“We waited.I didn’t think they’d send you guys in.I figured they’d just pay it.”
The man didn’t deserve his parents who obviously cared deeply for him.
“Then the earthquake hit.Scared the shit out of me.I’ve never been in an earthquake before.”Vance hugged himself.“Agus told me to chill.He’d built the house to the highest standards, whatever that meant.Anyway I chilled until one of his men ran in talking about a tsunami.I wasn’t waiting around.That’s when Agus locked me in the bedroom.He said the house would be fine and I shouldn’t panic.He threatened to tie me up if I didn’t behave.”Vance shrugged.“There was something creepy about the way he said it.”
Which was probably when Vance finally realised Agus wasn’t as benevolent as he appeared.
“And now you’ve escaped?”Dobby asked.“Will he come after you?”
“He probably thinks I’m dead.”
“He saw us rescue you.”A couple of million dollars might be enough for Agus to search for him.“If he finds you, would he force you back to his house?”
“You guys won’t let him take me.”
“That’s not what I asked.Is Agus likely to laugh it off as a joke, or shoot you for making a fool of him?”
The blood drained from Vance’s face and Dobby had his answer.He turned to Joker.“We need to make a thinner stretcher.”
Then they needed to ditch the car and hide.
Chapter 5
Mila watched Damien stride into the jungle and her body warmed.For those few moments when she’d sat on his lap, she’d felt safe and as if everything would be all right.But talk of extraction and the issues with Ethan’s injury reminded her she was an extra on this mission, and they were under no obligation to rescue her.Her mother had spoken about how unplanned events often messed up a mission.She didn’t want to mess this up for them.
She also wanted to know what the hell Vance was playing at.Had he genuinely been kidnapped, or had he realised she wouldn’t marry him and implemented a backup plan?It wouldn’t surprise her if he’d faked his kidnapping.He’d do anything to get out of doing any actual work.But once again he’d used her and dragged her into his mess.It was time to have words with him.Strong ones.
He’d taken away her option of staying here, enjoying living like the locals with their slower pace of life.She’d found her work deeply rewarding.The families who had welcomed her and helped her settle in had been so kind.
And now so many of them were left with nothing.How could she desert them when they needed her most?
But she couldn’t stay when Agus clearly had a vendetta against her mother.
She curled up in the passenger side seat, wincing at her aches, while Axle spoke with Ethan.
When they set up camp, she’d ask if they had anything to clean her wounds with.
The only good thing to come out of this whole mess was Vance’s father had sent in special ops, which meant even if they couldn’t get her off the island with them, someone would know she needed help.
What assistance could she offer the team?Ethan needed medical attention fast.The medical centre in town was well stocked thanks to Agus and a famous surfer who had come for the surf and wanted to make sure they had the facilities he needed should he be injured.The break offshore apparently had a reputation.
But what state would the centre be in now?
Only one way to find out, but they’d have to wait for the waves to stop.
Her throat closed over at the thought of going anywhere near the coast.The hairs on her skin stood up, and she waved her hands to get some air movement around her.
“Are you all right?”Axle asked.
She nodded, swallowing hard.“Hot.”That was also true.The brief relief from the humidity with the rainfall in the evening had been short-lived.The team didn’t need to know she was close to breaking down.They might decide she was a liability.
Mila slowed her breathing, and her muscles relaxed.She had to get a grip.She was her mother’s daughter.She could do this.
Calm.She knew this island better than they did.What were their other options?
There were five villages on the coast and one in the mountain.Would the villages on the other sides have been affected as badly as this one?They might have a boat.
If they got out to deep water between the waves, they should be safe.
