Love Inspired Suspense September 2015 #2 (30 page)

“Why not?” She looked back up at him and caught his gaze, the knot in her stomach refusing to loosen. “They're right. When we get to the capital, others will be there waiting for us. Because we might have survived today, but this is far from over.”

TEN

G
rant looked out one of the windows in the VIP section, staring at the gray waters while Maddie made up a new batch of rehydration drink across the room. He wondered how much progress they'd actually made toward the mainland. And while he was thankful they were still alive, all he could see was miles of the ghostly sea—with no signs of any of the surrounding islands.

“Maddie was right about this not being over.” Antonio said, stepping up beside him. “You've noticed how the engine keeps stopping and starting.”

“Yes?” Grant wasn't sure he liked where the conversation was going.

“Apparently the captain is having engine trouble, though no one is really saying what's going on. Rumors are that there's water in the oil. But whatever the problem, the fact that the engine keeps cutting out speaks volumes.”

“So what do we do?” Grant asked.

“There's nothing we can do. Not at the moment, anyway.”

Grant frowned, but knew his friend was right. While his first response was always to fix things, he'd learned that forcing things to happen didn't always work on this side of the world.

“How's Maddie doing? Antonio asked.

Grant glanced across the room where she sat beside Ana. “The encounter with those men really shook her up, but she's strong. A lot stronger than even she thinks.”

He'd been impressed by her fortitude, especially when her own life had been at risk. Instead of running, she'd shown incredible courage. Something that made him want to get to know her even more.

“She's also perfect for you.”

Grant looked at Antonio, surprised by his bluntness. Maybe he'd rubbed off too much on his friend. “Maddie?”

“Don't act all surprised,” Antonio said. “You don't think I haven't noticed the way you look at her, and the way she looks back? The two of you have this connection. And if you ask me, she's exactly what you need.”

“I don't know.” He tried to shrug off the comment. “It's been years since I saw her, and to me she's always been my best friend's little sister. Friends only.”

And besides, just because he was attracted to her didn't change the choices he'd made in life. Family and a wife weren't exactly on the radar.

“Well, just in case you didn't notice,” Antonio said. “His little sister's all grown up.”

Grant smiled. “Oh, trust me, I've noticed, but I came to keep a promise to her brother. Nothing more.”

“So? What woman doesn't dream of some hero coming to their rescue?” Antonio leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. “The problem is that, while you might have rescued her, you're far too stubborn to see the possibilities outside your little world. Remember the last time my wife invited you over for dinner?”

Grant's brow rose, uncertain as to where his friend was going with his question. “I remember she made my favorite chicken dish with onions and lemon.”

“It's called yassa.” Antonio chuckled. “I also remember she said it was about time you found yourself a wife.”

“I'm not looking for a wife.”

“Why? Because one girl broke your heart?”

“No, because...” Grant let out a slow groan, wondering who he was trying to convince. Himself or Antonio. “Let's just face it. I don't exactly have a typical nine-to-five job. I spend most of my time traveling, and when I'm out in the field, I work with explosives. Most women don't like the thought of their boyfriend or husband dying while out trying to deactivate a land mine.”

“Then get a different job. With your experience, you could teach, work in demolition, become a bomb expert for one of your local police departments... I don't know, but what I do know is that settling down with a good woman is a good thing. And worth it. It's time you got married and had a couple kids. It will quickly show you what's important in life. Things like family.”

Antonio made changing career paths sound as simple as going to the store and switching to a different brand of deodorant.

“You make it sound so easy,” Grant said.

“Maybe it's easier than you think.”

But family had never been straightforward as far as he was concerned.

“Listen,” Antonio continued. “I know you're not close to your own family. That's why I'm sticking my nose in your business. Because it's something you don't have, maybe you don't really know what you're missing. I'm telling you, it's worth it.”

Grant looked down at Maddie again and felt that familiar ache run through him. If he let himself, he could almost imagine settling down. With her. But Antonio had been right about his own family. His mother had died when he was thirteen, and his and his father's relationship had been anything but smooth over the years. When they were together, they fought. When they were apart, it was easy to simply ignore each other. It didn't make for enjoyable Thanksgiving dinners or memorable Christmases around the tree.

A stepmother thrown into the picture when he was seventeen hadn't helped, either. She'd been critical toward him and jealous of his father's time. Not that he'd been the perfect stepson. An aunt had tried to help by stepping in and offering a place for him to stay when his stepmom wanted to kick him out. Instead he'd signed up for the military.

It had turned out to be the best decision he'd ever made. He might not have a family to go home to during the holidays, but friends like Darren and Antonio, along with his church family back home, had more than made up for it. Even so, he'd all but given up on the idea of having his own family one day.

“How's your nausea?” Grant asked, needing to change the subject. “I could ask Maddie if she has something that might help.”

“You're good at avoiding issues you don't want to deal with.”

He shot his friend a smile. “And you're good at butting into other people's business.”

“But I'm right, aren't I?”

* * *

Maddie's rib cage pressed against her lungs as the boat shuddered beneath them. She handed Ana some of the new batch of the rehydration drink she'd just made. The men had been right. There were others out there. Looking for her. Wanting her dead. She sucked in a breath of air. When she was eight, her mother's bedtime stories had been enough to soothe any fears of monsters under the bed. At twenty-seven her mother was a continent away, and the monsters surrounding her wanted to kill her. If she stayed where she was, they would find her. Which was why all she wanted to do was run.

She glanced around the room at the padded benches. The television blared. Passengers dozed. A dark sea surrounded them. The boat lurched again and then shuddered to a halt.

“How are you doing?” Grant asked, walking up to her.

She smoothed back the loose wisps from her ponytail and looked out the window. They were surrounded completely by the sea, and the boat had stopped. “Why aren't we moving?”

“Apparently there's an issue with the engine,” Grant said. “We've been stopping and starting for the past forty-five minutes. Antonio heard someone mention water in the engine oil.”

“Water in the engine oil?” Maddie stood and walked across the room, still trying to wake up. Rain slashed against the windows. Lightning struck in the distance. “My stepfather used to tell me if it looks like someone poured a chocolate milkshake in your engine, there's probably water in the engine oil.”

“Is it an easy fix?” Antonio asked.

“Depends. But it basically means we're broken down in the Atlantic with a storm pounding around us until they find a solution.” Maddie turned to Grant. “What about the phone you bought? Can't we... I don't know...call in the cavalry?”

“I thought of that,” Grant said, “but the signal is worse here than it was on the island. And even if we had service, I'm not sure who to call. There isn't exactly a coast guard waiting to come to our rescue.”

Maddie stared out the window, frowning as the reality of his words sank in. Even without the three men who'd showed up on the speedboat, the situation was precarious. Passengers who'd been milling along the deck when they first arrived were now huddled beneath the limited shelter, while the cargo on the main deck was caught in the downpour. And in their cooler, air-conditioned cabin, several, including the backpacker she'd noticed when they first sat down, seemed restless. But if Grant was right and it was someone from the State Department involved in her abduction, even if they could make a phone call, they couldn't go to the embassy for help.

Grant walked up beside her and nudged her with his shoulder. “A broken-down engine can be fixed.”

“I know.”

Her hand reached up automatically to finger the locket still hanging around her neck. Even if they fixed the engine, there were still men out there who wanted her dead. Her thoughts shifted to Ana, who had somehow managed to fall back asleep despite the constant buzz of conversation in the room and the rumbles of the boat beneath them. Maddie wasn't the only one at risk. They needed to get Ana to the mainland for medical help.

The backpacker stepped up next to them. “I overheard you say something about the engines being down?” he asked in a strong British accent.

“We haven't heard anything official,” Grant said, “but that's the rumor going around the boat.”

“It's like the world's gone barmy.” The stranger let out a sigh and combed his fingers through his longish blond hair. “Had a friend warn me about coming here. Told me it was the most beautiful undiscovered piece of paradise I'd ever see, but at the same time, the place had the potential to knock a person silly. After a bout with malaria, the constant rain and those armed men boarding the ship, I'm finally beginning to see what he meant. Though let me tell you, I still wouldn't have missed coming here for anything.” He held out his hand. “Name's Alistair Hunter, by the way. I'm a photographer from the UK, here to do a photo shoot of Guinea-Bissau and the surrounding islands.”

“Nice to meet you.” Grant shook the man's hand. “I'm Grant Reese, and this is Maddie Gilbert and Antonio Balde. How long have you been traveling?”

“I was on the islands for about ten days. It was fantastic, but I decided that's about as long as I want to go with zero communication with the outside world save one hotel I stayed in. They have high-speed internet, but due to the heavy rains it wasn't quite fast enough to let me download my emails. And while the news ran 24/7, it was on an ancient television hanging on the wall off the lobby.”

Maddie didn't miss the fact that Grant didn't give the man any specifics on who they were or why they were here. Which in her opinion was okay. There was no use getting someone else involved. Or putting anyone else's life on the line. Because more than likely, with the lack of internet, he had no idea who they were.

“I've got a travel cribbage board if any of you decide you need a distraction,” Alistair said. “I've had fun teaching some of the locals how to play a favorite English pub game.”

“Thanks,” Grant said, clearly not wanting to offend him. “Maybe later.”

Alistair nodded and headed back across the room. As far as Maddie was concerned though, even a riveting game of cribbage wasn't going to be able to distract her from what was going on.

“I need to check on Ana,” Maddie said, noticing the young girl was stirring.

Maddie pressed her fingers gently against Ana's forehead, not wanting to wake her up as she settled back down at Maddie's touch.

“Is her fever down?” Grant asked.

“A little bit.” Maddie pulled off her jacket and laid it on top of her backpack. Even with the air-conditioning running, the room still felt muggy. “Sleep is exactly what she needs right now.”

“How about another patient, then?” Grant said. “Antonio's struggling with seasickness. I was wondering if you had anything that might help.”

Maddie glanced at Antonio who'd crossed the room to join them. “You should have woken me up sooner.”

“I told him there was nothing you could do,” Antonio countered. “And I knew you needed your sleep.”

“I'm a doctor.” She shot him a grin. “I'm used to little sleep, but unfortunately, I don't have anything to give you specifically for motion sickness. If we had crackers, or apple juice or...” She looked at Grant.

“What?” he asked.

“Peppermints. I smelled them earlier. You have peppermints.”

He looked to Antonio and then back to her. “So?”

“Peppermint oil can help ease the symptoms.”

Grant dug around in the front pocket of his backpack and pulled out a handful of the red-and-white candy.

“Perfect. It's not Dramamine, but it might help some.” She checked the water level in their water bottles and handed one to Antonio. Hopefully, they wouldn't run out before they docked. “You also need to drink as much as possible, Antonio. In fact, all of us do. With the humidity, it won't take long to get dehydrated. I'd also suggest you get out of this stuffy cabin and get some fresh air.”

Antonio took a handful of peppermints from Grant. “The fresh air did help the last time, and it looks like the rain is letting up some. Besides that, maybe I can get some answers from the captain as to what's going on.”

Maddie watched as he headed outside. Then she sat down beside Grant on the bench, leaving a space between them. Around them passengers dozed or listened to music on their earphones, seemingly unconcerned they weren't going anywhere. “It's funny, the things I remember. Like the fact that you loved peppermint candies.”

“They were perfect to travel with when my sweet tooth acted up, because they didn't melt in places like this. My aunt used to send them to me wherever I was working. I got in the habit of carrying some in my backpack.”

A stream of memories washed over her. Grant sitting next to her at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Watching football with the guys in the family room. Skiing together one winter in Aspen, while she was trying to figure out why he intimidated her almost as much as her first stint in ER. Because Grant had been unlike most guys she knew. Daring. Valiant. Fearless.