Caribbean Rescue (Destination Billionaire Romance) Page 7

  Zack glanced up and down her body. “That looks great on you.”

  “Thanks.”

  They crept around the curtain, and the girl smiled at them. “I told them I no see you.”

  “Thank you.” Zack returned the smile. “Do you have something that can hide her hair and a hat for me?”

  “Yes.” She found a cool turban thing to twist Maddie’s hair up into and a wide-brimmed straw hat for Zack. He exchanged his T-shirt for a floral print shirt, and they were as disguised as they could be. He pulled out his wallet, but the girl waved him off. “You give me plenty.” She strode out onto the street and looked around for a while before returning. “Men are gone. Vayanse.”

  “Thanks.” Zack took Maddie’s hand and led her out of the shop. The warm sun wasn’t the only reason sweat trickled down her back as they walked through the busy market. Maddie would’ve loved to stop and look in the little shops, but the terror of Bello finding her drove her on. Her eyes darted around, looking for anyone familiar.

  “How far do we need to go?” she asked.

  “On the other side of the market there’s a place we can rent a Jeep; then we’ll be at Brooks’ house in twenty minutes tops.”

  “You’re sure his house will be safe?”

  Zack glanced down at her with a reassuring smile and squeezed her hand. “Very safe. He takes his protection pretty seriously.”

  Maddie could almost taste safety. Twenty minutes and they’d be with Zack’s friend. She searched in front of them and then chanced a glance behind. A man with long, dark hair and a goatee strode toward them. It was Jericho.

  “Zack. One of them is coming up behind us.”

  Zack didn’t even look behind them. He pulled her into an alleyway between stores, took his hat off and pulled it down to cover both of their faces. Then he kissed her. Maddie’s body melted into his, and if she wasn’t so terrified, she would’ve savored his amazing kiss. They were intertwined, giving and taking comfort and desire, when Maddie felt a breeze. She could feel Jericho’s breath on her neck and knew he was trying to get a glimpse of them under the hat. Maybe he’d think she was just a local because of her dark skin. She pressed harder into Zack so Jericho wouldn’t get a clear view of her face.

  “Leave those two alone,” another voice came. “Would you want someone interrupting your makeout?” He laughed. Maddie thought it might be Jack, one of the more ruthless pirates who had terrified her even before she’d realized what they all were. “Bello just called, and the girl is on the ferry going to the mainland.”

  Maddie clung to Zack, kissing him as if she didn’t even know the men were there. Jericho dropped Zack’s hat and backed away.

  Maddie sagged against Zack in relief. It had been the flash drive that was bugged, not her. Zack grinned at her, and gave her one more soft kiss. “If I’d known being scared would produce a kiss like that, I would’ve gone running for the pirates.”

  Maddie smacked his solid chest. “Not funny.”

  Zack put the hat back on his head and took her hand again. “I wasn’t joking.”

  Maddie shook her head but didn’t answer. Zack led her through the crowds to a small shop with scooters and Jeeps out front. The man greeted Zack with a back-thumping hug and a rush of Spanish. Zack replied; apparently he did know the language. The man gestured to Maddie and grinned. “Ella es muy hermosa,” he said.

  Zack nodded to her. “Yes, she is very, very beautiful.”

  Maddie gave a self-deprecating laugh, but her chest warmed at his compliment. What would he think if he saw her with her hair done and makeup on? She hoped she’d have the chance to really fix herself up for him someday.

  Zack continued conversing in Spanish, signed some papers, and handed over a couple hundred-dollar bills. He seemed to have an endless supply of those. They hadn’t gotten into what he’d done to be at a financial level where money didn’t seem to be an issue to him. He’d said something about being a wealthy athlete earlier. Maddie wished she could sit and talk to him with no agenda or worry of Bello’s men finding them. She needed to keep showing him gratitude for all he was doing for her. She flushed at the thought.

  Within minutes they were loaded into a red Jeep. Zack drove down some rutted side streets and popped out onto the main street a few blocks from the main section of town. Maddie glanced back, but couldn’t see her father’s yacht. Had they left? They thought Maddie was on the ferry, so maybe they were chasing it. That would give Maddie and Zack more time to escape if Bello had to get to the mainland before he found the flash drive.

  She relaxed against the seat. “You were right. It was the flash drive.”

  Zack gripped the steering wheel. “Didn’t your father give that to you?”

  Had her father set her up? But why try to help her escape in the first place? “Yes. Bello must’ve known about it. Maybe he set up the tracking device on it somehow or found something in my father’s things. Maybe he tortured the information out of my father.” She swallowed.

  “Maybe.” Zack didn’t say anything more. He pulled off his hat and tossed it onto the backseat.

  She felt a flush of shame that her father had associated with such horrible men. She wished she could ask him why he’d involved her in this mess. Maybe when they found those papers she would have her answers. She wasn’t sure if she wanted them or not.

  Pulling the wrap off of her hair, she finger-combed the long curls and stared out the side of the Jeep. The foliage was thick. The green reminded her of home, except the trees here were mostly palms instead of pine trees. Glimpses of the ocean and beach beyond were nothing like home, though. Vacationers riding scooters honked at them and waved gleefully as they passed. Maddie smiled and waved back, but such lightheartedness seemed a lifetime away for her. Had it really only been two weeks ago she’d been celebrating with her friends and Mom when she graduated?

  Zack turned down a paved road. A huge gate appeared before them, and a guard holding a gun that meant business strolled out to meet them. She guessed it was a machine gun, but really had no clue. Her only exposure to guns was the occasional shoot-’em-up flick that a date would take her to and her dad teaching her how to use a handgun when she was a teenager. Zack greeted the man in Spanish like they were old friends. The man smiled, but didn’t release his grip on the weapon or seem overly friendly.

  The gate swung open, and they drove a couple hundred yards down the asphalt driveway. The trees fanned out to reveal a stucco mansion and the beach beyond. Zack had barely shoved the Jeep into neutral and pulled up the parking brake when a man bounded out of the house. He didn’t look quite as tall as Zack, but he was thicker, with ropy muscles like a bodybuilder. His dark hair was longer, and his face was tan, but he was obviously not a native Mexican.

  “My boy!” he hollered.

  Maddie laughed. “You’re his boy?”

  Zack shook his head. “Get ready. You’re about to be mauled.”

  “What?” Her eyes darted around looking for a large dog or something. Mauled by what?

  Zack jumped out of the Jeep and hugged his friend. Maddie slid out of her side and walked around to meet this over exuberant guy. He pulled back from the hug with Zack and glanced over at Maddie. His jaw slackened for a second before he thumped Zack on the back. “Whoa. You scored for yourself, son.”

  Maddie was certain this guy wasn’t that much older than Zack, but he kept calling him boy and son. So weird. She stuck out her hand. “Hi, I’m Madeline.”

  He brushed past the hand and pulled her into a hug. She caught a whiff of expensive cologne as her face pressed into his bulging pecs. Too much money and too much time hitting the gym were obvious obsessions with this guy. He pulled back and grinned, revealing ultra-white teeth and a smile that most women probably melted over and gave her a quick kiss on the mouth.

  “Whoa!” Maddie backed away.

  Zack was shaking his head. He came to her rescue, pulling her into his side. “She’s my girl, Brooks.”

  Maddie
stared up at Zack. She was tempted to refute that and explain that they’d barely met, but she wondered if she needed the protection from his friend. Zack thought she would be safe here?

  “Nice! Good for you.” Brooks clapped his large hands together, jerking his thumbs toward his chest. “Brooks Johnson. It’s nice to meet you, Madeline.”

  “Maddie,” she murmured, wrapping her arm around Zack’s back, liking the feel of him close to her.

  “Maddie,” Brooks repeated. “Well, come in, come in. You hungry? Ready to swim? Snorkel? Get a massage? We could take the speedboat out and parasail. Great way to see my island.”

  Maddie’s head was whirling.

  “I’m starving,” Zack said.

  “Perfect. Dinner is almost ready.”

  A butler of sorts greeted them at the door, a dark-skinned young man wearing loose-flowing cotton slacks and a button-down shirt. He shook Zack’s hand and smiled at Maddie.

  “Can you stay for a while?” Brooks asked as he gestured them into the two-story foyer.

  “Um, we’re not sure?” Zack glanced at her. Maddie lifted a shoulder. She didn’t know if they should be running or staying put. If Zack thought they were safe here, maybe they should stay, but her instinct was to get away from this island and any chance of running into Bello or his men.

  “You can’t turn down my hospitality.” Brooks looked like they’d just scalped his cat.

  “Maddie needs … my help.” Zack arched an eyebrow at her as if asking permission to share her story. Maddie shook her head slightly. She didn’t know this guy. It was scary enough to trust Zack, who had proven himself trustworthy and brave since she’d landed on his island. Brooks might be Zack’s friend, but he seemed really loud and a little unstable. Zack turned his attention back to Brooks. “Can you give us a minute?”

  “Sure.” Brooks’ voice was laden with pain, as if Maddie’s lack of trust had tortured him. “José. Can you please show them to their suites?” He pumped his eyebrows. “If you decide to stay, you’ll need a place to sleep.”

  “Thank you,” Maddie murmured.

  “Of course, sir.” The butler guy bowed slightly and led the way up the grand staircase.

  Maddie took a minute to glance around and appreciate the Spanish architecture. The bold colors and openness of the house fit Brooks’ personality. José opened doors across the hallway from each other.

  “Thank you,” Zack said, then tugged her into one of the rooms and shut the door.

  Maddie gazed out at the view of the pool, landscaped gardens, and ocean beyond. It was lovely. If only they could enjoy it.

  “You need to trust Brooks,” Zack said.

  Maddie whipped her head around. His chiseled jaw was firmly set.

  He lifted both hands palm up. “I’m not going to reveal your secrets. That’s up to you, but I promise you he can protect us, and if you ask, he’ll send some men to scout out the harbor, boat docks, and really the entire island to make sure your dad’s guys have gone. He has the power, money, and expertise to protect and help us. Wouldn’t that make you feel better if you knew where the pirates were?”

  The pressure in Maddie’s chest released a little bit. “Yes,” she admitted.

  Zack squeezed her hand. “I know this is hard. You don’t know me that well, and Brooks can come on strong, but he’s a good guy. I’d trust him with my life. In fact, I have.”

  “How do you know him?”

  Zack grinned but looked a little embarrassed. “I’d tell you the story, but he’ll tell it again at dinner, so you’d have to hear it twice.” He walked her toward the door. “His version is much better than mine, but don’t believe everything he says. He can exaggerate with the best of them.”

  * * *

  Zack enjoyed watching Maddie respond to Brooks. He was happy to note that she didn’t seem drawn in by his friend. Most women seemed initially attracted to Zack, but once they were around Brooks for five minutes, he had them eating out of the palm of his hand. Sometimes literally. It was gross.

  Dinner was laid out on the back patio. The weather was warm with a slight breeze, and the view of the ocean framed by the palm trees was great. But Zack would rather look at Maddie’s beautiful face. He knew his friend would hit on her, but it was a risk he’d needed to take when those guys showed up and found them. At least he’d figured out it was the flash drive and gotten rid of it. The impulsive move of putting it in that lady’s bag was eating at him. He hoped she hadn’t gotten hurt by those idiots.

  “So.” Maddie looked from Zack to Brooks. “Zack says you’re going to tell me the story of how you two met.”

  “Of course.” Brooks set his fork down and took a swallow of his water. “Because he’s horrible at stories, and I am amazing.”

  “Let’s not get too overconfident now.” Maddie winked at Zack.

  “Ha! Confidence is my middle name.”

  Zack dipped a strip of homemade tortilla into the fresh guacamole and savored the creamy dip. He liked to cook, but it was always a pleasure to eat the food Brooks’ cook made.

  Brooks rubbed his hands together, his expression full of glee at the opportunity to tell a story. “So, I’m in London for business, and I decide to chase this little trumpet.”

  Maddie’s mouth dropped open. “Excuse me? Did you really just say strumpet? Like, some nineteenth-century hooker?”

  “No.” Brooks reared back in surprise; then his broad grin appeared. “Trumpet: a cute little woman who is too loud but quiets down when she gets some Brooks’ attention.”

  “Oh, my.” She glanced at Zack. “Where did you find this guy?”

  Zack threw back his head and laughed.

  “I’m about to tell you,” Brooks said with a wink. “So, I’m chasing this little … woman through the back streets of London. Having a fun game of cat and mouse.”

  Maddie glanced from Brooks to Zack. “Is he kidding me right now?” she asked Zack.

  “Sadly, no.”

  “No interrupting the story.” Brooks tsked and continued. “I turn the corner into an alleyway and come upon a fight—no, a brawl, really.” He gestured to Zack.

  Zack couldn’t help shifting in his chair. He knew Brooks would tell the story with all of his flair, but he’d never had to endure it while someone he really wanted to impress listened. At first Maddie had been a distraction and an opportunity to help a beautiful woman and do something different, but she was already coming to mean a lot more to him.

  “Our world-class Olympian got himself on the wrong side of town. Some thugs decided to rough him up and steal his cash and his pretty diamond earrings.”

  There it was. How much would Brooks reveal about how the fight affected Zack’s Olympics hopes and what a punk he had been? Brooks was the only person who knew the real reason he was there. Well, except for Zack’s dad, but he didn’t warrant thinking about.

  “Diamond earrings?” Maddie asked Zack.

  He shrugged his shoulders and ate a bite of pinto beans.

  “He was a different man back then, my love. Lots of hair and jewelry,” Brooks answered for him. “Not the calm, Zen-like creature who sits here before us.”

  Zack sputtered and coughed. “Zen-like?”

  “He’ll give us a yoga demonstration after dinner.” Brooks waved a hand. “Anyway. He was taking on four of them and putting up a pretty good fight. I wouldn’t have stepped in—a man likes to finish a battle like that on his own—but I recognized Zack from all the media coverage. Who could’ve missed the article in the Rising Star? I didn’t want to let those thugs mess up that pretty face for his next magazine shoot or have him miss out on his race the next day.”

  Zack rolled his eyes and drank some of his margarita. It was tart, just the way he liked it. “Such a champion, aren’t you, my friend?”

  “Don’t you know it? I’ve been in a few fights in my day.” Brooks actually looked a little embarrassed. Zack was tempted to share his friend’s secrets, but that wasn’t something he would ever do
. “Together we took care of them and turned them over to the bobbies. My boy has been eternally in my debt ever since. For payment, he comes to visit and eats my food. Couldn’t ask for a better friend.” Brooks roared at his own joke.

  Maddie smiled at him. Zack returned the smile, but he felt Brooks’ devotion to him pretty deeply and couldn’t make light of it. “Whatever you want to say, Brooks. You’re the best friend I’ve got.”

  Brooks nodded slightly, and then said, “Now that is the most pathetic thing I’ve ever heard. You need to get out more, my boy.” He turned to Maddie. “Enough about us. We want to hear about you. How’d you find this boy of mine, and why haven’t you ditched him for me yet?”

  Maddie choked a little bit on the rice she’d just put in her mouth. Her eyes darted around the open patio.

  “We’re alone,” Brooks assured her. “And even if my staff was around, you could trust them.”

  Zack nodded in agreement. Maddie met his gaze. She seemed to trust him, but they hadn’t known each other very long, and she’d obviously escaped from some very untrustworthy men. This had to be hard.

  She swallowed and said quietly, “My father was a pirate.”

  Brooks’ eyebrows dipped down and his face turned serious, which was an odd look for him. “Bad sort of thing to be.”

  Maddie exhaled slowly. “His assistant, Bello, started an uprising against him. I escaped in a boat and crash-landed on Zack’s island.” Zack reached over and squeezed her hand. She smiled tremulously at him. “Bello is still after me.”

  “With how many men, and why is he after you?”

  “Eight or—no, there were nine men on the boat. He wanted my … attention.” She studied her plate. “But I think it’s really about the papers and flash drive my father gave me. My father instructed me to get them to the American authorities, specifically Homeland Security.”

  Brooks glanced over her as if she was hiding both the papers and the flash drive. “What is on the flash drive and the papers, and where are they?”