Andrés chuckled and leaned closer again. “It is a good thing you don’t understand Spanish. Luis’ colorful language was not meant for such delicate ears.”
She opened her mouth to tell him, one, he was coming on way too strong, and two, she understood Spanish perfectly. Something made her bite the words back. She searched her memory, trying to remember if she and Valeria had discussed her fluency in the native language, but she couldn’t recall one.
“Can I have my sunglasses back, please. My eyes are sensitive to the sun.”
“But of course.” She held out her hand, but he ignored it to slide them on himself. “About dinner…”
“I’m flattered, but again, I’m only here to work.”
He sighed with mock hurt. “You are a tough nut to crack, Liz Schaffer, but I am nothing if not determined.”
Great. She was looking forward to that—not. Calling her Liz Schaffer was another thing. No one knew her true identity as Harlow Duquesne, the granddaughter of the President of the United States. To them, she was Liz Schaffer, yoga teacher, artist, budding humanitarian. Occasionally people recognized her, but for the most part, she was able to fly under the radar. She used her middle names of Liz, shortened from Elizabeth, and Schaffer, her mother’s maiden name, when she taught classes. She learned early that when she was listed as Harlow Duquesne, it brought out curiosity seekers and fame mongers.
She wasn’t ashamed of her family—the opposite, in fact. But people treated her differently when she was Harlow Duquesne. They wanted things from her that she wasn’t willing to give…mostly in the form of political favors. When they learned she had no interest, they lost theirs in her.
The only person who had ever made her feel special as Harlow was Sawyer Oldham. He knew about her family, but he wasn’t intimidated. His family was as well-connected, probably wealthier than hers. But he was remarkably down-to-earth. And so damn hot.
She’d been racked with fear the first time she’d seen him but even in her emotional state, her heart had recognized him. Somehow, some way, in her overwhelming fear, she’d felt like something monumental had happened, and it wasn’t Zoe’s abduction.
She hoped to hear from him in the days that followed, but her phone had stayed depressingly silent. She wasn’t too shy to go after what she wanted, and she’d almost done so several times. The only thing holding her back was the thought that he didn’t feel the same way. Then she flashed back to the kiss they shared. Wow. What a kiss it’d been. Steamy. Passionate. Devastating. It totally rocked her world.
She kept in touch with Taylor Costa, the stepmother of Kai Costa, the brave boy who rescued her sister when she was kidnapped. She and Taylor had become fast friends. Though she tried not to ask, Taylor was always dropping bits of info about Sawyer. In fact, Harlow had finally decided to call him when she learned from Taylor that he was in Colorado on an assignment.
She knew his job was dangerous and she hated that he put himself in harm’s way, but that was also one of the things she admired about him. He didn’t have to work. His parents could buy Manhattan twenty times over. Instead of leading a life of leisure, he became an FBI agent and now a security specialist. He put his life on the line for others. A true hero.
“We’ll drop our luggage off at the hotel first,” Valeria informed them. “We can walk to the offices from there.”
“When will the others arrive?”
“Tomorrow,” Valeria told her. “We should have everything set up by then.”
Harlow glanced at the scenery as they drove through the sprawling town of La Grande, named for the river that ran through the city. Most of the buildings were old, constructed of stone and brick, several deteriorating. There were a few structures that were newer, made of steel and glass. She didn’t know much about Coslos until Valeria asked her to help her cause. Then she did some research. The landlocked country was struggling with poverty. Besides a thriving drug trade, the main export was coffee. They boasted a tropical rainforest and several beautiful natural wonders, but a crumbling infrastructure prevented most tourists from visiting. A new president had been elected several months ago who promised to rebuild and bring the country back to prominence, but there were no visible changes yet. He was reportedly cracking down on the drug trade that had the various cartels wary.
Judging from the signs attached to the few modern buildings peppered among the ancient ones, they appeared to be government offices. The streets were riddled with potholes and they bounced and bumped as they motored along. They passed an open market with several booths displaying multicolored garments and assorted items. It was busy at this time of the day as shoppers bartered with the artisans hawking their wares. She made a mental note to stop by and pick up souvenirs for her sister, Zoe.
There was a marked difference between La Grande and New York City. Though she didn’t bat an eye walking the streets of New York, one of the largest cities in the world, she’d been nervous to come to La Grande. Valeria insisted it was safe and that the children needed all the help they could get.
What could happen in just a few days?
Chapter Two
After checking into her room, Harlow jumped into the shower and washed the plane ride and Andrés’ smarmy germs off her skin. The shower stall was old, but functional, the faded yellow tiles scrubbed clean. Still, she’d sprayed the bathroom down with the can of Lysol she carried with her everywhere, just to be safe.
Once she stepped out, she felt much better. She tugged a fluffy white towel from a shelf and dried off. After dressing in a mint green sleeveless top and tan shorts with a pair of comfortable running shoes, she applied moisturizer and lip balm, but she didn’t bother with makeup again. She removed the band holding her hair, brushed out the tangles and refastened it into a ponytail.
The rooms in the hotel Valeria booked were smaller than a typical United States college dorm. There was barely enough space for a full-sized bed and a small dresser. The tight space meant that she’d have her own room, which was fine with her. She valued her privacy. Carmen was next door and Valeria across the hall.
She’d placed her bag on the wicker dresser and dug around for the hidden belt she’d purchased for the trip. It would keep her passport and cash safe from pickpockets…if Coslos had them. She needed to call her sister and let her know she arrived safely. Zoe was a worrier. Andrés’ unwanted attention had distracted her after she deplaned, and she’d completely forgotten. She pulled out her cell, disgruntled to realize the battery on the cheap throw-away was dead. It didn’t bode well that the battery had drained so soon. She grabbed the charger. She’d plug it in the office and then call Zoe as soon as she had a few bars.
She slipped her passport, money and credit card into the belt and zipped it shut before strapping it around her waist and covering it with her clothes. After grabbing her sunglasses, she hurried out the door, excited to set up, but not looking forward to having to dodge Andrés and his obnoxious roaming hands. She’d taken numerous self-defense classes and the security guards tasked with her protection growing up taught her several moves. She had no doubt she could land a few well-placed blows that would dampen his enthusiasm quickly. If he didn’t back off, she’d resort to testing a few out.
The hotel was old, so naturally, the elevator didn’t work. A sign that looked to be several years old, judging from the faded ink and obscene graffiti scrawled across the paper, indicated that the lift was out of order. She took the stairs to the lobby and groaned when she spotted Andrés waiting for her. She’d hoped Carmen would be down by now.
He stood and smiled when he noticed her, holding out his hands. “Amado, you look beautiful.”
He might be annoying, but he was good for the ego, especially since she didn’t have on a stitch of makeup. “Thanks.”
“I will escort you to the offices. Valeria is already there, as is your friend…Karen?”
“Carmen.”
“Carmen, right. Sorry.” He held the door for her as they exited outside. It
was hot, but not oppressively so. She’d read that the weather this time of year was warm during the days and then turned mild, sometimes cold in the evenings. She’d packed accordingly.
They crossed a wide street teeming with vehicles. Some things about big cities were the same…the engine noise and exhaust, honking horns, impatient drivers, hand gestures that transcended language barriers.
They passed a boutique filled with colorful dresses and a florist that filled the air with the sweet perfume of fresh-cut flowers that clashed sickeningly with the scent of grilled meat emanating from the bistro across the street. Andrés stopped at an unmarked glass door. “We are here.” He yanked it open to reveal a dim, narrow corridor lit with sconces high up on the walls, and she followed him inside. They passed a seating area with two chairs separated by a small table and framed with unwieldy potted plants that she assumed were fake, judging by the waxy green sheen. Andrés pushed open a door and she entered a small space loaded with boxes. Valeria was chatting on the phone, but she motioned them inside. Carmen sat at a long conference table, sorting items into piles. Luis was also there, his job apparently holding up the wall as he slouched with a cigarette pressed between his lips. The cloying scent of cloves filled the air and she fought the urge to cover her nose. Obviously, they didn’t have anti-smoking laws in Coslos.
Once Valeria ended the call, she handed Harlow a stack of papers. “These are all the locations that have requested donations.” Harlow scanned the list, comprised mostly of schools and churches. They tore into boxes loaded with supplies and sorted them into individual bags to distribute. Harlow’s box contained toiletry items that didn’t seem appropriate for children, like shaving cream and feminine supplies. She’d been under the impression that they were targeting young kids, but it looked like they were also helping teens as well, which was good. If they needed assistance, she was glad they could provide.
Valeria stood and stretched her back. “I’m starving. I’m going to run out and get us some sandwiches. Carmen, can you give me a hand?”
Great. That would leave her alone in the room with Handsy the Octopus, who had been leering at her all afternoon. Luis had answered a phone call soon after she arrived and hadn’t returned, to which she was thankful since he took his stinky cigarettes with him.
She jumped to her feet. “I can help.”
“That’s okay. You’re cruising along. It’s a two-person job. We’ll be right back.”
She sighed. “I’ll walk you out. I need to use the rest room.”
Valeria and Carmen turned one way down the hallway and she went the other to the ladies’ room they’d passed on the way inside. The door creaked when she pushed it open and it was dim with a single bulb that flickered ominously. She had horror movie flashbacks. Though she wanted to stall, she didn’t want to be trapped in the enclosed space any longer than possible, so she washed her hands and headed back. With her fingers on the knob, she started to enter when she heard Andrés conversing in Spanish.
“No, I’ve tried to get her to go out with me, but she refuses. Typical American. Stubborn bitch. We will have to do this the hard way.” Pause. “It has to be today. No, no, I can handle her by myself. She is not a threat. She doesn’t suspect a thing, so it will be no problem to grab her and abduct her. Consider it done.”
Harlow jerked her hand away, her heart hammering in her chest. Was he talking about her? If so, he just announced he planned on kidnapping her. Why? Had he found out her identity? She’d been very diligent in keeping her connection to her grandmother hidden for this trip.
Andrés disconnected the call and stomped in her direction. She ducked behind a planter and crouched down. He stuck his head outside, scanning the hallway in both directions. She held her breath until he disappeared back inside.
She had to get away. She’d left her phone charging in the room. It wasn’t a big deal to leave it since it was a throw-away she purchased for the trip to call Zoe. Zoe! Her sister would be worried if she didn’t call. Though she was years younger, Zoe acted like the older sibling sometimes, making Harlow feel immature.
Thankfully she had her passport and cash on her. She needed to get back to her room, pack up her bags and get out of the country, as soon as possible. It had been a mistake to come here.
A sudden thought had her stopping in her tracks. Carmen. She couldn’t leave her friend alone to fend for herself. What if Andrés targeted her when he couldn’t find Harlow? Carmen had Valeria, but she would worry if Harlow just disappeared. Footsteps jarred her into action. She’d figure Carmen out later…she needed to get out of here now.
With one last look to make sure Andrés was nowhere in sight, she jumped to her feet and hustled down the hallway. She heard a door open behind her just as she crossed the threshold and flew down the sidewalk, adrenaline pushing her faster. Her gaze roamed the streets, everyone looking menacing in her current paranoid state. She felt eyes on her. The hotel was just around the corner. She needed to get there, and she’d be safe.
Something made her pause before she rounded the corner. She spun around and entered the small boutique she’d noticed earlier. Pretending to peruse a rack of silk scarves, she eyed the window facing the hotel. A man in dark sunglasses, dressed in black was standing by the lobby entrance. He was scanning the area as he talked on a phone. Could this have been who Andrés spoke with earlier? Moving scarves aside without seeing them, she kept her gaze glued outside. Sure enough, Andrés appeared waving his arms and gesturing wildly. Oh God, he was looking for her. She grabbed a scarf and dress and changed in the dressing room. She would use the material to cover her head. Many of the women in the country wore them, so she’d blend in with the locals.
If the hotel was under surveillance, it meant she wouldn’t be able to retrieve her luggage. The clothes and toiletry items were replaceable, but she’d brought a sketchbook with her and she hated to lose it. She’d spent most of the flight drawing and she was proud of her sketches, but she couldn’t risk going back for it. Andrés might have a man stationed on her floor, waiting for her to appear.
Andrés had to have found out about her family connections. But what purpose would it serve to kidnap her? Money? Were they planning on holding her for ransom? And how did he find out? Unless Carmen told them, no one else knew her as Harlow Duquesne, not even Valeria. She made sure she booked the flight herself and her legal name was Harlow Elizabeth Schaffer Duquesne, so shortening it to Liz Schaffer worked.
Carmen found out who she was when Zoe was kidnapped. It’d been big news when the granddaughter of the President was abducted. Harlow’s face had appeared on the news constantly. Some of her yoga students didn’t put two and two together, but Carmen did. She grilled Harlow when she returned to New York. Harlow had confessed and apologized for the deception. Carmen had understood.
It would’ve been the perfect opportunity to tell her friend about Sawyer. How strong he was, how sexy. How, with one kiss, he’d totally rocked her world. Instead, she kept silent, holding the memory close to her heart.
Carmen wouldn’t have betrayed her identity, she was sure of that. Her friend knew how hard it was for Harlow to lead a normal life as herself…had witnessed it first-hand when they’d been hounded by paparazzi and chased down Broadway one morning. She had dozens of marriage proposals from men she’d never met, both in the United States and abroad. One even claimed to be the prince of a small Mediterranean island. Harlow had taken to going out in disguise until the story died down.
She wished Carmen was here with her now. It would be so much easier with a friend at her side. She needed to get out of the country first, then she’d send someone to retrieve Carmen. It would give her the perfect opportunity to contact Sawyer. She was choosing to look at the bright side of the situation.
Inside the dressing room, she secured her ponytail into a bun before wrapping the ends of the crimson scarf around her head. The red, yellow and orange dress wasn’t something she would have normally chosen, but it was baggy enough so
that she could keep her shorts on in case she needed to run. After tearing off the tags, she handed them to the cashier and paid for the items, leaving the shirt she wore on the dressing room bench.
Andrés was nowhere in sight, so she pushed outside and headed in the opposite direction. Getting out of the country was going to be difficult, especially if he had people watching the airport. Maybe she should take a bus to a different city. From what she remembered of the geography of Coslos, La Grande was the largest and only major city in the country, which was approximately the size of Rhode Island. She didn’t know if any of the villages were large enough to sustain bus service. All she needed was a ride to the border. Once she crossed into a different country, she’d be out of Andrés’ reach. She’d ride a donkey if it would take her where she needed to go.
She needed to find a new hotel to spend the night and come up with a plan of action before it got too late. She glanced around at the unfamiliar scenery. Now she wished she’d paid more attention as they drove through the city. She knew there were a few reputable hotels including big name US chains, but she didn’t know where they were located. She didn’t want to wander around for hours. If she couldn’t find one soon, she’d go inside one of the shops and ask for directions.
The scent of spicy food mingled with an underlying odor of sewage. Clotheslines hung between taller buildings and clothes swayed with the breeze, looking like ghosts haunting the skies. The eerie sight made her shiver.
A sense of dread enveloped her. She was a woman alone in a foreign country. Her younger sister was the only person who knew where she was if something were to happen. Her parents would be upset that she didn’t tell them. They tried to get her to accept Secret Service protection, but after years under their eagle eyes, she’d turned it down. Now she wished she’d listened.
She gasped and jumped back when a large figure appeared in front of her, blocking her path. Her heart thumped in fear. Had one of Andrés’ men found her? The man swayed, his six-foot, two-hundred plus frame teetering before he righted himself. His beady black eyes leered at her beneath a bushy set of unkempt brows. Dark scruff covered his face in an unsexy way, his smile crooked and yellow. He reeked of alcohol.
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