Page 134 of Nowhere to Hide
“Cilla meet Dante Durant.”
“Pleasure is entirely mine.” The dimples and scruff were charm personified. His eyes were hidden behind mirrored aviators. He turned his attention onto Locke. “I’m going to look over the ship and get it to a dry dock for repairs.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Not a problem. I always wanted to see a regatta.” He gave Locke a salute and handed him the rope.
“What about our things?” I looked up at the bottom of the helicopter with dread. Heights had never been a fear, but I think it might have just been unlocked—right now.
“She’s got a suitcase full of our stuff on the bridge deck.”
“I’ll grab it. You get her situated.” Dante dropped his massive bag and took off to the lower deck.
“Me situated?”
He wrapped an arm around me.
“Don’t we need like a harness or something?” My heart tripped at his closeness and then situation.
“Not with me you don’t.”
“You’re kidding.”
He laughed for the first time all day. “I’m kidding. We’re sending the suitcase up first.”
I punched him in the arm.
He chuckled as Dante came back with my hard-shell suitcase. Locke did a few intricate knots on it then tugged on the line. Theboat swayed a little and I was pretty sure the people on the water weren’t too keen on the helicopter hovering over all the boats.
My suitcase zipped up then a few seconds later a harness came down.
“Step in.”
Locke held the harness open for me and buckled it around me. He turned to Dante and bumped his knuckles. “Take care of her.”
“I’ll make sure she doesn’t sink.”
“Thanks man.” He held me close and tucked his foot into a strap.
“Wait. You’re not getting in—” I was cut off when Locke tugged on the line, and we started rising quickly.
“Don’t worry, baby. I won’t let go,” he said into my ear before he looked up at the two men waiting in the beast of a helicopter.He held out a hand and a massive guy with absolutely no neck hauled him up, then me. “Been a minute, Hulk.” He slapped his arm.
The massive man just grunted and gently unbuckled me. “You can harness in over there, Miss Priscilla.”
“Thanks.”
Locke nodded to Jackson in the front and got me situated before pulling on a headset. “Thanks, man.”
He put a headset over my ears, and the loud blades went quiet.
“Never a dull moment with you, Jordan.”
The helicopter suddenly pulled up, and my stomach returned to the boat. I gripped the arm rest between us. Locke covered my hand, and I shut my eyes as we took off.
The speed was as breathtaking as was the sudden altitude. I sat back as Locke and Jackson spoke about what happened. The big guy that Locke called Hulk sat quietly in the front withJackson, his attention on the gauges and buttons in front of them.
“Look outside.”
