Page 36 of Landon

She was suddenly very curious about him. “Is your day usually like this?”

A little smile played at the corners of his lips. “Like yours, my days vary. Sometimes, I’m the one in the office helping one of the other Keepers in the field.” He shrugged. “Today, it was my day to lean on the others to help guide us through this.”

“You may have leaned on them, but it was you running through the jungle to rescue those kids.”

A chuckle rumbled from his chest. “If I recall correctly, I wasn’t the only one who raced through the jungle to get to them.”

She exhaled heavily while shaking her head. “I honestly can’t tell you what I was thinking. I just knew I wanted to have eyes on you and them, not sit in the vehicle and just wait to see if someone was coming back for me.”

“Well, you saved us, for sure.”

“I think the saving was yours,” she admitted. “I just happened to scare the man on the roof. I had no idea he’d fall off after hearing the gunshot.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she noticed Landon staring at her, confusion flashing through his eyes before his face became blank again. She had to admit he was one of the most complex people she’d ever met. She also had to admit that she wanted to peel away the layers and find out more about him. He had not only piqued her curiosity but called to something deep and elemental inside her. Something heretofore untouched.

“What do you think about Pamela and what the kids told us?” she asked.

“Probably not much different from you. While I wouldn’t want to say this to the kids, I’d have to agree that while I think she loves her children very much, she’s driven by a selfish motivation. The Fugates are wealthy, no doubt about it. In many ways, their land is rich, even though I’d have to say they’re not hurting for money in the bank or investments. Everything I turned up on them and then meeting them this morning, they struck me as hard-working people who appreciate what they’ve been given but didn’t mind the effort it took to keep it going. Everything I knew about Pamela going into this was that she was considered money selfish. I think her actions today showedthat she does love her children, but her actions placed them in a situation of being in danger.”

Noel nodded. “We’ll see how things go tomorrow, but at the moment, my recommendation will be that she has supervised visits with the kids, regardless of how the alimony situation gets settled. She’s proven she can’t be trusted.”

Landon nodded. “I think that’s the right decision.” He chuckled and shook his head. “I realize you don’t need my approval?—”

“I might not need it, but it’s nice to hear your thoughts were running along the same as mine.” Rolling her head to the side, she added, “Something else came up that I wanted to ask you about.”

He didn’t say anything, but his attention stayed riveted on her. She glanced over to see that the children had not moved and then looked back at him. “It had to do with Penny's observation about Roger and Horticia. I felt your intensity change. Why was that? What do you think was happening?”

17

Landon had been sending messages to LSIMT, wanting them to investigate Horticia and Roger. From what the kids indicated, the two had met before yesterday and might have had an arrangement by the time Pamela devised this trip.

His gaze drifted to Noel, her profile illuminated by the dim glow of the flashlight perched nearby. She had been a revelation from the start—smart, resilient, fiercely protective of the kids. During every step of this chaotic mission, she had repeatedly proven herself. She wasn’t just along for the ride but a vital part of this operation. He’d realized that, in truth, those qualities made her very similar to him.

And the kiss?Hell, he’d spent hours trying to push it from his mind, but it lingered, gnawing at him, refusing to be ignored. It wasn’t just about attraction—though, God knew, he felt that in spades—it was about the way she had fit against him, the way her lips had sparked something deep and undeniable. And now, sitting so close their legs touched, her hand occasionally on his arm, he couldn’t help but hope she’d want to kiss him again.

His fingers stilled as he finished his message. He looked over, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Her head was down, but he could feel her attention on him, her presence grounding himin a way he hadn’t expected. Her hair, still damp, had dried into soft curls framing her face, the earlier storm leaving its mark in the most enchanting way. She shivered slightly, her wet clothes clinging to her frame, and he hated seeing her cold.

When she finally spoke, her voice low and filled with concern, she pulled him from his thoughts. “What do you think was happening?”

He met her gaze, the vulnerability in her eyes pulling him closer. “When I surveilled the building where the kids were held, I overheard one of the men say something about it being payday. Another responded, ‘Fucking easy. She set it up so easy.’”

Noel gasped. “She? Oh my God, do you think it was Pamela?” Before he had a chance to reply, Noel shook her head. “No, their mom had nothing to do with it. It must’ve been Horticia. Either on her own or with Roger.”

“That’s my guess, too.”

“But won’t he disappear? Now that they know the kids are safe?”

“I know the police have a lot to do, but with the storm passing farther away from the island and not hitting us directly, I assume their resources wouldn’t be stretched so thin. My boss has already been in touch with the governor-general and the police commissioner. They’ve got Pamela’s house under surveillance.”

Eyes wide, Noel gasped again. “They suspect her?”

He shifted, turning fully toward her, their knees pressing together. The touch was subtle but searing, grounding him in the moment. He reached out, covering her hand with his. “I know this sounds harsh, but she set the wheels in motion that led to all this. She’ll have to face that, at least until we get back tomorrow.”

Noel let out a long, weary breath. “I hate it when kids are hurt by the people they should trust the most. Roger was after money, sure, but to go this far? To kidnap and terrify those kids? It’s beyond despicable. Fucking worthless shits.”

Her blunt words, so at odds with her gentle demeanor, caught him off guard. A bark of laughter escaped him, startling in its suddenness. He quickly stifled it, glancing at the kids to ensure they were still sleeping. His gaze flicked back to her, amusement lighting his eyes. “You’re this pint-sized ray of sunshine, but damn, you’ve got a mouth on you. It’s hilarious and unexpected.”

A grin spread across her face, her eyes twinkling with a mix of pride and mischief. “Good to know I can still surprise you.”

“Oh, you’re a surprise, all right.”

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