Chapter 56
Huddled on the floor next to the majestic king-sized four-poster bed, Jemma stared at the burner phone. One single signal bar. She pressed the call button and tried to reach Proteus on the secure line once again. Like all agents working on a Proteus operation, the number was seared into her memory for a time as this. The phone displayed “connecting” and a series of dots shimmered. She prayed the call would go through this time.
After her unexpected meeting with Eddie, the guards had been on edge as she ate breakfast. The usual casual toughness had been replaced with deep frowns and furtive glances around the property. They’d escorted her back to her bedroom rather brusquely. She was left with only a terse message that the rest of her meals for the day would be delivered to her room. The soft click told her she was locked inside and likely wouldn’t be checked on for hours.
It would’ve been the best outcome if the damn phone could keep a signal. Moving around the room had yielded no better service. Standing by the large French doors that offered breathtaking views of the sparkling waters hadn’t helped. Going out on the small balcony wasn’t an option as the doors were locked, taunting her with a view of the outside without letting her experience it.
As the call dropped once again, she checked the text messages. Her attempts to reach Proteus were undelivered. The battery was down to fourteen percent.
She’d have to find a way to smuggle the phone outside for a chance to get a better signal.
Tomorrow.
It would be risky since the only time she was brought out of the room was to spend time with Nomar. She had no other choice.
Rising from the rug, Jemma searched for the best hiding spot. Her gaze drifted from the quaint wrought-iron table with glass top to the leather ottoman. A stately wooden desk with several drawers and a caramel leather chair rested across from where she slept. A charming, coastal-inspired prison.
She sat on the crisp white linens of the bed and leaned her head against the pillows. Clutching the phone to her chest, she debated her options, then realized the best location was right next to her. Literally.
Reaching for the decorative ocean blue pillow, she slowly unzipped the cover and forced the phone between the cotton plumes of stuffing. Zipping the pillow closed, she pressed into it and tossed it around until she was satisfied that no one would be able to detect the device inside. Placing it back on the bed, she lay still and watched the sun dip below the horizon as an inky purple spread across the island sky.
Her evening meal would be arriving soon?—
Heavy footsteps thundered across the marble floor outside her room, growing louder by the second. Jemma rose slowly from the bed.
Something was … off.
The door opened banging loudly against the wall.
Beatriz stumbled into the room, tripping over her feet as she fell to the floor. Her pretty face was riddled with dark purple bruises.
Jemma’s heart stopped as she rose from the bed.
“Don’t move, preciosa.” Nomar emerged in the doorway. The brows above his sharp, hawk-like eyes furrowed as this gaze landed on her face with a challenge. His voice held a dangerous edge as he said, “Give me the phone. I know you have it.”
She was prepared for this but her pulse still thudded in her neck as she struggled to swallow past the lump in her throat. Forcing a confused look on her face, she said, “What are you talking about? What phone?”
Nomar moved inside the room. Jemma retreated to increase the distance between them. Two guards followed him inside, with assault rifles casually resting in the crook of their arms.
“Senor Ortiz, please,” Beatriz pleaded, tears rolling down her face. “I lost my phone and that’s why I don’t have it. She didn’t take it from me.”
“Liar!” Nomar thundered.
Jemma moved quickly, blocking Nomar’s path to the woman. “If I had a phone, this place would be crawling with DEA agents right now.” She paused dramatically to look around the room. “Do you see any?”
Nomar’s lips curved into the semblance of a smirk. He reached a hand toward his face, brushing his fingertips slowly across his jaw, set firm and dusted with the slightest hint of a day’s growth. “Is this the game you want to play, Preciosa?” Nomar asked, the smirk transitioning to a salacious grin.
“No games,” Jemma said, crossing her arms over her chest. “We both know I don’t want to be here, but I’m not stupid. I know that things could be a lot worse for me. These guards watch every move I make. How the hell could I steal a phone?”
Nomar flicked a hand. One of the guards placed the strap of the gun around his shoulder, then searched the room. Drawers were yanked open, clothes tossed, the mattress overturned and linens tossed into the corner, cushions from the leather chair were thrown to the floor. The chaotic search lasted several minutes until the guard ceased and turned to them with a bewildered look.
“Satisfied?” Jemma asked, glaring at Nomar. “I don’t have a phone. Stop berating this poor woman and drop this.”
Nomar didn’t believe her. But the proof of her guilt was too well-hidden within the pillow.
“Take off your clothes,” Nomar thundered, barking the order at Jemma.
“What?” Jemma balked.
“Prove that you have not hidden the phone, preciosa. Strip for me. Now!”
Jemma clenched her jaw, then grabbed the hem of her tank top and yanked it over her head, tossing it to the floor. She unbuttoned her khaki shorts, allowing them to fall to a heap around her ankles. Stepping aside, she kicked the shorts in Beatriz’s direction.
Wearing nothing but her bra and bikini underwear, she turned slowly in front of Nomar.
“Happy now?” Jemma demanded.
Nomar reached for her, pulling her close to him. “Fuck, you are so beautiful.” He leaned forward and pressed soft kisses along her neck and down toward her breasts. His hands gripped her hips as he pressed his throbbing rock hard cock against her.
Jemma recoiled, repulsed by his touch but he held her tight against him.
“I will have you, preciosa,” Nomar said, almost panting the words in his sex-fueled excitement. “Soon.”
Nomar brushed his lips softly against Jemma’s in a gentle kiss, then he shoved her. She stumbled backward into the iron grasp of the guard.
Nomar turned his attention to Beatriz. “Get the fuck up, you lying bitch.”
“Please, Senior Ortiz …” Beatriz’s voice was a low.
“I left you specific instructions to have all of Jemma’s meals sent to her room while I was away,” Nomar said, his voice cold as ice. “But you disobeyed me.” He reached a hand into his sport coat and pulled out a gun.
A flash of Aurelia’s face slammed into Jemma’s mind.
“Nomar, wait!” Jemma said, breaking free of the guard. She yanked at his arm. “Don’t do this.”
Nomar glared at her with contempt. “Your actions always have consequences, preciosa. But you’re rarely the one who suffers from them.”
She didn’t have a chance to react before he’d pulled the trigger.
Beatriz clutched her chest as blood oozed through her fingers. Eyes wide with shock, she stared at her white dress, stained dark red. Her face was a pained grimace as she gasped her last breath.
Jemma couldn’t breathe as she stumbled backward into the guard. He grabbed her arms and held her in place.
Nomar turned to Jemma. “You lied to me too, preciosa. I know she gave you a cell phone and when it didn’t work, you found a way to get rid of it. For this, you must be punished.”
Nomar reached into his coat and pulled out a syringe. He held it in the air, tapping the needle until a drop appeared at the tip.
As Nomar came closer, Jemma couldn’t help but feel she deserved this punishment. Aurelia and Beatriz had both died because of her. There was nothing she could do to make that right.
Accepting her fate, Jemma closed her eyes as the sting of the needle pressed into her arm.