Page 73 of Last Ticket to Paradise

He focused on the light bobbing in the water and adjusted the power of the binoculars. His heart slammed against his chest. Three figures occupied the boat, and one was a woman in white. He’d seen Georgette’s outfit tonight—hard to miss.

He’d been an idiot. The answer had been there in front of his face all along. Had he refused to see it because Gunther spent so much money at the resort? Drug money?

He scrambled from the rocks. Sloshing through the water, he made his way to the motorboat he kept moored on the beach.

He dug his feet into the sand and pushed the boat out to the waterline until a wave picked it up, slapping its sides.

Jake vaulted into the boat and started the motor. He kept the light out, using his flashlight on board instead—and the light of the almost-full moon. He and Georgette had been fools to expect action on the night of the full moon and at the Palarosa ritual rock. The small island had its own rock—that’s why the locals called it Palarita.

The calm water eased the boat’s passage to the island. Jake kept far enough back to keep out of sight, but he could see the other craft through his night-scope binoculars, and his breath hitched in his throat when it made its way around to the right side of the island.

Nobody could see that side of the island from Palumba. It faced the Caribbean Sea, without another island in its path for miles and miles—and the Palarosa ritual rock inhabited that side.

When the other boat disappeared from view, Jake drew in several deep breaths of the salty air to steady his panic. He couldn’t just charge onto the island with his gun blazing. They had Georgette.

Crouching on the deck, he unlocked a cabinet and pulled out his diving gear. He’d get the jump on these guys—and they’d never know what hit them.

***

The bottom of the boat scraped against the sand as Bones pulled it ashore.

Georgette had vomited over the side of the boat on the way over, and her head had started to clear. She would never let Gunther see that, though. Better to let him think his drugged punch still had her in its grip. Another advantage her size gave her over Jamie was that it would take a lot more drugged booze to incapacitate her.

Gunther nudged her back and growled. “Get her off the boat and take her to the rock.”

The rock? Georgette’s heart galloped in her chest. She’d read in her book about three Palarosa ritual rocks. That must be why the locals called Jake’s island Palarita. Little Palarosa. If Gunther was going to burn her alive, maybe she’d better ask for more of that drug.

Bones waded back to the boat and grabbed her around the waist, lifting her over the side. He set her down in the water, which lapped against her legs. Her skirt clung to her calves, and she stumbled and fell to her knees.

Gunther jumped into the water behind her, agile for his size, and grabbed the waistband of the skirt. He yanked it, ripping it from her body and dropping it in the water.

Bones turned to pull her up by her arm and grinned, his white teeth shining in the darkness. “Now, that’s more like it.”

The satin boy shorts that came with the skirt covered more than a bikini, and she still had on the bandeau top that went with the skirt. How long she’d be able to keep those, she had no clue.

She and Jake had miscalculated the day of the potential attack. Why would someone with a criminal mind like Gunther’s plan her abduction on the night of the full moon when she and Jake would be prepared?

She should’ve never left Jake’s side. She’d been a fool at dinner to believe Diego’s lies about Jake and Jamie. Her insecurities still had her believing the worst of any man who might be attracted to her.

As Bones dragged her onto the beach, she let her muscles relax and her limbs go limp. She had to let them think she was weak. After all, she topped both of them in height. She might be able to escape.

“Move, you stupid bitch.” Bones yanked her arm, and she dropped to the beach, her hair hanging on either side of her face, the grains of sand grating against her palms and knees.

Gunther secured the boat. “She’s still feeling the effects of the drug. You’re going to have to carry her.”

She didnotwant Bones’ hands on her body, so she raised her hand. “I can walk. I can walk.”

Bones pulled her up again and ignored her protests. He heaved her over his shoulder with a grunt.

“She’s not as light as her sister, that’s for sure.”

Damn right.

Georgette mumbled, “Jamie? Where’s Jamie?”

Gunther patted her leg and, in the same soothing voice he’d used at the resort, said, “You don’t have to worry about Jamie ever again, my dear. You don’t ever have to be jealous of her. She’s gone.”

Georgette choked on the lump in her throat, and tears streamed down her face, dripping onto the sand. Somehow, she’d always known Jamie was dead. But why? She had to know why before she joined her twin.

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