Desperate Hours Final 103116

by Mondello, Lisa

  She shook her head, not sure what he was getting at. “You’re my choice, Gil. Not theirs.”

  He smiled. “I know it sounds crazy, but I know what I feel and—”

  She launched herself into his arms and silenced him with a kiss. When she pulled back, she looked into his stunned eyes. “Just say it, Gil. Please. I hate suspense!”

  Gil spun her around on deck. “You’re amazing. I think I’ve loved you since that very first kiss at the airport.”

  “Gil, you haven’t seen anything yet.” She laughed and kissed him again.

  “Good. What do you think about taking this boat out for a while? Just you and me. You know, when things get a little settled. I’ve been wanting some downtime, maybe go scuba diving—”

  She threw her head back and laughed. “I’ve never been.”

  “I can teach you or we can take a class so you can get certified. Maybe find some sunken ships in the Ca­ribbean.”

  “Buried treasure?”

  “As long as I’m with you, I don’t need any other treasure, Sonny.”

  She nuzzled his neck. “A romantic vacation in the Carib­bean, huh?”

  “We can just enjoy being together. No pirates to worry about or needing to call the Coast Guard for a rescue.”

  “Oh, I know I won’t have to worry about any of that.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’ll be there to protect me. What more could I possibly need?”

  In Gil’s arms, Sonny truly felt blessed. Blessed to be home and to have the love of a man she knew was a gift. Life was good and they had many more adventures to discover. Together.

  The story continues with FINAL HOURS by Lisa Mondello. Get FINAL HOURS http://amzn.to/2eLp4eD.

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  Dear Readers:

  Thank you so much for reading DESPERATE HOURS. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

  If you enjoyed reading any of my books, please do consider writing a review on your local retailer. This helps other readers find me and my books to enjoy. Also, you won’t want to miss a single release or a sale! So make sure you follow me on Bookbub http://bit.ly/1Npcgpx and sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/xhxO5.

  Next up is FINAL HOURS, book 5 of the Heroes of Providence series. You won’t want to miss Cash and Serena’s reunion or the twists and turns they have in order to finally find their happiness together. I’ve included the first chapter of FINAL HOURS at the end of this ebook so you can get a taste of what’s to come!

  All my best,

  Lisa Mondello

  Ebooks by Lisa Mondello

  HEROES OF PROVIDENCE

  Material Witness

  Safe Haven

  Reckless Hours

  Desperate Hours

  Final Hours

  Cold Harbor

  DAKOTA HEARTS

  Her Dakota Man book 1 of Dakota Hearts

  Badland Bride book 2 of Dakota Hearts

  Dakota Heat book 3 of Dakota Hearts

  Wild Dakota Heart book 4 of Dakota Hearts

  His Dakota Bride book 5 of Dakota Hearts

  Dakota Wedding book 6 of Dakota Hearts

  His Dakota Heart book 7 of Dakota Hearts

  Dakota Cowboy book 8 of Dakota Hearts

  One Dakota Night book 9 of Dakota Hearts

  Dakota Homecoming book 10 of Dakota Hearts

  TEXAS HEARTS

  Her Heart for the Asking - book 1 Texas Hearts

  His Heart for the Trusting - book 2 Texas Hearts

  The More I See - book 3 Texas Hearts

  Gypsy Hearts - book 4 Texas Hearts

  Leaving Liberty – book 5 Texas Hearts

  His Texas Heart - book 6 Texas Hearts

  The Wedding Dress - book 7 Texas Hearts

  Texas Hearts Box Set (Books 1-3)

  FATE WITH A HELPING HAND

  All I Want for Christmas is You - book 1

  The Marriage Contract – book 2

  The Knight and Maggie’s Baby – book 3

  My Lucky Charm - book 4

  Tempting Fate Box Set (books 1-3)

  SUMMER HOUSE

  Moment in Time book 1 Summer House Series

  Moment of Impact book 2 Summer House Series

  Moment of Truth book 3 Summer House Series

  Moment of Trust book 4 Summer House Series

  RODEO KNIGHTS

  Her Knight, Her Protector

  Nothing But Trouble (Contemporary Western Romance)

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  For up to date information on new releases, visit me at http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com or write me at LisaMondello@aol.com

  Bonus Material

  FINAL HOURS by Lisa Mondello

  Serena Davco's nightmare is almost over. Or so she thinks. Her baby has been returned to her and now she waits anxiously for her husband to return home safely after being imprisoned by Colombian gangsters. But her joy quickly brings her deeper into danger and despair when Cash returns and has no memory of her, the love they shared or the baby they created. But the danger from his escape has awoken a sleeping giant that could lead to murder for them all.

  Cash knew he had gone to Colombian to bring down a drug lord disguised as one of Colombia's prominent businessman. But three months of trying to survive their torture had stripped him of many of the details of his life. Now that he's been rescued by a covert team, he's shocked to see just how much of his life he doesn't remember. If he can't piece together his past, how can he possibly keep his family safe from the danger he knows still threatens them?

  Chapter One

  Colombia – present day

  The guards were at it again. As if watching over a man so hated by Eduardo Sanchez, the Colombian kingpin who was responsible for locking Cash Montgomery in this cell months ago, wasn't important enough to fill their day, they had to stage rat races in the cells just to keep boredom from overtaking them. It was just as well, Cash thought, staring through the cell bars down the empty hall toward the laughter. He didn't welcome a visit from the guards tonight. In fact, he didn't need them anywhere near his cell. Didn't want any of the "attention" they'd give him. The laughter rose to a jarring level, bouncing off the concrete and shooting Cash's heart rate through the roof. It wouldn't have mattered even if they'd been. The slightest noise, whether the rats scurrying for food or the drip of a faucet was enough to wake him. And it didn't take much since he never slept very long or very deep, regardless of how much his body protested. Sleep was dangerous. When he slept, he was vulnerable to attack. And on those rare occasions Cash had succumbed to sleep out of sheer exhaustion, he'd woken to brutality that was enough to break any man. Although beat up pretty bad at times, he was still in one piece and there had to be a reason for that. He didn't understand exactly why Eduardo Sanchez had taken such a big interest in keeping him within an inch of living, but he did know what the man was after. That much was always made clear. For some reason Sanchez thought Cash had the answers about painting and a code that was more nearly thirty years old. Too bad for Eduardo Sanchez, Cash didn't have a clue what the man was talking about. But he'd just keep the Colombian kingpin guessing, even if it meant another round of beatings. It was the only reason Cash was still alive. If Eduardo Sanchez wanted it bad enough, Cash would have to figure out a way to bargain his way out of this scum hole in the middle of the Colombian jungle. One the guards laughed while another one grumbled at the end of the hall. Someone had lost the race and wasn't happy about it. Cash closed his eyes as his heart rate kicked up again. Go for round two, fellas. There's no reason to come back here tonight. The scuffle started again and Cash eased back into the bunk he'd occupied for the past few months. The stink of the mattress forced him to turn his face toward the ceiling instead of laying his cheek against the filthy sheet, where h
e had a better view down the hall. He needed to build his strength back. His shoulder still ached from the last beating the boys had given him. While the bruises were healing and the pain had subsided some, he needed a little more time to build his strength, to help him fight back and stay alive the next time. It still amazed him how the will to live could make a man overcome even the most brutal attacks. And his will to live and make it out of here was strong. But he couldn't count on will alone as the reason he'd survived this these months. If Eduardo Sanchez had really wanted him dead, Cash knew he wouldn't be breathing. Or feeling any more pain, for that matter. He could at least take comfort in the pain for meaning he was still alive. Now that he knew the source of the noise that had roused him from sleep, he gingerly rolled over on his side to ease the stiffness in his shoulder, keeping his face toward the cell door. The mattress stank as bad as the enclosed cell that had been his home these last few months. Lack of fresh air will do that. Oh, what he wouldn't give to be able to breathe deep get his fill of clean air. As the noise filled his mind again, thought of Eduardo Sanchez. Funny how he never saw him face to face. Eduardo Sanchez always stood in the shadows, just out of reach for Cash to grab and ask him the reason why he'd chosen to torture him, to ask him why. What did Cash know about codes and paintings and why was Eduardo Sanchez so interested in them? Cash had been working for the Drug Enforcement Agency for over eight years now. He went after drug runners, not art thieves. No amount of torture would give Eddie Boy the information that had him foaming at the mouth each time he visited. Each visit seemed more urgent and each time he was questioned the beating was more pronounced. Nothing like that first night though. His leg had healed, although he wasn't so sure the bone had set right. Cash didn't quite remember the first night he'd arrived here and the beating he'd received. Only the pain in the aftermath. So much pain. That one had been the worst. Yeah, all things considered, Cash decided he'd take the guards boredom over their attention any day of the week and as long as Sanchez wasn't waiting by the door, tonight should be uneventful. No matter how noisy the guards got tonight, their excitement wasn't about him and that meant one thing. They'd leave him alone. With a sigh, he closed his eyes. He needed some rest. His body wasn't up for another go around tonight. Still, he listened to the chatter down the hall. His mind never ventured beyond this prison. The few times he'd allowed himself to think about his family had been in dreams. Only dreams where it was safe. Cash snapped his eyes open, suddenly alert. The guards had stopped their activity and the building was eerily quiet. Even in the middle of the night this building was never completely silent. Everything within these concrete walls always sounded so loud, even when there was only one guard milling about. There was always an outside truck telling him of the changing of watchdogs, or worse, Eduardo Sanchez's approach. The only time Cash could actually sleep was when the television went off air and broadcasted white noise instead of the news or some Spanish TV program that made no sense to him except for occasional laughter it evoked from the guard. Off air meant the guard had fallen asleep at his post and Cash had better use that time to recharge, too, before the next watchdog arrived. Leaning up on his shoulder, he winced only for a second and strained his ears to hear…something. Anything. But there was nothing. All he heard was the monotonous drop from the leaky faucet in his cell. Closing his eyes in defeat, he felt what chances he had at resting tonight wither up and die. This wasn't good news. It didn't take Einstein to figure out something was going down. Cash fisted his hand. Did he have it in him for another fight? Whether he did or not, he was probably in for one. Scanning his cell, he took in everything that might be useful as a weapon. There wasn't much, but he might be able to manufacture something that could be of use. After a quick calculation of what would give him the most leverage, he decided all he had for protection was the bed and mattress. Since he couldn't disassemble it quick enough, he chose to pull one of the long springs beneath the mattress off and use it to defend himself. Fighting the screaming pain in his shoulder, he lifted the bed and mattress to a standing position and situated himself behind it. The shield wouldn't do much but buy him a few seconds, enough to inflict a wound with the spring and distract the guards at close range, maybe giving him a chance to get past them to escape. He tested his leg beneath his weight. He was sure that first beating he'd taken the night he'd arrived had fractured the bone. If so, it had healed and although he felt a slight ache, it wasn't enough to keep his legs from running if he had to. Quiet. Too quiet, Cash realized with alarming clarity. Something was going on. Leaning against the cold cement wall, he willed himself to breathe steady and stand still. He held one end of the spring tight in his hand so that the protruding end dug into his palm, cutting him. The other side, sharper than what was digging into his skin, was exposed and ready to inflict injury. Movement was slight, but he could hear it. Nothing like the noise the guards always made. Someone else was here and Cash didn't really want to find out who or why. Then, except for the quiet sound of breathing, the movement stopped. "Man, what the hell is that stink?" The voice was familiar, but something inside Cash was afraid to trust it. It had been too long. His mind was playing tricks on him. But the edge of amusement from the newcomer caught Cash's attention and made him hope. His pulse quickened and he leaned against the back of the bed, straining, wanting to hear. "There's only one guy I know who smells this bad. This has got to be my brother's cell." Startled by his own memory and the sound of the voice coming from the other side of the mattress he was holding like a shield, Cash swayed and slowly lowered the hand that held his makeshift weapon. Dylan. Could it really be his brother? Tears sprain to his eyes. Almost afraid to look, he slowly poked his head around the overturned bed. And he nearly fell to his knees and wept with what he saw. "Dyl, is that really you?" He'd been in this dingy cell for months and even through the mud camouflaging the man's face, Cash could see it really was his brother. Dylan smiled, revealing straight white teeth and Cheshire smile Cash remembered well from their childhood. "In the flesh." Cash stumbled to the cell door and grabbed his brother through the bars. "I've never been so glad to see your ugly face in all my life," he said to his big brother, tears flooding his eyes. "Me, too, bro. Me, too. Man, look at you. You're a Wildman. Mom's going to have a fit when she sees that hair." Startled by a sound down the hall, Cash said, "The guards?" A voice spoken in perfect American English called down to them. "We don't have time for hugs and kisses tonight, ladies. We need to get moving." "We need to get you out of here. We've still got a long night ahead of us." Dylan took a step back to survey the cell. Though his vision was blurred, Cash heard the sound of a key in the cell lock. Panic hit him hard in the chest. Someone was still out there. "Dyl, the new guards come-," he warned. "Immobilized," was all he said as he surveyed the hall. "The rest of the team is securing the perimeter of the building just in case we get more company. This would go a lot faster if I knew which one. Do you know which one?" he asked, showing him the keys that Cash presumed he'd lifted from the guards who were now immobilized. Cash shook his head, his heart racing. His brother was a former Marine and a good one. Cash had no doubt he'd taken great pains to make sure every threat inside and out of the building was taken down. He was sure Dylan knew what kind of people they were dealing with. There could be anyone in the jungle surrounding the prison. It had taken Cash little more than a few days to learn the "prison" he'd been holed up in wasn't officially government sanctioned, but instead one that was used for purposes that the law down in Colombia felt was better kept below radar. "Got it." The cell swung open and Dylan opened his arms to Cash. His shoulder ached. His whole body felt like it was crushed under the weight of his brother's embrace. But after months of dodging the cruelty of the Colombian gangsters he was finally with the one person he knew he could count on to be on his side no matter what. Dylan pulled back and Cash saw the tears in his eyes before Dylan laughed. "Oh, man, we're going to have to hose you down before Serena sees you or she'll be begging me to put you back in that cell. You rea
lly do reek." "It's not like I've been at Club Med for the last few months," Cash countered. "Give me a break." "Let's get out of here before someone notices we're here." "Gladly." Within seconds he was in the fresh air, away from the dank stench of his cell. The night air was humid and hot, but bathed him with renewed life. They hiked up the hill through the brush. Cash didn't know any of the men with his brother, but it didn't matter. He'd let him take the lead, and trust that whoever Dylan had chosen to work with would have his back. The main thing was that he was finally free. Dylan twisted around briefly and smiled. "That's right, Cash. Drink in that fresh air," he said quietly. With the glow of a moon he hadn't seen in months, Cash saw his brother's eyes widen. "I almost forgot about Ellie. You must be going nuts about her. Sonny got her out of Eduardo Sanchez's estate and she's heading home. We just got word a little while ago." Ellie? Serena? Eduardo Sanchez. Now that was a name he knew well. They continued to move. In the distance, Cash heard the sound of a helicopter. It was just a matter of time before he was airborne and heading out of Colombia for good. And that was just fine by him. It took more stamina that he had to keep up with the team. Dylan held back, grabbing him by the arm to help him along the way. The moved through the trees quickly, but quietly. Cash had no doubt that Dylan's team was going slower than normal because he was holding them back. He wasn't as fit as he used to be, thanks to what little movement he had in that cell. His muscles hadn't gone completely soft on him. There wasn't much room in his cell, but he'd managed to do whatever exercises he could in between assaults, trying to build himself back up. Still, the last few months had taken a toll on him. Breathing heavy, they reached the top of the hill and came to a clearing where he saw the helicopter waiting for them. Dylan scanned the area to make sure they were clear. After a few head nods and hand signals from the rest of the team, a way they covertly communicate with each other, they proceeded toward the helicopter at a steady clip. Cash needed a lift up to get into the helicopter. For a man who'd once been able to bench press his weight, he felt like a baby learning to crawl. He waited until they were secure and the helicopter was airborne before trying to talk to Dylan. "Dyl, you know about Eduardo Sanchez?" "Yeah, not that I got any help from you on that," Dylan said, raising his voice above the whop-whop of the helicopter. "Other than the one picture of Serena you gave me, we didn't have anything to go by. You didn't even have any pictures of Ellie on your computer. Sonny had to dig up the information about Eduardo Sanchez herself." Their kid sister, Sonny, was a computer hacker by trade. She made a tidy living using her unique skill of breaking into computer systems for large corporations and helping their tech crew design ways to keep the system secure. Cash had no doubt Sonny was the reason they'd been able to find his location in Colombia. "Ellie?" Dylan smiled. "Yeah, I'm sure you can't wait to see her. I know I can't. I only saw a picture. But don't worry. She's fine and so is Serena. They're both waiting in Puerto Rico for you with Mom and Dad." He was getting dizzy. Cash wasn't sure if it was the rush of adrenaline or the unsteadiness of being in a plane. His stomach rolled. "You look a little green," one of the team said, handing Cash a bag. Dylan opened a bottle of water and handed it to him. “If you’re going to lose it, do it in the bag, not on my boots.” After drinking down half the bottle, Cash wiped his mouth and tried to focus on Dylan's face, fighting for clarity. "Mom and Dad are in Puerto Rico with…" "Serena and Ellie." There was so much noise in his head he couldn't think. He wanted to close his eyes. He hadn't slept in what seemed like an eternity. "Just hang on, Cash. We'll be home soon," Dylan said. "Don't worry. As soon as we land we'll get you a medic." Cash shook his head weakly. The helicopter had pitched to one side, but his head still felt like it hadn't moved. "Ah, Dyl? Who exactly are Serena and Ellie?" Dylan froze, the joy on his face completely vanishing. "What?" "You mentioned them. Who are they? Were they connected to Eduardo Sanchez? And what possessed you to let Sonny go near that monster?" "Cash, are you kidding me? Sonny came down here to Colombia for the same reason you did." His anger over the idea that his kid sister had been anywhere near Eduardo Sanchez had him fighting to stay upright despite his wanting to completely collapse. It was the first time in months he felt he could just let down his guard. But he needed to know his sister was safe. "The man is fucking Satan himself, Dylan." "I know." "No, you don't know. He kills for sport and he tortures for the same reason. He acts like it’s prime time TV entertainment. You have no idea what—" "Yes, I do. Sonny—" "Sonny shouldn't have come to Colombia. You shouldn't have let her come here. What the fuck is wrong with you?" Sonny had come to Colombia for the same reason he did? Cash had come here for…why did he come? He couldn't remember. "Who's Ellie and why did Sonny think she'd had to come all the way down to Colombia to get her. I don't want Sonny anywhere near Eduardo Sanchez. Sonny is just a kid. This Ellie person should have—" "Calm down, Cash. You’re not making any sense." "You’re the one who isn’t making sense. I can't believe you let our kid sister get anywhere near a drug lord like Eduardo Sanchez. Who is this girl Ellie anyway?" Dylan's eyes widened. "You're kidding right? Cuz, if you are, I've got to tell you it's not funny." "'Fraid not. Mind filling me in?" Dylan's laugh was one of disbelief. "Cash, come on. Serena. Ellie. You know." Cash shook his head, trying to break through a cloud of confusion. How could these two women be important enough that Dylan would risk their sister's life? Dylan grabbed Cash by the shoulder. "Ellie was the whole reason you were in that Colombian dump in the first place." Dylan’s face turned ashen. "You really don't remember them?" "Should I?" Dylan stared at him for a long, strained moment. The sound of the helicopter was pounding in his brain. "Christ, Cash, what'd they do to you that you don't even remember your wife and your kid?"