The Recruiters (14 page)

“
Ummm, you’re welcome, Sarah.”

I stopped and smiled at him. “Thank you, Carlos. Now turn around please so I can climb down into the water.”

He grinned as he turned around. “Party pooper.”

He was a perfect gentleman as he waited for me to submerge. “You’re good,” I said, which brought him around with the goofy grin already on his face.

“
Yes I am,” he said.

I rolled my eyes as I started swimming towards the entrance. “You’ll get lost if you don’t wait for me,” he said.

I stopped and looked around the cavern one more time as I waited for him. “It really is breathtaking, isn’t it? How did you find this place?”

He smiled as he looked at the cavern. “I was here with someone who turned out to be completely annoying. After two days, I couldn’t stand the sight of her anymore. We had three days until the plane could get here, so I took a lot of long walks and a lot of long swims. Basically I got to know this entire island very well.”

We turned around, he grabbed my hand and we began swimming back. He didn’t realize that I noticed the sideways glances he kept taking, but I did. But instead of getting pissed, I was actually finding it flattering. After all, they’re just boobs, right? No harm, right?

I covered myself again as I walked out of the water toward the shore. He handed me the shirt, smiled sweetly then turned
around
.

We walked back to the house and joined the others. Matt was waiting for me on the porch. “What’s with the t-shirt?” he said as he kissed me on the cheek.

I glanced at Carlos and smiled, “A cave ate my bikini top.”

“
Excuse me?”

I kissed his cheek. “I’ll explain later. Right now I’m late for fight clinic with Gabriel,” I said then I headed into the house and up the stairs. Matt followed me into our room. He closed the door as I pulled off Carlos’ shirt. Just before I pulled on my shirt, Matt got a glimpse of my back.

“
Jesus Sarah! What happened to you?”

I turned my back toward the mirror to see it for myself. “Wow. Umm, a stalactite did it.”

“
It did, huh? Well, it must not have been too deep, because it’s healing quickly,” he said as he leaned in and began kissing the wound on the back of my neck. I gasped and shivered then I went on.

“
Carlos helped,” I said. Matt hesitated for a second and our eyes met in the mirror.

“
He did, did he? Lucky he was there,” he said.

I finished changing and spun around. “I’m sorry honey, but I’m late.”

His eyes lit up then he leaned in and planted a kiss that took my breath away.

When he finally pulled back, he was beaming at me. “Wow, honey. That’s it. Just wow.”

He kissed me on the forehead. “I love you too, Sarah. I’ll see you when you get back.”

I headed down the stairs with Carlos’ shirt in my hand, smiling and shaking my head. Carlos was waiting down on the path. “I told Gabriel that you were running late because of the injury.”

“
You did? That was sweet. Thanks,” I said as I tossed his shirt to him.

“
It looked better on you, you know,” he said.

“
I know,” I said, smiling, as I ran down the path.

I finished the training then we all met to finalize our plans. On Wednesday we finally agreed on a date to leave – Friday morning. We would re-group in Peru and head to the Fortress together. Two nights left here. Two nights and then who knows what would happen. I walked down to the beach by myself and sat on a piece of driftwood with my head resting on my knees. Matt and I hadn’t been alone together since we got to the island. I mean, stuck on an island with all these vampire ears meant that there wasn’t any place at all that we COULD be alone. Alone and unheard. I tried to take comfort in the fact that we had been together, A LOT, before we got here. But we were walking into the unknown and who knew if we’d walk out together. A sobbed escaped my lips and I felt a hand on my back. I glanced up and tried to smile as Carlos sat down next to me. He put his arm around me as I laid my head in his lap and cried. “It’s gonna be okay Sarah. We have to believe that,” he said.

“
I know, and I’m trying to believe that, Carlos. But that’s not really why I’m crying,” I said.

“
Then what is it?” he said.

“
You’ll laugh,” I said.

“
No, I won’t,” he said.

“
Promise?”

“
I promise.”

“
I’m exhausted, stressed out and I need to BE with him, Carlos. But I can’t because there isn’t anywhere on this freakin’ vampire-infested island that we can be alone.”

He stared at me for a second then a huge grin broke out on his face.

“
Don’t you dare, Carlos. You promised you wouldn’t laugh,” I said.

He held up his hands. “I’m not laughing Sarah. I’m happy because I can help you.”

“
How?” I said.

“
Because I know of a place,” he smiled.

I sat up and stared at him. “Well? Are you going to share?” I urged.

“
I’m thinking,” he grinned.

“
Thinking what?” I said.

“
Thinking of what I’m going to charge you for my little secret.”

I glared at him. “Okay, okay,” he said. “I’ll tell you, but first you have to tell me.”

“
Tell you what?” I asked.

“
Your fangs,” he said. “Any more episodes?”

I looked down at my hands and nodded.

“
When? What happened?” he said.

I stared up at him, then squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head. “No, I can’t,” I whispered.

“
Sarah, no secrets, remember? Tell me, please?” he said.

“
I don’t have to tell you,” I said, “I can show you.” I faced him, closed my eyes and opened my mouth. Concentrating, I released my fangs then quickly retracted them.

“
Whoa,” he whispered. “You can do that whenever you want?”

I nodded with my head in my hands.

“
But you can control them?” he asked.

“
So far,” I said.

“
Do it again,” he smiled.

I shook my head. “Uh-uh.”

“
Ahhh, come on… please?”

I rolled my eyes then showed him again. He grinned. “That is so… awesome,” he said.

“
No,” I whispered. “No it’s not, Carlos. What’s wrong with me? Why can I do it? Why am I different?” I sobbed and put my head back on my knees.

He rubbed my back. “Ah Sarah, come on. It’s okay. I don’t know why or how you can do that, but I’ll help you figure it out. Really I will.”

I turned my head towards him, “Promise?”

He nodded then leaned down and whispered in my ear, “Now, I’m going to make your day,” he grinned. He nodded out toward the cliff on our left. “You see those rocks out there, about a hundred yards offshore?”

I looked and nodded.

“
On the back side of the biggest one, there’s a cave. A dry cave with sand on the floor,” he winked

I looked at him, then at the rocks, then back at him, then back at the rocks. Finally comprehension struck. “You mean—?” I whispered.

He grinned and nodded. “Uh-huh. Total privacy, nobody can hear you from over there. Nobody. Not even an island full of vampires.”

I jumped up and threw my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. “Oh my God, Carlos, you are the best.”

“
That’s what they all say,” he said as he grinned and hugged me back.

I pulled back, grinned at him, kissed him on the cheek and ran towards the house.

I put on my new bikini, the one I had picked up when we stopped at Paradise Island. It was the tiniest bikini I had ever worn, but I figured it was the best way to get Matt’s attention. I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me, then headed towards the beach. I knew Matt was with Andrew, Michael and Gabriel on the beach, discussing the fortress and last minute strategy. The sun was just setting and this part of the beach and ocean were in complete shade. I could hear them talking, deeply concentrating on what they were doing. I smiled as I stepped on to the beach about twenty yards to their left. The slight hesitation in his words told me he’d seen me. I dropped my towel and walked towards the ocean. I smiled as I heard his breath catch.

“
Whoa. Ummm,” he stuttered. “Sorry… but… I have to… ummmm…” was all he managed. I sped up as I heard his footsteps coming towards me. I ran into the water and dove under, heading towards the rocks. I surfaced once to look back. At first I couldn’t see him, but then suddenly there was a dark shadow underneath. It streaked towards me and he surfaced right in front of me, wrapping me in his arms and kissing me so passionately that it took my breath away. I felt his hands fumbling with my suit, but I pushed them away.

“
Wait,” I gasped. “Follow me. I want to show you something.” We swam the last twenty-five yards together and I led him around to the back side of the rock.

“
No way,” he said. “How did you know this was here?” I took his hand as we walked up the gradual slope to the dry sand in the back of the cave.

“
Carlos told me,” I said as I untied the top of my suit, dropped it to the floor and took him in my arms.

“
Thank you Carlos,” he mumbled as his lips crushed onto mine and we sank down to the sand
.

Chapter Fifteen

We stayed there for the final two days, sleeping a little and loving each other a lot. We watched the sunrise from the mouth of the cave on Friday morning. I laid my head on his shoulder. “Thank you,” I whispered.

“
For what?” he said.

“
For the last two years,” I said. “It’s January. It’s been almost two years since you showed up on that pier.”

He looked serious as he pulled my face up towards his. “Don’t do that Sarah,” he gasped.

“
Do what?” I asked.

“
Don’t act like this is the end. Don’t say your goodbyes,” he said with pain filling his face.

I shook my head. “I’m not honey,” I said. “I’m just saying that no matter what happens next, the past two years have been so incredible, so amazing. I couldn’t have asked for anything more or anything better.”

“
Me neither,” he whispered as he kissed my forehead. “I love you Sarah.”

“
I love you, too,” I whispered, hiding the fear from my face by laying my head back on his shoulder. I stood, held my hand out to him and said, “Ready?”

He nodded and took my hand. We walked into the water together and swam leisurely back to shore. I smiled when I saw Carlos waiting for us, his arms full of blood. Still unwilling to let go of our hands, we reached out with our other hands and drank, then I wrapped my free arm around Carlos, hugging him tight and laying my head on his chest. “Thank you,” I whispered.

He squeezed me tight. “No,” he said, “thank
you
.”

I looked up at him. “For what?” I said.

He took a step back, looked me up and down, leered and said, “For that bikini, Sarah. That is awesome.”

I blushed. I had completely forgotten that that was all I was wearing. Matt pulled me into his arms, smiling.

“
You should definitely wear that more often,” Carlos said, grinning his goofy grin. I shot him a look that told him he needed to stop now, so he changed the subject. “Go pack quickly. It’s time to go kick some Elders’ butts,” he grinned.

I suddenly had a very bad feeling. “Carlos,” I said, “don’t do anything crazy. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“
Ah come on, Sarah,” he said, “danger is my middle name.”

The panic filled my face and voice as I said, “Please Carlos, promise me?”

He grew a little more serious then. “Okay, Sarah,” he said. “I promise, okay?”

I nodded as he said, “But you have to promise me something too, okay?”

“
Anything,” I said.

He grinned, “Promise me you’ll wear that bikini again… it really is… owwww!” There was his smack on the back of the head, only this time it came from me. I smiled at both of them, took Carlos’ hand and together we all walked up to the house to face our uncertain future.

The seven of us boarded our boat: Me, Matt, Carlos, Stacy, Andrew, Janine and Aduviri. We dropped Aduviri at Paradise Island. Carlos fueled the boat as we said our goodbyes. Matt handed him a large envelope filled with cash, shook his hand and said, “Thank you, my friend.”

Aduviri bowed his head. “Of course,” he said then he turned to me and stuck out his hand, which I pushed away as I hugged him tight.

“
I can never thank you enough,” I whispered in his ear. As I pulled away he was blushing.

He managed to mumble, “You’re very welcome, Sarah,” then he turned and hurried up the dock.

Matt wrapped his arm around me and said, “You have the same effect on me when you hug me too,” he smiled and kissed my cheek. We climbed back on the boat and sat down. The ride to Miami was completely silent. None of us spoke at all, but the tension could clearly be felt as we all contemplated what was coming.