“That wasn’t the deal, Mena. Russell claims I didn’t corrupt all the files on the laptop. He had hackers working for months to find proof of what I did. If that falls into the Navy’s hands, I’m looking at life in prison—”
“And you’re looking at the death penalty if Adam double crosses you and turns you in after you kill Priscilla. What are you going to do then? You said he’s going to give you the proof to clear your name of these charges first. Once that happens, renegotiate the deal with him. You can stop Prissy without committing murder. You have to protect yourself. Adam can’t be trusted,” Mena insisted.
Julian leaned back, his gaze searching hers. She could almost see his mind processing her suggestion, contemplating and assessing whether it was a possibility.
“Alright, I’ll do that.”
“Promise?” Mena asked.
“I promise,” Julian said, lowering himself back down to her. She slipped her hands around him as he heaved breaths from the exertion.
Relieved, Mena asked, “What’s our next move?”
“Uma had this key on a chain around her neck. It freaked her out when I got it. She was willing to trade anything to get it back.”
“So, you traded the key for Adam’s location. That key must unlock something important. Something like—”
“Evidence Russell has on Dumay, maybe?”
“And not just that. The evidence that proves Prissy framed you and the laptop could be in there too. We need that key,” Mena said.
“I took a picture on the burner phone, but that’s lost in the bottom of the cenote I fell into.”
“No, actually it’s not. Sunny and her team recovered it and brought it to me. I’m not sure if it still works, but it’s worth a try,” Mena said. Easing out of the bed, she ventured into the sunken living room and grabbed the burner phone. Returning to the bedroom, she plugged it in and was relieved to see the phone starting to charge.
“After the phone charges, I’ll be able to send the photos to the computer on my yacht to print a 3-D copy of the key.”
Mena said, “While you search for what the key could open, I can head back to your boat and pick up the copy of the key.”
“Can’t let you do that. The cops are probably watching it like a hawk and will think it’s suspicious that you’re even there. It’s too dangerous.” Julian said.
“I can pretend that I’m grieving and just wanted to be closer to you by spending time on the boat. It’s reasonable behavior for a woman whose boyfriend is missing and presumed dead. Even the cops won’t question that. Besides, you’re in no condition to stop me.”
“You don’t think I’m strong enough?” Julian raised an eyebrow.
“You spent the last thirty hours passed out. Your fever just broke a few hours ago. You’ve spent the last two weeks surviving on trash and river water. You’re in no condition to put up much of a fight when I leave,” Mena said. There was no way she would let him refuse her help. He needed her whether he wanted to admit it or not.
“You really don’t think I’m back up to full strength?” Julian asked, a sly sexiness playing across his face.
“Julian,” Mena whispered, a sensual swirling heading straight toward her most sensitive spot.
“How about I prove you wrong?”
Chapter Fifty
“You’re such a tease,” Mena said, standing in the doorway of the massive master bathroom. Julian held her gaze. Her face, devoid of makeup, surrounded by thick, dark disheveled hair, was more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. His heart was about to burst with love.
Julian leaned against the travertine tile of the walk-in shower that could hold at least four people, maybe more. Vichy shower heads extended from the ceiling and more from the side walls, pelting his body with soothing water. He’d wanted nothing more than to make love to Mena, but the remnants of his illness—the stale taste of vomit in his mouth, the wretched smell of his body from being in the jungle for weeks—had halted any thoughts of romance. Temporarily.
His eyes flickered slightly as sleep tried to pull him back in. But his dick had other ideas, coming to life faster than he could control at the sight of her.
Julian extended an arm toward Mena. “Come join me.”
He could feel her blushing, even if her deep brown skin hid the evidence of it.
“We really don’t have time for that. The faster I can get the replica of the key from the boat and you identify what the key could open, the faster we can be back with each other permanently,” Mena said as she laid clothes on the bathroom counter. “I grabbed some of Beaujean’s clothes for you to wear. Might be a little tight.”
She giggled. The sound tickled his ears, and he smiled. The distance between them was too far for his liking. But he knew she made good points.
