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Everyone’s attention swings to me.
“Keahi Pierson is here—I saw her. Most likely, Brent is working with her. So let’s send out a member of our party to negotiate safe passage for those of us they don’t want to kill.”
MacManus is frowning. But now, he squares his shoulders, heroically clears his throat. “If it’s me she wants—”
“No. Not you. Her.” I zero in on Lea. “One way or another, this is all about you. So. Go forth and make nice with your butcherous big sister. You deal with your family and get the rest of us the hell off this island. Sound like a plan?”
I glance around the dining hall. Everyone else is already nodding.
My turn for a smug smile.
“Good luck,” I inform her. Then, under my breath, “Game on.”
She doesn’t deny it.
CHAPTER 31
WE WILL COOK DINNER,” ANN announces.
“Everything is better with food,” Trudy agrees. “I’m thinking spaghetti with garlic bread.”
“Petits fours.” Chef Kiki rises magnificently to her feet. “I will make lemon petits fours.”
“Won’t that take hours?” Trudy asks.
“Yes! Or all night, if necessary.”
“I can make frosting.” Tannis raises her hand. She turns toward Chef Kiki. “Petits fours were my mother’s favorite.”
“I’ll prep the salad,” I offer up. Certainly, anything would be better than staying in an overly exposed screened-in dining room, waiting for two homicidal maniacs to show up while their earlier victim bleeds out on the table. MacManus has already ixnayed any chance of his precious ward seeking contact with her monstrous big sis, leaving us right back where we started—no place to go, no plan for survival. I already know this is the quickest way to die.
“You will stay right here,” Vaughn orders sharply.
“What? Just because I’ve knowingly consorted with a serial killer, suddenly I’m under house arrest?”
“Exactly. Have a seat.”
I remain standing belligerently. Vaughn remains unmoved. For all my bravado, his words hurt my feelings. In a matter of minutes, Lea has sowed enough doubt about my motives to undermine everyone’s trust in me. We need to be a united front. Instead…
Vaughn at least should know better, I think resentfully.
“I will help with dinner.” Emi raises her hand.
“Hired!” Ann declares, motioning all her helpers back to the kitchen.
Traitor, I mouth at her.
Sorry, she mouths back before following them into the galley. That single word gives me hope.
“It’s been over an hour,” Vaughn states abruptly to MacManus—meaning over an hour since MacManus’s other bodyguard took off in pursuit of Brent. If Jason had caught his target, he certainly would’ve reported in by now. Same if he lost sight of him. Which leaves…
No one speaks the conclusion out loud, but everyone is thinking it. I keep my gaze on Lea, who is glued to MacManus’s side like the poster child for helplessness. Faker.
“It’ll be dark soon,” Vaughn continues. “Turn on lights, this becomes a fishbowl. We can’t look out, but they can definitely look in.”
“Dock lights,” I suggest. “That would illuminate a whole section of the enemies’ approach. Speaking of which, do manta rays eat evildoers, because that would come in handy right about now.”
Vaughn gives me that look like he’s barely restraining himself from doing bodily harm.
