Chapter 5 – Nathan
CHAPTER 5
NATHAN
H ow have Jax and I been best friends since A-School, and he never told me how his mom died? Weaving around trees and stepping over boulders, I scanned the jungle floor, searching for anything to regain her blood sugar.
Jax and I have never really been great at sharing feelings, and maybe that’s part of the reason we get along so well, but still, you think you know a man and then it turns out he… I reached the edge of a ravine and peered over the edge, spotting a big log at the bottom. Turning sideways, I slid down, stepping where I could to slow myself down as I made my way to the bottom of the steep incline.
The log was old but still holding itself together. Pulling back the top layer of bark revealed several juicy grubs. I picked them up, one at a time, their fat tubular bodies wriggling as they tried to get away. Luckily, they’re not exactly fast. My thoughts returned to Jax.
We've been out drinking more times than I can count. The grubs went straight into my pocket, and I turned the log over and looked for more. I’ve told that man things that I’d never told anyone else. How did his mom’s death never once come up in conversation? Am I an asshole for never asking, or is he an asshole for never sharing such things? Emma though, she's an open book. I snatched up a couple more grubs and an earthworm that was trying to dig its way to safety. Into the pocket you go…
The ravine had gathered plenty of leaf litter, attracting all kinds of edible critters. Peeling off my sweat-soaked shirt, I hoped my choice of container wouldn’t gross her out too much. After catching a few crickets and closing them up in my shirt, I’d almost headed back up the side of the ravine when I spotted a big, shiny scorpion backing into its burrough.
“Hello there,” I whispered, laying my shirt down and using a rock to keep it closed.
I was just about to start digging when suddenly the jungle turned whisper quiet. Not a single bird or creepy crawler could be heard. Even the constantly vocal frogs and crickets went eerily quiet. Leaning in, I hugged the ravine wall and waited, unsure if the creatures around me were sensing me or something else. I grasped my knife, readying myself to face whatever threat was out there, and I couldn’t deny the very distinct sensation that I was being watched.
What’ll happen to Emma if I get eaten by something out here? Slowing my breathing, I had nothing to focus on except the slowing thrum of blood rushing in my ears. A few minutes passed, and whatever it was seemed to move on. Nearby critters resumed their mating calls and vocalized threats.
I exhaled a long sigh of relief. Grabbing a chunk of bark, I shoveled the scorpion out of his cave, killed him, and cut off his stinger before adding his crunchy corpse to the cricket bag that had once been my shirt.
This’ll be more than enough calories for a girl her size. Pleased with my haul, I headed back to Emma. Hopefully she had taken my advice and lied down. It was likely to be a dinner she’d never had before, and civilians tended to be squeamish when it came to eating for survival. I guess we’ll see what she’s made of…
Emma
I was finally starting to feel more like myself when the sound of approaching footsteps set me on edge. Even knowing Nathan and I should be the only ones out here, I still wondered… What if they found us?
When the sandy-blond, shirtless adonis stepped out from behind a palm frond, my jaw almost fell off my face.
“I hope you’re hungry.” Nathan’s eyes glinted with mischief.
I seriously need to work on my poker face. Sweat glistened from his collarbones all the way down to the little channels between his hips and abs.
“Jesus, man… Eat a carb.” I shook my head.
“When we get to Puerto Rico, I promise we’ll eat all the carbs on the menu.” He reached into his pocket, and my mouth watered, hoping he’d found berries. “Today is all about… protein .”
His hand opened to reveal six plump, cream-colored larvae with stumpy worm-bodies and rust-colored heads. Each had six legs squiggling around as squishy liquid in their bodies bulged and undulated.
“You have got to be kidding me.” My stomach churned.
“It’s not as bad as you think.” He popped one in his mouth and I heard the head crunch as he chewed.
“Aw, no…” I cupped a hand over my mouth, suppressing the urge to gag. I should thank you… You were frustratingly hot five seconds ago. “You probably have a ton of parasites now.”
“I’ll be honest.” He covered his mouth with his fist and then swallowed. “It is safer to cook them, and I have a lighter. If you want to do it that way, we’ll need to skewer them first.”
I covered my forehead with one hand. “Would I look like a huge crybaby if I wanted to wait until we get back to eat?”
“No offense, but at the rate we’re moving, there’s no chance of us making it back tonight.”
“Are you kidding me?” My eyes widened. “You said we were only five hours out.”
“Well, you're not as fit as I'd first assumed. My bad.”
I slapped him on the shoulder.
“Ow.” He chuckled. “Look, it’s up to you, but if you don’t want to collapse before we get there, I suggest you just close your eyes and swallow.”
“That’s what he said,” I grumbled.
“What?” His eyebrows pinched together as he laughed.
“Sorry… That was a stupid joke.” Putting my hands on the sides of my face, I bounced my knee a few times, mustering what courage I could. “Alright. Let’s find a skewer.”
“Good call.” He gave a curt nod, shoved the creepy little suckers back into his pocket, and set his wadded-up shirt aside.
While we looked for a suitable stick, I mentally prepared myself for what I was about to do. I’d just been thinking about how much I wished I’d had more adventure in my life. Did I want to leave this earth without ever having been forced to eat a bug?
Honestly, I could probably go without this particular experience, but after everything I’d been through in the last ten hours or so, this should feel more trivial. Shoving the stick longways through the creatures, Nathan used his lighter to make a tiny fire to roast my dinner.
I sighed, rotating the stick like a spit.
“I do feel a little better about doing this now that they’re dead.” I turned the stick over and over in my fingers, guiding the grubs through the flames as their skin turned golden and crispy. “Still hate it, but… not as much.”
“I think it’s more about getting past the thought of it.” He wrinkled his nose and reached into the shirt.
I started to say something snarky but lost my thought as he pulled an earthworm out of the shirt and tossed it into his mouth.
“Oh… that was… super cool.” I grimaced. “You kiss your mother with that mouth?”
“I kissed you .” He winked, and I could feel my cheeks flush. I bit my lip and looked at my grubs. “Sorry.” He shook his head. “I… don’t know why I said that.”
“Stop apologizing.” I laughed. “Honestly, I was kind of worried things would get super awkward. It would have been worse to pretend like it never happened. I mean, it would have felt weird for me.”
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “I have a feeling that Jax is not going to be too happy with me. Would it be alright if you give me a chance to talk to him about it… so I can explain?”
“Explain that I threw myself at you?”
“That’s not what happened.”
“Calm down, Captain; I’m just teasing.” I eyed the grub on the end of the stick. “How do you know when these things are done?”
Taking the stick, he lightly pinched the thickest grub.
“They’re done.” He handed it back to me. “The texture inside will be a little like scrambled eggs.”
“I’m not eating this by myself.” I shook my head, thrusting the stick into his hands.
He chuckled and pulled one off the end of the stick. I took the next one between my fingers and frowned, picking off the crispy little legs.
Taking a deep breath in through my nose and out through my mouth, I locked eyes with him and held up the golden capsule. “Cheers.”
Nathan’s blue eyes locked onto mine and we touched our grubs together before popping them into our mouths. Surprisingly, he was right about the scrambled eggs. They had an almost buttery flavor with a slightly garlicky finish. I winced as the head crunched between my molars, but the disgust quickly dissipated as I hurriedly chewed and swallowed.
“It’s really not so bad.” I nodded, taking the next one off the stick while he busied himself roasting the next five.
“Atta girl.” He smiled. “I figured you’d be more squeamish, but you’re a natural survivor.”
“Thanks.” My heart warmed. “Not just for this, but… for coming all the way to Saint Lucia. For everything you’ve done to keep me safe. I know I haven’t exactly seemed grateful, but I am.”
"Wow. All it took was feeding you? I shoulda started this job by cooking for you if I'd have known."
“Ha! I’m just another job to you?” I scoffed, wondering if he was going to fall all over himself, apologizing every time I gave him shit. “ Cold bastard .”
“The worst kind of job.” He smiled, and I returned the gesture, happy my sarcastic sense of humor was finally appreciated.
After finishing my first course, he handed me the second skewer and pulled out a dead scorpion with a smirk. I didn’t complain as he shoved it onto the empty stick. His dinner consisted of raw crickets, which he dismembered one at a time, pulling off the heads. Each beheading pulled a string of gooey guts out as he tossed them aside.
I admit I felt somewhat better with a belly full of roasted bugs and fresh bamboo water to wash it all down.
Nathan smiled devilishly at me.
"What?!" I prodded at him.
He reached for one of the sticks he had scavenged for, and I looked at him like he'd just lost his mind. I could tell he was excited, but I didn't know why.
He broke off a bite-sized chunk of the branch and handed it to me. "Desert is served!"
"Ha. Oh. My. God. You have truly lost it."
"No, seriously. Put it in your bug hole and chew. I promise you're gonna thank me."
I took in a deep breath, looked at the sticky wet stick he'd given me, and let out a sigh. It actually smelled good, like cotton candy.
"You gotta chew the juice out. It's sugar cane."
My eyes widened at the words "sugar cane." I gave it a shot, chewing the end of the stick until sweet liquid filled my mouth with the most delicious, mouth-watering taste of heaven I'd ever experienced. I closed my eyes, savoring the pure joy that only sugar can bring a woman now used to toasted bugs.
I angrily mumbled as the sugar cane crunched in my mouth, "You had this...The. Whole. Time?"
"Ya, but you sure as shit weren't going to eat those protein-rich bugs if you started with desert, you know?"
I drew in an even deeper breath, the smell of sweets filling my lungs entirely, and let out an even deeper sigh than the first one.
I honestly don't know if I want to kiss the man or murder him right now.
I continued to chew and concentrate on "desert" as I glowered at him.
Nathan put out the fire, tossing dirt over it, and I dusted myself off, steeling myself to resume our hike to the top of the mountain.
My feet ached as we climbed, but I felt stronger than when we'd first started. The fact that I pushed myself to eat grubs was oddly empowering. Maybe I'm cut out for survival after all.
The trail grew rocky and steep, requiring me to use my arms as much as my legs to climb the last thirty feet to the top. Stepping onto a flat piece of volcanic rock, I misjudged how sturdy it was. The stony plate slipped out from under my foot, bouncing off the shin of my other leg as I fell forward.
My chin bounced off the ground, sending a jolt of pain resonating through my whole skull, and I slid backward.
“Shit!” Nathan spun around and rushed down to where I landed. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I coughed and looked at my skinned-up elbow. “Unless you count my wounded pride as a deadly injury.”
Reaching down, he grasped my hand and pulled me to my feet.
“I have some antibiotics in my pocket.” He touched my cheek, frowning as he looked at my scraped chin. “When we find some more fresh water, we’ll need to clean this up though. You okay to keep going?”
"Ya, I'm just glad I didn't accidentally bite off my tongue when my head hit the ground. God, that would have been awful, especially out here."
"Well, I guess you have good instincts...with your tongue at least."
I nodded, not sure if he was sincerely mocking me or flirting, and this time, he stayed with me, hand in hand, telling me where to step. It was kind of annoying, but after falling on my face like a toddler running downhill, I wasn’t going to turn down a little extra help. Grasping the rocky ledge above as he pushed me up from behind, at long last, I crawled onto the summit.
“Wow,” I breathed as the cool ocean breeze crested the ridge.
The entire island stretched out in all directions, and for a split second, I felt like I was standing on top of the world.
Even though I looked at this island daily, it was almost like I’d forgotten how many shades of green and blue there were. The lush foliage and various textures carpeted the mountainside all the way to the glowing sapphire blue waters. The view simply stole the breath from my chest.
Did Nathan sneak some shrooms into my meal somehow? Everything looks and feels so vivid all of a sudden.
Nathan pulled out his cell phone and turned it on.
“I’ve got bars, baby!” Nathan’s expression brightened.
“Wait, seriously?” I grabbed his thick arm to pull him closer to see the miracle that's a functioning phone in his hand. “Please tell me you’re not joking.”
“I’m not!” He laughed as he scrolled through his contacts.
He held the phone to his ear and screamed, speaking slower and slower as he had to repeat himself several times. After realizing he was cutting out too much to get the message across, he hung up. My smile faded, but his eyes reassured me even before he spoke.
“Don’t worry.” Dust and sweat had mixed to accentuate the creases in his forehead and around his squinting eyes. “I’m texting our coordinates to Smitty.”
“Oh, I hope this works.” I braced my hands against my thighs, looking like an exhausted contestant in one of those mud runs crazy people do for fun. “I really didn’t want to walk all the way back.”
Glancing back the way we came, I could see that we were only about a third of the way there, and the sun was already dipping below the horizon. If it took a full day to get this far, there was no way I’d make it another two days living on bugs and bamboo water.
“They’re finishing up a mission, but they’re going to come get us in a few hours.” Nathan held his chin high.
My shoulders deflated. Did he say hours?
Sitting alone on an island mountaintop with Nathan might have been an appealing prospect before I knew he was off the menu. Now, I only wanted to crawl under my desk and lose myself in patient notes. My palms itched with longing for a work distraction, and I bit my lip, jonesing for a quick fix.
“Do you… mind if I check my email?” I nodded to his phone.
“Oh, sure.” He handed it over. “I’ve been saving the battery, so we should be good 'till the guys get here.”
I logged into my mail account in a browser window and scrolled through my messages. One immediately jumped out at me.
From: Maria Saldivar… Subject: Estelle.
I opened the message.
Miss Emma,
My name is Maria and I’m the house-cleaner for Estelle Baptiste. We’ve been best friends since high school and I’m getting worried… In the days before she went missing, she sent me this and asked that if anything were to happen to her that I pass it on to you.
I knew she’d talked about leaving James, so I thought in a few days she’d reach out to me and tell me that she was alright. But this morning when I woke up, I just knew in my heart that something must have gone wrong. Maybe I was foolish to wait.
I hope this will help you find her.
Sincerely,
Maria
Despite the heat, a cold spot formed in the pit of my stomach as I scrolled to the bottom of the email to open the attachment. Dozens of screenshots of emails from the Prime Minister to someone Named Ivan Volcov were followed by shipping documents and other correspondence between her husband and Alexi Belov.
“I don’t know what any of this means.” I shook my head.
“What is it?” Nathan, who had taken a seat on a nearby rock, stood up.
“I… I’m not sure.” Tears rushed to my eyes as I handed him the phone. “My client who disappeared wanted me to see this. Maybe she thought I could use it to find her, but I don’t know…”
“Can I see?” He held his hand out, and I handed the phone to him. “How did your client come across these?”
I rolled my eyes and looked away, putting my hands on my hips.
“I know, I know… Doctor-patient privilege, but this might be life and death.”
He leveled his gaze at me, and the concern in his eyes sent a chill up my spine. Swallowing hard, I crossed my arms as my heart pounded against the inside of my ribcage.
What if he was right? A lump formed in my throat, and I blinked away the tears. What if she was in trouble, and the only way I could get TAPS to take me seriously was to compromise my job and break HIPAA law?
“Estelle Baptiste.” My voice cracked. “She’s married to the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, James Baptiste.”
“Emma…” Nathan ran a hand through his sandy blonde hair. “Your client’s husband, the president, is backed by two of the world's biggest crime syndicates. The Russian Mafia and a smuggling ring called the Oceanics have been working together–buying, selling, trading, and shipping everything from drugs and weapons to drugged-up sex slaves and uranium. The uranium's got the US government worried to the extent that our team's been asked about it–and that's not usually the sort of stuff that makes it to civilian ears, you know? Your client might have made herself more of a liability than even the wife of a president could. These groups don't just bust kneecaps, Ella. You don't wanna know how far they go to...”
He trailed off, biting his top lip.
“I get it.” I nodded.
“I’m so sorry, Emma.” He reached for me, but I held up my hands and stepped back.
Turning away, I sniffled, unable to fight off the tears. I sniffled and cleared my throat, wiping the moisture from my cheeks with the back of my hand.
“What about Maria?” I turned to face him again. “Does this mean that she’s in danger too?”
He looked down at the email again.
“She sent this at noon.” He took a deep breath. “If she hasn’t disappeared already, I can’t imagine she has long before they come after her. She's no doubt a loose end in their eyes. I mean, they'll put a round in a pet if they heard more than they should have.”
No… My heart sank. I wasn’t going to be responsible for another innocent person getting killed if there was anything I could do to stop it. My pulse raced and my head spun, but I knew what had to be done.
“Tell your team to go after her first.” My stomach churned at the thought of spending an entire night in this sweltering hell hole… I mean tropical paradise.
“WHAT?!” He tilted his chin forward, raising his eyebrows.
I licked my parched lips and nodded. “Yeah… We were already on our way to get what you needed to fix the plane.” I gestured to the shoreline near the horizon. “Let’s just keep going. After they find her, if we’re still not off the island, they can pick us up before they leave.”
He took a moment to consider my words. His furrowed eyebrows and writhing lips showed how conflicted he was. He took in a deep breath and let out, “Yes, ma’am.”
I wasn’t sure if he was amused or irritated that I was bossing him around.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing, I just…” His smile deepened, reaching his eyes. “You're not what I expected, is all.”
If my face wasn’t already flushed from the heat, I definitely would have turned red. As Nathan passed on the change of plans to Smitty, I got busy psyching myself up for more jungle adventures and fantasized about the enormous chocolate swirl cheesecake I would scarf down the second I, or rather we, returned to civilization.