Page 4 of Impossible Treasure

“Coming!” Mercedes spun and hurried to Shawn, cuddling against him so the man had no choice but to release his grip on his pistol and wrap his arm around her thin waist. “I’ll email you all the details and be in touch. Start compiling a list of names for the show. Mwah!” She blew him a kiss.

Then she turned and tugged at Shawn with her hand.

Shawn escorted her out but darted one last warning look at Cash.

Cash blew a kiss to him, imitating Mercedes, and Shawn growled in response.

“We have to go.” Mercedes hurried faster and Shawn kept pace with her.

Cash should have reprimanded the man stronger than a mocking kiss. Shawn was a dismal failure as a bodyguard, and Cash didn’t like the fact that jerk was Grayson’s sister’s top man. Shawn should’ve given that look and disarmed Cash before letting Mercedes into the office.

He let it go. Shawn was Mercedes’ choice and probably her dancing monkey to a level Cash would never understand. She’d probably insisted on walking in alone and shocking Cash with no guards to distract from her proposal—up the connection to Grayson in his mind by showing she trusted Cash right up front and making him more protective of her.

Shutting his office door, Cash sank to his knees. The prayer was simple as his often were. “Lord give me strength and help me know which men should be on this show. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

He waited on his knees. The inspiration should come. He only hoped he hadn’t agreed to a nightmare for himself and other men who didn’t want fanfare or attention.

Money. They were doing it all for money.

Cash was doing it for Grayson as well, and they could help so many others with the money Mercedes was begging to give away. It would benefit the women’s charities as well.

He trusted Mercedes because of their connection with death and with Grayson. Was he being shortsighted and too trusting? Was Mercedes’ money and ‘swan song’ reality show a heaven-sent blessing or a nightmare in the making?

Only time would tell.

Chapter

One

Brylee Auburn placedher trembling hand into the hand the pilot offered and climbed out of the helicopter, surrounded by the verdant beauty of a tropical island’s towering mountains. She’d flown commercially to St. Lucia, where this helicopter had been waiting to transport her to an ‘unknown and remote location.’

That was all she’d been able to pry out of the pilot. She released his hand, took a few steps away, and then turned back to yell thank you, though she doubted he heard her over the helicopter rotors.

The wind whipped the end of her ponytail into her face. The pilot gave her a friendly wave and a smile before disappearing back into the helicopter. She automatically waved in return. Then she wrapped her hand around her hair to secure it and turned to face this insane challenge.

Unprepared for anything that was about to happen, she felt exposed without her cell phone, purse, and laptop. She’d been allowed to bring her favorite cinna-mint lip balm. Fingering the tube in her pocket to make sure it hadn’t disappeared, she felt marginally reassured.

Nope. She really didn’t feel reassured at all. Lip balm. Against unknown challenges, dangers, and obstacles with a mysterious retired special ops hero as her partner. The tough guy would realize instantly how pathetically unqualified she was to survive in the wild or tackle any physical trials. Could she keep up the farce long enough to prevent him from requesting an upgrade in his partner? How far into the show did they have to be to make it more cost-efficient to keep her rather than trade her out?

Brylee had foolishly promised herself she’d do anything to protect children. This was extreme, even for her level of dedication, but a million dollars … it would change her charity’s entire landscape, and her opportunities to rescue more families would abound. Maybe she’d even hire some military heroes of her own. She quite fancied tough military heroes. In theory. She hadn’t met many in real life.

Her palms were clammy and her shoulders tight as she walked away from the helicopter, past another helicopter with a pilot who nodded to her, and toward a clearing in the thick forest. She had no clue what kinds of trees could produce such huge leaves and how bushes and undergrowth could be so thick she couldn’t even see through it. A towering waterfall cascaded over mossy green, emptying into a small pool to her left. A misty spray rose from the pool, making the air even more humid.

To her right—a cameraman; a dark-haired man with corded muscles displayed as his arms were crossed at his chest and a half-smile decorated his handsome face; a gorgeous and famous blonde lady in a formal gown and heels; and a guy who looked like a not-very-approachable Thor with his own set of muscles displayed in a tailored suit.

The intriguing crew waited for her next to the creek below the waterfall.

Military hero. She studied the two men and prayed the dark-haired guy was her partner, co-worker, co-conspirator, protector … she had no idea what to call him. He was a bit standoffish in his stance, but at least his dark eyes looked warm. He looked really good—capable of protecting her and helping her earn the million dollars for Liberation Crew.

Not-nice Thor was as well built as the dark-haired hero, but she hoped the suit was a sign that he was with Mercedes. There was something about the blond man—chilly and unfriendly. She shouldn’t compare him to Thor. She liked Thor and admired all the Avengers, in particular Natasha. If only Brylee could be like the brave, funny redhead.

The helicopter she’d arrived on swooped into the air. Her ears were full of cotton and the waterfall was loud, but she could still hear the show’s host, the billionaire heiress Mercedes Belle, call out, “She’s here! Yay!” The beautiful blonde clapped her hands together and gracefully swept toward her in five-inch heels. Impressive.

Brylee figured she should walk the woman’s direction, though she yearned to wave the helicopter back down and beg the pilot to take her safely back to Texas. Her family, friends, and employees would understand. She was fearless rescuing children from traffickers, but this tropical paradise had unknown dangers she’d never experienced. Spiders, snakes, jumping off that waterfall?

She risked a glance way up and had reverse vertigo. Was that a thing? She shuddered. Death may come soon. Had she said sincere enough goodbyes to her friends and family? The foundation probably wouldn’t keep going without her. Her crew was amazing and dedicated, but she worried nobody was passionate enough about it to spend the hours and supplement it financially like she did.

Dang, she should’ve prepared better.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com