Hailey's Truth (38 page)

When she was far enough from the door, she whirled, hurrying to the deck, all but slamming into Donte. “Oh.” Her hand flew to her mouth, stifling a scream. “You scared me.”

Donte took her arms. “Hailey, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost. You’re shaking. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Nothing.” She tried to steady her breathing. “I just need to be on my way. I’m going to miss my plane.”

“We can get you another flight, my love. I want you to meet my father. He was delighted when I told him you stopped by. He’ll be just one more minute.”

Donte touched her again, and she struggled not to cringe and yank away. Each gentle stroke of his finger felt like a snake slithering across her skin. Fear clawed at her until she was certain she would start screaming and not be able to stop. “I’m not feeling well. I need to go, Donte.” She gave a gentle tug, attempting to free herself. “I really need to go,” she repeated. “Perhaps I can meet your father another time.”

His jaw tensed, his eyes challenged. “Will you have lunch with me when I travel to L.A.? I’ll be in the area next week.”

Not on your life
, she thought, but she would say whatever he wanted to hear. “Yes. Yes, I would love to.” She yearned to untangle herself, to run down the stairs, but that wouldn’t get her off the yacht. This was a power struggle. She’d more or less told him ‘no.’ It was becoming clear no one told Donte Rodriguez ‘no.’

“Let me walk you to the boat.”

“Thank you,” she said almost desperately as they started down. Hailey’s legs trembled with each weighty step. She was almost there.

“Until next week then.” He kissed her cheek when they stopped by the launch.

She gave him a small smile as he stared at her. If she didn’t find a way to calm down, he was going to figure out she knew something. She struggled to focus on their conversation, on the need to play it out. “Until next week. If your father is still visiting, I would love to have lunch with him as well.”

Donte smiled, relaxed. “I think that can be arranged.”

“Good. Good.”

He took her hand, kissed her knuckles as she stepped on the small watercraft. She struggled with her need to weep with relief as he released her and she took her seat. It was over, finally over. She was free.

“Desi will accompany you to the airport and help you with your bag. He’ll stay with you until you board your flight.”

There was nothing she wanted less. She wouldn’t have time to get help. “Oh, no. That isn’t necessary, Donte. I’ll be fine.”

“It will make me feel better to know you arrived safely. Beautiful women shouldn’t travel alone.”

Another power struggle. “Thank you.”

Desi jumped on the speedboat, his massive weight rocking it slightly. He spared her a glance as he turned over the engine and reversed from the launch. The boat powered forward, picking up speed.

Hailey looked over her shoulder, gave Donte a half-hearted wave. She glanced up as a movement caught her eye on the top deck. Jeremy leaned on the rail, staring down. Hailey dropped her hand and turned away from her brother.

She made it. Hailey sagged against her seat, weak with relief. Closing her eyes, she breathed deep, steadying herself. She needed to think. Lives depended on it. If Donte had one girl, she was sure he had all four.

Hailey pulled her phone from her bag.

Desi turned. “No phones,” he demanded.

She gripped her cell and stared at his unyielding face. “Oh, I’m not calling anyone. I’m just checking to see if my flight’s on time.”

“No phones,” Desi snapped again. He took his hand from the wheel as if he was coming to her seat.

“Okay.” She shoved her cell in her purse and held up her hands. “Okay, sorry.” If he took it, she would lose precious time. Hailey couldn’t shake the sense of urgency as she thought of the girl crying, of the sound of a huge hand cracking against her young, pretty face. They needed help, and they needed it now. She wouldn’t have time to sneak off to the bathroom and call if she wanted to make her flight. The police weren’t an option. Several recent news reports on the island had suggested corruption—and at least one reporter had ended up dead.

She couldn’t make a call now, but she might be able to pull off a text. Hailey trained her eyes forward, sneaking her hand in her purse. Her first instinct was to try Austin, but what if he ignored her message? Instead, she risked scrolling through her contact list until she found Jackson’s number.

Desi turned and Hailey pretended to rummage through her purse. Thinking fast, she pulled out a stick of gum, unwrapped it, and popped it in her mouth. Cold sweat beaded on her skin as he stared at her for what felt like a lifetime. When Desi finally faced the horizon, Hailey let go of the breath she’d been holding and tried again.

She tipped the phone away from the glare of bright sunshine, saw Jackson’s information still displayed and slowly, carefully typed out the message:
D yacht. 4 kidnapped. HELP
.

Desi whirled. “What are you doing?”

Startled, she gasped. “Nothing.”

Desi let go of the steering wheel and the boat jerked. Her purse went flying. Hailey stared in horror at the phone clutched in her hands.

Desi rushed toward her. “Give me that.”

Hailey pressed send as she got to her feet. She glanced around, instinct urging her to flee, but there was no place to go. Out of options, she stumbled forward and dropped her phone in the sea.

Desi grabbed her arm as she watched her only tie to the outside world sink beneath the water. “You stupid little bitch. What are you up to?”

“Nothing. You scared me. I tripped.” She prayed her message went through. Getting rid of her phone was the only way. If Desi had read what she typed, she was certain he would’ve killed her right then and there. At least now she had a chance.

“I don’t believe you. Sit down.” He shoved her with such force she had to grab hold of the seat or fall out of the boat. “We’re going back. Donte can deal with you.”

“I’ll miss my flight,” she argued, but it would do no good. She stared at the island as the boat zipped in a fast circle. The shore grew more distant by the second.

Her only chance was Jackson—and Austin, she hoped. And herself. Through sheer terror, Hailey reminded herself she was on her—for now. If she could convince Donte that Desi had misunderstood, she might live to see another day. In the meantime, she could do nothing but wait.

Austin waited impatiently for the eleven remaining members of Project Mexico to gather their luggage and head for the sliding doors of the airport. Luck had been on their side when Dr. Lopez rushed into the main house, telling everyone they had ten minutes to finish packing for their three o’clock flight.

Twenty-five minutes later, they finally arrived at Cozumel International. If everyone would hurry the hell up, he might be able to catch Hailey, but it was doubtful. Her plane was due to take off in ten minutes. She was probably already sitting in her seat, buckled and ready to go.

He huffed out a frustrated breath. It was better this way. They had a lot to talk about, and it wasn’t going to happen in ten minutes or less.

As soon as he set foot in L.A., they were hashing this out come hell or high water. If he knew Hailey—and he did—she would be with Sarah and Morgan. In nine hours, he would pull through Ethan and Sarah’s gate, grab hold of Hailey, and never let go.

Austin turned, tensing, as an argument broke out by the airport entrance. One panhandler accused another of stealing from his collection, following his accusation up with a fist to the face.

Weary murmurs spread among the nervous Project Mexico participants as the last bag was tossed from the roof of the van.

“It’s okay, guys. Get your stuff. Let’s go inside.” Austin nodded to Jackson at the back of the line, picked up his own suitcase, rubbed at his aching neck with his free hand. He couldn’t shake the tension settled there.

Something wasn’t right. Scanning their surroundings, Austin searched for the source of unease, but everything appeared status quo: tourists rushed in and out of the airport, cabs picked up and dropped off their passengers. He looked over his shoulder. The sooner they were in the air, the better.

The skirmish settled down as the group passed into the building. Austin glanced at the sketchy characters with their cardboard signs and plastic cups and could only be thankful Hailey’s plane was leaving first. His responsibility was to the university, but there was no way in hell he would’ve left Mexico before he was sure Hailey had gotten out.

With everyone safely inside and heading to check their luggage, Austin pulled his phone from his pocket, making certain it was holding its charge. He’d left Hailey a message almost two hours ago; surely she’d gotten it. Despite their angry words, he thought she would’ve called.

Fear began to claw his belly. Was he too late? Had he broken her trust beyond repair? There was so much between them—too much to walk away from.

Austin dialed the first three digits of Hailey’s number, then stopped. Harassment wouldn’t win her back. Consumed by helpless frustration, Austin shoved his phone in his pocket. The nine-hour waiting game would drive him crazy. He picked up his suitcase and started toward the check-in line.

“Casey, you need to see this.”

Austin stopped, alerted by the sharp tone of Jackson’s voice. “What is it?”

Jackson held out his phone.

Austin ripped the cell from his hand as he read Hailey’s message.
D yact. 4 kidnapped. HELP.
Goosebumps puckered his skin as ice cold fear rushed through his heart. “She sent this five minutes ago.”

“I know. I felt it vibrate on our way inside. I just got around to checking it. I tried to text her back, but I didn’t get an answer.”

Austin glanced at the flight screen, confused. The monitor flashed “flight closed.” He hurried to the window, and watched the Air America plane back up from the jetway. “What the hell is going on?”

“Hell if I know.”

Austin’s fingers flew over the keys as he tried to text Hailey again.
EXPLAIN??? CALL OR TEXT NOW!!
Seconds ticked by as Austin stared in agony. His pulse throbbed in his throat as one minute turned to two. It felt as if he waited a lifetime. “Something’s wrong, man. Something’s wrong.”

“Hailey’s obviously trying to tell us Donte has the girls on the yacht, but how the hell does she know?”

Austin said what he knew in his heart. “She’s not on the plane. Donte has her.” He passed a look over the Project Mexico participants standing around, waiting. “You have to take them back. I’m staying here. I’ll go talk to the woman at the kiosk. Maybe she’ll tell us if Hailey boarded her flight.” Austin shoved Jackson’s phone in his front pocket and hurried to the line, cutting past angry tourists as he made his way to the Air America counter.

“Hey, where the hell do you think you’re going, pal?”

Austin spared the balding jerk in the tacky orange Bermuda top a glance as he passed him by.

“Yo, asshole, I’m talking to you. Get in line.”

Austin whirled, walked back to the dick with the big mouth, and grabbed him by the collar. The man’s wife gasped as her eyes popped wide. “You listen to
me
, asshole,” Austin said between clenched teeth, letting his fear and anger spew. “My girlfriend is
missing
. So what you’re gonna do is shut your mouth and let me find out what the fuck is going on.” He yanked the guy higher. “Are we good now?”

The man sputtered as he tried to peal Austin’s fingers from his clothes. “I’m having you arrested.”

“Yeah? Go ahead and try.” Austin removed his hands, trying to find his calm through waves of helpless terror. He was wasting time. When he turned, everyone stepped back, letting him pass.

The woman at the front desk eyed him wearily. “Good afternoon. What can I do for you, sir?”

“My friend—client,” he corrected quickly, “was supposed to board flight 5525 to Los Angeles. I’m hoping you can confirm that for me.” Austin opened his wallet, flashed his badge. He knew it didn’t mean jack shit, but that didn’t mean this woman did.

“I need to get my supervisor. Hold on please.”

“Can’t you just call up the flight list and tell me whether or not Hailey Roberts boarded the plane?”

Her mouth tightened with impatience. “I’m sorry, sir, not without my supervisor’s permission. I’ll just be a minute.”

Austin drummed his fingers on the countertop as he watched the second hand spin around the clock face. He was losing precious minutes. Hailey was more than likely on a boat with the leader of one of the world’s most brutal cartels. Somehow, she’d stumbled on the four missing teens.

Donte wouldn’t treat her the way he had the night he wined and dined her. Had they killed her already, or were they enjoying her the way he knew they were enjoying the girls? It was too much to think about. Austin’s stomach pitched as he continued his torturous wait.

He heaved out a sigh as a man in a suit walked to the counter. “Sir, can I help you?”

“Yes.” Austin flashed his badge again. “My client was supposed to board flight 5525 to Los Angeles. I’m hoping you can confirm she made it to her plane.”

“May I see your badge again, sir?”

Austin clenched his jaw as he dug his wallet back out. He wasn’t going to get very far with this guy. He handed over his identification.

“You’re a bodyguard?”

“That’s right. Hailey Roberts, one of your passengers, is my client. It’s imperative I know her whereabouts. I believe she’s in danger.”

The man shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he glanced at the ID, “Mr. Casey, but we’re legally obligated to keep all of our passenger’s information private.”

Austin struggled to hold on to his patience as the supervisor refused him with a sunny smile. “I understand, but as I said, I believe she’s in extreme danger.”

“As much as I would like to help, I’m afraid I can’t.”

“Well, thanks for nothing.” He yanked his wallet out of the manager’s hand and walked off. It was time to call Ethan. He dialed and waited as it rang twice.

“On your way home?”

“Not yet. I need you to do something.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I think Donte has Hailey. I want you to check if she got on her plane.”