Chapter 11
11
As soon as Landon drove onto the highway and turned to the east, civilization fell away. The farther they traveled, the more the jungle pressed in close on either side, its thick, tangled greenery a stark contrast to the neatly manicured resort grounds. He talked to the Keepers with his ear radio, and Noel stayed quiet in the passenger seat. She could only hear his side, and that was very little as he listened to the intel coming in.
“The buildings they called from are a group of old, abandoned houses. I’ve gone back to look at the CCTV and can only see the closest camera that’s on the main road. I went back over the past day, not just the past hours.”
Landon knew it was crucial to know if others were around where the kids had been taken. “What are we facing?”
“There have been no vehicles on that lane other than an older SUV. It came out and headed west about four hours ago and returned about two hours ago.”
“Gotta be them. The question is how many are in that house. Just the three who came to the beach or more.”
“Working on it, Landon,” Dalton assured. “We’re combing through the back calls of Roger, Horticia, and Pamela.”
“It’s not Pamela,” Landon said, glancing over at Noel. Her head jerked around, her mouth open slightly. She waited, then nodded encouragingly.
“We’re working on who was on the inside,” Logan said. “But first, we’ve got to get you safely in and out with the kids.”
The wind had picked up, whipping through the towering palms. Their sturdy trunks stood resilient, but the fronds above danced wildly, thrashing and swaying in the growing storm. The earlier drizzle had turned into a steady rain, droplets pinging sharply against the windshield, blurring the view ahead.
Landon’s grip on the wheel tightened as he asked, “How long before the storm hits directly?”
Sadie’s voice crackled through the comms. “You’ve got a reprieve for a bit. While the storm is almost upon you, it has been downgraded to a tropical storm for Jamaica. It’s also on track to turn north and skirt by Florida. It’ll cause storm surges along the Florida coast, but Cole should be able to get down to you the day after tomorrow at the latest.”
Landon nodded, eyes fixed on the road. “We’ll be fine. Once we get the kids, we’ll head back to the resort and ride it out from there.”
“I have the area on satellite,” Sadie said. “It’s difficult to see due to the weather and the jungle overgrowth, but there are four buildings. Two appear to have no roof. But there are two, side by side, where they must be. Sending pictures now.”
While driving, he handed his tablet to Noel. “Hit the tab at the top. What do you see?”
She did as he asked with no questions, then reported, “It’s an aerial view of some buildings that are partially hidden by the trees. Their colors are faded, and two of them look very dark.”
“Those are the two missing their roofs.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “The one closest to the road in front is smaller. I have no idea how big they are.”
“That’s okay. I’ll do reconnaissance once we get there.”
“What if there are other people around? Oh God,” she moaned. “I didn’t even think of that. I was just thinking of three people, and I thought that with your former FBI skills and security company skills, you could just go in guns blazing.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Believe me, Noel… going in guns blazing is the last thing I want to do.”
“Since we know where the call came from, could the police have assisted?”
“Under normal circumstances? Yes. But you saw that only two policemen were spared to come out and do a report on the kidnapping. One of those left, and even though the chief wanted one to stay to keep an eye on our three inside suspects, there’s no way to believe that he would do so. Catching a kidnapper would be good for the police here, but with the storm bearing down, they’ll have their hands full just trying to keep looters out of the shops.”
“Oh, I didn’t even think about that.” She looked over at him. “We really are on our own, aren’t we?”
“I’m afraid so. I don’t have time to take you back, but I can drop you off somewhere?—”
“No! I’m going in with you.”
“You won’t be going in . I can’t worry about Tad and Penny, and getting them out safely while also worrying about you. So you will stay out of sight and with the vehicle. Your part will be to help calm them once I get them out.”
Outside the window, they passed a small cluster of buildings—probably shops with apartments above them. The windows were boarded up, and the streets were eerily empty, without a soul in sight. The dense foliage seemed to close in tighter around them as they climbed higher into the mountains. The jungle came alive with the sound of wind and rain. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and wet leaves, a reminder of the raw power of the storm inching closer.
“It feels like the apocalypse,” Noel murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “Ever since we left the resort, it’s like the world has emptied.”
Landon exhaled, the sound heavy in the confined space. “I know. It’s unsettling.” His eyes flicked to the rain-slicked road ahead. “We’ve got about five more miles of jungle before we reach the intersection where the kidnappers wanted to make the exchange.”
“That’s not safe, right? That’s why you’re going in. The element of surprise?”
Landon glanced to the side, spying the anxiety now painting her face. Reaching across the console, he wrapped his hand over hers. She turned her palm up, and their fingers linked together.
“Yes, the element of surprise. They could come with others. They might try to take us as hostages. They might not make the handoff due to the storm. I’m not going to wait to see what happens. We’ll have the offensive. We’ll call the shots.”
“In charge,” she murmured.
He wanted to look over at her but the rain had increased, and the dirt and mud road they were now on was difficult to traverse, taking his full concentration. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” she rushed to answer. “Well, as okay as I can be in a situation completely out of my control or experience.”
“Hey, what happened to the tough woman who was ready to take these guys on?” he lightly teased.
“God, I hope I haven’t fucked things up for you by coming,” she whispered.
He squeezed her hand. “Just stay in the vehicle and keep your eyes open. I’ll do the rest.”
Checking his location, he slowed and executed a three-point turn so the vehicle faced out, ready to go as soon as he returned with Tad and Penny.
Landon reached into the bag between the seats, pulling out another weapon with practiced ease. He glanced at Noel, his eyes serious. “I’m guessing you don’t have any experience with guns.”
She shook her head, her mouth pinched. He swallowed a sigh, though a low grunt of frustration escaped.
“I can do this,” she said, her voice steady.
He studied her for a long moment, searching for hesitation or fear. Instead, all he found was unwavering determination. With a small nod, he relented. “Okay.”
Handing the weapon to her with deliberate care, he explained, “Here’s the safety. Keep it on until you’re sure you need to fire. If you’re threatened, point and pull the trigger. Aim for the chest—the largest target. It gives you the best chance.”
Noel took the gun without flinching, wrapping her fingers around it with surprising confidence. Landon’s gaze lingered on her, impressed by her composure.
Satisfied, he dipped his chin again. “Here’s the plan. I’m going to slip out, head through the jungle, and scout the house. I have equipment to check inside without being seen. I need to figure out how many kidnappers we’re dealing with and locate Tad and Penny. Once I know, I’ll neutralize the threat and get the kids out.”
Her voice was soft, but her words cut through the tension. “Neutralize the threat. That’s another way of saying you’re going to kill them.”
Landon leaned closer, their faces mere inches apart. “If I can, I’ll disable them, wound them. But if it comes down to it, I’ll do whatever it takes. No hesitation.”
Noel’s eyes didn’t waver. “I understand. Do what you have to do to keep Tad and Penny safe.”
His gaze devoured her, noting every curve of her jaw, the fluttering pulse at the base of her neck, the porcelain shimmer to her skin, and the myriad of emotions passing through her eyes. Blowing out another breath, he reached into his bag again and pulled out a small pouch. Opening the top, he pulled out a chain with a pendant, dangling it in front of her.
Noel’s brows lowered together as she first looked at the lighthouse pendant then back to his face. “You keep jewelry in one of your bags?”
He chuckled. “We never know what we’ll need. Wear this. There’s a tracker inside. If something happens to me, or we get separated, then my people will be able to find you.”
Her eyes widened, and unspoken fear poured from her.
“Please, Noel. Wear it.”
Her head jerked as she nodded, then moved closer to allow him to fasten it around her neck. As she looked up, their faces were so close that their breaths mingled.
For a moment, Landon forgot the storm raging outside, the mission looming ahead. He found himself caught in the storm of her gaze, a quiet intensity that held him captive. The rain pounded against the windows, the wind howling through the jungle, but inside the vehicle, it felt like they were in their own little world, insulated from the chaos.
Her breathing hitched slightly, her gaze flickering down to his mouth. Without thinking, without weighing the consequences, Landon closed the distance. He tilted his head, capturing her lips in a kiss that was raw and urgent, a hard press of emotion in the face of danger. It wasn’t gentle or refined—it was the kind of kiss shared between two people who might not get another chance.
When he pulled back, Noel’s eyes slowly fluttered open, her expression dazed yet soft. Landon tensed, expecting her to pull away or maybe even lash out. But instead, her lips curved into a faint smile.
“Come back safely,” she whispered.
In the midst of the chaos, deep in the heart of a stormy Jamaican jungle, Landon felt a rare smile tug at his lips. “You can count on it,” he replied, his voice low but resolute.