Page 22 of Exposing Adonis

The camp was quiet. Two-thirds of them were probably asleep in their cots or sleeping bags.

“See there?” I handed the binoculars to Leo so he could look. “Third one from the left, with the guy smoking a cigarette outside.”

“He could just be smoking, and not guarding.” Leo understood what I was implying.

“Nah,” I said, quietly. “I don’t see any other tent guarded. Not on the inside. Everyone else taking watch is along the perimeter or in a vehicle. Not unless you see something else?”

I was open to the possibility of being wrong. But that was why there was a second pair of eyes here. A second opinion.

“I see a vehicle not far away,” he said, still looking through the binos. I squinted in the rough direction he was looking. “It’s a gray Toyota Hilux, I think. Possible evacuation vehicle?”

“I could probably hot wire it,” I said.

“Nah, I can do it,” he said with a shake of his head. “If she’s hurt, I’ll need to carry her. Better you keep over watch. Give us cover. I’ll come get you when we’re mobile.”

I couldn’t fault his logic. I was surprised at how easily I was willing to go with his plan.

He pulled the canteen off his belt, and handed it to me. It went in my pack.

“Good luck,” I told him, sticking out my hand for a shake.

He took it, and we shook, coming to more than just an understanding about the mission.

Chapter 10

Lea

Southern Turkey

IftheGettyMuseumraped the Hearst Castle, this place would be its unfortunate child.

The large villa was a Xanadu, perched high on marble terraces with palm trees leaning over blue infinity pools. It dominated the hilltop, boasting clear, superior views of those around them. Alex Baas had purchased the tip of the mountain, and the next house was far below us. It was like the villa was head and shoulders above the rest of the world.

Without Callum by my side, I felt adrift around these strangers. But I plastered thatfluffy bunny smileon my face and tried to seem like a “nice” girl. I hunched my shoulders forward, and tilted my head. I looked down at the ground or right in front of me, trying not to look too curious, too aware.

In the car, I had smiled at Alastair when he looked at me through the rear view mirror. He flinched.That wasn’t a typical reaction …

“Americans,” he had teased, “a species that smiles for no reason. You pass someone on the street and accidentally make eye contact, you bare your teeth, and do your chipper greetings.” He chuckled to himself. “You don’t have to do those fake American smiles with us.”

So I had stopped smiling, feeling both offended and relieved. Being afluffy bunnywas exhausting, and I was already tired.

“Welcome, gentlemen!” said Alex Baas wearing a translucent white shirt and aviator sunglasses. When he saw me, he looked delighted. “And lady!”

He glided towards me, his hands outstretched on either side as he clasped Geordie by the shoulders and kissed him on each cheek. “Good to see you, Geordie.”

“Who’s the Alp?” Geordie said, nodding to a large man over Alex’s shoulder.

A burly man in a full suit. He had sunglasses as well, but his furrowed brows told me he wasn’t a fan of all the sunlight. His black hair was slicked back, and his jaw clean shaven. A scar ran parallel to the ground across his temple.

“Oh, that’s just Jason. He’s my security,” Alex said with a flippant wave of his hand. “Darn insurance companies. Won’t approve my life insurance unless I’ve got some protection.”

I remembered how Geordie had described Alex. He was from South Africa, and went to a British School. The perfect American accent was something that had been cultivated later on.

I wondered why. It wasn’t unusual for a person’s voice to change over time. I spoke with a different voice to my parents, versus the rest of the world. But that happened naturally. Why would heunnaturallyforce his voice to change?

“Protection from who?” The corner of Geordie’s lip lifted as if he thought that was ridiculous.

“Oh, you know, the price of fame.” Alex bent his elbow, and made a fist and snapped his fingers in anaw shucksgesture. “Just one of those things.”

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