Page 54 of Capitally Unexpected

“Wednesday. Shit. There must be Wi-Fi here, right? If they have an airport? I’ll have to email Ray. We scheduled a meeting to talk about the schedule for our fall foliage predictions and coverage when I got back on Wednesday.”

And now I’m affecting her job? Another fault I can add to the list.

We pull up in front of a small airport. Michelle walks toward the door, but I grab the driver’s shoulder. “We, uh, might not need a place to stay the whole way until the next scheduled flight. Private planes can land here?” The driver nods. “Okay, I need to make a call, but hopefully we’ll be out of here tomorrow or the day after. Let me know how much I owe you too. I don’t have a ton of cash, but I can have money wired too.”

There’s something like sympathy in his gaze. “The cruise line provides for these types of situations. It’s handled. I’ll go makesure your woman is all right. You make your call. It’s all going to be all right, son.”

I nod, my throat tight. I don’t know how he can be so sure.

I pull out my phone and am thankful to see a single bar. Saves me from asking for a Wi-Fi password, or worse, asking to use someone else’s phone. I’d rather not be overheard.

“Brandt Investing International, Mr. Brandt’s office. How can I help you?”

I hate when he forwards his cell to his assistant. I clear my throat. “Uh, hi. This is Hunter. Is Duncan around?”

“Mr. Brandt has a very full schedule today.” I roll my eyes. It’s Saturday of a three-day weekend. Get a life, bro. “May I ask what this is in regard to?”

My patience snaps. “No, you may fucking not. Can you please put my brother on the phone?”

My outburst is met with silence before a shaky voice says. “One moment please,” and I’m met with staticky muzak. Fuck, I’m going to hear about that one.

“Hunter. Didn’t expect to hear from you, especially not from an assistant near tears. Making them cry is my job. What’s up?”

I can’t bring myself to say anything.

“Hunter, you there?” Duncan’s voice changes, dropping all the ritz that’s crept in over the years of his success. What’s left is my big brother. “Is everything okay?”

“You knew I’d fuck this up, didn’t you? That’s why you told me to call if I needed something?” My voice cracks, and I hear the tears in my words, matching the ones rolling down my cheeks.

“What? No.” It’s the first time in a long time I’ve heard him sound bewildered. “I say it to all of you whenever you leave the country, just in case. But I guess ...”

“I’ve never left the country before. Barely done fucking anything worth remembering before.”

“Hunter . . .”

“I can’t right now. We’re on Eleuthera. The cruise line has apolicy against passengers being over twenty-three weeks pregnant onboard. Michelle got dehydrated and sick, so they found out she’s past their policy limit and dropped us off in the next viable place.” I rush through the words, hoping if I get them out quick, it won’t sound as awful. It doesn’t work.

“Fuck, they just drop you off? That doesn’t sound legal.”

“It is. It’s in the waiver I signed without reading.” It’s a sign Duncan knows how upset I am he doesn’t interject there. “The next plane isn’t until Wednesday. The doctor on the boat says she’s fine after some IVs, but after how sick she was this morning, I want Michelle off this island as soon as possible. Can you . . . can you help?”

“Parker.” I hear Duncan yell for his assistant instead of wasting time answering me. “I need you to get a private plane chartered to Eleuthera. One of our standard pilots, double their fee to dump any existing flights. Tonight, if they can, first thing tomorrow, if not.” I hear Parker agree in the affirmative, not that he has any choice, before Duncan directs his attention back to me.

“I’ve got you, Hunt. Do you want a nurse on the flight too to check Michelle? You know what? Fuck it. We’re doing it. I’m going to work on getting someone myself while Parker gets the flight. I’ll send you the information once we have it.”

I nod, forgetting he can’t see me. But he must sense my agreement.

“I’d do anything for you, Hunt. Please never forget that. Let’s fix it now, and talk it through later, okay? Love you.”

He’s gone before I can respond. “Thanks. Love you too,” I say to the empty line.

I stand in the warm sun, taking a few deep breaths. In other circumstances, I might find this place to be paradise. I’ll never know.

Wiping my face, I head inside to update Michelle and wait for someone else to save my ass. Again.

Chapter

Twenty-One

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