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Chapter Thirty-four
Taking over lead, she whirled around, forcing him toward their table. Since his body was still involved with their earlier intimacy, he tried to keep her on the dance floor. “No. Stay. I like this song.”
Playing the little woman didn’t suit her, but this man didn’t take kindly to being led around like a leashed poodle, and so she had to use her wits to get her way.
Whispering, she leaned in close, letting the huskiness of her voice work for her. “Jake, let’s go back to my room for a drink.”
That did it. “Sure. Just give me a minute to get myself in order. Then I’ll pay the tab, and we’ll leave, okay?”
“Right.” Rylee caught the waiter’s eye and nodded at the very same time as Jake hastily waved, suddenly in a hurry. They went to their table and began gathering their belongings, their phones, her purse. Jake added to the tip, pulling out a twenty to lay beside the small amount of cash left over from an earlier tab payment.
Rylee glanced over her shoulder and saw Hakim and his group settling in. Unlike Jake, who preferred a more casual look, their clothing now resembled the typical American style of suits and ties that some of the more fashion-conscious travelers wore. Rather than a tasteful appearance, sadly these outfits tended to make the men look like the gangsters one observes in cheesy, third-rate movies.
Not wanting Jake to see her take control, she needed to get him away from those three seated at the nearest table to the entrance along with the mocking guard, arms crossed, keeping watch behind the others. Surprisingly, all the other seats were filled, and the room was now crowded.
She’d been so lost in their lust-building world of heavy breathing and sex-filled images, she hadn’t even noticed. And that nonsense had to stop now. She had a job to do. And it sure-as-shit wasn’t carrying on with the person she was assigned to protect.
While Jake dealt with the waiter, she did surveillance on the place, checking each area for other exits and came to a swift conclusion. Reaching into her purse, she found the item she required and turning it on, she put it in her ear. Bending down as if picking something off the floor, she summoned Carl and smiled gratefully when he answered immediately.
A few words told him where they were, that they were leaving and would be possibly tailed or even attacked. She’d seen the hatred on Hakim’s face, the same glaring sneer each time he’d spotted Jake. It was just a matter of time before they made their play to get him alone and seek vengeance for his brother’s death.
Before Jake could steer her in the direction of the main door, passing directly in front of Hakim’s table, Rylee took his hand, and weaving in and out of the couples now filling the dance floor, she headed toward the band and the darkness looming in the background.
As was her habit, she’d studied the place when they’d first arrived.
Expecting there to be a kitchen area where they prepared the small platters of food they’d served all night from this direction, she prayed there’d be another exit for the staff.
Jake pulled back on her hand, but Rylee forced them further. Once behind the stage, they entered a blackened area, maybe ten feet by fourteen feet, kind of like a hallway where they had stored extra chairs. This led to a small kitchen. When they pushed the swing door to step into the bustling room, one of the cooks on staff instantly approached and forced them to back out. “Sorry folks, you can’t be here.”
Rylee took control of the conversation. “Look, we just want to leave. Ahh… because of a man out there who gave me a hard time earlier. I’m scared he might start a fight with my boyfriend. We don’t want any trouble. Just point us to the exit, and we’re outta here.”
Rylee noticed Jake’s shock at her statement. His mouth opened to rebut her words. Knowing they could be followed any second, she cut him off. “Honey, I just want to go to my room and forget the world, okay?”
Before he could answer, the cook broke in. “There’s a back door into the staff area, but due to health and safety precautions, customers aren’t allowed to go there. I’m sorry.”
Jake cut in before she could argue. “No problem, we’ll just leave the normal way.” He put his arm around her shoulder and headed them back in the direction they came, but as soon as they stepped back into the darkness of the area behind the band, two men broke cover and started toward them. Jake, still thanking the staff, wasn’t looking in that direction, but Rylee saw them clearly. He’d stopped to add, “If anyone tries to annoy her, I’ll set them straight.”
Rylee recognized the two from Hakim’s table, and she didn’t hesitate. Pretending to trip, she went down with a screech that could be heard within twenty feet of where they were. Paying attention to the two hoverers who stopped in their approach, indecision taking over, she added a few extra screams to dissuade them from coming any closer.
People flooded out from the kitchen and rushed to her aid. Jake swiveled and was on his knee next to her, his shocked face wrapped in consternation. “Baby, what happened?”
Quickly surrounded by well-meaning helpers, she let everyone guide her to a chair some kind soul had thought to bring forward.
“I’m sorry, Jake. I tripped on a cord. It’s so dark back here.”
The waiter closest offered advice, “I’ll call for the medics to bring a wheelchair. They can take her to the clinic we have on board the ship.”
Rylee quickly agreed. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
While everyone scurried around to make it happen, one of Hakim’s soldiers started toward Jake who was heading her way after talking to the steward. He didn’t see the approach of the guy behind him or the weapon the other carried. But she did.
Lunging forward, she knocked Jake sideways and caught the attacker with a driving punch to his privates that brought him to his knees. A hideous grunt of pain, masked by the loud music from the band, his only reaction. His gun dropped from hands now busy clutching, and she quickly scooped it up. Aiming threateningly toward the second man, she nodded her head for him to back off. Before he could decide to ignore her warning, she saw Carl appear behind him and the heated situation suddenly became cool.
“Jesus, Rylee, what the hell?” Jake rolled upright, shook off the shock and turned toward her. All he saw was her sitting innocently, her purse clutched in her lap, and an unrecognizable Carlos behind another man as they left. The injured dude, accepting that they’d failed in their assignment, had rolled into the darkness before he’d lurched to his feet and staggered away.
“Why did you push me?”
“The waiter didn’t see you and he… ahhh, he had a full tray. You might have been hurt.”
