Page 74 of Unleash You

“How about a drink, then?” Rebecca strolled into the room.

Charlie shot to his feet as if he’d seen a ghost. A fleeting smirk crossed his face and suddenly he looked drained. “Rebecca.”

“You found him.” She glanced at me, searching my eyes.

The question was clear to me.Did you know? Did you figure it out yet?I nodded. “I found someone that looks like my brother, yeah. I’ll take that drink.”

Rebecca made her way to the bar cart and poured three glasses of bourbon. My heart fell to my stomach. For an instant, I’d hoped she’d brought some of her coke-leaves mix—enough of it to put Charlie out for a week would be my preference. She handed me my drink and shook her head once. A reprimand for getting her involved. Or was it a warning not to partake?

Charlie’s gaze stayed on her. He watched her every move with a sort of fascination. “I’m leaving for New York in a few hours. You’re coming with me.”

“Of course.” She swallowed.

“So are you.” He turned to me and then sipped, a long, satisfying pull. “Dad’s bourbon.”

We sat still for one, two, three minutes. Then just when I thought maybe she hadn’t spiked his drink, Charlie sank to one knee.

“Run.” I clasped her wrist and pulled her toward the kitchen as the glass shards scattered across the wood floors. “How much did you give him?”

“Enough to put down a horse.”

“Did he drink enough?”

“Who knows. Go. Don’t stop.”

No time to feel sorry for him or question the legality of what we had just done. We were both free. I ran across the lawn with the creek in my line of sight. Fog rose off the warm earth and crept through the picket fence. If we could make it there, we’d be safe.

Water splashed all over as I stomped toward the tree line. Where the hell were all the guards from before? Looking up and down the property line, I spun around to face Rebecca, and my stomach dropped. Well fuck. Charlie’s driver had her in a tight hold. She hadn’t made a single sound because she wanted me to escape. She’d come to my house knowing the odds of her getting away were slim. The tea in Charlie’s drink was to buy me the way out.

“This was never about you.” She offered a warm smile with a nod. “Go on.”

“Not so fast. We need both of you.” The driver shoved a gun into Rebecca’s neck. “Let’s go back inside.”

I could call his bluff and run, maybe find help before they take her away. But if he shot her, I wouldn’t have been able to live with it. She was in this mess because of me, because I believed Charlie was worth saving. With a heavy sigh, I trudged up the grassy hill toward the two of them and tried not to think what kind of mood Charlie would be in when he woke up.

20

Charlie Came Home

Wesley

“I hear you, old man, but my plan is better.” Luisa braced her hand on the map spread out on the kitchen table. We’d been at it for hours. Teak was a strategist, an army man, but this was Luisa’s country. She knew it and its politics way better than us.

“Let me get this right? She sold you, and now she’s helping us?” Teak furrowed his brows.

“She had no choice in that. Charlie would’ve found out we were here sooner or later. It was better that it came from her.” As much as I hated the idea, Luisa was our less fucked-up option.

“He finally gets it.” A smile pulled at her lips, before he nodded. “My way is a bit longer, but you get to take your wounded with you.”

“Leaving Mack behind is not an option, Teak. Unless you can bring the plane to us, we have to go with Luisa’s route.”

“Did he explain what happened to the other plane?” Luisa cocked an eyebrow at Teak.

“I get it. No more planes in Maracaibo.”

“You’re all still alive because Charlie made a deal with the locals. And if I’m being honest, a little by the grace of God. They’re watching you. Before your plane even lands, I’ll have three offers at my door. You’re cute and we had some good times, but I don’t have enough pull in this city to protect any of you. I’m not risking my livelihood on account of you. If someone comes to me with a deal to buy your second plane, I have to take it.”

“How did Charlie get to where he is?” I pulled out a chair and sat. Every time I thought of him, I felt tired.

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