Chapter 21
Lillian
Adrenaline surges through my veins as I cling to Sean, zooming my motorbike beneath the thick jungle canopy. Why am I here again? My thighs squeeze the seat while the largest of my father’s dogs bursts through the underbrush behind us.
“Faster, Big Balls.” I kick at the closest snarling muzzle until it tumbles back, but nothing I do matters. More of its kennel mates appear. Their sharp teeth burn as they clamp onto my ankle. When a branch whips across my face, I lose my grip and fall backward into the frenzied canines.
“Sean! Come back.” I don’t want to die.
“Babe, wake up.” A far-off man calls to me.
Eyes open, my mind begins to separate reality from nightmares. The primal forest dissolves into a bedroom. Fitting the pieces together, my gaze shifts to washboard abs, to broad shoulders, to a worried face.
“Bad dream?” Sitting next to me, Sean brushes a tear from my cheek and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear.
My pulse, already fast from the nightmare, races more when I realize there’s a hole in my memories. Last night should be there, but I can’t access it.
Let’s see… I met Jeff in the bar. Woke up in the emergency room. There is nothing in between. Eyes stinging, another thought takes hold. What if I have permanent brain damage? How much is missing?
Sean tilts his head. “You okay?”
No, not really.
“C’mere. What happened last night?” When he opens his arms, I place my head on his chest, filling my lungs with his unique pine scent. This is where I belong, where I feel safe, where I always want to stay.
“How much do you remember?” As his voice rumbles over the steady beat of his heart, I shut my eyes and focus on shards of images.
“I was talking to Jeff in the bar. Then… the ER. Wait. Pearson said something important… incriminating. I know he did. Dammit. Did you catch it?”
He shakes his head. “Sorry. He jammed the wireless.”
“What a shit show.” I screwed up. “You were right, honey. I shouldn’t’ve taken the risk.”
“All’s not lost. We’re working on Plan B.” His smile melts my insides. He’s entitled to at least one I-told-you-so, but instead, he’s here by my side, being sweet.
Plan B? I frown. “Sorry. Is that something else I forgot?”
“No. Dante and I got to thinking. The night I was arrested, Talon’s Wi-Fi glitched. Thinking Pearson might try it again, we asked Pierre if we could install a reel-to-reel recorder under the bar. Some of the audio is indecipherable, but Dante assured me his guy can clean it up.”
“Wow.” My stomach tightens as I let that sink in. “So, Jeff disabled the router and came to the bar armed with a syringe…we’ve underestimated him. He’s not an employee—he’s the mastermind behind the entire money-laundering scheme. He is Parkhaven Investments.”
I glance up at Sean. “I don’t suppose we can go back to our apartment? I miss Buddy. Our bed.”
“Sorry.” Hugging me closer, chin resting on the top of my head, he sighs. “Have you forgotten about the threat to Rebecca and Grams?”
I had.
Shit.