by Kelly Wood
Gray took another step and focused on his surroundings. His foot slipped out from under him but he caught himself. His left hand gripped the edge of the cliff as he neared. The water roared around him. His pursuers could be inches away and he’d have no way of hearing them because the roar of the waterfall was so loud, or of seeing them because of the spray hitting his face.
Water ran down his hair and onto his face. It dripped off his lashes. It poured down his lips. With every breath through his mouth water entered. He tried to spit but couldn’t. More water just poured in. He closed his mouth and tried to breathe through his nose, but it was worse. He inhaled nothing but water.
Gray was in the heart of the waterfall now. Water hit him from every angle. He tucked his chin lower to his chest and took shallow breaths. He closed his eyes and used his hands to guide himself, inching along. Moving faster wasn’t an option. The water hit him like bricks. It created a wall he had to fight through. It pushed down on his shoulders and dragged against his backpack. Gray fought through the force. It felt like an eternity before the pressure eased.
Gray pushed through and took his first deep breath. The water created a curtain behind him. Every cell in his body felt waterlogged. Gray held onto the rocky sides of the cliff to catch his breath. The water lapped at him, coming up to his chest.
The largest cave was closest to him, looking like someone had taken a large spoon and scooped out a section of the mountain. Gray bypassed it and kept moving. He held onto the openings and inched his way past three other caves. The fifth and last cave was the one he wanted. Until a person was right next to the opening, it was invisible to the naked eye. If Gray had been spotted and followed, the person might give up before venturing far enough to see the final entrance. The opening was also the smallest, providing him with a place to hide once the cave opened up after the narrow tunnel opening. Gray took off his backpack and held it above his head. He turned sideways and inched into the opening. The sides of the cave scraped along his chest and back.
The cave opened up but not by much. Gray could stand in the center, stretch out his arms and touch both sides at the same time. Below the waterline, the cave was much narrower, creating natural shelves on both sides. Another reason for choosing this cave. Gray would be able to lift himself out of the water and rest while lying flat. It wouldn’t be comfortable, but it would do.
Gray garnered his last bit of strength to pull himself up onto the ledge. Even that small effort cost him. He fell to his side and promptly passed out.
Chapter Nineteen
Guy Bianchi
Pulhapanzak Falls, Honduras
Guy leaned over the railing and searched the water. The sun was finally breaking the horizon but it was still difficult to see down to the water. Boulders created long shadows and plenty of places to hide. Guy strained his eyes looking for any movement.
Juan, a hot-headed man from Colombia, argued Gray was hiding right under their feet. Guy didn’t join in the discussion. Jose, a Mexican national, tried to calm Juan. The three men had worked together for years running drugs up to the United States, the largest purchaser, and bringing money back down.
Up until now, the handoffs had always gone off without a hitch. Guy would fly up to Victoria, Texas or further to make the trade. Guy’s cover as a hands-on CEO of a non-profit worked every time. The foundation was based in the US, but Guy ran the operation out of his hostel. Travelers wanting to volunteer some of their time to help the locals were plentiful.
Guy flew local, handmade products to the US to be sold online. It justified his frequent trips to the States. Local customs agents and police were paid handsomely to look the other way as the secret bottom of the plane was either loaded or unloaded along with the legal wares. In twenty years, they’d never even had a close call.
Until today. Until Gray.
Guy knew he shouldn’t bring Gray to the drop but what else could he do with him? Kidnapping Gray had been a spur-of-the-moment action. His whole plan had gone haywire, and he’d made it up as he went.
Guy’s plan had been coming together throughout the last week. Wreak havoc on the hotel, slowly and methodically, until the grand reopening weekend where his final act would unfold. The death of a dancer would send chaos through the hotel. The show would close. Other dancers would leave the show, running for any other opportunity. Servers and bartenders would seek out other places of employment out of fear. Mischief would reign for months to come as the damage Guy inflicted came to light. Everything from switching hair processing chemicals to damaging boxes of clothes to be sold. The hotel would’ve slowly crumbled before Frank’s eyes while Guy stood back and watched. The Magari’s reputation would be ruined. Sales would drop. It would be the laughingstock of the Strip. It was perfect.
Or, it was, until Regan came along. She seemed to be everywhere Guy went. He would have to duck behind support columns and hide or drop to the floor and crawl away like an idiot. It was ridiculous. How could one person cause so much trouble? What was she doing at the hotel?
When she’d run up the catwalks to confront him, he’d lost his chance to kill the dancer. He’d acted on instinct and changed his plan to work within his circumstances. Guy would just kill Regan instead. As Gray’s new bride, the devastation it would wreak on the family would be endless. Michael and Frank would’ve been heartbroken. Gray would seek revenge but Guy would’ve been long gone and back in Honduras before the authorities were any wiser. What would they have said? The long-missing son of Antonio Bianchi shot her? The authorities would’ve thought they were mad. He’d felt thirty years of betrayal come to an end as he raised the gun. He lusted to pull the trigger. He felt joy as he took aim.
But he couldn’t do it when Gracie had called his name. Not in front of her. He still longed for her every minute of every day. When he’d realized he was surrounded, he changed tactics again. He knew he would be killed without a human shield. Gray made it possible. He was a tough fighter. Guy wasn’t sure he would’ve won if he hadn’t gotten in the stab to the side. It weakened Gray enough that Guy could overpower him, giving him the protection he needed to escape the hotel.
The hotel. The reason Frank had left Guy for dead years before. Frank’s love of power and respect destroyed their friendship. Frank wanted control and money and influence so much that he would kill to keep his chance for it.
Kill his best friend.
Rage, his old friend, swept through Guy. He tightened his hands on the railing. His knuckles turned white. The breath rushed out of him. His vision blurred with red. The response never lessened in these thirty years. Every time he thought of Frank. Every time he thought of leaving his wife and unborn child. Every time he thought of Michael keeping him away. The rage came. Guy had thought about returning, but fear for Gracie’s safety and the safety of his child kept him from doing it. Guy wouldn’t be able to live with himself if they were hurt because of his actions.
The sound of a gunshot brought him back to the moment. Juan pointed his gun toward the decking below their feet, preparing to fire again when Guy heard it.
Someone had cried out below them. Juan had been right. Gray was hiding under their feet.
Smart, Guy thought. He’d need to up his game with this prey.
Juan scrambled over the railing and along the side of the cliff, yelling for Guy and Jose to keep lookout and point him in the right direction. Guy agreed but his mind wasn’t in it. It didn’t matter to him whether he killed Gray later or Juan did it now. Maybe an accident would happen and save them all the cleanup.
Guy leaned over the railing and looked for Gray along the cliff. He fired off a shot in the direction he’d last seen him. Something fell into the water on his left, causing a loud splash. Guy searched the water, expecting to see Gray’s head pop up and float right by him. Nothing. Maybe one of them kicked a loose rock?
Guy turned his head toward the hidden caves. Gray and Regan toured the waterfalls when they stayed at his hostel but he couldn’t remember if th
ey did the caves or not. The caves weren’t advertised. It was only by word of mouth that hikers knew to hire a guide and explore them. ‘Guide’ was a loose term. The guides were made up of young men who’d been climbing behind the falls their whole lives.
Did Guy mention the caves to Regan and Gray when they were tourists?
He couldn’t remember, but he kept his eyes in that direction anyway. His foresight payed off when Gray’s head popped up behind a boulder. Guy yelled for Juan and pointed in Gray’s direction. Guy called out again, warning Juan to beware of the slippery rocks under the water. Juan’s dress shoes would be no match for the slimy algae.
Guy watched Juan slowly make his way toward Gray. Guy didn’t spot Gray again but he had to either be behind the boulder, waiting, or making his own way to the caves. It was a poor choice on Gray’s part. Once he went into the caves, he was trapped. Juan would find him hiding in one and kill him. Gray would be at Juan’s mercy.
The body could be left in the caves. When it was found, the local police would chalk it up to a drug killing with nothing to investigate. It would all work out.
Guy watched as Juan started to round the boulder, a small smile forming on his face.
Chapter Twenty
Regan Harris
G and G Brewery and Hostel
Honduras
Ben and I strolled along the trail. I wanted to run but Ben held my hand, preventing me. To any observers, we were just a couple on a walk around the hostel grounds. Gracie, Liam and Jax were waiting back in our cabin. Five people traipsing around would be cause for more notice than two. Nobody had been happy with the decision, least of all Gracie, but it was the right one.
We were lucky, one dorm-style cabin was available that slept eight. Four sets of bunk beds lined the walls. Normally, the empty beds would still be available to other travelers, but Ben rented each of them. The hostel staff didn’t care. They were getting their money either way.
“There.” I casually waved my hand in the direction of the smaller of two buildings. “Staff share the larger one. The smaller one tucked behind it is Garcia’s. Well, Guy’s.”
“I hope he left a window unlocked.” Our arms swung casually between us, interlocked at the hands.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because I don’t have anything to pick the lock with. I don’t want to leave evidence we were there.”
Ben pulled on my hand, stopping me. He pulled me to him, embracing me with his arms. My body tensed. Ben ignored it and continued to hug me. He stroked my hair with his hand.
“It’s clear. We can move now.”
“Was that necessary?”
Ben grinned at me. “Absolutely.”
I grunted my disapproval and stalked off toward the cabin. “What’s our plan?”
“To knock, first. He doesn’t know me.” Ben knocked on the door while I pressed myself against the wall. I stood against the building feeling like an idiot. I wanted to go in guns blazing or with my hands on my hips like Wonder Woman. Stealth wasn’t my strength.
Ben twisted the door handle, finding it locked. I went around to the left in search of a window. All the windows were open but covered in screens. We would have the pick of the litter getting in. And, as long as no one noticed the screen sitting next to the house while we were inside, we would be safe. Ben looked into every window before making his choice.
“It looks like a small two-bedroom cabin. The smaller bedroom in the back looks like our best bet.” Ben led me around to the chosen window. “The room looks like it’s used for storage and rarely entered.”
“Sounds good, then,” I said.
Ben used a pocket knife to pop the screen off and then laid it flat on the ground. If anyone walked by, it would look like it had just fallen off. He pulled himself up and slid into the room easily before reaching back out to help me in.
I grabbed his hands and he pulled me through the window. The window sill scratched along my stomach and legs. Ben jerked me up and wrapped his hands around my waist to steady me while I got my feet under me. I quickly shook him off.
“What should we look for?” I asked. My voice shook. It wasn’t that long ago that Gray and I had been in a similar situation searching Ben’s apartment in Chicago.
“I was hoping we’d find Gray here. Look for a basement,” Ben said. “Maybe he’s tied up and hidden away.”
I looked around the room. Boxes were stacked and lined up against the walls. Dust covered most of the surfaces.
“We won’t find a basement here. It’s not common. A closet maybe?” I suggested although the cabin had the feel of emptiness. We would check but my gut told me we were the only two with heartbeats in the place.
I gasped at the thought. What if we found Gray’s body? I couldn’t fathom the thought. He had to be alive. I knew it was silly, but I would know if he were dead. I would feel the loss in my heart. Gray was still alive. He just had to be.
“Let’s be quick.” Ben opened the door. The hinges squeaked in protest. He checked the hall before waving me forward.
I entered the other bedroom and glanced around. A double bed, nightstand and dresser filled the small space. All surfaces were clear. Nothing left out. I quickly checked the closet. Other than a few clothes hanging on the bar, it was empty. My heart raced as I looked around the room. My nerves were on edge being here.
I moved quietly to the hallway and met Ben in the front room. The space was open and took up half of the cabin. One wall housed a small refrigerator and oven. A propane tank sat on the counter, a connection line snaking down from the top and to the back of the stove. The kitchen counters were clear. Guy lived a neat and tidy life. No photos or mementos were hung on the walls or knick-knacks on the tables.
The living area had a small couch and one chair. The place looked abandoned and not lived in. Sad, almost. Solitary. Ben stood by the front door, the coat closet door open. The knob still in his hand, the bifold door jutted out.
“He’s not here,” Ben said.
“Obviously.” The snark in my voice was clear.
“Knock it off. I’m here to help.”
I sighed. “I know. Sorry. What do we do now?”
“Let’s get the others and head to the restaurant. You met Guy the last time you were here, right?” I nodded. “We’ll strike up a conversation with the staff. Maybe someone will remember you and you can ask about Guy/Garcia. His whereabouts, when he is returning.”
“I guess that’s our only option. I feel at a loss. We were moving so quickly before. I feel like we’ve hit a dead end.”
Ben let go of the closet door and moved toward me. He took me in his arms. This time I didn’t tense up. I needed the comfort. I needed the support. I leaned my head against his chest.
“Regan, you need to prepare yourself that we may not find him. We’ve been lucky this far. He could be anywhere. He could be—”
“Don’t you say it!”
“You just need to think about all the possible outcomes. I know it hurts.” Ben’s hands rubbed my back as he spoke. Tears filled my eyes. I wouldn’t think about that possibility. It wasn’t an option in my mind.
Ben lightly pinched my chin between his thumb and forefinger. He tilted my head up to look at him. His thumb stroked my chin. I once thought of him as beautiful. His blonde hair and blue eyes were the picture of perfection. Now he seemed plain to me after Gray and his dark coloring and light eyes. Gray’s face was striking. Strong. Ben’s seemed weak. Soft. Pampered.
I didn’t realize Ben’s intention until his lips touched mine. I inhaled sharply at the touch. He mistook the sound for pleasure. He deepened the kiss. I planted my hands on his chest and pushed him away. I wiped the kiss from my mouth with the back of my hand.
“What are you doing? I’m married.” My words came out in a hoarse whisper.
“Don’t act indignant. You wanted that kiss as much as I did.” Ben’s arrogance floored me. What was I thinking by calling him?
I was thinking I was des
perate and that Ben would actually help me. I should’ve known better, that Ben only looked out for Ben and his wants. He didn’t even seem surprised or bothered that I was married now. I reared my hand back for a slap. Ben caught my wrist before I could connect the blow. We stared at one another, locked together.
Voices outside broke us apart. I looked around in panic. Ben reacted more coolly. He pulled me by my wrist into the front closet with him. He slid the door closed as the front door opened next to us. I held my breath as I peeked through the slats of the door.
Chapter Twenty-One
Guy Bianchi
G and G Brewery and Hostel
Honduras
Guy swung the door open to his private cabin. He dropped the bags of money inside the door. It’d be safer here than in the car. Juan followed him inside. His clothes were sopping wet and dripped water onto the tile floors. Guy grimaced at the sight. He pointed to the bathroom and told him he’d bring him something to change into.
Juan hadn’t made it anywhere near the caves before the waterfall had swept him back. Like the baby he was, he’d demanded new clothes. Easier to move in, Guy mocked him in his head. In truth, Guy wasn’t dressed to go into the caves either. It wasn’t easy to trek through the falls. It took strength. The wrong clothes could weigh you down, be the difference between success and drowning. Gray wasn’t even sure how Gray had managed it with his injury. Maybe they were wrong and Gray had drowned? Guy frowned. His gut told him differently. Gray was still out there. After thirty years of dealing with the cartel, Guy’d learned to trust his instincts.
Tingles raced up Guy’s spine. Something wasn’t right in the cabin, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He pulled his gun and walked from room to room, looking behind every door. Guy relaxed as he went, each room showing nothing disturbed.
In the extra bedroom his muscles tensed again. The screen from the window was missing. Had someone been here? He poked his head out and looked around. Nothing looked out of place. The screen lay flat against the ground.