorn teenager who fancied herself in love anymore and last night meant absolutely nothing. She couldn't let it mean anything. She needed to get over it. Over him. Their history was just that: history. She had moved on and she had no doubt he'd done the same. She needed to remember that.
And she really needed to pay attention because Ryder was talking, his voice pitched so low she could barely hear it.
"—stay close. If I tell you to do something, do it. Don't ask questions. Don't argue. Just do it."
There was an edge to his voice that caused her skin to pebble. Did he really think they might be in danger? No. He was just being cautious. If he honestly thought they might be in danger, he would have never let them tag along.
She felt his gaze on her, somehow knew when that dark gaze slid to Allison.
"Is that understood?"
Hannah nodded, knew Allison—for once—was doing the same. She heard a low noise, the sound reminding her of a growl, and realized it was coming from Ryder. That had to be a good sign, right? He wouldn't be growling his impatience if he was leading them into danger, would he?
Hannah didn't bother to ask—there wasn't time because he was already walking away, leading them down the narrow, winding path that would take them to the beach. She sensed something behind her and whirled, swallowed a gasp when she saw Ninja's pale smile. How had he gotten behind her? She didn't know, didn't ask, just turned and kept going, each step hesitant, feeling for purchase before setting her weight down. Again and again, the minutes stretching as the sound of the surf grew louder. Until her feet finally sank into the soft sand of the beach.
She started to step around Allison, to lead the way to the cave, but Ryder was already heading in that direction. How was that even possible? He couldn't know where it was, hadn't had time to come here before. Unless Allison had told him. Yes, that must be it. But he'd still need help finding the opening—
He stopped a few yards from the cave, turned back to them. Hannah realized she could see him a little easier now, had no trouble making out the slight frown on his face. "I'm going to check it out. Stay here."
Ryder was gone before she could say anything—not that she knew what words might have tumbled from her mouth. What was she going to do? Tell him not to go? No, not after Allison had made him come all the way down here to the remotes island to do exactly this.
Tell him to be careful? Yes. Yes, she wanted him to be careful, didn't want anything to happen to him. Couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to him. Not now. Not ever.
She opened her mouth, ready to call him back. What if someone was inside the cave? What if those bad guys Ryder had referred to were in there, doing whatever stuff bad guys did? It was too risky. Ryder was going in alone, had no way to protect himself, nobody to watch his back in case anything happened, not with Ninja standing guard here, watching her and Allison.
A low sound, not quite a whistle, drifted over the gentle pounding of the surf. A hand touched her back and she jumped, a scream lodged in her throat. Nothing but air escaped her mouth, soundless and pathetic and unhelpful.
But there was no need for help—the hand belonged to Ninja. The touch was gentle, nudging her forward. Not just her, but Allison, too.
"Let's go." Ninja's voice, low and steady—which meant
that other sound must have come from Ryder, signaling the all-clear. They moved toward the cave, their steps silent, any noise masked by the sound of the waves to their left.
And then they were inside, engulfed in total blackness. Hannah reached for Allison's arm, not just for comfort but to anchor herself in the disorienting darkness, to ground her confused senses and calm her racing heart.
The air was cooler here, cool enough that her skin prickled with the temperature change. A chill raced over her but she wasn't sure if that was from the air—or the sudden fear that gripped her. And how silly was that? There was nothing to be afraid of. She knew what was in here, had been in here only last week to look around.
Maybe that was what lay behind the irrational fear. Last week, when she'd come here with Allison, they'd been able to see. Sunlight had filtered into the opening, chasing away any ominous shadows that might have been lurking around them.
There were no shadows now. There was nothing but darkness. Complete. Absolute. Swallowing her whole, wreaking havoc with her senses until she lost track of where the opening was. She could get lost in here forever, stumbling around in the darkness, never finding her way out, never knowing where the exit was.
Hannah pushed back the panic, forced herself to take a deep breath and calm down. There was no need to panic, no excuse for the sudden urge to flee the darkness swallowing her whole—
"Watch your eyes." Ryder's voice, steady and confident. A small click echoed in the cavernous room, the sound immediately accompanied by a pinprick of light—not bright, but still enough to make her blink.
Relief surged through Hannah as the dim light pushed back the wall of suffocating darkness. She pulled in a deep breath and exchanged a small smile with Allison. Funny, how just that tiny bit of light was enough to ease the tightness in her chest. She turned, ready to make a small joke at her own expense, and gasped in surprise instead. The single chest she and Allison found last week had been joined by two more. Large. Metal. Dark green.
And locked.
The Defender: RYDER (Cover Six Security Book 3) Page 9