Page 29 of Vicious Hearts

“Rand’s got nothing to do with the politicians,” she tries to assure me, but it sounds more like she’s trying to convince herself. I rise from behind my desk and come around to face here, leaning my back against the stained wood as I fold my arms across my chest and look at her.

“Who’s Rand?” I ask, not mentioning that I already know who the scumbag is.

“A friend. My ex.”

“Why was he asking about you?”

I see the arc of hope that blooms on her face. He’s been through countless girls since their breakup and last I heard, he was engaged. And NOW he’s asking about her?

“Just checking in.”

“Just checking in,” I repeat, my voice a mumble as I consider my next steps. I still don’t believe in coincidences, and the fact that he’s asking about her now that there’s a five-million-dollar reward for anyone that produces her head tells me he either has access to the dark web or he has the lousiest timing. The former seems the most likely, knowing the sort of person he is.

“That’s interesting that an ex would be asking about you now, don’t you think?”

“What do you mean? We broke up not too long ago.”

I can’t believe the way she tries to justify his behavior and what he’s doing.

“I didn’t get this far in my line of work by not trusting my gut instinct, Ariadne. You can’t let your guard down for one minute. Especially with an ex you never had in the first place.”

As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I regret them. She rears back like I’ve slapped her, a look of hurt on her face. I don’t know what affects her more – my tone or the words I speak.

I can’t take back what I’ve said, but I try to apologize before she turns on her heels and marches out of the room and down the hallway. I hear the slam of her door as she locks herself in her room, and I know I’m going to have to do some serious work to win her trust again.

* * *

I hearthe shuffle of her feet as I rap on the door. She flings the door open, but in place of her anger is just sadness. I close the door and walk towards the balcony, step out and look at the expanse of the jungle beyond the house. I love this residence. Just looking at the wilderness gives me comfort and a sense of well-being. After I breathe in the cool calming air, I step back through the French doors and into her room. She’s been standing watching me.

“I didn’t bring you here to fight with you,” I tell her.

“I over-reacted.”

“No. I had no right judging your relationship with your ex.”

I’m man enough to understand when I’ve overstepped and apologize for doing it. Although I wouldn’t ordinarily.

“You want to change into something more comfortable so we can explore the rainforest?”

“Rainforest?”

The fact that there’s a rainforest right outside our door seems to surprise her. Her excitement rises when I nod my head and turn to leave the room. When she emerges from the room after a few minutes, she’s wearing a beige safari suit and a sunhat. I silently thank my maid Maria for having the foresight to supply a practical wardrobe before Ariadne’s arrival.

“We’re walking?” she asks, when I walk right past the Jeep parked in the driveway.

“We’re in the rainforest,” I tell her, walking toward the back of the house. “A car won’t get far on the path we’re taking.”

She pauses. Rubbing a hand up and down her arm, as though warding off a chill. She seems somehow afraid.

“Come.” I hold out a hand to her, dwarfing her own small one as she puts it in mine. I pull her behind me, walking through the dense canopy of the forest, its dappled light covering the forest floor. We venture deeper until all I can hear is Ariadne’s heavy breathing and our muffled footsteps kick against a thick layer of fallen leaves.

The air is heavy with the scent of damp earth, the sound of exotic birds reverberating through the forest. Ariadne pulls me back when she stops short, and I turn back to find her fingers brushing against the colorful orchids hanging from the tree trunks, her eyes glazed with wonder. If she thinks this is a sight to behold, I don’t know what she’ll do when we arrive where I’m taking her. I pull her along and we start to walk again, further and further into the forest, marveling at the sight of butterflies as they scatter against the air like fragments of dust.

When the dense foliage begins to thin, revealing a glimpse of shimmering blue in the distance, I hear her gasp and her pace quickens until I’m no longer pulling her along. Instead, she’s almost welded to me in her excitement to see more. As we emerge from the dense vegetation, we’re met by a spectacular sight; one which I’ve become accustomed to yet never ceases to impress me.

We come to a stop at the edge of the lagoon, its pristine waters reflecting the brilliance of the vibrant greens surrounding it.

“It’s magical,” Ariadne breathes, coming to stand beside me, her eyes casting across to a tiered shelf of rocks where water cascades down in mini waterfalls. “How did you even find a place like this?”

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