Bodyguard Pursuit (14 page)

“Ben!” Saria screamed his name from a hundred feet away.

He was off, powering through the water toward her. He grabbed her arms as she dropped beneath the waves. Blood sloshed all around as he hauled her close and removed her mask. “Where are you hurt?”

“My back, up high.” Her eyelids fluttered shut, and a stingray splashed the surface and shot away.

Heart pounding, he swam them both back toward the shore.

“What happened?” Tyler raced into the water as he carried Saria in, Lydia right behind him. On her front, Ben laid her down, her head carefully turned to the side.

Blood oozed from a gaping wound on her back. “A stingray attacked her.” He pressed the ragged edges together.

Lydia fell to her knees and checked Saria’s breathing. “She’s out of it. Open your eyes, sis.”

She remained unresponsive and Ben nudged Lydia. “Get the first aid kit. Some clean water and towels. Everything should be in the inflatable. Move quickly.”

“I won’t be a sec.” She raced, yelling at Liam to keep Nico away.

Tyler inspected the wound. “For her to suffer a strike so high on her body, the stingray had to have been swimming above her. She would have been caught unaware.”

“I saw it splash away along the water’s surface. We’ll wrap this up, take her straight to the doctor. Can you go and get the boat ready for me?”

“Sure thing.” Tyler dashed off.

Saria moaned and squirmed. “Ben?”

“I’m here, baby. Stay still.”

“It hurts.” Her eyes flickered open and she squeezed his leg where he knelt near her head. “You’re pressing too hard.”

He eased back on the pressure, but only a touch. “That better?”

“A little. How bad is it?” Her chilled fingers shook on his thigh.

“The wound’s a couple of inches long. Tyler’s getting the inflatable ready, and we’ll take you straight to the doc.”

“I’ve got everything.” Lydia skidded in, unscrewed the bottle lid and gently splashed water over the wound, rinsing the fine grains of sand away. “Trust you to take on a stingray, Saria Sands.”

“I didn’t even see it.” Saria poked Lydia in the leg with a wobbly finger. “I’m hurt here. Don’t grump at me.”

“You scared me.” Lydia kissed her cheek. “I’m allowed to get grumpy when that happens. I love you.”

“I love you too, sis.”

“I’m going to bandage the wound. It might hurt a bit.” Lydia dabbed the area dry with a clean white cloth. Flinching, Saria closed her eyes and gripped his leg. He desperately wanted to hold her, to take away her pain.

“It’ll be okay, Ben.” Lydia nodded at him as if understanding what he felt. “Move your fingers out of the way as I bind it.” He did and she carefully taped Saria’s flesh together, applied a sterile pad and fixed it firmly in place. To her sister, she said, “What I’ve done should hold until the doctor can stitch it.”

“Thank you.” Saria glanced at him. “Can you help me put my shorts on?”

“Sure.” He slid them on then scooped her up, and mindful of her back, carried her high against his chest to where Tyler waited with the inflatable. On board, he cradled her in his lap as Tyler revved the motor and sped them out of the bay toward the resort. He kissed the top of her head. “How does your back feel?”

“Better now it’s taped.” As they bumped over the waves, she cringed and tried to hold still. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get hurt. I just wanted to keep my promise.”

“This is my fault. I shouldn’t have let you swim away. We need to strike a new deal.” He tipped her chin up, melded his mouth to hers and luxuriated in the feel of being with her. “I can’t lose you.”

“I guess it wouldn’t look so hot on your résumé if you lost a client.”

“I didn’t mean—” The craft crested a massive wave. He lifted her as the hull slammed down. The impact knocked the wind from his lungs, but thankfully, he’d kept her from the brunt of it.

“Are you okay?” She fluttered her fingers over his chest as spray blew over them.

“I’m fine. Hold tight. Tyler’s in a hurry.”

They rounded the final bend toward the wharf and relief poured through him.

Tyler slowed and guided the inflatable up onto the shore, clambered out and called, “I’ll go and let the doctor know what’s happened and that you’re on your way.”

“Do that. Fast.” With Saria in his arms, he stepped out and strode toward the doctor’s clinic as Tyler disappeared along the coral sandstone path ahead.

“You should let me walk.” Saria frowned as he crossed the bridged walkway over a garden-edged pond. “We’re attracting a lot of attention, and you’ve spent the past two weeks ensuring I remain invisible.”

“Then hide your head, because I’ve no intention of putting you down.” He should’ve instructed Tyler to bring them in via the beach’s side access near the meadow.

“Stubborn man.” With an arm wrapped around his neck, she dipped her head in close against his throat and nipped his skin. Heat raced through his veins as memories surged of her sucking the same spot last night. Hell, he needed her, and not just sexually. Something he’d have to address and soon.

At the clinic door, Tyler waved him in and he quickly forced his thoughts back into order.

“Dr. Hika’s in the rear surgical room,” Tyler instructed. “His last appointment for the day just left, and the area’s clear.”

“Thanks.” He marched inside and Tyler shut and locked the door with a snick. In the back room with its white walls, labeled cupboards, and shiny metal countertop, he gently set Saria down on a white-sheeted medical bed.

Dr. Hika stepped in front of Saria and stared into her eyes. “Tyler told me a stingray caught you across the back, and that you lost consciousness for a minute or so.”

“She did,” Ben answered for her. “Her sister taped and bandaged the wound as best as she could.”

“I’ll take a look.” The doctor pulled a tray of utensils forward, hastened around to the other side of the bed and removed the bandage Lydia had applied. “There aren’t any barbs, Saria, but I’ll need to clean this wound properly then I’ll stitch it. I’ll numb the area first. You’ll feel a pinch as the injection goes in.”

“It’s all right. I know the drill.” Knuckles white, she gripped the edge of the thin mattress. Ben rubbed her knee and she squeezed his hand. “I’m okay.”

“You won’t be okay until you’re healed.”

“Well, technically speaking, yes, but I’m still okay.”

Long minutes passed then finally the doctor applied a sterile bandage over the area. “Saria, you’ll need to keep these stitches dry for the next five days, and I’ll issue you with a prescription for pain relief. You can start the meds immediately. Follow the prescription for dosage.”

“Thank you.” Saria flinched. “And pain meds sound good.”

He wrote on his pad, tore the sheet off and handed it to Tyler. “Drop this into the pharmacy so they can fill it before they shut at five. The wait’s usually ten or fifteen minutes.”

“Will do.” Tyler eyed Ben. “I’ll return the moment it’s done.”

“If you have to wait for it, then run and move the inflatable around to the beach entrance on the meadow’s side. It’s quieter. I should have mentioned it before.”

“I know the entrance you’re talking about. I’ll lock the door as I leave.” Striding out, Tyler patted the weapon holstered under his shirt.

The doctor dropped his utensils into the automated cleaning machine on the bench then returned to Saria and gave her a smile. “How do you feel now?”

“Woozy. Sore.” Sweat beaded along her brow.

“As a precaution, I want someone to wake you every hour or two during the night.” The doctor glanced at him. “I also need to check the wound again first thing in the morning. Don’t worry about making an appointment. Just come straight in. I understand you’re trying to lay low.”

“Thanks, Doc. I appreciate everything you’ve done.”

“No problem.” His cell phone beeped and he checked the display. “Sorry, I’ve got another emergency down by the pool. I have to go, but stay as long as you need to.” The doctor flicked the lock as he raced out the door.

“I guess that means you’re on night duty.” Saria wriggled forward and he cupped her hips and helped her off the bed and onto her feet.

“I’ll gladly wake you every hour or two, although possibly not for the reason I wanted to.” He guided her to one of the gray metal chairs in the waiting room. “We’ll remain here until Tyler returns. Keep you out of sight.”

She rolled her shoulders and cried out. “Ow, I can’t do that. The wound is right between my shoulder blades where I want to stretch.”

“Then don’t.” He clasped her hands and looked into her eyes. “We need to talk.”

“If you’re going to ban me from swimming forever, then I’m not listening.”

“I’d never do that.” He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss against her palm. “Although you’re not allowed to go swimming without me.”

“Should you be doing that? It’s still daylight for another hour and kissing is supposed to be off-limits then.”

“Which is what I wanted to talk to you about earlier.”

“I remember. Losing a client isn’t a good look.” Groaning, she closed her eyes. “It still hurts. Do you think you could run over to the pharmacy and sweet talk one of the staff into handing over my meds now?”

That wasn’t what he’d been about to say, but it could wait. “We’ll talk as soon as I get back.” He locked the door, dashed across to the pharmacy and approached the uniformed saleswoman stocking a shelf. “I’m after Saria Sands’ meds, please. It’s urgent.”

“The pharmacist is still preparing them. I’ll go and tell him to put a hurry on it. Won’t be long.” She walked into the back room.

Anxious to head right back to Saria, he tapped the dark blue countertop next to the till and forced himself to stand and wait. Their current agreement needed a change, one that would give him more time with her and ensure she never got hurt again.

She was his to protect. She always had been, and always would be.

* * * *

The stinging pain radiated out and throbbed deep down into Saria’s spine. If only that injection had numbed more than the wound’s immediate site. Tangling with a stingray wasn’t something she ever intended to do again, or seeing the pain her injury had caused Ben. His gaze had been haunted, and without a doubt, she knew he blamed himself for what had happened to her.

A knock sounded and relief poured through her. “Coming, Ben.” Trembling, she rose to her feet, fumbled with the lock and opened the door.

“Are you Lydia Sands?” A broad-shouldered man with shaggy brown hair and beady black eyes loomed over her. “Or are you the other twin, Saria Sands?”

“I—I’m Saria.”

He pushed her backward and slammed the door shut. Exposed on his bulky bicep was a large tattoo of a hyena, blood dripping from its sharp-toothed jaws. “About time I found one of you two. Now, I need to stash you somewhere so I can get to your sister. Mia sent me after Lydia, and you’re gonna be my bait. Say nighty-night.” He shoved a rag over her mouth and nose.

She gagged and the room spun. Black dots danced before her yes, then nothing.

Agonized, Ben strode into the resort’s security control room where Tyler continued to comb through the recorded surveillance. Twenty-four heart-wrenching hours had passed since Saria had been abducted, and they didn’t seem to be any further ahead in their search for her than they’d been in the first hour. “We had so many damn checks in place,” he snapped as he sank into the chair next to Tyler’s. “How the hell did someone sneak onto this island without an alert being raised?”

“With patience and cunning, but we’ll find her.” Tyler kept his gaze on the monitor, not missing a beat. “Where’s Officer Kupita?”

“The wharf, supervising the shift change and ensuring those men he has heading out across the island are all updated. I warned him about the alarmed sensors we have wired around the cove.” He tapped the screen. “Are you looking at the footage out by the main entrance again?”

“Yep. Someone slipped past us both, when you were right next door, and I came through the front foyer only a minute or two after you left her. Whoever took her moved fast. Damn fast. The evidence has to be here somewhere.” Tyler scraped his chair back, grabbed another disk from the overhead shelf and inserted it. “How’s Gilchrist doing? Heard any word from him this afternoon?”

“Not in the past two hours. He’s still working methodically through the resort’s manifest, double checking what I’ve already checked.” No one could make a resort booking without a confirmed passport number, and when visitors arrived, their passports were verified. That included all passengers from the ferry or the moored ships. It was standard practice, and usually sufficient, yet something had gone terribly wrong for someone who should have raised a red flag to sneak in without their knowledge.

Unable to sit still, Ben pushed his chair back and stood. “I’m going to run another perimeter check. Call me if you see anything suspicious, and I don’t care how minor it is.”

“I just wish they had more cameras where it counted.” Tyler jumped forward. “Wait. Take a look at this footage. It doesn’t cover the main building but the staff service area at the rear of the property.”

The image showed a shaggy brown-haired male around his mid-thirties pushing a wheeled laundry basket out of the service elevator. His yellow staff polo pulled tight across his back and sat far too short on his body. In place of yellow uniform shorts, he wore black pants with a triple white side stripe.

Tyler motioned toward the printer. “A copy’s coming through for you now, and I’ll email the image to Gilchrist for facial recognition.”

“Send a copy to Kupita as well. Have him distribute it among his men. About damn time we got something.” Ben nabbed the picture before the ink had even dried. “I’ve not seen this man at any of the staff or security meetings, and he’d be hard to miss. Does the camera footage show where he’s headed?”

“I’ll check that now.” Tyler released the pause button.

The man rolled his basket overflowing with towels and linens past the laundry doors. He disappeared from sight around the far corner. The service area was made up of a two-story block that bordered the far side of the meadow. Thick gardens and bush between the main building and that one kept most of it from the public’s view. “I’ll head over to the laundry now and run a visual.” He raced out the door with the picture in hand. This was the strongest lead they’d had so far.