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“I only wish I knew what we were dying for.”
“Way of the world, luv. Very few people do.”
“And on that cheery note.” I climb to my feet, order my limbs to start working again. I reach for the door just as Charlie speaks up again.
“Watch your back, Frankie.”
“Do me a favor, save one of those rounds for her.”
“Which her?”
“Honestly, I don’t fucking care anymore.”
WHEN I WALK into the kitchen, Trudy and Ann come bustling over immediately, twin looks of worry on their faces.
“I’m okay,” I assure them. “But I kinda dropped the plate of spaghetti. I’m sorry.”
They don’t ask questions, merely pat my arm. We move together into the dining hall, where Marilee has made it up from the table into a chair, her feet propped up in front of her. Her color is still awful and her eyes glassy, but they are open and focused on Vaughn, who is making an announcement.
“Here’s the deal. People need comfort breaks.”
A bunch of furious nods.
“I think we can all agree, making trips to the camp latrine is out of the question. Too much ground between here and there, and walking the paths with flashlights is only going to turn each person into a target.”
More anxious nods.
“So, to my left.” Vaughn gestures to the side door, where Elias remains on guard. If the bodyguard has any emotional response to the news of his comrade’s death, none of it shows on his sharply groomed face. “As many of you may know, there’s a narrow strip of vegetation between the mess hall and the ocean. It should be dense enough to offer a bit of privacy, while already being protected on two sides. We’ll cover the rest using our guards. Basically, welcome to your new latrine. You’re all outdoorspeople. You got this.”
General murmurs of surprise followed by approval.
“Okay.” Vaughn claps his hands again to recapture attention. “We’re going to divide into groups. Ladies first. Who needs to head out?”
Hands shoot into the air, including Trudy and Ann beside me. Personally, I’m too tired to contemplate the logistics involved. Plus, there’s another key hand in the air: Leilani’s.
Now here’s an activity MacManus can’t micromanage. I already got Leilani alone for a bit, though fat lot of good it did me. This time, I set my gaze on him. He’s the man of the hour, and I’m starting to realize how little I truly know about him.
He’s murmuring something in Leilani’s ear. Whatever it is, she remains obstinate. Vaughn starts organizing parties of three, and she steps away from MacManus to take up position.
Which I use as an opportunity to sidle closer.
His once perfectly pressed Hawaiian shirt is now wrinkled and stained with sweat. I can feel heat and nervousness radiating from him. He’s afraid, I realize, genuinely and truly terrified. And yet, he’s holding his shit together. I’m not sure if I admire that or am even more annoyed.
His gaze is fixed on Leilani. I try to read the look. Possessive? Obsessive? Mostly, he looks worried. Like any father, I suppose, looking out for his charge.
“Did you love her?” I ask softly, my shoulder nearly touching his.
“Of course I care about Leilani. I’m her guardian—”
“Not Leilani. Keahi.”
The name stops him in his tracks. A parade of emotions flickers across his face. Surprise. Irritation. Sadness. Fleeting, then gone.
“She said she met you at a farm stand. Immediately fell for your charm. She told me she loved you, right up to the moment you started beating her. Then, the dark twisted part of her loved you even more.”
He flinches noticeably, his hands curling into fists down at his sides. I wonder if he knows he’s doing it.
“She was beautiful,” he allows finally. “One of the most beautiful women I’d ever met.”
