“All I need to do is come with you? I don’t have to do anything else?”
Kelly exhales roughly. “I would never, ever make you do anything you didn’t want to do, Omega. All you need to do is come sit on a beach, read a book, do whatever you want to do, and I’ll pay you a ridiculously huge amount of money for the privilege.”
I glance at Keagan, who looks distraught. I can’t leave them. I’m not strong enough.
“They are coming with us. I’m not going anywhere without them.”
“Of course,” Kelly says with a straight face, though his cheek tics.
“And Nat. She’s been dying to get off this island. I want her, too,” I say and lift my chin.
Kelly smiles. “We can bring Nat with us, no problems.”
I exhale. “When do we leave?”
Kelly looks up, and, for the first time since he’s been here, he looks actually happy.
“I can have a plane here to pick us up in four hours.”
I glance at Shale. He’s watching me intently, but with just the barest dip of a nod, I relax.
“Okay, let’s go.”
Chapter fifteen
Shale
ShaleAged19
I laugh as the boot hits my ribs. I think I heard something crack. It occurs to me that these guys might kill me. Nah, that won’t happen.
The bonds ignite with rage, and I let out another laugh.
“Oh, you’re fucked now.”
Keagan appears from nowhere and slams his fist into the face of the guy who just kicked me.
Beau races in and tackles another. It’s a vicious brawl, but it’s over quickly. Beau and Keagan are as skilled fighters as I am. The ten unconscious guys are scattered all around us. More tourists thinking they could do whatever they wanted.
Beau holds out his hand, and I clasp it, laughing. “You’re nuts, do you know that? Why did you come alone?”
“We need the money.”
“Not that bad,” Keagan snarls.
His knuckles are split, but he looks adorable. I wince as my ribs twinge and look down at the bald-headed guy on the ground. He moans when I kick him. This is the guy we’ve been hired to get.
I pull him up, waiting until he’s staring at me, fear in his eyes.
“Do you remember the deal? You had to pay up or things were going to get ugly.”
“It’s not enough time to get the money!” he squeaks.
“I don’t really care. I’m not here because of the money. I’m here to deliver a message.”
“What kind of message?”
“The painful kind.”