Chapter 47
The path hadn't changed, but Ike had.
He was supposed to be lying low, but he couldn’t, not with LachlanandBritt missing.
His lungs burned with each ragged breath as he pushed himself harder down the steep mountain trail. Loose gravel crunched under his boots, sending small cascades of pebbles tumbling ahead of him. The weight of the thirty-pound rucksack strapped to his back was a welcome reminder that his body was healing, strengthening, returning to what it once was.
The morning sun filtered through dense tropical foliage, dappling the narrow trail with shifting patterns of gold. The air smelled of damp earth and a hint of salt from the distant Caribbean. The scent of life itself on the Palmchat Islands.
Forty-eight hours had passed since anyone had seen Lachlan or Britt. The team had visited each of the known Quattro ghost sites and come up empty—no sign of Lachlan or the Quattro mercenaries who had kidnapped him. Remi helping Britt launch her own investigation of Dove Island had been a disaster. Their search of the island had been another dead end. The only hope was that Britt and Lachlan were together, biding their time withQuattro until the Stingray team could find them and bring them home to their little girl.
A bark echoed from behind, followed by the rhythmic sound of paws hitting the trail.
"I'm not slowing down for you, Tucker," Ike muttered, biting back a smile despite his annoyance. The dog would catch up, like always.
The white Labrador bounded past him, then circled back, tongue lolling as he matched Ike's pace. The dog had been a persistent shadow since the night Ike crash-landed in the forest when Tucker had gone for help. Ike had stopped trying to get rid of the pesky animal. What was the point? Tucker refused to leave his side.
"I still don't like you," Ike said, slowing to a stop. Unclipping his water bottle from his belt, he took a quick swig, then poured some into his cupped palm for Tucker. The dog lapped it up eagerly. "Don't get used to this."
Ike took off again, with Tucker matching his strides. He quickened his pace, letting gravity pull him down the serpentine trail. The Stingray Security compound was less than a mile away.
As he navigated a particularly steep section, bracing against tree trunks to control his descent, he cycled through his options for sneaking into the compound to have breakfast with Paloma. The little girl was stronger than anyone realized, but this would test her. Sebastian had messaged earlier that she was anxious but holding up. Remi was watching her at the compound, and the whole team was making up excuses for her parents' absence.
She could use a distraction, and Ike knew he was the best one to provide it. But it would have to be a clandestine operation since he needed to dodge Remi. The last thing he needed was his old friend to see him alive. The news would spread faster than wildfire. Ike wasn’t ready to reveal himself to the world. Not yet. As a former PISCO, he had enough tricks to create a diversionand distract Remi. With his special ops training, it would be embarrassing if he couldn’t.
The path leveled slightly as it cut through a grove of mango trees. Tucker suddenly darted ahead, circling back with excited yips. His tail wagged frantically as he bounded ahead again.
“What’s wrong with that crazy ass dog?” Ike hissed, slowing his pace. There was no warning or aggression in the barking. Still, something wasn't right. Ike's hand instinctively went to his waistband, his fingers brushing the grip of his gun. He scanned the perimeter, eyes narrowed.
Tucker's tail wagged faster.
And then he knew.
The scent hit him first—jasmine floating on the morning breeze, distinct from the tropical flora surrounding them. His heart rate quickened, but not from exertion.
"You might as well come out," Ike called, unable to keep the smile from his voice. "The dog's already given you away."
A rustle of leaves, and then she was there. Stepping from behind a thick breadfruit tree, dressed in fitted black running gear, her dark hair pulled into a tight ponytail. A blue hibiscus flower tucked behind her ear made his breath catch.
"Ava."
She smiled, those dark eyes meeting his with an intensity that made his chest tighten. Tucker bounded over to her, and to Ike's annoyance, she scratched behind the dog's ears affectionately.
“I’ll have to be more careful next time,” she said, her voice smooth as honey. "Smart dog."
"Nuisance dog," Ike corrected, but his words had no heat.
The Stingray Security compound was visible through the trees, its modern silhouette rising from the hillside.
"You're healing well," she observed, her eyes lingering appreciatively over his bare chest.
"Better every day." He closed the distance between them. "Unlike my patience."
She raised an eyebrow but didn't step back as he moved closer. "Patience for what?"
"For you."
Without hesitation, he pulled her against him, one hand sliding to the nape of her neck as he claimed her mouth with his. Her lips were soft, yielding, then demanding as she matched his fervor. The kiss was hungry, desperate—a manifestation of weeks of wondering, waiting, needing.
