Hailey's Truth (27 page)

Austin glanced around the room, spotting her cell phone on the bedside table. He had to sit from the fresh wave of terror weakening his knees. She wasn’t here, and she didn’t take her phone. Hailey
always
took her phone.

Austin pressed his fingers to his brow, commanding himself to think. If he wanted to find her, he needed to pull it together. His heartbeat pounded in his chest, echoing like a drumbeat in his temples.
One step at a time, Casey. Take it one step at a time.

He stood again, attempting to gain a tenuous grip on his emotions. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, unclenched his fists. Austin counted to ten, opened his eyes, then glanced around the room, now in professional mode. Everything appeared as it had before he left. Hailey’s laptop lay open on the bed, a pen and pad of paper next to it. If the Zulas took her, she hadn’t struggled.

Austin picked up Hailey’s cell and searched through her information.

She’d responded to a text from Sarah less than three hours before. “Not so long ago,” he muttered, trying to reassure himself. They had three hours on him. As a SEAL he’d rescued hostages that had been missing for days, weeks even.

He scrubbed his fingers against his forehead as fear cracked his shield of cool. Three hours was a lifetime. Austin shook his head. This type of thinking wasn’t helping.

Forcing himself back to work, he scrolled through the conversation Hailey and Sarah had, looking for something that might tell him where she could be. Austin stopped dead as he read her thoughts.
He’s everything I never thought I could have.

Austin sat down again, surrounded by pieces of Hailey. Her peach blossom scent filled the room. Her smiling face nestled cheek to cheek with Kylee’s filled the screen on her computer.

Somehow Hailey had become everything he never knew he wanted.

In defense, Austin looked away from her laptop and scrolled through her phone once more, making certain he hadn’t missed anything. There was nothing.

He searched her computer’s history next. An article about the teen girls’ disappearance was the only activity.

Austin got to his feet and dialed the front desk.

“Front desk.”

“Yes, this is Austin Casey down in the cabana suites. I’m having trouble locating my…girlfriend, Hailey Roberts. Has she signed up for any events tonight, or have you seen her around?”

“Let me check for you, Mr. Casey.”

“Thank you.” He paced the floor. The wait felt like an eternity.

“Mr. Casey, I’m not seeing that Ms. Roberts signed up for any of our activities, and I haven’t personally seen her pass through the main lobby here this evening.”

He closed his eyes. “Okay, thank you.”

“Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“No, thanks.” He hung up, barely suppressing the need to slam the receiver back in its cradle. Where the hell
was
she?

Austin dialed Ethan’s number next.

“Hel—“

“I can’t find Hailey.”

“What?”

“You heard me; I can’t find Hailey.” He spewed his helplessness in a wave of heat. “She said she would stay here and wait for me, but she isn’t
here
. Her phone is, so’s her laptop, but there’s no Hailey.”

“Did you check in with the hotel?”

“Of course I did.” He paced about, his fear winning again as he heard the concern in Ethan’s voice. “I’m just telling you now so if I don’t find her in the next hour, you’ll be ready to get your ass down here.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “My God, Cooke, do you know what they could be doing to her? What am I going to do if—“

“Pull yourself the fuck together and do what you’re trained to do,” Ethan snapped. “Go look for Hailey. This isn’t helping her.”

“I’m leaving now.” He hurried to the door, flung it open.

Hailey gasped, her hand flying to her chest as she stepped back. “Oh, Austin, you scared me half to death.”

Austin stared as relief warred with sharp, ripe anger. “Everything’s fine, Cooke.” He pressed “end,” tossed the phone on the bed, dragged Hailey against him. “God, Hailey, my God. Where have you been?” He closed his eyes and breathed her in as he nestled her head to his shoulder, brushing back the soft locks of hair escaping her up-do.

Her arms came around his waist, washing away the worst of his mad.

He opened his eyes, pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Where have you been?” He eased her back, needing to see again that she was truly safe. “I’ve been half sick…” He saw Jeremy then, dressed in slacks and a button down, standing in the shadows of the porch. Barely masked surprise filled Jeremy’s eyes as he looked away. Immediately, Austin knew. Here was the connection to his “warning” from the Zulas. Jeremy had something to do with it. It was written all over his face.

Fury rushed back so fast Austin all but choked on it. He gripped his hand against the doorframe, afraid that if he let go, he would start pummeling Hailey’s brother and wouldn’t be able to stop. He struggled not to lash out as he glanced back at Hailey’s puzzled expression. “Where have you been? I thought something happened to you.”

Her frown deepened. “Didn’t you get my note? I taped it right here to the door.” She pointed to the spot behind him.

“No, I didn’t get it.”

She rested her hand over his tensed one, squeezing. “I’m sorry, Austin. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

Worry? Worry didn’t even come close. If only he knew what to do with the barrage of emotions raging through him. He wanted to hold her close as stirrings of what might be love smothered him. He wanted to push her away in sheer frustration from her inability to see her brother for what he was.

“I was with Jeremy.” She smiled over her shoulder. “We had dinner together—finally.” She turned back. “I had the most amazing time.” Her beautiful smile deepened.

Austin nodded. It was the best he could do.

“Give me just a second, ‘kay?” She skimmed her finger over Austin’s knuckles, then walked to Jeremy, who was still standing silent in the shadows like the coward he was. Hailey wrapped him in a hug. “Thank you. I had so much fun. This was such a special night.” She kissed his cheek. “I’m so proud of you.”

He whispered something close to her ear and she chuckled.

She eased away from her brother, pressing her hand to his cheek. “Thanks for the adventure. I’ll never forget it.”

“Me either.” Jeremy’s eyes flicked up to Austin’s before he looked back to his sister. “I’m going to head out. Mateo wants to meet up at the casino.”

“Okay. Have fun. I love you.”

Austin clenched his jaw until it ached. He turned back into the room, unable to take anymore. When was Hailey going to fucking
wake
up
? Maybe she never would. Maybe she couldn’t. Where would that leave them? He would never be able to turn a blind eye to who Jeremy was, not even for Hailey. He rubbed his hand over the nape of his neck, wincing from the ache in his battered shoulder.

The door closed. Hailey walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek to his back. He was instantly surrounded by her peachy scent.

“Austin, again, I’m so sorry about the note. The wind must’ve caught it.”

Or someone took it down,
was his guess. He didn’t touch her, couldn’t turn around and look at her yet. He couldn’t think straight when he stared into those big honey eyes. “You didn’t bring your phone.”

“I know. I forgot.”

Austin stared at the wall, trying to control the anger he couldn’t shake. “All of this could’ve been avoided with a simple call, Hailey. They didn’t have a phone at the restaurant?”

“Actually, I didn’t eat at the resort.” Her voice burst with excitement. “Jeremy’s boss wanted to meet me. I had dinner on that big, beautiful yacht.”

He whirled, unable to believe what he was hearing. “You had dinner with Jeremy’s boss? On the yacht?”

“Yes.” She beamed. “It was wonderful and exciting and pretty much just absolutely amazing. The food was divine and…” she trailed off, her smile vanishing. “Austin, why are you looking at me like that? Are you mad at me?”

Mad? Was he
mad
? He thought of her out on the boat, surrounded by the Mexican Mafia, dining with the leader of the most notorious drug gang on the North American continent—defenseless—while he fended off thugs hunting him by the same man’s order. He stepped forward, grabbing her arms, ready to explode. “You were out on that yacht with Donte Rodriguez and you want to know if I’m mad? I’m way passed mad, Hailey. I’m in a whole other stratosphere. What were you
thinking
?” He turned away and marched to the bathroom.

“What do you mean, ‘what was I thinking?’ I had dinner with my brother and his boss,” she tossed back. “What’s wrong with that?”

He whirled. “Everything!”

“Why? Why is everything wrong? Donte is superbly nice. He’s a great man. Jeremy finally has a good influence in his life. How is that wrong?”

“You don’t know
that
man, Hailey. You know absolutely nothing about him.” He rushed to her again, holding her face in his hands. “Why can’t you
see
? Why
won’t
you see?” He pivoted away. “My God, Hailey. I was sick,
sick
with worry. Now you’re standing here safe and I’m sick all over again.”

“I don’t understand you.” Her voice broke as she pressed her palm against her forehead. “What do you want from me, Austin? I don’t see what you’re talking about. I met Jeremy’s boss and saw a man of great wealth. I saw a charming individual who involves himself in several charitable causes. I saw a person who has the potential to change my brother’s life for the better. If you want me to see something else, then by God, Austin, spell it out.” Tears rushed down her cheeks. She didn’t give him a chance to fire back. “You hint at things, but you never say anything outright.” She pointed accusatorily. “I know you don’t like Jeremy; I get that. You’ve made yourself very clear on that point. Quite frankly, he doesn’t like you either, but why does it have to matter?”

She turned toward the huge picture window, heaving out a shaky breath. “The entire time I was on the boat, I thought of you.” Her voice grew quiet. “I wanted you. I couldn’t wait to come back and share everything that happened. This was the first time I actually saw a glimmer of hope for Jeremy, and the only person I wanted to share that with was you.” She moved to the edge of the bed, not meeting his gaze, and sat, shoulders slumped, elbows resting on her thighs, hands covering her face.

Why did she have to go and say that? Austin’s anger vanished as he stared at her, so sweet and pretty on the bed, so miserably unhappy. Layers of frustration still remained, some for her, but most for the sucky situation in general. He wanted to tell her about Jeremy, Donte, and the Zulas, but he didn’t dare. They were most definitely on Zulas turf. If Hailey said the wrong thing, gave the impression she knew anything about their operation, she would be dead before she took her next breath.

Austin sat next to her, resentful that he would have to swallow this round—again—instead of allowing the people who deserved it to take the fall. He skimmed his finger along her soft, naked shoulder, down her shoulder blade.

Hailey jerked away from his touch. Her back went from slouched to ramrod straight in a blink.

Austin sighed out a weary breath. “I don’t know why we keep ending up here, but I hate it.”

She stared ahead as tears dried on her cheeks.

If this was how it had to be, he would give her the only truth he could. “You—you scared me.”

Hailey slid him a glance, then stared straight ahead again.

“I didn’t know where you were. I didn’t even know where to start looking. I thought you’d been taken. I’ve never been so afraid.”

Hailey looked down into her lap and fidgeted with her fingers.

He moved closer, until arm touched arm, thigh brushed thigh, expecting Hailey to tense, to pull away, but she didn’t. “Tonight helped me realize something I hadn’t fully grasped.” Taking another chance, he slid his knuckles over the satiny skin of her cheek. Hailey closed her eyes, leaned against his hand as a tear trailed down her cheek. Austin caught it with his thumb. “Please don’t cry,” he said softly, wrapping his arm around her.

A slice of pain radiated from his wound, but he ignored it. “Please don’t cry,” he repeated as he pulled her against his chest, cradling her close. “Nothing destroys me the way you do, Hailey.” He kissed the top of her head. “Nobody makes me feel the way you do. When I couldn’t find you… I never felt so helpless in my life.” He eased away until she looked at him. “When we first—“

“Your jaw,” Hailey interrupted, frowning as she touched her fingers to his bruise.

“It’s fine.” He took her hand, held it in his. “Let me get this out. When we first got to the island, no—“ he shook his head, correcting himself “—long before that, I knew I wanted you, but I didn’t see the point. We’re so different. Then we had this week to ourselves, this opportunity to be alone, and I wanted to be with you in a way I didn’t think I had a right to be.”

“What—“

“Let me say what I need to.” He took her face in his hands. “I need to tell you this.”

“Okay.”

“I figured we would have some fun, enjoy each other’s company, and when the week was up, well, the week would be up.”

Hurt flashed in Hailey’s eyes as she tried to draw away.

“No, wait.” He held her still. “Why can’t I get this right? I’m trying to tell you that somewhere along the line that changed. I don’t want what we have to be over on Saturday at checkout. I want to see where this can go, see what we can make of it because, Hailey, when I thought I might never find you, when I thought I might never get you back, I realized I love you. I can’t say when it happened. Maybe when we were riding horses or when you told me your story or maybe when I held you close and watched you sleep that first night.” He shook his head. “In the end, it doesn’t matter, but I wanted you to know; I needed you to know because I read your text to Sarah. You told her I was everything you never thought you could have, and I’m telling you, you’re everything I never knew I wanted, but I’m so glad you’re here.”

Her lip wobbled; her eyes filled. Before he took his next breath, he had his arms full of Hailey. “Austin.” She hugged him hard. “I love you too. I think I loved you the first time I laid eyes on you at Ethan’s company barbeque all those years ago. I still remember. I was holding Kylee. She was so little then. I turned and there you were—all big and handsome—and I had to sit down.” She laughed, drew back, and planted a kiss on his lips. Hailey’s smile faded as she stared into his eyes, playing her fingers through his hair. “I love you, Austin. I’m so glad I can finally say it out loud.”