Page 24 of Savage Angels

Forcing a smile, I try to keep my fears hidden. “Just soaking it all in, you know? We’ve worked so hard to get here, and I don’t want to take it for granted.”

“Never,” she replies. “We’ll keep this dream alive together.”

As we watch our children play in the surf, I cannot help but feel uneasy. Without Dane, I don’t feel safe.

“Hey, Kat, you wanna grab some lunch?” Jamie asks, gesturing toward a nearby food truck. “I’m starving.”

“Sure,” I reply, my gaze scanning the crowd for any signs of danger. “Let’s just keep an eye on the kids, all right?”

“Of course,” he replies, understanding the underlying message in my words.

Tony nods at me and stays with the children, his gaze fixed on them as Jamie and Iwalk to the food truck. I cannot shake the nagging feeling that someone is watching us. The eyes of potential predators seem to lurk behind every pair of sunglasses, and every smile holds sinister intentions. With each step, I know the battle to protect my family has only just begun. Both of us are wearing hats and sunglasses to protect our identity, but if someone should recognize us, our anonymity will be blown.

“Cool, they’ve got tacos. How many do you think Blair will eat?”

Blair is our saxophonist. He is six foot four and built like a linebacker.

“The whole truck.”

Jamie chuckles. “I’m thinking three for each of the guys, two for the girls, and one each for the kids.”

“I’d go four for the guys, three for the girls, and one each for the kids.”

Jamie laughs louder. “You’re going to bankrupt me.”

“Didn’t realize it was your treat. Don’t forget drinks for everyone.”

He shakes his head at me and places the order with the food truck. The person taking the order looks shocked. While we wait for our food and drinks, I look around at the people near me. The feeling that someone is watching me sends a chill down my spine, but no one is paying us any special attention.

It takes the cook about half an hour to do our order. Blair wanders over just as they are putting our tacos into bags.

“Of course, you arrive after the food has been paid for, and all we need to do is carry it back,” chides Jamie.

Blair feigns innocence, picks up a bag, and carries it back to the beach.

“I swear, he has the first dollar we ever made.” Jamie shakes his head.

“Probably. Remember, Blair came from nothing.”

Jamie laughs. “Didn’t we all?”

Linking my arm through his, I say, “Yes. And look at us now. Hiding out in one of the most beautiful places on the planet with a cranky Italian who wants to keep us cooped up in a mansion twenty-four seven.”

The smile falls off Jamie’s face. “We were having so much fun, I’d forgotten. Come on, safety in numbers.”

Jamie walks me back to my friends. Dave and Luther are under an umbrella, each with a baby in their arms. Dane and Salvatore are the only ones missing from what would be a great family vacation.

***

Gulping down the last bite of my fish taco, I cannot shake the feeling someone is still watching me. My eyes dart around, trying to find the source of my unease. A chill runs down my spine despite the warm Hawaiian sun.

A woman is standing not too far from us, and although she doesn’t look familiar, she appears to be watching us closely.

“Kat?” Truth questions, following my gaze.

“I think we are busted.”

“Yeah, she’s watching us like a hawk. Time to go.”

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