The hole in my stomach grows. My time in the military isn't one I'd wish on anyone. "And those dictators will kill millions of people in war to gain control of the entire entity."
"Yes. The gap between the rich and poor will grow. There will be no more middle class anywhere. Citizens will starve, and assets will be seized in ‘the name of the good of the people' only to make the politicians richer."
My head spins with all she's told me. It's unimaginable and against everything I've fought for in the military or since joining Interpol.
"Why did the Guatemalan guerrillas kidnap you?"
"They've funded themselves through the Colombian cartel for years. They are still trying to claim Belize as part of Guatemala. More deals were going on behind closed doors with the Belizean politicians and guerrillas. But the Belizeans were setting them up, and Carlos was the one leading the pack. So I'm a weapon to use against him. They know how obsessed he is with me, but they see the value of the information I hold. It's why they were able to sell me to Santiago."
"And Santiago made you have dinner with him to reveal your secrets?" My gut churns, thinking of Santiago that close to Vanessa.
"Yes. And...and I'm scared that what I told him is going to get back to Carlos. If he knows I said anything and finds me—"
"He's not coming near you ever again, Flower."
"I had another dream last night," she blurts out.
Guilt weighs heavy on me. "That's my fault. If you weren't upset—"
"That doesn't have anything to do with it. I keep having it because it's going to happen. My dreams have always come true."
The hairs on my arms stand straight up. "What are you talking about?"
"My mother is the same way. Our dreams are premonitions. I've never had a reoccurring dream that didn't come true."
"Well, this one won't." As I confidently say it, my insides quiver in fear.
What if I'm wrong?
No. Just protect her, and it won't happen. I can prevent it.
"Hunter—"
I put my fingers to her lips. "I'm not letting you out of my sight."
"They are always..." The blood drains from her face.
"What?"
Her eyes widen. "I was going to say always the same, but it wasn't this time."
My stomach twists. "What do you mean?"
"My dream is always the same. Always. But..." She furrows her brows and looks down. "That's so strange."
"What is?"
She slowly tilts her head back up. "The lawn. I woke up and looked out the balcony. On the edge of the jungle were vibrant, red hibiscuses. It was a huge bouquet."
"Would those flowers be something you would have had at your wedding?"
"No. Carlos is allergic to them. He hates them. I brought them into the house once and..." She looks away.
"What did he do?" I quietly ask and try to calm my boiling blood.
She shakes her head. "Nothing I want to talk about." She turns back to me with a smile. "I think the pool is calling our name." She tries to get off my lap, but I hold her down.
"Hey."
"Hmmm?"
"Do you like red hibiscuses?"
She smiles and nods. "Yeah. They are my favorite flower."
"Not roses?"
"Nope."
"Okay, Flower. Someday, when we're in safety, I'm going to shower you with hundreds of red hibiscuses."
Her grin widens.
"And I have those all over my garden in Australia. But I'm not sure if they are the same as in Belize or not."
"You do?"
"Yep."
She pecks me on the lips. "Your stock just went up."
I chuckle. "What if I told you I have a frozen drink maker that will put the one you just drank to shame."
Her face brightens. "Now we're talking. Red hibiscuses and frozen drinks. I think I'm going to have to keep you."
I rise with her in my arms. "I should throw you in the pool for even thinking about getting rid of me."
She grasps my neck tighter. "Don't you dare."
I step down into the pool, and she repositions her body so her limbs are pretzeled around me. She asks, "So, we're just going to have a mini-vacation for a few days?"
"Looks that way."
"Are we staying between our bedroom and the pool?"
"Yep."
She sticks her hands down my pants and leans into my ear. "I think that cabana over there looks pretty nice."
We make out in the pool and then move to the cabana, doing naughty things, with a towel wrapped over her behind.
Everything is perfect. All the issues of the night before are gone. It's only my Flower and me, with no one else to distract us.
But my job is to protect her, no matter how much I want her. And I shouldn't have let my guard down and lost myself in her before double-checking our surroundings. I know better. Even unsuspecting, normal-looking bartenders can be on the wrong side. And I should have stuck that napkin in my pocket, then lit it on fire when I got back to our room.
But I didn't even think about it.
21
Vanessa
Everything is red then turns to white light. Dizziness spins faster, and I'm suddenly floating. And my chest is so tight I'm gasping for air.
"Flower, wake up."
Hunter. I hear his words, but I can't see him.
"Flower, you're dreaming. Wake up." His fingers sweep through my hair, and his arms tighten around me, but I can't open my eyes or breathe.
I do. I do. I do. The words in my voice get louder and faster until they are so close together they merge.
I put my hands over my ears and scream. "No!"
"Flower, wake up," Hunter growls so fiercely, my eyes fly open. "Breathe."
Tears soak my skin. I'm full of sweat. "So real," I whisper.
He pulls me into him. "No, it's not. You're safe. I've got you."
"He's going to get me." I sob.
"No, he won't."
Time passes, and when I finally am breathing normally, I tilt my head up. "My dream is getting more intense. He's getting closer to me."
Hunter tucks my hair behind my ear. "No. It's just a night terror."
"But—"
He silences me with a kiss. I cling to him and deepen our kisses, trying to forget how real the dream feels and quiet the voice in my head telling me no one can save me from my fate.
But my ability to forget about everything except Hunter is nonexistent. The warnings that Carlos is closer sit on the surface of my thoughts.
I pull back. "We need to leave."
"We will. As soon as my face heals so we don't draw attention at the airport."
"No. Today. Your face is better than yesterday. We need to go now."
"Flower—"
"He's coming for me. I can feel it. Please. We need to leave," I reiterate.
Hunter takes a deep breath. "I don't want to risk your safety."
"It's a risk if we stay."