Impossible Promise

by Sybil Bartel

  “Grab some towels, Sugar.”

  I rushed for the blanket. Before I turned around, Talon was there.

  “C’mon, darlin’, we’re gonna get you dried off,” he coaxed, setting the form on a seat.

  She was trembling from head to toe. Black stringy hair covered her face and a ripped black dress clung to her slight frame. I moved to wrap the towel around her and she jerked back in fear.

  “It’s okay, it’s just a blanket.” Anger boiled up hot and fierce. What had Miami done to her? I choked it back and forced my voice to be calm, soothing. “I’m going to wrap it around you.”

  Slowly, she picked her head up.

  It was everything I could do not to flinch. One eye swollen shut, deep purple bruising already forming on her cheek and jaw, her face was a mess. She had a fat lip and her makeup was smeared in parody of a horror movie. When a terrified, broken, deep brown eye met mine, I hoped to God Miami was dead—so fucking dead.

  I wrapped her up and gently pushed her hair back. “Don’t worry, you’re safe now.” I wanted desperately to reassure her. I glanced at Talon. “Is anything broken?”

  “Nothing physical,” he said wearily.

  I knew what he was saying. “I need a first aid kit.”

  Buck, already half out of his wetsuit, stepped around Talon and silently handed me one.

  “Thank you.” I didn’t have enough words in my heart and the two I’d given him didn’t seem enough. That was two lives he’d saved now.

  “Welcome. I’ll dry off then help you.”

  I nodded and turned back to the girl as Neil pulled the boat farther out into the channel and took on speed.

  “Can you manage to come below? I have some dry clothes you can put on.”

  She nodded and stood on shaky legs. I helped her below deck and shut the hatch. Scrounging in my bag I pulled out leggings, a tank top and a hoodie. She was taller than me and much more endowed but the clothes would fit. I handed them to her.

  “They’re not fancy, but they’re dry.”

  She took them with a trembling hand and just stared ahead, looking lost.

  I sat down next to her. “Want help?”

  She didn’t move.

  I reached for the blanket and pushed it off her shoulders. I began talking, saying the first thing that came to my mind. “You know, when I was a little girl, I remember my mom helping me with a bath. I always liked those moments, me and my mom. She would wash my hair...” I pushed her hair back again and reached for the hem of her dress. “Let’s get this dress off.” I put an arm under hers and lifted. She helped me somewhat by trying to stand and I carefully got the dress over her head.

  Her thighs were black and blue and the small of her back had a horrible-looking bruise the size of a grapefruit. I choked back bile and kept talking. “She’d tell me stories and we would laugh.” I used the blanket to dry her as gently as possible then I slipped the tank top over her head. “Sometimes she’d sing to me. She liked to sing the songs from the movie The Sound of Music.” I crouched in front of her and helped her legs into the leggings. “My favorite song she sang was something about raindrops on roses. She was really good at singing that song.” I helped her to stand again and pulled the leggings up. I fit her arms through the sweatshirt and sat her back down.

  I picked up the first aid kit and showed it to her. “I’m just going to clean you up a bit.” I opened the kit and broke open the instant ice pack. Putting it in her hand, I raised her hand to her black eye. “Hold this here, it’ll help.” Thankfully, she complied.

  I picked out disinfecting wipes and some antibiotic cream. “Anyway, I loved those times with my mom. She was really pretty.” I looked at the girl’s one open brown eye. “Like you. You’re really pretty and when that eye heals, you’ll be good as new.” It was a lie but I couldn’t stop myself. She looked so despondent I didn’t know what to do. I wiped her cuts and bruises then dabbed on cream. I took the blanket and was gently wiping away her smeared makeup when she finally spoke.

  “The tall one saved me,” her voice cracked.

  My heart melted and I smiled. “Yeah. He saved me too.”

  “You were one of his girls?”

  “I’m Layna,” I said simply.

  Her eye went wide with shock and she sat back, staring at me in horror. “You’re Layna? Layna who used to be Jennifer, that Layna?”

  Rage swelled. All I could manage was a tight nod.

  “He told us he killed your whole family. He said if we didn’t do what he wanted, we’d become like you, scared and hiding and running but never getting far because he always knew where you were.”

  Mother. Fucker.

  “Is it true?” she asked, panic rising in her voice. “Did he kill them? Did he kill your whole family?” She stood up.

  Shoving down rage, I forced my voice to stay soft. “It’s okay, sit down. What’s your name?” I held my hand out in a placating gesture.

  “Ariel,” she said, oozing fear.

  “Ariel, that’s a pretty name.” I pulled her down to a sitting position. “Listen to me, okay? I am the Layna he told you about, but I’m also not. You met those men who brought you here?”

  She nodded.

  “Because of them, I’m not running. I’m not afraid.” I looked in her eye, praying she would see I wasn’t lying. “They won’t let him hurt you ever again. Your family is safe.”

  “I have a son.” Tears fell and her voice broke on the word son.

  Jeez, she looked too young to be a mom. “That’s so great. How old is he?”

  “Two.” She sobbed. “I can’t let anything happen to him!”

  “Nothing is going to happen to him, okay? I promise you.” So help me God, if Miami wasn’t dead, I would kill him myself. “Nothing will happen to either of you.”

  Someone knocked on the hatch.

  “Come in,” I said just loud enough.

  Squatting on the step, Talon popped his head in but didn’t come any further. “How’s it goin’, Sugar?” The worry in his eyes told me he’d heard Ariel.

  “This is Ariel, Ariel this is—” but then I stopped because Talon had given a slight shake of his head. “This is my friend. I was just telling Ariel she doesn’t have to worry about anything, does she?” Please tell me she doesn’t.

  Talon watched me a moment and when he answered, he wasn’t only speaking for Ariel. “She’s not gonna have a problem.”

  A tingling spread through my chest and I was suddenly light-headed.

  “They’ll think I killed him!” Ariel wailed miserably.

  “Who’s gonna think that, darlin’? Wasn’t anyone on that boat but you and him,” Talon asked the question casually but I could see it in his eyes, he was worried.

  “I left work with him, they saw me.” Wringing her hands, she began to rock.

  The motion of the speeding boat and her rocking was making me seasick. I looked desperately at Talon. I needed air.

  “I have a son,” Ariel keened.

  Talon pushed his shoulder in through the hatch and placed his hand on her arm. “Ariel darlin’, listen up. He’s not gonna hurt you now. You hear me?”

  Something close to relief slowly started to replace the dizziness.

  Ariel drew in a shuddering breath. “But they saw me with him.”

  “Who’s watchin’ your son, darlin’?” Talon asked calmly.

  “My mom.” She sniffled.

  “Your mama expectin’ you home anytime soon?” Talon glanced at his watch.

  She shook her head. “I don’t usually get off work till two, but when he picked me up I called her and told her I might be late. I didn’t know he was planning on going to the boat.” She shuddered when she said boat.

  Talon and I exchanged a glance.

  “Did anyone see you get on the boat?” he asked.

  She shook her head.

  “That’s good, darlin’, real good. Okay, here’s what we’re gonna do. When we get back, you’re gonna go to the emergency r
oom. I want a record of what he did to you. You tell them you escaped by jumping out of the car at a light. You went home and when your mama saw you, she insisted you go get checked out. Don’t mention anythin’ about the boat or comin’ to the Keys, okay?”

  “Okay,” she said hesitantly.

  “Don’t worry now, we’ll get you home and this will be okay, I promise. Why don’t you lie back and rest up a bit. I’ll be back to check on you.” Talon released her shoulder and retreated without looking at me.

  “One second, Ariel.” I went after Talon.

  Holding tight because Neil was going full throttle, I glanced at Buck then sat down next to Talon. He had pulled his phone out and was texting. “What’s the problem?”

  “Nothin’ doin’, Sugar, nothin’ doin’,” Talon said absently.

  I covered my hand over his. “This was supposed to be clean. If I thought there’d be a problem with anyone getting caught, I never would’ve agreed to any of this.”

  Talon looked like he was patiently waiting for me to stop speaking. “There’s no problem. I’m gonna get the security tapes from the marina in Key West and she should be fine.”

  “You can do that?”

  Talon smiled a smile that didn’t touch his eyes. “Aw Sugar, you wound me.” He tried to tease me but I could see his tension.

  “Talon, don’t joke.”

  Talon stared his stare at me then he abruptly leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “It’ll be fine, now let me do my thing.”

  “Thank you.” I nodded and made my way to Buck. Without hesitation I threw my arms around his neck and sunk onto his lap.

  “Hey.” Buck wrapped his arms around me. “She okay?”

  “No, but she will be.” I pulled back and took his face in my hands. “Thanks to you.”

  Buck didn’t reply.

  I put my forehead to his. “Thank you,” I whispered. In that moment, staring into Buck’s eyes, seeing all the complex emotions and the determination, I knew what it meant to be a warrior. Buck was and would always be a warrior. My warrior.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Neil took us north for an hour before easing back on the throttle. I sat below with a quiet Ariel but when Neil slowed down, we came above deck for some air. Buck called Roark while Neil maneuvered the Cobalt between a dozen small islands. A half hour later, I heard Roark’s plane approach just as Neil pulled up to a private dock.

  “Where are we?” I asked, looking at the dark house on stilts at the end of the dock.

  “My place,” Neil said without further explanation.

  Neil moored the boat as Talon and Buck unloaded gear. They’d decided Ariel would go back with Talon and Neil in Neil’s truck. Roark was going to take Buck and me to my house in Miami Beach. I suspected Buck called in the favor because he didn’t want to waste anymore of his last few hours in a car.

  “There’s a seaplane.” Ariel cowered behind me on the dock.

  “That’s our ride.” I watched Roark maneuver between the mangroves and float up next to the dock before I turned to Ariel. “Remember what we told you. Go to the hospital, get yourself checked out.” I was sure she had to be in a lot of pain and I didn’t want to begin to think about how her legs had gotten so bruised.

  “Okay,” she said weakly.

  I took her hand. “Make sure your mom says you came home early.” Protect our secret. But I didn’t say that.

  For the first time since she got on the boat, Ariel looked me in the eye. “I would never tell.”

  I exhaled. “Good. And one last thing.” I felt like I owed her some truth. “He killed my parents because my father was about to expose him. It had nothing to do with me.”

  Ariel’s eyes watered with sympathy. “I’m sorry.”

  I sucked in a deep breath that no longer had to do with sorrow. “Me too. Good luck, take care of your little boy.”

  A smile touched her lips when I mentioned her son. “Thank you, Layna.”

  “You’re welcome, Ariel.” I gave her a quick hug.

  “We have to go,” Buck called from the end of the dock.

  Neil came up behind Ariel and gave me a curt nod.

  “Thank you.” I carefully didn’t say Neil’s name.

  “Good night.” It was the only acknowledgement Neil gave me before steering Ariel up the dock.

  Talon sauntered up carrying both backpacks. He had a tired smile on his face but this time, the smile was touching his eyes.

  I smiled back. “What’s that all about?”

  He grinned wider, then his face became serious. “Free as a bird, Ms. Jennifer Dellis. Free as a bird,” he whispered.

  Deep soulful eyes held mine as the implication of what he was saying slowly sunk in. The tingling started in my arms and spread to my legs. Three years of tension unknotted from my muscles and my chest swelled with an emotion so intense, I wanted to launch myself at Talon. Instead, I grabbed his hand. “Layna,” I breathed, knowing I could never go back, but loving him for thinking I could.

  “Layna, Jennifer, Ginger, Maryann, it don’t matter. You’ll always be my Sugar. Sweet and bad for me.” Talon kissed my cheek. “Go, sexy island girl, I got places to be, women to hound.”

  “You are kinda a dog.”

  Talon threw his head back and laughed. “Now see, there’s that mouthy girl I love.” His eyes twinkled with amusement. “Pleasure’s been all mine, Sugar,” he said in a quiet drawl.

  My heart twisted and I couldn’t say goodbye without hugging him. I threw my arms around his neck and buried my face against his chest.

  Talon dropped the backpacks and his hard arms wrapped around me. “Aw Sugar, don’t go gettin’ all emotional on me,” he chided softly. “I can’t take it.”

  I looked up into his bright green eyes. “I like all the Talons—the flirty Talon, the SARC Talon, the hero Talon, but this Talon?” I placed my hand on his heart. “This is the one I love. Thank you. For everything.” I fought back tears.

  Talon stared at me. The stare I’d grown to know. “Love you back, Sugar,” he said roughly, right before he stepped away and grabbed his bags. Walking up the dock, he never looked back.

  “Layna.”

  I turned and a rightness settled in my chest at the sight of Buck standing at the end of the dock, holding the plane door open. I was free and I had Buck.

  I hurried to the plane. Watching me, expression guarded, Buck offered his hand and I took it. When Buck settled next to Roark, Roark asked where we were going.

  “Layna’s house is on the intracoastal in Miami Beach.”

  “Do you know Miami Beach?” I wondered if we’d be able to land there.

  “Enough, where are you?” Roark began checking things on the instrument panel.

  “I’m on Biscayne Point, it’s between Surfside and North Bay Village.”

  Roark whistled low. “Yeah, I know it.”

  I didn’t understand his reaction. “Can you land there?”

  Roark looked over his shoulder at me with a shit-eating grin. “I’m gonna. You got a dock?”

  “A small one.”

  “We’ll make do. If not I’ll drop you at a neighbors and you can lawn-hop your way home.” Roark shook his head and laughed to himself.

  “Thanks for taking us,” Buck interjected.

  “No problem. Not much call for night flying in the seaplane charter business. I miss it.” He gave Buck a look.

  “No you don’t, you lying bastard.” Buck cracked a smile.

  “You’re right,” Roark said cheerfully, and started the engine.

  The flight back to Miami was short. I knew we were getting closer when the twinkling lights below us became more condensed. I thought it’d be hard going home. I thought I’d be sad but I was excited. I wanted to go home. I wanted to show Buck my home. I wanted to...

  “Layna,” Roark’s voice came over the headphones. “Help me out here. Up ahead, past the second bridge, second inlet, right?”

  I looked down and although I’d never s
een it from this angle, I recognized a few landmarks. “That’s it.”

  “You on the north or south side of Biscayne Point?”

  “North, about four houses in from the eastern edge.” The pool in my backyard was lit up and the landscape lighting was shining on the royal palms. It was a beautiful sight.

  “Alright, here we go,” Roark banked the plane sharp to the left and swung a tight arc. He radioed the Coast Guard and requested a touchdown for a passenger drop off. A few seconds later he got an affirmative response and dropped quick and low and a minute later we were skimming across the intracoastal. He landed perfectly, slowing just in time to make the turn into Biscayne Point.

  I leaned forward in my seat. “The white house a few more houses down, the one with the landscaping and pool lights on.”

  “Got it. That dock will work.” Roark angled in closer then pulled up to my dock. “Hate to drop you and run but I better get outta here before your neighbors complain. Blaze, good to see you. Semper Fi.” He slapped Buck on the shoulder.

  “Oorah.” Buck shook his hand and crawled over the seats to open the door.

  “Thanks, Roark.” I got up.

  “Do me a favor, talk him into retiring and joining the civilian world. I need a good pilot.” Roark smiled like he knew something I didn’t.

  “Not sure I can.” That decision would have to be all Buck.

  “Oh, something tells me you can.”

  Roark’s laughter followed me off the plane.

  Buck was quiet as we walked up to the house, taking everything in. I saw through the living room and out the front windows that the Infiniti was parked in the driveway. I fished under a few cushions on the outdoor sofa and found the key.

  “Kendall came through.” I smiled, handing the key to a silent Buck. “You’re quiet. “ I looked up at his face but I couldn’t read his controlled expression.

  “Nice house. I was expecting something different.” He pocketed the car key.

  “Yeah, my mom completely redid it. She was into modernism, as you can see.” I made a sweeping motion with my hand. The whole back of the house was glass, the interior was all white and shiny and the furniture looked like it was straight out of a showroom. I reached into an inside zipper pocket in my purse for the key and let us in.