Chapter 23
Forrest sent a text to Ryker figuring he’d want to join. This might be lunch, but it was also a political meeting and one where Forrest felt out of his depth. Ryker knew how to play the game and how to cut the bull-speak to get to the heart of the matter.
“You joining us?” Forrest asked Damon as everyone headed to their cars.
“No. I have work to do.”
“You want to tell me what that was?” Forrest asked and he turned his gaze to Secretary Ramsey.
“Just a politician acting as if she saved the day, when she’s really just trying to buy votes. If they really wanted to make a difference, they would.” Damon slung his leg over his bike. “Sorry, I don’t play politics. They wouldn’t like it if I did.”
Damon roared away, but Forrest noticed he wasn’t the only one watching his brother leave.
Forrest got into his car and turned his attention to Jordana. “How are you holding up?”
“Nervous. Scared. Relieved. Just, so many adjectives.”
“Let’s grab a quick lunch and then we’ll head straight back here for you to spend some more time with your father.”
Jordana reached out and placed her hand on his thigh. “Thank you.”
Maggie must have called ahead, because Harper was standing at the door to her bar turning away anyone who tried to get in. Not that there were many, but it was appreciated when they ended up having the bar to themselves.
Hunter had stayed at the estate as outside protection. Maggie would bring food back for everyone still at the house so she wasn’t staying either. Kane and Waverly joined them along with Ryker, who had just rolled up, and Gage.
Sutton’s security officer placed himself by the window and kept an eye on Main Street as everyone took a seat. Orders were placed and finally they got down to business.
“Jordana,” Sutton said, leaning back in her chair looking both professional, and friendly.
“This is what our sources have found as it pertains to the attempt on your father. We’re hearing chatter that it’s tied to the .
Specifically, illegal logging and trafficking of drugs and illegal goods through the from neighboring countries. ”
Ryker nodded. “My sources are saying the biggest criminal behind all the illegal activity in the is known only as Rei da Floresta. Nothing goes on in the part of the that Forrest and Jordana were in without his approval.”
“King of the Forest,” Jordana murmured. “Yes, that name has been spreading in my father’s office and on the streets. He’s behind it?”
“Sounds probable. I’ll look into it and see what we can find,” Sutton told her.
“Your father has already made a huge difference. He’s led the South American Conference on Amazonian Matters and already there’s positive change on an international level.
I know someone with his kind of military background wouldn’t like me saying it, but he’d make a great international politician, either in D.C.
or for the UN. People respect him and there aren’t enough politicians like us out there.
Rahmi, Crusina, and Bermalia are growing and being seen as global leaders.
Your father has the potential to do the same. ”
Jordana did laugh at that. “You’re right. He’d hate hearing that. He dislikes politics and is only doing this because the president is a friend and he does want to protect our country’s greatest asset.”
“Is the plan to just wait and see who comes after the decoy in New York?” Forrest asked.
Sutton nodded. “As of right now, yes. I have an agent who could pass for Mr. Alves. He’ll be the one in the hospital in New York. That is, if you want the United States to do so?”
Jordana took a deep breath and sat up a little straighter. “I do. Brazil would be grateful for our ally’s support.”
“I guess your father isn’t the only one who is a reluctant politician. We’ll see what information we can find on Rei da Floresta.”
“I’ll also see what my contacts can find,” Kane added.
Ryker nodded. “Mine are already on it.”
“Good.” Sutton said before digging into her burger.
Lunch wasn’t a long affair. Sutton had to get moving and Forrest knew Jordana was impatient to get back to her father. Forrest finished his meal and made sure to pay for the lunches Maggie was getting to go.
Gage was clearly in his element, talking financial politics and the global economy with Sutton. Forrest couldn’t tell if he was flirting or not. It was hard to flirt while discussing inflation and the value of the dollar.
“Thank you again for all your help,” Jordana said, shaking hands with Sutton.
“What the hell?!” The agent slammed the door closed and blinked.
Sutton pulled a knife she had strapped to her calf under her jeans in the blink of an eye. Maggie pulled a gun from her quilted and monogrammed pink tote in one smooth move.
“What’s the threat?” Kane asked, pushing Waverly behind him.
“A huge freaking alligator! It’s just sunning itself on the sidewalk between us and the SUV.” The agent looked stunned.
“You’re not from this area, are you?” Maggie asked with a chuckle as she put her gun away.
“New York City, why?” the agent asked.
Maggie looked out the window and tsked. “Damn. I was hoping it was Bubba. Then we could distract him with jerky. That’s Mean Abe. He’s a handful. I’ll call Gator.”
“You’re going to call the gator? To do what? Call his scalephone and ask him to move?” the agent snapped.
“Scalephone,” Kane snickered. “That’s a good one.”
“Gator is a guy and he jumps on the alligators, holds their snout closed, and then relocates them,” Harper explained as Maggie was already calling Gator.
Forrest saw Jordana look out the window and then move to the door. Before Forrest could ask what she was doing, she began to slowly open the door.
“What are you doing?” Forrest said quietly so as not to scare Mean Abe.
“You Northerners aren’t the only people who know how to capture reptiles like this. I got it.” She winked at him.
“Jory, this is not a Black Caiman. He’s bigger and a whole lot meaner.”
“Your alligators might be bigger, but I’m not so sure about meaner. Black Caiman can be vicious little assholes. Now be quiet and let me do my thing. As soon as I have him contained, you can take the secretary to the car. Got it?”
The agent nodded, his gun still in hand.
Then before Forrest could grab her, Jordana slid out the door and pounced.
Mean Abe suddenly found someone half his length on his back.
His tail flicked with enough power to dent the SUV, but Jordana was latched on tight as she had her knees on each side of his head and her hands shoving his snout down to the sidewalk.
“Here!” Harper called as stepped forward with a belt as if it were no big deal. She carefully slid the belt under the snout of a very pissed off Abe and pulled it tight. Jordana took the end of the belt and held it tight after she let go of his snout. Abe thrashed, but Jordana held on.
“It was lovely meeting you, Madam Secretary and Brazil thanks you for your help.” Jordana smiled as Sutton crept outside. Her agent sprinted to the other side of the car and opened the door before placing himself between Sutton and the alligator with his gun pointed at Abe.
“I’ll be in touch,” Sutton told Jordana as she left.
“Dang, girl. You ridin’ him like a bronco.”
Jordana looked up to where Gator stood with his thumbs in his overalls and grinning down at her. “Well, I’ll concede that your alligators are stronger than caimans, but I still say your Mean Abe is nothing to my cranky caimans.”
Forrest was grinning when his phone rang. He answered it immediately when he saw it was Rowan. “Hey, Ro.” Forrest didn’t have time to say anything else.
“Get over here. It’s bad.”
“Jordana!” Forrest called out, already headed to start the car. “We have to get to your father, now!”
Jordana didn’t remember how she even got into the car, much less any moment from the frantic drive to the Bells’.
Jordana didn’t wait for Forrest to put the car in park.
She jumped from it the moment she wouldn’t hurt herself and darted up the steps.
She heard Forrest behind her as she rushed into her father’s room.
“Dad?”
Rowan, Gavin, and Kenzie all wore frowns and her father was looking even worse than when he arrived.
“What’s going on?” Forrest asked as Jordana fell to her knees beside her father’s bed and took his hand in hers.
“He’s battling sepsis,” Rowan told them.
“He shouldn’t be, because according to his medical records, he had been given plenty of antibiotics before getting on the plane.
It’s why the medic on the plane didn’t give him any.
I’m going to run a blood sample to the hospital now.
I’ll let you know what I find out. We’ve started him on IV antibiotics for now, so hopefully he can stabilize soon. ”
Rowan left and Jordana looked up at Kenzie. She’d met Gavin, but she’d spent time with Kenzie. “Give it to me straight.”
Kenzie frowned, but answered honestly. “If you can make your miracle shot, then do it. Now.”
Jordana stood up and leaned forward, placing a kiss on her father’s forehead. “I love you, Dad. Hang on. I’ll save you.”
“Ryker,” Jordana heard Forrest say as he was already running out of the house. “We need your helicopter.”
Jordana didn’t know what to say as Forrest floored his car down the drive and squealed his tires as he turned onto the main road.
Another car was coming right at them, but Forrest cut in front of them and turned into a nearby driveway.
The gate was already opening and Forrest flew through it.
The car they’d almost cut off turned in behind them.
Forrest didn’t stop until he saw the helicopter. The blades were already turning as Ryker sat there waiting for them. “Let’s go!” Ryker yelled.
Only after Jordana got on board did she realize she wasn’t alone. Forrest was up front with Ryker and next to her Waverly took her hand and gave her a nod. “I’m your lab assistant,” she said into the headphones. If Jordana weren’t so scared, she’d weep with gratitude.