Desire Part Three (The Desire Series Book 3) (9 page)

“Tony and Ollie are really terrific,” Jaclyn said.

“Is there an attraction to one more than the other?’ Tess asked.

Jaclyn sighed.

“They’re both so handsome and sweet. But Ollie can be a little less aggressive and I find that very endearing. It’s hard to make a choice,” Jaclyn said.

“Who said you had to? Although I think you already have,” Tess grinned.

Jaclyn turned on her side to face her directly.

“Who?” she demanded.

“I’ll let you figure it out on your own. I don’t want to influence you,” Tess smiled.

“That’s a cop out. You just don’t want to say,” Jaclyn pouted.

Tess laughed.

“You’re right, Jax I don’t and I won’t. You’ll work it out if. Neither of these guys may be the one; but you have to decide that for yourself,” Tess said gently.

Jax rolled onto her back and sighed dramatically.

“Why can’t this be easy,” Jaclyn moaned.

“I’m discovering that love seldom is,” Tess murmured.

Jax looked at her sharply.

“Love? Are you in love with Matt?” Jaclyn asked excitedly.

“I think I’m falling for him. But it scares me. What if he doesn’t feel the same way about me? That would be crushing,” Tess said miserably.

“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Jaclyn said.

“Why not? He certainly hasn’t told me he’s topsy-turvy for me,” Tess grimaced.

“Tess! Have you noticed how he acts around you? Come on, girl open your eyes,” Jaclyn responded.

“We’re good in bed, Jax. What man doesn’t enjoy that,” Tess retorted.

“It’s more than the sex. He can’t stay away from you,” Jaclyn said. “It won’t be long before he’s out of that water and sitting
 
by your side.”

“You think?”

“Look at what he did when you swam under the waterfall. He followed,” Jaclyn responded. “I think he would follow you over a cliff if you fell off. He’s crazy about you and you feel the same way about him. This is marvelous.”

Tess chuckled.

“Let’s not get carried away, Jax. I’ll take it one day at a time,” Tess smiled.

“Okay. Just remember, I’m your maid of honor,” Jaclyn smirked.

“You’re impossible,” Tess said as she sat up. She reached behind her to grasp her camera bag. She took out the camera and the long range lens. She secured the lens to the camera. “This is probably the best time I’ll have to take some pics. I won’t be long.”

“I’ll come with you,” Jaclyn said as she sat up.

“No. Stay here and occupy the guys should they come out of the water before I return,” Tess said.

Jaclyn looked dubious.

“I don’t think you should go off alone. What if something happens to you?’ Jaclyn objected.

Tess stood up.

“Nothing is going to happen to me. I’ll be back before you know it,” Tess smiled.

“I have a bad feeling about this. Maybe you should leave it alone. Matt said he would handle it,” Jaclyn urged.

“And I can help him immensely by getting some incriminating photos,” Tess argued.

“I don’t like it, Tess. Don’t go,” Jaclyn insisted.

“I’ll be fine. See you in a bit,” she smiled.

Tess hung the camera on her shoulder and briskly walked off. Jaclyn felt uneasy as she watched Tess walk away. She picked up her cell and looked at the time. She would only give her twenty minutes. After that she was calling in the cavalry.

*****

The men came out of the river a little later and collapsed onto the towels and blankets in exhaustion.
 

“Where’s Tess, Jax?” Matt asked immediately.

“She went to take more pictures. She should be back in a few minutes,” Jaclyn mumbled.

Matt looked at her keenly. He noticed that Jax looked uncomfortable and continued to glance at her cell phone.

“Are you expecting a call, Jax?” Matt inquired.

“What?” Jaclyn asked distractedly.

“You keep looking at your phone. Are you expecting a call?” Matt asked.

“Oh, no. I was just checking the time,” she mumbled.

Tony and Ollie had lain back to take a snooze while Matt observed Jaclyn unobtrusively. When she began looking toward the far end of the grounds he became nervous. She was gazing at the waterfall area as if hoping to see Tess.

“Did Tess want to capture more photos of the waterfall?” Matt asked.

Jaclyn’s nerves had gotten the better of her and twenty minutes had elapsed.

“Yes and she should have been back by now,” Jax said.

Ollie and Tony had heard their conversation and sat up abruptly.

“Maybe we should look for her,” Tony suggested.

“Maybe we should,” Matt agreed with alacrity.

The men and Jaclyn trotted off in the direction of the waterfall. Jaclyn prayed that Tess was alright. She’d been on edge from the moment that Tess left. She now wished that she had never made the suggestion of Tess taking those pictures.
 

“How long has she been gone?” Matt asked.

“About twenty or so minutes. That’s not so very long but I would feel better if she were here with us,” Jaclyn sighed.

“We’ll find her. I’m sure she’s fine,” Ollie said reassuringly.

Tony looked at Matt and saw the look of worry on his face. Something else was going on here. He grasped Matt’s arm to pull him to a stop. The others paused as well.

“There’s something wrong, Matt. I can see it in your face. What is it?” Tony asked.

Matt sighed and told them about Tess’s photos.

“Who do you think those men are?” Ollie asked.

“I don’t know. But I doubt if they are up to anything good,” Matt said. He turned to Jaclyn. “Tess wanted to catch their illegal activities on camera. Are those the pictures she wanted to take, Jax?”

Jaclyn looked miserable.

“Yes,” Jaclyn admitted softly.

“My God! Do you know the danger she could be in?’ Matt stormed.

“I tried to talk her out of it but she was determined to go and she wouldn’t let me go with her,” Jaclyn cried.

“It’s a good thing that you didn’t. At least you’re here to tell the tale,” Matt said sharply.
 

Ollie surveyed their surroundings. He climbed a rocky hill and scanned the expanse.

“This is the perfect area for drug smuggling,” Ollie called back down to them. “It’s remote and well concealed by the surrounding jungle.” He jumped down from his perch. “An ideal spot for their operations.”

“We don’t know if that is happening here,” Matt said. “Let’s hope that it isn’t.”

“Or more importantly that they haven’t spied Tess and her camera,” Jaclyn said fearfully.

Matt knew that Jax had only said what everyone was thinking. But that fact did not make him feel any better.

“Let’s not think the worst. Let’s get moving,” Matt said.

*****

Tess crouched down behind a large boulder and gasped at what she saw. There was a military truck parked in front of the shack with green tarp covering the cargo bed. Two men were unloading plastic containers. Drat! The containers were black so she couldn’t tell what was inside of them. But she would guess that it was drugs. She needed to ascertain what was in those containers; but how? She focused her long range lens and looked through her viewfinder. She began taking pictures of what was happening. She was so intent on what she was doing that she didn’t hear the crunch of the footsteps behind her.

“And who do we have here?”

Tess dropped her camera on the other side of the boulder and spun around.

“Todd!”

“Tess?” he asked in shock. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I could ask the same of you but it’s blatantly obvious,” she spat. “You’re a drug smuggler!”

“And you’re a nosey bitch that’s as good as dead,” he snarled. He reached down to grasp her arm and yank her up. “You’re coming with me.”

Tess snatched her arm from his grip.

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” she retorted.

He grabbed her arm again and she struggled to free herself.

“Stop fighting me, Tess,” he snapped.

He pulled her in front of him, gripping her shoulders.

“Never!” she exclaimed.

Tess raised her knee and rammed his groin. He released her immediately and doubled over in pain. Tess took off running.

“Mother f—

He cursed as he managed to straighten and run after her. Tess looked behind her to see where Todd was but when she looked forward again she slammed into what felt like a brick wall. A tall, husky, mammoth of a man caught her arm in his massive hand. She looked into his scarred face and saw pure evil residing in his small black eyes. Tess was terrified and opened her mouth to scream. He clamped a paw over her mouth before she could emit so much as a squeak and dragged her through the jungle. Todd followed. No one noticed the camera that was lying on the ground behind the boulder.

*****

Sergio manhandled Tess their entire trek through the dense terrain. Tess tried to shake his hand from her mouth to no avail. Then then bit the inside of his middle finger. He cursed and slapped her hard. She cried out as she fell to the ground. Sergio pulled her up and raised his hand to hit her again.

“No, Sergio. Don’t. I doubt that she will cause any more trouble,” Todd intervened.

“She has caused a hell of a lot of trouble already,” Sergio spat.

“Let’s get her to the shack,” Todd said.

Todd captured Tess’s arm and pulled her along with him.

“I suggest you sheathed your claws and play nice, or Sergio will kill you,” Todd whispered in her ear.

“He’s going to do that anyway,” Tess returned.

“But you don’t want him to torture you. That would be worse than the actual death,” Todd retorted.

They arrived at the shack and Tess noticed that the green military truck was gone. Todd pushed her into a small, dim room and forced her to sit on a wooden bench. Tess waited for her eyes to adjust to the limited light then looked around her. She looked across the room and saw the containers stacked against the wall. She’d bet her right arm that there were drugs in them. She’d read about the cocaine trafficking in this part of the world. These two scum balls were jeopardizing lives to fatten their pockets. They didn’t care about the effects of their dealing on the world. It was all about the money and what they were doing was unconscionable. Tess remembered how money had been the only thing that Todd had wanted to talk about while they were dating. Apparently he had now found an easy way to get rich. He didn’t care if it was at someone else’s expense. Sergio moved to stand in front of her. She stared at his scar on his left cheek; she couldn’t help it. It was long and ugly. Tess shuddered.
 

“You don’t like my scar? It was a souvenir I received when engaged in a skirmish in Mexico. It gives me quite the devilish look. I think I’m creating a fashion trend,” he chuckled.
 

Tess averted her eyes. Sergio grasped her chin roughly to force her to look at him. Tess closed her eyes. Sergio shook her face.

“Look at me!” Sergio ordered.

Tess opened her eyes and stared at him.

“My face isn’t so bad once you get used to it. And you had better get used to it fast because we have some talking to do,” Sergio growled. He released her chin.

“Let me go,” Tess pleaded. “Please. I won’t tell anyone of what I’ve seen here.”

Sergio laughed.

“And you think I believe you? I’m no fool. You will not be going anywhere…yet,” Sergio responded. “Perhaps I’ll let you go when you’ve told me what I want to know.”

“What is that?” Tess managed to say. Her mouth was as dry as desert sand.

“What were you doing out there? Why were you spying on us?’ Sergio said.

“I wasn’t spying on you. I’d been admiring the waterfall and decided to take a walk,” she explained. “I grew tired and sat down to rest. That is what I was doing when Todd saw me.”

“She didn’t look to be resting when I found her,” Todd thought.

“What did you see?” Sergio demanded.

“Nothing. I saw nothing,” she swore. “I was just resting when I saw Todd.”
 

She had accused Todd of being a drug dealer. She prayed Todd would not speak of that conversation. She looked at Todd and he returned her gaze callously. She couldn’t be sure that he would remain quiet.

“I don’t believe you,” Sergio snapped. “I think you are lying.”

“No! I’m not,” Tess denied.

“Why are you on Aruba?” Todd demanded.

“I’m on assignment for Homes Extraordinaire magazine. You know I am a photographer, Todd,” she said.

Sergio looked at them intensely.

“You know each other?” Sergio barked.

“Yes. Our paths crossed about four or five years ago. It was a brief encounter,” Todd said disparagingly.
 

“We didn’t connect so we went our separate ways,” Tess said.

Todd laughed harshly.

“That’s one way of putting it,” Todd smirked.

Sergio looked at Todd.

“This presents an added problem. You would not want to see the demise of your ladylove which would put a strain on our relationship,” Sergio said thoughtfully.

“I could care less what happens to her,” Todd said caustically.

Tess sucked in her breath. He hadn’t repeated their conversation but he had left her to the wolves anyway. Sergio leveled his black beady gaze on her.

“Who’s here with you?” Sergio demanded.

“No one. I’m on a photography assignment. I always travel alone,” Tess said hurriedly. Then she thought maybe she shouldn’t have said that. It would make it so easy for them to murder her and think no one would miss her. But she wasn’t alone but they didn’t need to know that.
 

“Alone you say? That makes things quite interesting and gives me various options,” Sergio smiled ominously.

“My God! What have I done?” Tess screamed silently.

*****

“Where is she?” Jaclyn exclaimed in frustration. “We’ve looked everywhere.”

“Do you think she could have gone back to the picnic area and we missed her?” Tony questioned.

Matt shook his head negatively.

“We would have seen her. She hasn’t doubled back. She’s still out here somewhere,” Matt said tightly.

“We’ll find her,” Ollie predicted.