Page 9 of Unleash You

“I think it was my wife’s cooking that sealed the deal for him.” He offered a kind smile. “Here we are.”

He pulled into a driveway covered with dry leaves, though all the trees surrounding the small cabin were still in full bloom. The smell of burning wood and coffee lingered in the air. Who the hell was this guy? Will killed the ignition and sat very still.

“You sure this is it? Maybe he’s not home.” I leaned forward to get a better view.

“He’s home.” Will pointed his chin at the cameras and the puff of smoke scampering out of the chimney.

After a few minutes, the front door swung open. A man in his fifties crowded the threshold with a big grin on his face. “Good gracious. What in the world are you doing here?”

With a deep chuckle, Teak opened the SUV door. As soon as I climbed out, he hugged me.

“Will, this is Teak, an old family friend.”

“Not that old.” He shook Will’s hand firmly.

“Nice to meet you.” Will nodded, as if putting two and two together. This wasn’t a typical house call.

“I texted.” Asking for his help had been easier over the phone. Now that we were face to face, I realized how much I was asking of him. He was Dad’s friend a long time ago. He owed us nothing. Teak regarded me. “Lesson one, don’t hesitate. The back and forth will get you killed out there. You wanted help?”

I would regret it if I left here without a plan to help my brother. “I still do.”

The cabin was a single wood-paneled room with a bed shoved against one wall and a small table for two on the opposite end near the fireplace where Teak seemed to be cooking stew.

“Venezuela, huh?” The creases along his forehead deepened. His tanned skin had a leathery quality to it.

“That’s right. I need help getting around Maracaibo. There are still flights going there.”

“Not for long, I’m afraid. But I can get you there and show you the sights.” He grinned, and something told me he was happy to be doing this for me.

“How much?” I hoped he hadn’t noticed the quiver in my voice. My heartrate had spiked the minute we pulled up to his house, and it hadn’t calmed down a bit. I released a breath and thought of the internet images of the jungle where Charlie had disappeared.

“I wish I could I say this was on me. But life after the marines hasn’t been exactly grand. Fifteen thousand should cover the expenses.”

That was a doable amount, though that didn’t exactly mean this was a good idea.

Will strolled toward the table and surveyed the map Teak had laid out. He’d had time to prepare while we drove to meet him. A quick reply would have been nice.

“How would you do it? If all flights are suspended?” I asked.

“I’ll need full payment before we leave. Lots of people will be expecting a payday. But, Anabelle, I will protect you with my life. I owe your dad. I can’t control everything. There are risks.”

“Okay, I understand.” I joined Will by the map, and Teak followed.

He stared me down for a few beats before he continued. “We fly into Colombia. Commercial. I can get us across the border. I have a contact there. It’s only a day’s drive.”

“Sounds easy.”

“It is.” Teak furrowed his eyebrows. “Getting out is the hard part.”

I nodded, doing a little prayer in my head. Teak was my backup plan in case Wesley’s team didn’t come through soon. “I’ll need a day or so to get you the money.”

“I take credit cards.” He winked. “I can even make it look like the charge came from Louis Vuitton or some winery so people don’t get suspicious.”

“Suspicious? Like who?” I opened my mouth to tell him my parents weren’t around to stop me from going. But he already knew that.

Truth was no one cared what I did with my life, except for Charlie…and Wesley. The minute Wesley saw the charge, he would know I was up to something. “How about an art gallery?”

He chuckled, an odd sound that was half a cough and half a swoosh of air escaping his mouth. “Give me a minute.”

---