LEXI
I’m done. I’m finished. I don’t care what Nathan Beaumont has on me or not. If he knowseverythingthat happened at St Chalamet, I’ve put up with this lie for nothing. And even worse? I’m taking Tristan down with me.
He’s going to be collateral damage, and I know how that feels. It hits me so hard in this moment that I love him—that I’ve always loved him and never stopped—that I gasp. I can’t hurt him like my dad hurt me.
“Mr. Beaumont,” I say, raking my courage together. “Just so you know, this was my idea. Tristan had nothing to do with it. I suggested the fake engagement to get the job. Please?—”
“I knew it!” Jem says. “I knew something was off from day one! Her! What with her dad spending time in prison for stealing?—”
“What?” Blood rushes to my head as it drains to my feet at the same time. How did she know? I sway and prop a hand up on the wall to keep me steady.
“Lexi—” Tristan says, taking a step towards me.
I hold my hand up to stop him from getting any closer. Jem dug until she found treasure.
“Say that again?” Nathan says, his eyes narrowing.
“Her dad is a convicted—” Jem starts.
“Let her talk, Jem,” Nathan cuts in.
I pull in a deep breath. My dad did his time; this is my crime. “I said our engagement is fake and—” My voice breaks. Tristan reaches for my hand, but I jerk away. “Please. I—” Inside I’m rattling like a bird trying to take flight in a cage.
“Can we have this conversation in private?” Tristan interrupts.
“Gentleman,” Nathan says, addressing the coastguard and police. “Please excuse us. I think we have an in-house issue we need to deal with first.”
“Yes,” Jem says. “Officer Odinga, you and the men go check out the dive center. Who knows where they’ve been stockpiling the drugs. And watch out for Roger, that boat boy. He’s been doing night trips on the sly to Pemba. That’s how it always starts. I don’t trust him either.”
“Roger has nothing to do with anything!” I beg, wishing I could go back in time. My legs give out, but Tristan’s there, helping me to a seat at the round meeting table in the corner.
“Lexi,” he whispers urgently in my ear. “Just don’t?—”
“I have you on record,” Jem announces as the police file out. “Nathan, I’ll show you all my evidence.”
What evidence can she have?I’m not sure why Jem keeps yammering about drugs, because that’s ridiculous. But nonetheless, everything in this moment reminds me of my last meeting at St Chalamet, where my integrity, self-worth, and reputation were ground to a pulp. And even that pales against my current horror, now that other people are being dragged into my mess. Roger, of all people. And Deshni without a doubt too.
Nathan sits down next to me, and Tristan squeezes my shoulder before he takes another empty chair.
Jem has her phone out, searching for something and muttering incoherently.
Nathan looks at Tristan. “Dr. Martinelli,” he begins, and Jem clamps her mouth shut. At least when he speaks, she doesn’t interrupt. “I have to ask you again, now that the police are gone, what are you doing here?”
“I’m the dive master,” Tristan deadpans.
“I don’t think so,” Jem says. “Ever since you arrived, I’ve been suspicious of your dubious dealings. You’re in cahoots with Deshni,” she says as she points a rude finger to me. “And you’re training Roger, going out by boat, teaching him things. And then you confirmedthislast night in your own words.” She’s flicked open some app on her phone, and next thing, my voice fills the room from a hazy recording.
“Once you’ve put your feelers out, you’ll see there’ll be many options. There are countless opportunities all the way up and down the coast here, and then Mauritius, the Seychelles, the Maldives.”
“We still have time to set things up for you,”Tristan’s voice says.
The recording cuts, and I’m at a loss.What the hell?
“Worst of all,” Jem says, pointing that finger at Tristan, “you had the audacity to call your midnight meetingteam building.”
“Are you suggesting we’re setting up a drug-trafficking ring? In the three months we have on the island?” Tristan asks. “Because we’re not. There’s a serious misunderstanding here.”
“There’snomisunderstanding,” Jem contradicts, her tone heavy with accusation. “You’re busy with some serious illegal things here, and I aim to get to the bottom of it.”
