“I’ll clear a spot for Ethan.”Radar glanced at Mila.“Come with me.I’ll piggyback you.”
She screwed up her face.“I can walk.”
“I’m more worried about your bare foot getting injured,” Radar said.“The jungle floor isn’t the softest surface.”
Damien nodded.“If we go into town, we’ll find you something else to wear.”
That would be good.The blanket was warm, but she was conscious of the fact she wasn’t wearing a bra and her thin tank top hid nothing, particularly while it was wet.Thankfully it was still dark.
She grabbed her bag from the floor of the car.It was likely all that remained of her possessions.A wave of sadness passed over her thinking about everything the villagers had lost.Her possessions were nothing in comparison.She hopped onto Radar’s back and he carried her through the jungle to where the man she assumed was Joker waited with Vance.
“Are we getting out of here now?”Vance whined as Radar walked into the clearing.
Typical.
“Not yet.”Radar stopped, and she slid to the ground, wrapping the blanket back around herself.
“Why not?”Vance demanded.
Her patience snapped.She stepped out from behind Radar and said, “Because they have a man who broke his pelvis trying to save your sorry arse, and he can’t be moved easily, so you’ll have to wait.”
Vance’s eyes widened.“Mila.What happened to you?”
She scowled at him.“What?Other than the earthquake and almost being drowned by a tsunami?”
“Why didn’t you get out of there?”
“Because people needed help,” she replied.“I couldn’t leave them stuck under debris.”Helping others wasn’t a concept he was familiar with.
“If I’d known, I would have got these guys to rescue you, I swear.”He stepped forward as if to hug her and she ducked behind Radar to avoid him.
“Did you even consider where I was?”It shouldn’t hurt, but his blank, slightly confused expression told her everything.She didn’t wait for him to lie.“They didn’t have time to rescue me,” she said.“You only just made it out in front of the first wave.”At his questioning look she added, “I saw you leave.”
“Mila, baby, I’m sorry.I would never want you to be hurt.”
“Other than forcing me to marry you or telling a known criminal how rich my father is?”
“I needed his help to get you back.”
She raised her eyebrows.“Cut the bullshit, Vance.You don’t care about anyone but yourself.You don’t love me and you don’t want to marry me.”She blinked rapidly, glad it was too dark for anyone to see the tears welling in her eyes.She’d nearly died, and he didn’t care.Why hadn’t she seen it before?
“Sure I do.We’d be a power couple.”
“Here on this island?”she asked sweetly.
“No.In Sydney.”
“And if I want to live here?”
“No one would choose to live in this shit tip.”
But she had, and he didn’t get it.She closed her eyes.“Let me make this clear.I don’t like you, let alone love you.I won’t marry you.”
Anger flashed across his face.“Don’t be selfish.My father wants me to marry.It would only be for a couple of years.We were good together.”He took two steps towards her and Radar shifted so he was standing in front of her.
Joker spoke.“Enough.The lady has said no.You will respect her decision.”
His voice made her jump.What must they think of her?
