Page 61 of Last Ticket to Paradise

“Acceptable? I wouldn’t call murder acceptable at all.” Georgette folded her hands in her lap, trying to get the conversation back on a track she understood.

“Of course not.” Mrs. Bonnaire’s eyes closed in her still face, and Georgette thought she’d fallen asleep until the other woman’s eyelids flew open. “They knew each other, you know.”

Her words, delivered in a hushed whisper, had Georgette pressing her hand against her galloping heart.

“Hallie and Jamie?”

“Hallie worked at the resort. She met your sister and was very taken with her. She talked about her clothes and her style of life—traipsing from one island to another, leaving broken hearts in her wake.”

“Nobody told me this.”

“Why would they? They want you gone.”

Georgette’s fingers curled against her throat. “Who does?”

“Maman!”

Georgette jerked her head to the side, toward the sound of someone crashing through the bushes. Two men emerged from the deep green, wearing matching scowls.

The larger one, bare-chested, tattooed, and pumped up, circled behind his mother. “Who are you and what do you want?”

“I-I stumbled on your mother’s house while I was out walking, and she was kind enough to invite me to sit down before I made my way back to the resort. I’m afraid I got rather lost.”

The big guy’s companion, who must’ve been his brother, and was no shrimp himself, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his kin, crossing his arms. “Liar.”

“Bones, that’s no way to talk to my guest.”

The brother who wasn’t Bones placed a hand the size of a slab of beef on his mother’s shoulder. “Is she harassing you,Maman? You don’t have to protect her.”

Mrs. Bonnaire clicked her tongue. “We’re just chatting, Johnny.”

“I know who you are.” Johnny leveled a finger at Georgette. “You’re that tourist from Palumba Falls sleeping around with any guy who’ll have you—even the big boss. Slut.”

Well,thathad gotten around quickly. Fire whipped Georgette’s cheeks, and her hand inched up to her throat. She’d never been called a slut in her life—and she didn’t like it.

“Johnny.” Mrs. Bonnaire slapped her son’s hand. “That’s no way to talk to a lady.”

Bones nudged his brother’s shoulder. “This one’s no lady,Maman. Didn’t you hear Johnny? She’s been taking her clothes off and spreading her legs.”

Those legs felt like lead, but Mrs. Bonnaire’s wide eyes and agitated hands clued in Georgette that she needed to get out of here—fast.

“I’m not going to sit here and be insulted.” Georgette pushed to her feet, and her leaden legs had turned to rubber. She braced her hand against a tree to steady herself and said, “Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Bonnaire.”

As Georgette turned, a hand closed like a vise around her upper arm, and Mrs. Bonnaire gasped.

“Bones, leave her be. Let her go on her way.”

Bones didn’t let her go. He leered close to her face, his breath stinking of garlic. “Why should the tourists at the Falls have all the fun? If you’re givin’ it away for free, baby, I’ll take my share.”

Georgette tried to wrench out of his grasp, but Bones circled his hand around her throat.

“Locals aren’t good enough for you?”

Kicking out, Georgette made contact with his shin, and he uttered an expletive, but he released his hold on her neck only long enough to rip her blouse from her body.

“Bones, stop. I won’t have this. I’ll call Clive myself.”

“TakeMamaninside, Johnny.” Bones jerked a thumb over his shoulder as his gaze locked onto Georgette’s breasts in her bikini top. “And I’ll let you have a turn when I’m done with her.”

The bushes rustled behind her, and Jake emerged like some jungle cat, springing forward and landing a fist against Bones’ nose.

“When I’m done withyou, you’ll be lucky to raise one finger.”

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