Shaking off the confusion and shock, she sat up. “Who are you? And I don’t know those people.”
“I’m Jaden Dean. I’m part of a private security firm called ManTech,” he said, thumping the fuel dial as it floated, keeping his compass pointed south.
“Why are you here?” she asked.
“It’s my job.”
She clucked her tongue disapprovingly. “To do what? Find me, or arrest me?”
“Keep an eye on you and document who you speak to and meet.” That was supposed to be it. Follow the chain and report back to Gunner.
“You nearly got us killed back there.” She sat upright and crossed those long runner’s legs, tugging her skirt below her knees.
“I just saved your life. Or maybe you hadn’t noticed you were being dragged to your death?”
She stared out at the seas for a long moment saying nothing. “They might have been taking me to my brother. Are you going to use me to get back at them?” The disdain in her voice was palpable.
“No. I’m the good guy.”
A disgruntled snort escaped her. “I can decide that for myself. Is someone paying you to watch me?”
“I get paid to do my job.”
“Who hired you?” she shot back.
“I can’t tell you what I don’t know,” he said honestly. Even so, he didn’t like the mistrust in her eyes. He couldn’t say he blamed her. The simple truth was he didn’t know. His contacts were clean. This assignment had come from a big shot in D.C. Not that he would share that tidbit. Several of his men were dead, and this cartel seemed to be the link.
Still, for some unknown reason, it mattered to him that she trusted him. He told himself this would go a lot smoother if he won her confidence and that was all. “What’s in the overnight bag?”
“Money.”
“If you don’t know those guys, why’d you bring a bag full of cash to the beach?” he asked.
“I had no choice.” She stared at him, her pupils dilated from adrenaline and fear. “If you’re so good at your job, why don’t you know already?”
He compressed his lips to keep from popping off with a remark.
“How much trouble is my brother in?” she asked.
He’d swear he just saw her tense expression become laced with anger and bitterness.
“He’s been one of the top money launderers in North America for the last couple of years.”
“I didn’t know.” Hurt darkened her eyes as she took a moment for that news to sink in. The catch in her voice had him doubting his initial judgment. Had this information taken her by surprise?
“You do now.”
“I thought maybe he was still into drugs,” she confessed.
Maybe she told the truth. Maybe she was as devastated as she looked. Maybe she did love her brother and she was just that demolished by him. A little piece of him believed in her integrity. The whole rest of him, and especially the part which had been betrayed, railed against the idea of trusting anyone.
Not that it mattered. Sticking with her would lead him to the men who’d killed Bryce. Lauren James had just found herself a new best friend. And this would all go a lot smoother if she trusted him.
“Sometimes you want to believe in people.” He shook his head wearily. “They can be damn disappointing, can’t they?”
Her expression solemn, she said, “You radioed your agency before. Are they coming to pick us up?”
“Yes. But we have to get to a safehouse first,” he stated.
“Back there I saw a man get shot. Were the two of you close?”
“This job doesn’t allow for many friends if that’s what you’re asking.” He paused, not wanting to reveal just how much it hurt to say that. “Why’d you bring the briefcase?”
“To exchange for my brother’s life.” Her voice trembled in anger. “He’s here…somewhere. Are you taking me to find him?”
They could re-engage on the south side of the island, and then he could set up a meeting with Gunner for more men and supplies. There were only a few spots on the island where the cartel could be holding her brother. “You’re vacation ends when we hit dry land.”
“You think I like this? You think I want any of this?” Frustration had her blinking back tears and her voice quivering as a look of repulsion crossed her face. If pressed, Jaden would have to admit he didn’t like being the one who put it there.
“They’re going to kill my brother now, and it’s because of you,” she said.
“Just how do you figure that?”
“They told me to bring money to buy him back. That’s what I was doing. Until you came along and messed it up.” She folded her arms across her chest.
“Unless being kidnapped and probably killed was part of your plan, then you should be glad I ruined it, sweetheart,” he said. “Besides, we’ll find them.”
“How? How on earth will we do that out here?” Lauren’s eyes were intent on the man in front of her.
He glanced at the bag.
“They get the money?” His voice was dark, edgy and commanding. No question he was used to being the one in control.
“No.”
“Then they’ll find us. Besides, your brother’s still alive.” His confidence was a little shocking under the circumstances and she was caught off guard by how much of a pull it was.
“How could you possibly know that?”
A slow smile spread across lips far too full for a face of sharp planes and hard angles. “This is not my first rodeo.”
“Why would you help him? Me? Is that why you were hired?”
“I catch bad guys for governments and private agencies. It’s what I do,” he said.
This was his job. He was a professional. That she knew. What she couldn’t figure out was if he would help her or hurt her. She wasn’t sure if she should fight him or thank him.
Best she could figure was he’d just saved her life. It was the first
