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“Or condemn you,” she said.
He smiled and settled his gaze on her. “Either way, I need the disk. I’m asking you to trust me and help me find it.”
Trust him? How could she, given what she knew? “How do I know that once you have the disk you won’t kill me?” She couldn’t suppress a grimace.
He raised a brow. “You don’t. But without me, sweetheart, you’re dead. Someone on this island obviously knows who you are and has been paid to come here and kill you.” He smiled. “You left a trail anyone could follow. You think they’re going to let you off this island alive without my help?”
He had a point. He’d found her and obviously someone else had. Unless, of course, he was the one who’d shot at her. But would he take such a chance when he needed her alive to help him find the disk?
The alternative was that he was right. Someone on the island wanted her dead. Other than Landry Jones.
“We need each other,” he said.
“At least until you find the disk.”
He shook his head in obvious frustration. “You want to get off this island alive? Help me and I’ll help you. Maybe by the time we find the disk, you’ll realize you can trust me.”
Maybe. But she doubted it. Even if Landry Jones wasn’t a murderer, he was dangerous. Especially to a small-town girl from South Dakota.
She looked toward the trail and again thought about trying to make a break for it. If she could reach Carlos, get him to take her to the mainland…
As she started past Landry, he grabbed her wrist so quickly she hadn’t eve
n seen the movement. His fingers clamped down. “Don’t underestimate me, though. That would be a mistake.”
She winced in pain and he loosened his grip, turning her hand over and opening his fingers. He frowned down at the bruises on her wrist.
“Who did this?” he asked, sounding angry.
This from a man who had just held her under the water. “I almost fell in the pool last night at the villa. One of the residents grabbed me.” She rubbed at her wrist as she pulled it free.
“One of the residents?” he repeated. “You sure he was trying to save you?”
She wasn’t sure of anything, and it must have showed. “How did you know it was a he?”
Landry only smiled. “I think you’d better tell me about the other people on the island before we go back.”
“We’re going back to the villa?” she asked in surprise. She’d figured they would be going back to the mainland. And she would get away from him.
“Don’t you think it would be wise to find out who on this island might have reason to want you dead?” he asked.
“You mean other than you.” Her sarcasm wasn’t wasted on him.
“I’m amazed you’ve stayed alive this long,” he said, stepping past her to pick up his backpack.
Now that she knew what was at stake, Willa was surprised herself. But as she looked into Landry’s handsome face she was reminded again that there were worse things than death. Taking him back to the villa with her could be one of them.
“And how exactly do you intend to explain your appearance on the island?” she asked. “All the apartments are full.”
“You let me worry about that,” he said. “Tell me about everyone on the island.”
Willa told him about Odell, Henri and Blossom. Landry listened, and when she finished she had the strangest feeling that he’d already known all of it.
She recalled the animal-like movement she’d seen from the balcony last night. It hadn’t been Odell. It had been Landry. She was sure of it. “How long have you been on the island?” she demanded.
Landry grinned. “Long enough to know what you sleep in.”
She felt her face heat as she remembered her little foray behind the villa with the shovel. “You were spying on me last night?”
