Page 69 of Torched

My only consolation is knowing that Imogen is safe and it’s just me who needs to try to find a way out of this, but if I need to push Cristina in front of me like a human shield, I will.

No fucking doubt about it.

God knows she fucking deserves it.

I turn right into an empty office, and at the same time, I hear footsteps entering the hallway. We scurry in, close the door, and I uncuff Cristina. “Come on, out the window, quickly.”

“I thought you wanted me to lose the boots?'” I swear this woman makes my blood boil.

“Suit yourself, then.” I don’t give her a second glance, instead, climbing out of the window before I start running through the alley it leads to. The sound of clicking heels on the cobblestone tells me miss smartass decided to join me after all, but I refrain from looking back to be certain. After a few hundred yards, I jump over a three-foot gate, into someone’s yard, hiding behind the tall garden fence that’s surrounding the rest of the backyard, praying there isn’t a fucking dog ready to pounce on me when I land. I scan the grass, waiting for any teeth biting my ankles, then allow myself to breathe when there aren't any. I shuffle quietly behind the bushes planted along the fence, staying close to the gate. Softly, I open it, then twist my gaze around to look out. When Cristina runs by, I quickly grab her wrist, pulling her against me as I cover her mouth with my palm.

There is panic on her face, but I tell her to be silent as I drill my wide eyes into hers. I shush her, my hand still wrapped around her lips, her chest pressed against mine while I move us to the right, deeper into the yard and behind the bushes. Our hearts beat together as we wait for the sound of men passing us. Fully aware of the intimate position we’re in, I continue to breathe, focusing on whatever my ears can register and not on Cristina.

When we are convinced we’re alone, I let go of her lips, taking a deep breath as she throws me a coy smile.

“Thank you.” Her eyes look genuine, though I suppose that’s not hard when you survived an attack by heavily armed men.

“Take off the boots.”

She moves to my side, lowering her ass between the soil as she takes off her boots.

“It’s gonna be a little suspicious if I walk around barefoot,” she argues in a whisper.

“This is a Caribbean island. Everyone walks around barefoot.”

She sticks out her tongue like a toddler, and I roll my eyes.

How the hell did I end up with the woman I despise inside a yard in South Reef Bay, hiding for… who the fuck am I even hiding for? Cristina gets back up and we both try to look through the wooden fence for a glimpse of whoever is after us. I find a hole that’s big enough for me to see part of the streets, but not big enough for anyone to notice me.

I push my finger against my lips when two men trot up and down the sidewalk, followed by someone who seems to be the leader. He has a thick beard, with a body that isn’t just fit, it’s huge. It’s broad. He steps forward with a weight that is felt in the ground, his eyes acting like a lighthouse while he scans the area around him.

“Who the fuck is that?” I whisper. Cristina pushes me aside, peeking through the small hole before she clasps a hand over her lips.

My anger is quickly flared up, and I grab her arm, pulling her ear flush with my lips.

“Who is it?”

Her chest slowly moves up and down, and she swallows before twisting her head to face me.

“Who ishe?” I grit out. Her response indicates he might not even be here for me, but for her, and if that’s the case, I will throw her over the fence now and get on with my day.

She presses her finger against her lips, pleading for me to shut up.

“Not now!” she mouths.

I grind my teeth, looking back through the hole as we wait for them to leave. Finally, they move on to the next street, and I turn my glare on her, pushing the barrel of my gun underneath her chin.

“Speak,” I hiss.

“His name is Dax. He’s a treasure hunter. He’s after the diamond.” There is fear in her eyes while mine narrows to find the lies in whatever she’s saying.

“How do you know?” The name doesn’t ring a bell, but it could very much be true since there is big money to be earned in treasure hunting. With the number of treasures Frank Reyes seems to have hidden in his life, it makes sense for the Reyes family to be familiar with those who seek the same kind of fortune.

“He’s been harassing me to get that diamond for years. Even before you. He knows he can’t get any further without going through Frank’s shit. When Frank and Junior died, he came after me. I’ve managed to shake him off every single time.”

“Except now.”

“He must have been watching us.”

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