Page 27 of Bastard
I reach behind me and open the door. He doesn’t stop me as I slip out of the room and race down the corridor toward the sound. It takes a few minutes to locate the stairwell leading to the upper deck and to the heliport located there.
I’m panting and wild. Wishing I’d understood the significance of why Hayden was checking his watch.
Because I’m too late. Too goddamn late.
The chopper lifts, and I’m forced to step back. Donovan’s face appears in the window and then his hand as he waves goodbye.
Tight-Lipped, seated up front, just stares.
I watch my closest ally seated inside my best hope for escape skim across the coastline until the helicopter disappears on the horizon. Fickle, fickle hope. Sé que lo haces.
Hayden’s sharp command rings out. “Ready for departure.”
His men jump to obey orders.
I study the deck, confused by what to do next.
“Wait,” my ex esposo orders. “Get rid of him.” It’s his harsh tone that has me searching for the unfortunate man on the receiving end of one of Hayden’s “consequences.” It takes less than a second to pinpoint his location. Three burly men have him hoisted up in the air.
His horrified expression causes me to gasp.
It’s the pendejo who knocked me out with his pistol.
“Boss,” he squeals. “I swear. I didn’t know she was one of your ...”
One of his what? ¿Putas? The toiletries in the cabin bathroom. The fluffy pink bathroom towels. How many have there been, exactly? Does he fuck them the way he did me back in that bathroom in Rome?
It hurts. It makes me furious.
Whatever it takes, I need to get away from him.
8
Three days and the distance between Nmimpi and myself broadens. There’s no escaping the yacht now that it’s set sail. I’m no closer to getting the answers I deserve because my ex esposo is avoiding me.
There was a time when I’d have found a way to infiltrate his heavily guarded quarters. Now, he’ll have to come and find me before I disappear from his life for good.
Pang’ono pag’ono, Luciana, Mustafa might tell me. But she also told me he must love me. The wise old woman doesn’t always get things right.
I spend my time familiarizing myself with the yacht. It’s both the worst place to be imprisoned, as escape is impossible, and the best because it’s full of luxuries I’ve never experienced before.
Expensive wood decks, comfortable, oversized leather seats in the living area, a pool with crystal clear water that no one ever seems to use, and even a state-of-the-art satellite service that streams television shows from around the world. It monitors things I’m not supposed to know about—this I discovered after Hayden’s men frantically closed the tech room door in my face.
There are also multiple places to hide on the yacht.
Except I don’t hide or cause trouble.
I wait.
You can’t avoid me forever,you bastard.
Most of the clothing I packed is handwashed and hanging in the bathroom to dry. I pull on what’s available; a gray T-shirt with Rome in bold lettering across the chest—a souvenir of a trip gone horribly wrong and a reminder never to repeat that mistake; white underwear concealed by the T-shirt; and a loathsome pink bathroom towel wrapped around me for the walk to the deck. I crave exercise, and a night swim will not only help me stave off boredom but tire me enough to get a good night’s sleep.
The few guards posted this time of night seem surprised to see me strolling by. No one says a word, they simple stare. ¡Que vean todo lo que quieren ver!Let them look, or did they think I’d be cowering in my cabin?
I completely ignore the second gathering of guards on deck, dropping my towel and doing a clean dive into the water. I swim lap after lap, feeling the pull of my muscles, the clarity of my thoughts. Donovan has probably contacted the authorities by now. People will check in on Mustafa and the villagers to make sure everyone is okay. This yacht can’t stay in the deep depths of the Indian Ocean forever. I’ve a life to lead, one that doesn’t include him.
As I change positions, I notice that the guards on deck have disappeared. They’ve either grown bored watching me or decided to offer me some privacy.
