Page 60 of Hostile Extraction

Stan rolled the windows down as he climbed from the truck. “It’s too hot to leave you guys in here with no air.”

Dusty scanned the area. Amorosi’s men were nowhere to be seen, but a phone someone hung out a window and pointed their way drew his attention. He watched as the man snapped a picture and then made a call.

“What the fuck’s the deal with this guy?” He lifted his chin toward him, his elbow out the window.

Stan wasn’t paying attention as he finished pumping the gas.

“I’m going inside to get a pack of smokes.”

Asia stared at the man, and Dusty started to reach for the door handle. “I’m going to go talk to this asshole.” Before he got the door open, Stan came fast-walking back toward the truck and jumped in the driver’s seat. He fired up the engine and peeled out.

“What’s wrong?” Dusty asked, looking back and seeing a couple of people chasing after them and pointing.

Stan tossed a crumpled-up paper at him. “That was taped to the glass door. I bet they’re all over the island.”

Dusty and Asia stared at the flyer, and Dusty read it. “Have you seen this woman? $5000 reward for any information on her whereabouts. She may be in the company of several men and in danger.” There was a photo of Asia. “That son-of-a-bitch.”

“You know what that means, don’t you?” Stan asked, racing down side streets.

“We’re screwed?”

“It means his manpower just increased a thousand-fold. Every local on the island is going to be after that money. We won’t be safe going anywhere.”

“If he’s willing to go this far, he’s not going to give up.”

“Nope.”

Dusty hung on to the dash as they bumped along the potholed roads. “Where the hell are you going? You should have turned left out of that station.”

“That road only leads straight up to those estates. People were watching us leave.”

“Right. So now what?”

“I don’t know. We wait a bit until all those people that connected us with this truck leave that gas station.”

“They probably called that number. Nico’s men are probably speeding to that station right now.”

“Nico’s men?” The panic in Asia’s voice was evident.

“Don’t worry, babe. They have to get through us first.” Dusty squeezed her leg.

Asia nodded.

“Maybe we can get lost down in town until they’re gone.” Stan drove on.

Surprisingly, there wasn’t much destruction in town, other than some wind damage. A Cruise ship that had avoided the storm, was now coming in to dock in the harbor.

“Cruise ships are returning. I’m guessing that means most of the shops and attractions have reopened.”

They passed a famous burger chain with a drive-thru.

Stan lifted his chin and turned in the lot. “I’m hungry. You want anything?”

They grabbed some food and drove down Veterans Drive. Stan turned into a small, empty parking lot with a view of the harbor, parked, and passed out the food.

“Do you think they’ll find us?” Asia voiced her concern as she grabbed a fry from the container.

“We’re mixed in with the crowd now. We should hopefully be able to disappear amongst the tourists.” Dusty took a bite of a burger.

---