The Unseen (9 page)

The sudden jab of the gun into her already sore ribs made her yell, “ouch!”

“Hey, stop that.” Tom turned toward the men walking behind them.

“I’ll stop if you shut up. What I’d really like to do is shoot you both dead and get on with it. Prodding you through all this underbrush like livestock is a pain in the ass. I can barely see what I’m about to step on. What do you think, Dan, can we just take them out now?”

“No,” said a man that must have been Dan. “I sent Larry after Bunny to shut her up before she stirs up any more trouble. But we may need to use these two as shields when we rendezvous with the AARP militia men.”

The men roared with laughter as if they were enjoying a late night comedy show. The skinny blond man behind them spit a reddish-brown stream of tobacco onto the muddy ground beside them. “I can’t believe those old has-beens really think they can take us out.”

The gemstone smugglers had outwitted Kent and his men every step of the way so far. Amanda wondered if the smugglers wanted to kill Bunny because she’d overheard them talking about the inscriptions on the rocks.

She clenched her teeth to keep her fury from spilling out.
The woman’s as good as dead
. They’d probably kill her before she even knew what was happening.
At least it will be over quickly for her.

She hoped the Vietnam Veterans blew the scums to pieces. If they did, though, she wondered what would be left of her and Tom. Life had too much in store for her now for it to all end. She wanted to make spine-tingling love to Tom again, to publish her first book, to enjoy more adventures with Rebecca.

Her chest felt heavy as she imagined her whole world suddenly turning dark. Even the press of the gun against her ribs and the wet clothes clinging to her skin didn’t feel so bad anymore. They meant she was alive.
I won’t go down without a fight.

* * * *

Tom clenched his teeth, frustrated that he’d been unable to talk to Amanda. Somehow, they had to figure out a way to escape quickly before they ended up dead.

Ideas raced through his head. If he’d been alone, he would have tried to snatch the gun from the skinny guy who looked like a crack addict, but Tom ruled out that and every other plan that risked Amanda’s life.

One thing he knew for sure—if he waited until the shootout with the Vietnam Veterans ensued, they’d be goners. He wondered if Kent knew they were missing.
If he does, he’ll be after us in no time.
Still, Tom couldn’t rely on that.
What I need is a little luck.

As the rain slapped against the leaves, mud slurped around his feet with every step. Small rivers flowed around trees and shrubs, forming puddles on the patches of bare ground. The rainy season was a terrible time to be out in the jungle.
I won’t let them separate me from her, even if they threaten me.

He’d seen one of the guys pull a vial out of his pocket as if he was worried it might disappear. Clearly, it had to be the stuff that sometimes made them vanish into thin air.

I have to get my hands on that.

Bunny sipped her champagne and set the glass down on the side of the Jacuzzi tub. She closed her eyes and slid deeper into the warm soothing womb of the bath, allowing the heat and bubbles to melt the tension from her sore muscles.
This is more like it.
She let out a long, releasing sigh.

The entire expedition had been awful. Hiking through a sticky, hot jungle for hours until her muscles cramped, ached and screamed. Intermittent downpours. Close encounters with spiders, snakes and, worst of all, the tree leech. Kent had said it would be difficult, but she’d never anticipated having blood-sucking insects attached to her calves.

While the three other women on the expedition had handled long hikes in driving rain and nights sleeping in on muddy ground and inside damp caves without difficulty, Bunny had spent most of her waking hours in tears and at wits end.

And now here I am soaking in a Jacuzzi at the Dong Hoi Sheraton.

Guilt riddled her thoughts, making it difficult for her to savor the luxurious bathing experience. While her friends faced danger head on, she’d hidden herself away again.

She’d pondered her situation hour after hour the previous night when Rebecca and Amanda had left her in the dingy room. Initially exhausted, Bunny had flopped around like a landed fish on the rock-hard bed. But in the end, the night of sleepless solitude had given her insight on her circumstances.

She’d cycled through feelings of guilt—for acting whiny during the mission—to anger—at Jason for stealing her identity—to sorrow—for the loss of precious years she could have lived differently. And just when she’d been prepared to try to start over, to act more like the Bunny she’d once been, she’d awoken to the sounds of Tom and Amanda being kidnapped in a neighboring room.

She’d tried hard to rein in her feelings, but they’d broken loose like rushing water from a weakened dam. When Kent found her sobbing and hysterical, of course his first thought had been to send her away.

Bunny knew she was being hard on herself. Most women would never even think of setting foot in a dangerous jungle, yet she’d applied for the expedition, flown to Vietnam alone, and endured weeks in the wild. Even though she’d acted like a wreck of a person the whole time, she’d endured it. Throwing herself from one traumatic situation into another one hadn’t been a recipe for success.

She knew what she really needed was time to heal, time to regroup, time to start over. After all, her abusive relationship had left her in ruins.

Bunny had once convinced Jason to attend relationship counseling with her. She recalled how he’d put on that façade that fooled everyone every time—even her mother. And the session had ended with the counselor giving her a pitying gaze and saying how a little medication would improve her unbalanced condition.

Bunny had mentally beaten herself up over that, telling herself her weakness was to blame for everything. But now she knew it wasn’t true. He’d convinced her of that, just like he’d convinced everyone else.

She wanted change, but knew it wouldn’t happen overnight. She could do better today than yesterday, but it might take months to get her old self back—if she even still existed. Bunny vowed to stop crying and complaining, to make her own decisions instead of allowing someone to make them for her.
I’m done playing the victim, the weakly woven nobody with no goals, no dreams, no way out.

She poured herself another glass of champagne. She tipped the bubbly liquid into her mouth, feeling it tickle her throat and numb her brain. She wove her hands through the water, watching the water swirl around.

Sharp rapping at the door broke into her thoughts.
Go away.
She wasn’t expecting anyone.
Whoever it is will leave if I don’t answer.
She sipped more champagne, relishing the tickle of bubbles inside her nose. The knocking persisted.

She reluctantly stepped from the warm womb of the tub and toweled herself off. “I’ll be there in a minute.” Tossing her tangled locks over her shoulder, she pulled a purple cotton mini dress over her head and padded toward the door in her bare feet.

She pulled open the door and peered into the hallway. Her eyes widened as she found herself face-to-face with a man with golden curls and sea green eyes who looked almost as astonished as she felt.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” The handsome man, who had a British accent, glanced down at a piece of paper he held in his hand. “One of my business partners left this for me at the front desk. I guess I’ve got the wrong floor. This must be a two and not a seven.”

She couldn’t stop staring at the man. The curly locks that fell over his forehead gave him a boyish appearance, yet his frame was sturdy and muscular. “Oh, no problem, I understand.” As water dripped between her breasts, she felt suddenly self-conscious. She cleared her throat and forced a smile.

“Well I’ll just be on my way then.” The man shifted on his feet and took a step back.

“Wait.”

A flicker of hope and something more suggestive registered in his pale green eyes.

How could he possibly find me attractive? I haven’t brushed my hair and mascara’s probably running down my face.
“I just wanted to say I really hope you find your friend.”

“Thank—” The sound of gunfire broke into their conversation. “Bloody hell.” He mashed his body into the wall beside the door, his green eyes flickering with fear.

“Get in here.” Bunny grasped his arm and yanked him inside with more force than she realized. The man flew by her and hopped on one leg trying to regain his balance.

Gasping for breath, Bunny slammed the door, double bolting it. She turned around, pressing her back to the door. Studying the man’s handsome face, she realized for the first time in she couldn’t remember how long, she’d done something brave.

An elated smile broke over her face. Even though her chest still heaved from exertion and she knew any second some gun-wielding maniac might burst through the door, she felt giddy and light on her feet.
Could it be those smugglers? I wonder how they found me.

“People are trying to blow our bloody heads off and you’re smiling. You’re kind of a surprise.” The British man’s blond brows drew together as he gazed at her with unblinking eyes. “By the way, I’m Winston. What’s your name?”

“Hi, I’m Bunny. And I’m sorry—I know I’m acting strange.” She laughed, noticing how freeing it felt. The way it used to feel whenever she finished playing a Mozart concerto without a single error. “But it’s just . . . for the first time in I can’t remember how long, I acted competent during a crisis.” She sighed. “Oh, gosh, I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. After all, I don’t know you and you don’t know me and we wouldn’t even be alone together in this room together if it weren’t for those crazy men out there shooting.”

Prickly electricity raced up her arm when he touched her. She studied Winston’s face, noticing his broad strong nose, his full sensual lips, and the slight dent in his chin.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You acted so quickly, I thought maybe you were a special agent or something.”

Bunny laughed. “Not hardly.”

“Hey, you wouldn’t happen to know why those men were shooting at us, would you?” Winston’s gaze wandered over her face and body.

Her body hummed with sexual excitement. Unfiltered words spilled from her lips. “I don’t think so. How could they know I’m here?”

Winston’s lips thickened when he frowned. “How could who know you’re here?”

Bunny looked away from his shapely mouth, fighting the urge to mash her lips against it. “Those gemstone smugglers we ran into at Mountain River Cave. They kidnapped two of my friends earlier today—they kidnapped me recently, too—but I was rescued. But then later that day, the cave flooded and we almost drowned. Now Kent and Rebecca are tracking the smugglers along with the Vietnamese army and some retired American soldiers, but since I’ve been acting like I wimp lately, they sent me here so I’d be out of the way.”

A smile lit up his attractive face and one of his brows rose. “Surely, you jest?”

Bunny sighed. “I know the whole situation sounds crazy, but that’s exactly what happened. The past few weeks have been absolutely insane.”

“So you say?” Winston scratched the distracting dent in his chin.

Bunny had a bad feeling he was deciding whether she was whacko or not. “I really wish you would believe me. I have no reason to lie.”

“Here’s her room. Kick the door down and let’s get it over with,” said a gruff voice.

Winston grabbed Bunny around the waist. The instant he touched her, heat spiraled through her body. “Oh, no, we’ve got to get out of here.”

“Okay, your story’s starting to resonate with me. Our only chance is to escape through the window.”

As she stepped from his grasp, warm heat remained where he’d touched her. “Hang on. I can’t go barefoot.” Her legs trembled as she slipped on some flats and snatched her purse.

Winston unlocked the window and pushed it open. He stepped out on the ledge and reached for her hand. “Come on, hurry up.”

Bunny peered out from the seventh story window. Her limbs shook and a wave of dizziness assaulted her. Heights terrified her. She wanted to burst into tears and say she couldn’t do it.
That’s what Jason’s prisoner would do, not me.

She sucked in a breath, clamped her lips together and stepped out onto the ledge, not daring to look down. A short distance away was a fire escape.

Still clutching Winston’s hand, she walked inch by inch, trying to retain her balance as her legs trembled. Tears ran down her cheeks, but she forced down her emotions. “I’m okay,” she said, as much to comfort herself as to reassure Winston she could shuffle along without nervously shaking them over the edge.

Once they reached the fire escape, they ran down the steps, their feet clanking against the metal. Bunny fought to maintain her focus. “We can make it.” She crossed her eyes to blur her view of the empty space between the wrought iron steps and the ground. A bullet ricocheted off a rung of metal nearby, making Bunny yelp. “They’re shooting at us.”

“Yes, but at least they’re not following us. Keep going--you’re doing a brilliant job so far,” said Winston. “We’ll be down before you know it.”

She gasped in surprise when she felt solid ground under her feet. Another jolt of empowerment shot through her. “Wow, we really made it.”

Winston brushed his hand over her arm and Bunny saw a flirtatious flicker in his sea green eyes. “Of course we made it. We executed that little escape rather neatly, I’d say.”

Bunny giggled, feeling like a little girl. “That was kind of fun, actually.”

“Well I’m glad running for your life was good entertainment for you.” Winston shook his head and then turned back toward the hotel, blocking the sunlight with his hand. “They’re not pursuing us, but I bet they’re coming down the elevator or the stairs. Let’s go jump in my truck. If no one sees us leaving, I’ll take you to my house.” He angled his head in the direction of a large parking lot and then strode toward it at a brisk pace.