The Private Serials Box Set(106)

She smiled at me, her eyes never straying from mine, and walked straight to me, wrapping her arms around my neck, pressing her breasts against my chest. My arm slid possessively around her waist, as I knew Derrek was getting a fantastic view of her perfect ass. He swallowed hard and I knew he’d taken her in, seen exactly what he’d once had and lost.

“Hello,” she said sweetly when she pulled away, not removing her arms from around me.

“Hello, sweetheart.” I watched her eyes soften at my endearment, then she turned to face the man she was ready to leave behind.

“Derrek. Jessica.” That was her greeting to them, and it was cold. She did, however, give a small wave to the little girl at Jessica’s side, and I wasn’t surprised when the child’s face lit up with a smile and she waved back.

“What are we doing here?” Derrek asked, irritated.

“We’re here to go boating,” I said deadpan, fully aware that my answer was snarky and frustrating.

“Cut the bullshit,” Derrek snapped.

“Lena and I are going to rent a boat. You and Jessica are going to rent a boat. We are going to meet about seven miles southeast of here. You can follow me.”

“First you tell me what’s going on.”

“No. We’re doing this my way. You either rent this boat and meet us in the water, or the first call I make is to Edgar. I’ll remind you that you no longer have enough money to pay him back.” Derrek thought about his options, but in the end, the choice I gave him wasn’t really a choice. I turned, my arm around Lena’s shoulders, and proceeded to the small building to rent a speedboat.



Forty-five minutes later Lena and I were shooting through the water, cutting through the ice-blue waves, wind whipping past us. Lena was smiling and so was I. Even though we were about to try and pull off something completely crazy and illegal, it was hard not to enjoy the ride. Lena looked back toward the shore, Athens disappearing in the distance, and I couldn’t help but admire the picture she had painted for me. Long tanned legs crossed, black bikini covering enough to be appropriate, but leaving enough skin available for me to peruse that my thoughts were anything but. Her hair was captured by the wind, flowing behind her in a wild mess that looked both beautiful and free. Perhaps she felt free. Perhaps she had faith enough in me to understand that this would be the last hour of her life where she’d have to worry about Derrek or the mess he’d made. I couldn’t help but smile bigger thinking I’d given her the happiness and freedom painted across her face.

Once we’d reached our destination I slowed the boat to a full stop.

“I know you’ve wanted to keep the details to yourself, and I understand why, but I’m really curious as to what we’re doing way out here.” Lena was sitting on one of the benches that lined the side of the boat, her hair no longer blowing in the wind, but her face a little pink from it.

“Derrek and Jessica are about to get lost at sea,” was my only response and Lena, God love her, accepted it with a nod.

When their boat pulled up near ours, obviously a little behind, not wanting to take theirs at a full clip with little girls on board, Derrek’s face was both worried and irritated.

“Okay, we’re here. Now tell me what the hell is going on.”

“First thing’s first. Jessica and the girls need to board our boat.”

“What?” The rage in his voice was clear and loud, and I completely understood.

“Listen, Derrek. I give you my word that everything will be all right. But you’ve got to trust me here. I want nothing but for this to be over with.” I picked up the rope I’d pulled out of the supply hatch and raised my eyebrows at him, waiting for him to comply. I knew he would—he had no other choice. He held his hands out and I tossed him the rope, then we gently pulled until our boats were side by side.

Jessica climbed aboard first, then slowly, Derrek passed the girls over to her. Lena held her hands out, offering to take the smaller girl from Jessica. She hesitated for just a moment, but then handed the tiny girl to her. Even though she was holding the love child her ex-husband created while cheating on her, Lena’s face lit up and she made it her mission to make the little girl smile amidst all the uncertainty and chaos.

Once all three were safely aboard, I looked to Derrek.

“You see that island just south of us?” I pointed to the horizon, where one could see the outline of an island in the distance.

“Yeah….” Derrek’s answer trailed off as he tried to put together all the pieces I was giving him.

“The east side of the island is just a rocky cliff. I want you to take your boat around the island and then point it directly at the rocks. Max the speed out. You need to be going fast enough to wreck that boat beyond recognition.”

“What?” Jessica practically yelled, but then calmed immediately when both her children began to panic too.

“You want me to crash the boat into the side of that island?” Derrek’s voice was both scared and unbelieving.

“Yes. I want you to aim the boat at the rocks, but jump into the water about five hundred yards out. We’ll come and pull you out of the water.”

“That’s crazy. I could die.”

“That’s the idea.”

Derrek stared at me, eyes wide, until I saw recognition cloud them over. “You want me to fake my own death.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement.