Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
V iper held her close until she stopped crying. She felt so good in his arms, goddamn it. Better than she should, given the circumstances. He stroked her hair and whispered that everything was going to be all right.
She clung to him, her arm wrapped around his waist, her face buried in his chest. A shadow of the confident, cocky woman she'd been in San Diego. A wave of possessiveness like he’d never known swept over him. All he wanted to do was kiss away her fear and make her smile again.
Fucking hell. She’d really gotten under his skin.
He tried to tell himself this was a once-off, a bad experience that she’d forget in time, just like she’d forget about him, but it wasn’t working. Right now, feeling her trembling beside him, all he wanted to do was envelope her in his arms and keep her safe.
Phoenix drove like the wind, parallel to the shore and away from the storm. The gang didn’t follow. They weren't willing to risk their lives for the sake of three strangers. Wise move.
"We've got less than a quarter of a tank," Phoenix warned, glancing at the gauge. "We're going to have to go in soon."
"Take us up the coast as far as you can." Viper watched the endless stretch of jungle go by. As they headed north, it gradually gave way to patches of palms and then to more arid scrubland. The coastline was becoming more developed with occasional signs of human habitation.
"What's that?" Phoenix pointed ahead to the shore.
Viper squinted through the darkness. Years of practice had fine-tuned his night vision. "It looks like some sort of resort. Those are lounge chairs on the beach."
Izzy raised her head. "And folded up umbrellas. It is a resort!"
There was no mistaking the relief in her voice.
Phoenix angled the boat toward the shore. Izzy watched eagerly as they got ever closer.
"Hold on," warned Viper, as Phoenix climbed the back of a wave. "It's going to get bumpy."
She gripped the guard rope, her other arm still around his waist, and hung on as they flew over the crest and into the trough. Once again, the momentum shot the inflatable forward and they surfed the whitewater into the beach.
It was quiet and calm as they pulled the boat up onto the sand. The canvas of night was dotted with stars that sparkled down on them, oblivious to the traumatic events that had taken place far below.
"Looks like we might be able to give the CIA their boat back, after all,” Phoenix said, making him smile.
Viper helped Izzy out of the boat. She stumbled, her legs shaky.
"You okay?"
She gave a little nod but clutched his hand like she was afraid to let go. This needy, clingy Izzy didn't fit with the feisty, independent woman he’d gotten to know these last few days. But then, she'd had a shock.
Truth be told, he didn’t mind. He liked having her close to him, her hand buried in his, even if it was making him think things he shouldn’t. Once they were inside and surrounded by managers and staff and normality, she’d revert back to her normal self. He was sure about that.
It might be wrong, it might be unprofessional, but he didn’t let it go. Phoenix shot him an inquisitive look as they strode up the beach. He shrugged and kept walking, enjoying the feel of her soft hand in his big, calloused one.
They walked through the hotel's landscaped gardens. Toward the east, far beyond the hotel, the black sky was dissolving into indigo. Viper reckoned sunrise was still an hour off.
They rounded an azure-blue swimming pool, lit up by underwater lights. It looked warm and inviting. There was no breeze and the humidity clung to them like a blanket.
Izzy eyed it longingly.
"Let's get settled in first.” Viper didn't think he could stand to see her floating in the pool right now. Not without taking her into his arms and kissing the fear and anxiety away. The memory of her breasts bobbing on the water hadn’t left him, nor the sight of her perfectly rounded behind, or those endless legs.
The night manager gaped when they walked in. Viper couldn't blame him. They must look a sight. Their clothes were wet, and covered with dirty and grime, while he had the addition of a faint spray of red mist.
Phoenix was far worse. He had a cut on his neck from where one of the kidnappers had nicked him with a knife, and his T-shirt and the side of his neck were splattered with dried clots of blood that had turned a dark brown. Izzy, in her jeans and his sweatshirt, looked the most normal, even if it was several sizes too big for her.
"You are hurt!" cried the night manager, rushing forward to tend to Phoenix.
"It's not my blood," muttered Phoenix, which caused even more consternation.
Viper elbowed him in the ribs.
Izzy let go of his hand. "Good evening," she said in her poshest voice.
Immediately the night manager stood up straight and turned to face her.
"Good evening, Ma'am."
"I'm sorry for arriving in this disheveled state," she began. "We encountered some trouble in the jungle and were robbed. We're okay," she said hurriedly, holding up a hand as his face showed concern. "We managed to get away. But could we please have two rooms? We'll contact the authorities in the morning."
Two rooms.
Viper avoided Phoenix's gaze.
She was right. He needed to stay close to her. The people who’d tried to kidnap her might try again. It wouldn’t take long to figure out that they must have gone north along the coast. There wasn’t anywhere else to go. While she was a target, it was his job to keep her safe. If that meant sleeping in her room, so be it.
"Of course, ma'am. I'll see to it immediately." He darted back behind the desk and began typing into the computer. "Your names?" he asked, gazing from Izzy to them and back again.
She hesitated, then said, "Victoria Granger."
Viper arched a brow, impressed by her fast thinking. Phoenix was nodding too. It was smart not checking in under her own name. "My husband is going to pay for it," she smiled, and gestured to Viper.
Phoenix made a coughing noise in the back of his throat.
Viper stepped forward. "Viper Morgan." He handed over the credit card he kept for emergencies. It was always zipped into the side pocket of his cargo pants. Nothing would shake it loose, not even a dip in the ocean.
Two minutes later they were handed keycards to their rooms.
"202 and 204," the night manager said. "They're adjacent to each other on the second floor. Breakfast is served from seven to nine a.m." He glanced tiredly at his watch. "In two hours' time."
Izzy gave a curt nod. "Thank you."
"Nicely done." Phoenix grinned at Izzy as they walked toward the elevator.
She flushed. "The accent comes in handy sometimes."
Phoenix glanced between the two of them. "Husband and wife, huh?"
Izzy shrugged. "I thought it best. I don't want anyone to think I'm alone. Not here, not anymore." She glanced at Viper. "You don't mind, do you? After what's happened, I?—"
"I don't mind," he said gruffly. "It's a good idea."
She nodded.
Phoenix didn’t comment.
"How about we get some shuteye and regroup in a couple of hours? Say ten o’clock?" Phoenix suggested, once they got to their rooms.
Viper could barely keep his eyes open. He could count the number of hours sleep he’d had since Izzy was kidnapped on one hand. “Roger that.”
Izzy paused, before she unlocked the door. “Thanks for saving me.” She looked at both of them. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come to get me.”
“Don’t mention it,” Phoenix said. “Besides, Pat would have killed us if we hadn’t.”
That made her laugh, and Viper was pleased to see her face light up, even if it was just for a moment. A glimpse of the old Izzy. “He can be pretty scary, can’t he?”
Phoenix grimaced. “You have no idea.”
“We should let him know you’re safe,” Viper said.
Phoenix nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”
Viper nodded his thanks. He hoped to hell that getting Izzy back would redeem him in the eyes of the former SEAL Commander, who would let him keep his job.