Page 3 of Wild Temple
I told her.
Her face wrinkled with empathy. Teagan‘s teal eyes filled with sadness. “I’m sorry. I hope your friend is okay.”
I nodded. “Me too!”
“When do you think you’re coming back?”
I shrugged. “Not until I find her.”
I said my goodbyes to Buddy and Fluffy, then hustled out to the parking lot when my rideshare arrived.
I hopped into the silver sedan and sped to the airport. My mind still raced, trying to put all the pieces together, hoping this was all some overreaction on our part.
Isabella was smart. Too smart to get into any trouble. She knew how to cover her tracks and keep eyes on her six. The girl wasn't born yesterday. But everybody has a bad day every now and then. One slip-up. One boneheaded move. That's all it takes in a business like this. Relax just once at the wrong time, and it could all be over. This was the kind of business where you could never stop looking over your shoulder.
The driver took me to the FBO and dropped me off at the curb. I thanked him, gave him a five-star rating on the app, and hustled inside.
Travelers came and went.
The sleekSlipstream G-750waited on the tarmac, gleaming in the afternoon sun. Polished to perfection with smooth, graceful lines, it was a marvel of modern commercial aviation. The pinnacle of luxury.
I lugged my bags across the tarmac and climbed the steps.
"Welcome aboard, Mr. Wild," a gorgeous blonde said with a smile just wide enough to appear sincere. She had elegant features and sharp blue eyes. The navy blue uniform was tailored to fit and hugged every perfect curve.
I smiled and greeted the captain and copilot.
"We'll be wheels up in about 25 minutes," the captain said. "Weather looks good. There might be a little turbulence here and there, but I’ll try to keep us out of it the best I can. Flight time is about 21 hours. We’ll need to refuel in Honolulu. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. If there is anything you need, Mika will be happy to help.”
I thanked him for his hospitality, then stowed my bags, slipped into a comfy leather seat, and leaned back.
Mika closed the door and sealed us in. The smell of Italian leather mixed with the traces of Mika’s floral perfume and the remnants of exhaust from the tarmac.
"Can I get you anything to drink?" Mika asked with a sparkle in her eyes.
I smiled. “You read my mind. Whiskey. Rocks. The best you’ve got.”
“Coming right up.”
She sauntered to the galley, and I may have taken a second look.
Ice danced in the glass, then crackled and popped as she poured the good stuff over it. In a flash, she set the drink on my tray with a fine linen napkin. “You have two choices for dinner. A grilled plate of beef with truffle, mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables, and cheesecake for dessert.”
“Say no more. I’m sold.”
She smiled. “An easy customer. We like easy.”
“Don’t speak too soon,” I said. “I can be a handful.“
A flirty smile curled her plump lips. “I’m up for a challenge.”
We did have 21 hours to kill. I could think of a few ways to do it.
3
Running an op without Isabella was just weird. It had been so long since I’d done it, I felt lost. She had always been there for support. A safety blanket of sorts. Someone who always had your back when the shit got heavy.
The island was paradise—lush, green jungle surrounded by teal water. But it wasn’t all postcards and sunshine. There were real dangers on the island, of which I’d encounter many.
