The Only Way Out. Susan Mallery

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СКАЧАТЬ continued driving north, away from the city and away from Kray’s villa. He circled around small villages, turned onto one-lane roads, always keeping the ocean in sight and on his left.

      The woman trembled. Every few seconds a tremor swept through her. She clasped her hands tightly together, her fingers squeezing so hard, the skin around her knuckles turned white. Even Bobby was quiet, as if he somehow understood the danger.

      At the top of a rise, Jeff pulled into a dirt turnout. There weren’t any other cars or people around. With a quick jerk of the key, he shut off the engine. Instantly the silence swallowed them.

      Straight ahead was the blue Caribbean sea. Below, waves slowly slipped ashore, aimlessly flowing onto the beach before retreating. Lush plants surrounded them. Large palm trees provided shade. After a few moments, the birds and insects scared off by the Jeep’s presence returned. The low hum of wings and sharp calls of separated mates filled the air.

      He should have been able to smell the flowers, perhaps even the salty sea. Instead, there was only the scent of a woman’s fear. Andie Cochran had run out of options.

      He glanced over his shoulder. Bobby was lying on the back seat. The boy had found a few leaves on the floor of the open-air vehicle and lined them up like soldiers.

      Jeff knew the easiest thing in the world would be to walk away. They weren’t his responsibility. Maybe Andie would get lucky and find another way off the island. Maybe he would be able to finish the job he was here to do before she got caught. Or maybe Kray would choose not to be merciful when he found her. Maybe he wouldn’t kill her quickly, but instead would punish her for taking his son.

      Jeff rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You have another plan?”

      “Of course,” she said brightly. “Just drop us at the edge of town. We’ll be fine.”

      “And pigs fly.”

      She turned to look at him. “I’m telling the truth.” She made an X over her left breast. “I swear.”

      “You don’t know how much I want to believe that,” he mumbled under his breath.

      “You can, Rambo. Look, I don’t need to be with someone who thinks I’m slightly less worthy of life than the local variety of cockroach. So get us back to town and forget you ever saw us.”

      He was surprised at her vehemence. He shifted in his seat, wondering how she’d been able to read him so easily. There’d been a time when no one had known what he was thinking. Of course it had been five years since he’d been in the field.

      Rusty instincts or not, he was the best Andie and the kid were going to find on this island. Letting her go wasn’t an option. Not only because she could identify him, but because she was an American citizen. He didn’t have to like her, he only had to get her away from Kray. He started the engine.

      “Where are we going?” she asked.

      “Back to town.”

      “You’re going to let us go?”

      He glanced at her. The sunglasses hid her eyes, but he knew what she was thinking. He was going to take her at her word and dump her. The problem was she couldn’t decide if she was relieved or terrified.

      “Let’s get some food and more supplies. Then we’ll discuss your options,” he said. “The man at the airport didn’t get a good look at me, so that helps. We’ll head to the shopping center by the harbor. The cruise ships stay in port until around six so the whole area will be crawling with tourists.” He shifted into gear. “Your braid’s come loose.”

      He pressed on the gas, easing the vehicle out into the narrow road. As he headed back toward town, Andie dug through her purse for a brush. He tried not to notice as she drew her blond braid over her shoulder and brushed the strands free. He stared straight ahead as she raised her arms to begin refastening her hair in its neat style. But from the corner of his eye he could see the way her T-shirt tightened over her breasts.

      His fingers clenched on the steering wheel as he swore under his breath. He didn’t want to notice she was a woman. He sure as hell didn’t want to feel his blood flowing hotter and faster through his aroused body. In the five years Jeanne had been gone, he’d avoided women and any connections, even the brief impersonal kind. He hadn’t needed anything but his pain and memories. He hated that his body chose this moment to come back to life. So what if she was attractive? She was Kray’s wife. She’d chosen to marry a killer. She and her kid were alive while his family was dead.

      Refusing to look at her or acknowledge her, he drove down the coast toward town. As they got closer to the port, he began to check his mirrors. Up ahead, a white cruise ship sat in the harbor, an elegant vessel dwarfing not only the other boats, but the harbor itself.

      “Do you think Kray already has men in town?” Andie asked.

      He was still angry about getting turned on. “Yes,” he said, the single word curt.

      “If the man at the airport phoned about me, they’ll be looking for us in a Jeep.”

      “I know that.”

      He continued on the waterfront road until they reached the edge of the shopping district. On the left were ancient stone buildings with low ceilings and small windows. Tourists swarmed along the narrow sidewalks. Laughter and bits of conversation carried to him. Everyone was having a wonderful time. Brightly flowered dresses and shopping bags blended into a kaleidoscope of colors. Tour buses lined up across from the shops, while cruise passengers disembarked.

      Jeff scanned the vehicles in front of him, then checked the mirrors again. Kray’s men could be anywhere. There was an alley between a linen shop and one of the many jewelry stores. He turned left into the alley and parked next to three other Jeeps. Only then did he look at Andie.

      She clutched her purse to her stomach. Her skin was pale under her tan. Her sunglasses hid her eyes, but the fear was still tangible.

      “Look like you’re having a good time,” he said, getting out of the driver’s side. Bobby scrambled after him.

      “I wanna hot dog!” the boy announced.

      “I know you do, sport.” Jeff tugged on the brim of the kid’s baseball cap. “We’ll find one here.”

      Bobby’s smile was brilliant. And exactly like his mother’s. Jeff stared at the child, seeing instead another boy. J.J. had had Jeanne’s smile. The flash of pain was an explosion in his chest. Jeff swallowed hard and fought to keep his face expressionless. When this was over, when Andie and her kid were gone, he would remember one last time. He would recall the face of his wife and his child, remember their laughter; then he would have his vengeance. Maybe then he could lay his ghosts to rest.

      Andie joined them. She settled her purse on her shoulder and took Bobby’s hand. “I’m ready,” she said.

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