The Only Way Out. Susan Mallery

oil. Andie walked to a cleared section in the center and waited for someone to notice her. Finally, the dark-haired man closest to her looked up.

      “Can I help you, lady?” he asked, getting to his feet and smiling at her.

      She smiled tightly back and was grateful Jeff’s hat hid her hair color. The way this man’s gaze was roving over her body, he would have every detail memorized.

      She glanced at his wrist, but didn’t see a snake tattoo. “I’m here to meet a pilot. His name is Michael.”

      The dark-haired man frowned. “Michael no here.”

      “We were supposed to meet at one.”

      “Michael no coming in.”

      She didn’t like this one bit. Andie glanced over her shoulder. Jeff and Bobby weren’t in the doorway. She was about to panic, when she saw a flash of red from Jeff’s tank top. They were just outside the door, keeping out of sight. She hadn’t completely agreed with the precaution before, but the bad feeling growing in her stomach told her it was for the best.

      “Why won’t he be in?”

      Dark brown eyes met hers. “None of the pilots are coming in today. All flights out have been canceled.”

      “Canceled? Why? The weather’s perfect.”

      “Not weather, lady.” The man pulled a rag out of his pocket and started cleaning his hands. “Orders. No flights leave today. Maybe not tomorrow, either.”

      Kray. He’d ordered the airport closed. Damn.

      “You tell me what you want,” the man said, moving closer. “I can help.”

      “I don’t need anything,” she said, backing up slowly. “Really. Michael was just going to…ah, he was going to give me a tour of the island from the air. He was recommended by my boss back in New Jersey.”

      “Michael no give tours,” the man said. “Who are you? What’s your name?”

      From behind her came a sharp cry. “Let me go! Mommy, make him let me go. I’m hungry. I want a hot dog.”

      The man whirled toward the sound. “Who’s that? Your boy?”

      He said something in a language she’d never heard before. The other three men rose from their benches.

      “Dammit, run,” Jeff called to her.

      She turned and ran. The mechanic raced after her.

      By the time she reached the open door, Jeff already had the Jeep started and was circling around toward her. She heard the man behind her gaining. She dug deep for her fading last reserves and lunged for the vehicle. Jeff leaned across and opened the passenger’s door. Bobby was in the back seat, clinging to the sides, crying.

      “Mommy, he’s right behind you. Mommy!”

      The man reached for her. She felt the brush of his fingers against her back. She shrieked and dove for the seat. The man grabbed again, this time tugging off her wide-brimmed hat.

      As the Jeep sped off, she glanced back and saw him staring after them. His expression hardened as he took in her features. A blond woman with a boy. He would be able to identify her to Kray.

      She was trapped on Kray’s island, trying to kidnap Kray’s only son. She was alone with no way to escape. She looked at Jeff. He didn’t spare her a glance as he drove expertly over the winding roads, turning again and again, as if he feared they were being followed.

      “You all right?” he asked at last.

      “Yes,” she whispered, knowing she had to lie for Bobby’s sake at least.

      “You can kiss your plane ride goodbye,” he said.

      “I figured that.”

      “Now what?” he asked.

      Now what? she echoed silently, then bit down on her lower lip to stifle the sob that threatened. Now she looked until she found another way out.

      Chapter 4

      Jeff continued driving north, away from the city and away from Kray’s villa. He circled around small villages, turned onto one-lane roads, always keeping the ocean in sight and on his left.

      The woman trembled. Every few seconds a tremor swept through her. She clasped her hands tightly together, her fingers squeezing so hard, the skin around her knuckles turned white. Even Bobby was quiet, as if he somehow understood the danger.

      At the top of a rise, Jeff pulled into a dirt turnout. There weren’t any other cars or people around. With a quick jerk of the key, he shut off the engine. Instantly the silence swallowed them.

      Straight ahead was the blue Caribbean sea. Below, waves slowly slipped ashore, aimlessly flowing onto the beach before retreating. Lush plants surrounded them. Large palm trees provided shade. After a few moments, the birds and insects scared off by the Jeep’s presence returned. The low hum of wings and sharp calls of separated mates filled the air.

      He should have been able to smell the flowers, perhaps even the salty sea. Instead, there was only the scent of a woman’s fear. Andie Cochran had run out of options.

      He glanced over his shoulder. Bobby was lying on the back seat. The boy had found a few leaves on the floor of the open-air vehicle and lined them up like soldiers.

      Jeff knew the easiest thing in the world would be to walk away. They weren’t his responsibility. Maybe Andie would get lucky and find another way off the island. Maybe he would be able to finish the job he was here to do before she got caught. Or maybe Kray would choose not to be merciful when he found her. Maybe he wouldn’t kill her quickly, but instead would punish her for taking his son.

      Jeff rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You have another plan?”

      “Of course,” she said brightly. “Just drop us at the edge of town. We’ll be fine.”

      “And pigs fly.”

      She turned to look at him. “I’m telling the truth.” She made an X over her left breast. “I swear.”

      “You don’t know how much I want to believe that,” he mumbled under his breath.

      “You can, Rambo. Look, I don’t need to be with someone who thinks I’m slightly less worthy of life than the local variety of cockroach. So get us back to town and forget you ever saw us.”

      He was surprised at her vehemence. He shifted in his seat, wondering how she’d been able to read him so easily. There’d been a time when no one had known what he was thinking. Of course it had been five years since he’d been in the field.

      Rusty instincts or not, he was the best Andie and the kid were going to find on this island. Letting her go wasn’t an option. Not only because she could identify him, but because she was an American citizen. He didn’t have to like her, he only had to get her away from Kray. He started the engine.

      “Where are we going?” she asked.

      “Back to town.”

      “You’re going to let us go?”

      He glanced at her. The sunglasses hid her eyes, but he knew what she was thinking. He was going to take her at her word and dump her. The problem was she couldn’t decide if she was relieved or terrified.

      “Let’s get some food and more supplies. Then we’ll discuss your options,” he said. “The man at the airport didn’t get a good look at me, so that helps. We’ll head to the shopping center by the harbor. The cruise ships stay in port until around six so the whole area will be crawling with tourists.” He shifted into gear. “Your braid’s come loose.”

      He pressed on the gas, easing the vehicle out into the narrow road. As he headed back toward town, Andie dug through her purse for a brush. He tried not to notice as she drew her blond braid over her shoulder