by Sara Fawkes
“Let me see it,” Jeremiah said, but I skittered away from him. At the same time, the door opened and both guards filled the entrance, presumably to see what was going on inside the room. Their presence made Jeremiah pause, and he seemed genuinely regretful as I straightened up. “Lucy...”
“Shut up.” Cradling my hand to my belly, tears of pain leaking from my eyes, I glared at him. “I don’t want to love you anymore, Jeremiah Hamilton,” I said, my voice cracking on his name. “It hurts too much.”
Not wanting him to see any more of my tears, I turned toward the door. The two guards parted to give me enough room to pass. I made my escape, fleeing upstairs to the empty cabin room and praying nobody would see me.
CHAPTER 6
I would have given into the temptation of staying inside for the rest of the trip had Captain Matthews not knocked on my door the next morning. “We just entered the Caribbean,” he called through the door. “Thought you might want to have breakfast with one hell of a view.”
The urge to say nothing, sit inside my little box and avoid any and all people to sulk, was strong. However, I’d never seen the Caribbean before; the furthest south my family had ever gone was the Carolinas for vacation. I got dressed silently, realizing it was rude not to acknowledge his offer, but when I opened the door the grizzled sea captain was still outside.
He whistled when he saw my wrapped hand. “I’ll take a look at that when we get up top. Rumor is you tried to take down that bigger brother; looks like you gave it a hell of a shot.”
I said nothing, but felt a traitorous smile tip one side of my lips. “He had it coming.”
“I’ll bet. Come on, Frank’s broken out the pineapple. Our little tradition whenever we’re down this way.”
Following the older man up onto the deck, something inside me eased as the warm sun caressed my skin. Being cooped up in that windowless room, I realized, had kept me grumpy; my mood immediately lightened as I took in the sunny skies. The boat still rocked in the waves, but not nearly as badly as it had when we were further north. Refreshed, I climbed the steps up into the captain’s deck to find Frank and Lucas already started eating.
“Hang on lass, let me get some ice for you.”
Matthews busied himself putting ice into a plastic bag, but when Lucas saw my swollen hand his jaw immediately clenched. He was beside me in an instant, picking up my arm delicately; I moved away, not all that happy with the Hamilton men at the moment, but he persisted. Thankfully he didn’t touch the still-painful digit, just giving it a close look. My knuckles had swollen overnight but I’d refused to put up a fuss. Pain medication and wrapping the hand in a towel before going to bed let me sleep.
I’m not sure what I expected, but the smile that tipped his lips wasn’t it. “’Atta girl.”
A surprised laugh pushed free as I pulled my hand away and sat down in one of the chairs. Frank steered the boat this morning but still managed to hog most of the pineapple. While he and Captain Matthews argued over how much of the tropical fruit to divvy up to the guests, I let my gaze wander outside. The windows on either side of the cabin were open, the warm sea breeze circulating the small compartment. Outside, the ocean stretched out around us but the waters were tinged a pale green, different than any ocean I’d seen before.
Lucas leaned in close to me. “If you think this is nice,” he murmured, nodding his head toward the sea, “wait until you get closer to land.”
I pushed him away with my good hand and he sat back, grinning. As much as I wanted to be mad at him for bringing me on this journey, the mood within the cabin was too happy to ruin. A smile tipped my own lips as Matthews handed me a bag of ice, which I carefully laid atop my bruised knuckles.
Frank waved two decks of cards above his head. “Okay, who’s up for a game of Pinochle?”
We made landfall late that afternoon, although we were in sight of the shoreline long before that. “Which island is it?” I asked the captain.
“Jamaica. Winter is the best time of the year too; can’t get more perfect weather.”
My first view of land however was somewhat lackluster. Palm and thick-leafed tropical trees lined the shoreline, but the ramshackle port we pulled into would not have been on any tourist map. Lucas went below, leaving me up top while he dealt with his business on the docks. The sudden reminder of what kind of ship I stood upon was a hard pill to swallow.
“How do you cope with knowing what you’re carrying?” I asked the two seamen, watching as Lucas’ men started moving the crates off the ship.
“We don’t look.” Captain Matthews was somberly watching the proceedings below. “This ain’t a dream job, but the money is good and neither me nor Frank put anything away for retirement.” He sighed. “I hate lying to the boys that give me a call, wondering what their old captain’s up to nowadays. That part stings the most, I think, but I want the lot of ‘em to stay as far from this life as possible.”
I couldn’t imagine doing work like this for a living, and meeting good people like the captain and first mate confused me. Perhaps I could have vilified all of Lucas’ men if I hadn’t met these two; now, through the lens of their experience, I had some sympathy for the rest. And then there was my part, merely as a translator but my words and actions may have killed that French doctor. Pushing those thoughts out of my mind, I contented myself with staying as far away as possible, not leaving my current location until everything was done.
Until I saw Jeremiah being led down the gangplank to the docks.
The tension in my heart escalated as I watched Lucas’ men escort a handcuffed Jeremiah to the pier, and suddenly I couldn’t stay in my safe little box. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” I said, making my decision. “I think it’s time for me to go.”
“It was good to meet you, missy,” Matthews said, shaking my hand. “I hope to see you again someday, albeit under better circumstances.”
I felt bad for leaving them and wondered if I was making the right decision, but still hurried down the steps and around the side of the ship. The water here was more stable than when we’d left New York but I still took the gangplank to the shore carefully. Watching the bustling proceedings was very different than when I was up in the captain’s area, and I didn’t breathe easy until I was beside Jeremiah. I could feel the big man’s gaze on me, a heavy weight that I tried to ignore. “I thought you never wanted to see me again,” he murmured.
“I thought so too.” I fought the urge to look at him, desperate to see his expression. I cringed toward him as a forklift veered dangerously close. The two guards still flanked the big man but despite the flurry of activity, I felt safest beside the ex-Ranger.
Loud cursing preceded Niall’s arrival onto the docks. The Australian was supported by two of his men and didn’t look at all thankful for their help. “Where’s that son of a bitch?” he shouted, scanning the docks. “He’s going to pay for what he did.”
“Somebody called for me?” Lucas stepped out from between two crates, smiling at the furious blond man.
Niall pointed a finger at the gunrunner. “When Mr. Smith hears about what you did to me, he’ll...”
“Mr. Smith can hear quite well, thank you.”
Niall’s eyes bugged out as another man stepped out of the shadows beside Lucas. “G...Good afternoon, sir,” he stuttered. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I didn’t expect I’d need to make the trip.” Smith was an older man, maybe in his mid-fifties, but he wore his age well. Silver hair streaked his temples, and the wrinkles on his face only served as character. Much like Jeremiah, he had a commanding presence you couldn’t help but notice, and right now he didn’t seem to approve of his Australian lackey. “Tell me, Mr. Jackson,” Smith said conversationally, “where is Doctor Marchand?”
Niall licked his lips nervously. “My men couldn’t find him before we left,” he said, then quickly added, “sir.”
“I see. So you didn’t intend to take his shipment of supplies and try to sell them without my knowledge
.”
The blond man’s mouth worked for a moment, his face white, then he shook his head. “No, sir,” he whispered.
“Because word about special sorts of deals get around, and people frown on betrayal like that. Those feelings affect business, which isn’t something I appreciate. Fortunately, I’m in a good mood today.” Smith looked at the two men carrying the terrified Australian. “Take care of him.”
The two goons who had been propping the man up suddenly became his captors, dragging the man quickly out of earshot. I clenched my fists, pressing my forehead against Jeremiah as Lucas asked, “What are you going to do with him?”
“Unfortunately, this one is my wife’s nephew so my hands are tied. However, I don’t think he’ll make this same mistake twice. Thanks for the call, I’m certain the authorities will find the poor doctor eventually.”
“A shame,” Lucas replied. “There are so few chances to do any kind of good in this job, but the medicines will reach the good doctor’s hospital.”
“Agreed.” The two men shook hands. “Pleasure doing business with you as always.”
As Smith walked away, Lucas moved toward Jeremiah and I. His gaze flickered to me as he pulled around behind us. Whatever he thought about my proximity to Jeremiah, Lucas kept it to himself as he unlocked Jeremiah’s shackled wrists. “Sorry about the cuffs, I had to be sure you wouldn’t do anything stupid.”
Jeremiah rubbed his wrists. “I still don’t understand how you can do this kind of thing.”
“Practice makes perfect.”
There was no smile on the gunrunner’s face. As far as I could tell, he was being truthful to his brother, but not giving away much else. I was just stunned they were speaking to one another at all. “Didn’t you two hate each other a few hours ago?” I asked hesitantly.
The chorus of “Yes” left me even more confused. The two men exchanged a glance. “We spoke last night,” Jeremiah said in a careful voice. “Came to a few understandings.”
I peered between the two men, expecting more of an explanation but not getting it. Standing in front of both men side by side, the family resemblance was pretty stunning. Despite the different physiques, both men had the same coloring and facial features, minus the scar across Lucas’ nose and cheek. I’d seen scars as bad or worse on Jeremiah’s body, a testament to the life he led in the Army Rangers.
Finally, Lucas spoke. “Come on, let’s get to the hotel. Business always makes me hungry.”
“Hotel?” I asked, trailing along beside Jeremiah. “We’re not going home?”
“Not yet,” Jeremiah murmured as Lucas led us to a large SUV. “I’ll explain later but...” He blew out a breath. “For now, we’re safer here with my brother than in New York.”
He didn’t sound any more pleased by the situation than I was. Unfortunately, there was little comfort to be had from that realization.
The short ride to the hotel was quiet, tension between the siblings thick in the air. The two men sat on opposite ends of the vehicle with me alone in the center. The awkwardness made me somewhat happy that I had grown up an only child, and I was relieved when we pulled up to the hotel with little fuss.
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but there was a distinctive island feel to our home for the night. Tiki torches lined the driveway and entrance, the small flames flickering bright in the dying light. A five-star resort this was not; it seemed more like a local hangout than a tourist dive. Our rooms were already reserved, with the clerk merely handing Lucas the keys as he came to the desk. I was relieved to find I had my own room, not realizing until the tension eased that this situation was something I’d been unconsciously dreading.
Of course, my room was sandwiched in the middle of the three. I sighed. Hamilton men.
“So can someone fill me in on what’s going on?”
Ours was a late dinner, but the hotel restaurant showed no signs of slowing down. Music flowed from the bar area inside, and some of the guests there occasionally spilled outside where we sat, but for the moment we were still alone. Dark trees blocked any view outside the grounds but there was a distinct lack of traffic. In quieter moments, I could still hear the ocean nearby.
“Somebody is doing their damndest to ruin or kill us.” Lucas didn’t sound too threatened by the fact, but then again even a gun to the head didn’t faze him. “First it was the hitman sent after Jeremiah, now a saboteur with a bomb I’m certain he didn’t understand on my ship.”
“I thought Anya hired the assassin,” I said, but both Jeremiah and Lucas shook their heads.
“Whatever she may have been,” Lucas replied, “she wasn’t evil enough to come up with this on her own. Someone coached her into that decision.”
“I’ve got my men looking into it.” Jeremiah didn’t look hungry, as most of the food on his plate remained untouched. He seemed to be deep in thought, and occasionally sent glances my way, which I ignored. “I could tell you as soon as they discovered anything if you’d give me back my communication equipment.”
“Like I told you last night, no matter the network you’re working with it’s closer to the bottom of the information ladder.” Lucas leaned back in the booth, steepling his fingers. “I can get you straight to the top.”
“I don’t like your methods.”
Jeremiah’s low answer only made Lucas’ smirk widen. “But they work far better than anything you’ve access to.”
Both of Jeremiah’s hands clenched into fists atop the table. “I spent years fighting against people like you in the Army...”
“Then you quit that life to take over mine.” Lucas’ lips kept their upward tilt but lost what humor was left. “I was pushed out of the only existence I knew by my own brother. He took over the gilded throne and let me fall to the wolves.”
“You didn’t fall,” Jeremiah said, voice as cold as ice, “you jumped. You kept jumping, and now you’re trying to drag me down with you. Our father...”
“Your father gave you everything and left me nothing,” Lucas hissed.
“I didn’t want this!”
“But you took it anyway, didn’t you?”
“Hey,” I snapped, aware that the two men looked poised at any point to leap over the tables at the other’s throat. Peering around the room, we didn’t seem to be attracting any attention in the empty outside area, but if the conversation continued that would change. “Can we stay on subject here?” I asked in a low voice.
Both men turned angry gazes on me, and for a moment I thought they were going to band together against me. As if on cue, a conga line appeared from the bar, breaking up the tension at the table. They sat back down, still glaring at one another, and I breathed a little sigh of relief. “Now what?”
Lucas glanced at me, then back to Jeremiah. “Do you have your passports with you?”
I shook my head, and after a moment’s hesitation so did Jeremiah. Lucas nodded. “It should be easy enough to get replacements, provided you,” and he pointed at Jeremiah, “aren’t already an outlaw.” At my confused look, Lucas grinned. “The media is trumpeting the news that our golden boy here has skipped the country, although nobody seems to know why yet. Authorities don’t sound pleased but so far there hasn’t been any arrest warrants posted.” He glanced at Jeremiah. “I have it about right, don’t I?”
Jeremiah looked away, clearly annoyed by the conversation. I leaned forward to put a hand on his knee but stopped myself in time. Despite my best efforts, my heart ached for the large man. Jeremiah Hamilton thrived on control, and if his brother really had taken away all communication equipment, then he’d lost the upper hand.
“Tonight we rest.” Lucas spread his arms wide. “Tomorrow, we leave for Dubai.”
Maybe I should have been used to the weird turn my life had taken by that point, but I still blinked at the sudden news. “Dubai? As in, the Arab nation?”
“One of the richest.” Lucas winked at me. “I think you’ll enjoy it.”
“But why can’t I go home?”
Perhaps I was whining when I asked, but I figured I was entitled to lodge some form of complaint. “I’m not related to either of you; if it’s really as personal as you say, then I can’t be a target.”
“And what would you do,” Jeremiah asked, “when you got home?”
I glared at him. “Contrary to what you obviously think,” I snapped, “I can stand on my own two feet.”
“I didn’t mean...”
“Yes you did.” I crossed my arms, irritation bubbling up. “Since I’ve met you two, I’ve been shot at, poisoned, kidnapped – twice I might add – and attacked by strange men. I don’t care how rich you are or how many foreign countries you drag me into, this whole thing is ridiculous.”
“See?” Lucas spread his arms and gave me a bit smile. “Bet your life has never been this interesting.”
There was nothing I could say to that. I sat back, wordless, watching in a daze as the conga line disappeared back inside the bar. Two beautiful faces, so very similar to one another, stared at me: Jeremiah’s gaze was as stony as ever, and Lucas grinned at me like a buffoon. As much as I wanted to scream and rail at them, I couldn’t seem to form the words.
“There are many ways to hurt a man.” Jeremiah leaned forward. “Sometimes, the easiest is to go after those in our care.”
“What, like the girl you’re sleeping with?” My voice had a nasty, self-recriminating note and I bit my tongue. “You’ve made it clear what I am to you.”
“Others might see it differently,” Lucas murmured, but I just stared at the table, trying to hang onto my anger.
“This is stupid,” I muttered after a moment of silence, as the conga line appeared again from inside the bar. “What about your mother then? Why isn’t she the one you’re whisking off to foreign lands?”
Lucas snorted. “They probably know better than to try hurting us from that angle,” he said.
“My men are keeping an eye on her,” Jeremiah said, and I looked over to see him watching me. His eyes flickered to his brother. “I agree however that she’s not likely in any danger.”