Taiwan
Kamden sighed and reached for her drink. Four missed calls from Caleb. He never left a single message and for that reason, she’d never called him back. Yeah right, lie to yourself, her subconscious teased. Still she couldn’t get over the way it felt to kiss him.
It hadn’t mattered he was trying to prove a point. When his lips covered hers, nothing else mattered. She’d never wanted anyone so much in her entire life.
“Damn you,” she hissed.
“Damn you, who?” Missy asked, from where she sat on the lounge beside her.
Forcing Caleb’s memory where it belonged, in the back of her mind, she shook her head. “No one.”
A dark eyebrow rose. “Really?” Missy leaned close. “Sure it’s not that hottie, Caleb?”
Eyes wide she met her friends smug gaze. “What on earth are you going on about? Perhaps you should stop drinking those—whatever you’re gulping down like they’se water—mai tai’s is it?”
“Be as bitchy as you like, Kam, but you talk in your sleep. Have for a long time.” She put the straw between her glossed lips. “I must say, it was nice to finally put a face to the name you moan so passionately.”
All she could do was stare at her friend. The fact she had called out Caleb’s name mortified her. Her mouth moved but nothing came out.
“You both look rather serious. Come on, I’m the one working; you two lovelies are on vacation. What gives?”
Evan’s smooth British voice jostled her and she jumped. Lucky for her, Missy was on it.
“I was just telling her, she does in fact snore. Loudly.”
Evan laughed. A nice comforting sound. “She’s right, hon. You do.” He kissed her and even as she returned it the knowledge Evan’s kiss, while extremely nice, couldn’t hold a candle to Caleb’s surfaced. And it pissed her off.
She ended the kiss and made room for him beside her. Evan Childress was gorgeous. Typical Hollywood hottie. Lots of women and probably some men would give their left arm to date him. To share his bed. Tall, tanned, black hair, brown eyes and a body made fit from hours at the gym. A perfect smile and to top it off, a British accent.
“Not polite for you to say I snore.”
“But Missy can?”
“Of course.” Her response was immediate.
“How unfair. Now, dinner tonight. Missy you’re coming as well. I’ll pick you up at the room okay? About seven.”
“Sounds good,” she said. They shared another kiss. “See you then.”
Evan trailed a hand down the side of her face. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Me too. Now get to work.”
He grinned. “Yes ma’am. Bye Missy.”
Missy waved but remained silent. At least until it once again was just the two of them. Then that mischievous sparkle filled her friend’s gaze and she knew Missy had more to say.
“He loves you, Kam.”
Her heart pounded out of control. Opening her mouth to disagree, she clamped it shut again when Missy lifted a plucked brow. As if daring her to deny it. Unable to hold the piercing gaze of her friend, she dropped hers to the drink beside her.
“I know,” she admitted on a barely audible breath.
Missy placed her own drink down and sat closer to grab her hands.
“Kam?” Her voice overly concerned.
“He asked me to marry him, Missy.”
“When?”
“Last night.”
Missy flipped over her left hand. “Did you say no?”
“I didn’t say one or the other. I told him I needed to think about it.”
“Why? You do love him, right?” She paused and Missy drew back, a frown on her face. “Kam? Do you love him?”
“Yes I do. I don’t hear bells when we kiss, but I do love him.”
“Bells? You’ve been reading too many romance novels. Who hears bells when they kiss a man?”
I did when Caleb kissed me. “Yeah, you’re right. Besides, Evan is damn near perfect.”
It was obvious Missy wasn’t totally buying her giving up, but she dropped it. “Good. Now, let’s go swimming.”
Getting up from her chair, she executed a swan dive into the pool after Missy. Tonight she’d tell Evan yes.
Caleb Moser would always be her one true love, but he made it clear he didn’t want her. Evan loved her, it was way past time she felt her fantasy world and entered reality.
Kamden Childress. Didn’t sound so bad.
They showered and met Evan and one of his co-stars for dinner. Stephan Picard had charmed Missy completely. They chatted easily together when a reporter came up and flashed some pictures she asked Evan, “Is there anything between you and Ms. Strong?”
His brown eyes met hers. She nodded and gave him a soft smile.
“Yes,” Evan said seconds before he kissed her. “Ms. Strong is my fiancée.”
Five nights later as she walked to her and Missy’s hotel room, she smiled when the lights shone off her ring. She and Missy were going out to where Evan was shooting to say goodbye then they were off to Paris for a sightseeing jaunt. Then she’d head home after that visit. Her own parents had been thrilled when she told them of her engagement.
Opening the door, she paused at the unmistakable sound of a couple in the throes of passion. Without missing a beat, she left in silence and headed back downstairs to sit at the hotel bar. She drank a cranberry juice before sitting down at the piano in the lounge and beginning to play.
Time passed as her fingers danced over the ivory. It was almost two hours later when she wound down with her final song. Applause met her ears before the last note faded from the air. She ran a hand through her hair and smiled as she got to her feet.
“Good night,” she uttered when she finished talking to those standing around.
This time the room was silent and she found Missy lying in a robe watching a muted show.
“What are you doing?”
Missy jumped. “Watching a movie.”
“No sound?”
“I don’t speak the language so this way I pick my own dialogue.”
“Okay.” She let it go. Missy seemed more uptight than normal.
“Where were you?”
“Lounge. I played the piano for a while. Guess I lost track of time.”
“Playing for a room full of adoring fans can do that I guess,” Missy spit out.
She frowned over the venom in those words. “Missy? What’s going on?”
“Nothing!” She focused on the television and increased the volume flooding the room with sound.
Unwilling to let it go, she moved to the box and turned it off. “We’ve been friends for a long time, Missy. What is going on?”
“I can’t believe you’re marrying Evan.”
“Why? I thought you liked him.”
Missy shoved herself to her feet. “I do. That’s the problem. You’re settling for him. He’s your second choice and…and he doesn’t even know it.” Shoving a finger in her chest, Missy sneered at her. “You’re such a bitch. Using him like this, he deserves so much better than you.”
In shock, Kami stood there while Missy stomped away and slammed the bedroom door behind her. Shaking, she sank down on a chair.
Was Missy right? Had she settled for Evan? Was the reason she said yes because Caleb made it clear they hadn’t a future? She knew it was and shame flooded her.
Drawing her knees up, she sat there and rocked through the night until sleep overtook her, waking when the front desk called. She didn’t say anything to Missy and the silence grew awkward as they waited for their ride. Her smile was nervous when Evan jumped out.
“Evan, what are you doing here?”
“I came to drive you up.” He kissed her. “You two ready?”
They climbed in and drove off. If he noticed the strain between her and Missy, he made no mention of it. The visit at the site went well; she watched Missy with Stephen and smiled before returning her attention to Evan as he worked a scene.
It was dusk when she and Missy climbed back in the older jeep. Evan again at the wheel, they headed back. Missy slept and Kamden took in as much of the scenery as she could. It was so beautiful here.
“Shit,” Evan swore, grabbing her attention.
“What?”
“Tree in the road.” He put the vehicle in neutral before the felled tree. It covered all the narrow road and she jumped out to help him move it. Finally, with Missy’s assistance they got it moved enough so they could keep going.
Wiping her hands on her shorts, she spun around at Missy’s gasp of horror. Her heart quadrupled in speed and fear exploded throughout her. Sitting and leaning casually on the jeep sat a group of armed men.
Evan stepped in front of them both when one man moved forward. “Stay behind me,” he ordered. “What do you want?” His directed his question at the men.
Missy grabbed her hand when the man smashed the butt of his gun into Evan’s skull and he sank faster than a rock in water.
“Oh my God, Evan!”
Tearing free of Missy, she lunged to his side and dropped beside him, gathering him close, his blood soaking her shirt. A flurry of words she didn’t understand flew around them. Then she found herself starring up the barrel of a gun. The words unclear, the meaning crystal clear. Swallowing her fear, she shook her head. “Not without him.”
“Jesus, Kam, just do what they want!” Missy cried.
In the fading light, she held the angry gaze and repeated herself. “Not without him.”
A different man put himself in her line of sight. “I could shoot you now,” he growled low, the retreating light making his scar appear even more menacing.
Refusing to cower she said, “Then do it. But I’m not leaving him here.”
They stared at one another before he waved his hand. Seconds later, they yanked Evan’s body from her and tossed it unceremoniously in the jeep. She and Missy were soon in as well and they headed off onto a road she’d not noticed before. With a prayer, she glanced behind her and saw there was also no trace of the tree. The road perfectly clear and passable.
Oh, shit. We are in some serious crap.
They pulled up to some rough huts and were ushered into one. Evan had woken and pushed back when one guy shoved him. The darkness inside the shelter split by a muzzle flash and the night torn by the bark of a gun. Missy screamed and pressed tighter to her. Another brought a single lamp inside.
“Evan!” Kami cried scrambling to where he lay. A red stain spread across his abdomen increasing in size with each passing second. “God damn it, hang in there, Evan.”
Lifting his shirt, she bit back her cry of dismay. Short of having him up on a table, she wasn’t going to be able to save him. Still, she placed her hand over the wound to try to staunch the blood flow as best she could. Behind her, Missy’s sobs echoed throughout the hut.
Evan stared at her, his beautiful brown eyes glazed with pain. His mouth moved and he reached to cover her hand and then place it along her cheek.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered.
Tears fell. “For what? You can’t let this beat you. We have a wedding to plan.”
“I wish I could have had a daughter who looks like you.” His voice grew fainter with each word.
“We’ll work on that for our first anniversary.” She willed him to stay alive. God damn it why can’t I have him in my operating room?
“Kamden, do something for me.”
“Anything.”
“When he comes for you, hold onto him, tight, and don’t let him go.”
She wiped the sweat from his brow. “What are you going on about? We’re all going home.”
“Your Marine, Caleb.” She swallowed and shook her head in denial. “I know you love him. I know had he given you the time of day I wouldn’t have stood a chance.” Her tears fell faster. “Missy was right, you do snore, but you also talk in your sleep.”
“Evan—”
“It’s okay, Kam. I knew I was second in your heart. I didn’t…don’t care. I’ve loved you since the day I laid eyes on you in that hospital.” His lids closed. “Be happy, Kamden Zyanya. You deserve nothing less.”
He took a few breaths that are more ragged then his chest stopped moving. Despite the fact she knew what she would find, she still put two blood-slicked fingers up against his neck to check for a pulse. There was none. Evan Childress was dead. Had died in her arms.
With tenderness, she closed his unseeing eyes and brushed her lips over his. “Goodbye Evan.”
Unsteady she got to her feet and looked around the hut. Missy stood off to a side, her hand clenched in her shirt and tears streaming down her face. Their eyes met and in seconds, they hugged, desperate for each other’s support.
“They…they killed him. Just shot him like an animal,” Missy wailed. “Oh my God, we’re next.”
Her own response fell short when the curtain moved, and two men stepped in. Missy shuddered and Kamden slid herself before her friend, determined not to lose another. Their looks made her skin crawl, but she held their gaze, her anger serving as her courage. She glared when they moved to Evan’s prone body and poked him with the muzzles of their guns. She wanted to scream and rail at them but it would do no good. Evan was already dead.
Missy’s whimpers grew louder and Kami adjusted so she could press her friends face into her shoulder. Tremors rocked from the slender woman. She bit her lower lip when another man came in and grabbed Evan’s legs and dragged him from the hut.
Evan!
More activity and three more entered. All armed and none to comforting to stare at. Her knees trembled when one moved closer. When he reached for her hair, she swung her right hand at him. He caught it and grinned evilly.
“That all you got?” he taunted.
Before she could talk herself out of it or even consider the ramifications, her anger boiled over and she punched him in the jaw then spit in his face.
“I’m a South Paw, you fuck. Is that good enough for you?”
He growled low before he touched his face and stared at the blood there. Faster than a snake, he grabbed her hand and yanked off her engagement ring. Shouting something, he left, leaving just the man with the scar to keep them company.
One eye warily on the man, she backed up with Missy and sank down by the wall. The humidity kept the blood on her shirt from completely drying. Arm around her friend, she tenderly brushed a hand over her face.
“Sleep Missy.”
Eventually so did she.
Kamden lost track of time. Days and nights blurred together. Each day she saw the sun, she wondered if it would be her last. Missy had given up hope and she was pretty close to it as well. She’d been allowed to send a note to her parents. If they got it or not, she highly doubted, merely figured it was just a way to ensure cooperation. One of the men who spoke English read it to make sure there were no codes in it. That was her reward for fixing up one of the men who’d broken his leg. They had discovered she was a doctor and she agreed to patch people up so long as she and Missy were left alone.
Every night she and Missy would curl up on an old moldy mattress to share body heat, keep away small rodents or snakes, and she’d whisper, “Hang on, Missy. Just hang on.”
At least that’s how it went until Missy caught a fever. Then she spent her nights doing her best to keep her friend comfortable. The morning Missy no longer breathed was the day she lost all hope for herself. It hit her there would be no rescue, no attempt to save her from her fate. Heck, she doubted they’d even sent off her letter. However, on the off chance they had, at least her parents would know her final thoughts were of them.
Tears streaming in rivulets down her face, she dug Missy’s grave alone, armed men watched over her, but they didn’t help. Honestly, she doubted she’d accept any. It was after all their fault her best friend, Missy lay dead, wrapped in mosquito netting. She’d allowed them to carry her here being she knew she couldn’t do it herself. Her hands were torn and bleeding when she covered Missy with the thick, nutrient-packed dark dirt. That done, she made a crude cross and said a prayer before tottering off back to her shack, or as she thought of it, her cell.
A few hours later, the head honcho, Sing, stepped in followed by three other men. She snorted in disbelief, as if she was a threat to a single man much less four, even if they had been unarmed.
“Get up,” he barked.
She rolled away, giving him her back.
“Get up!” One of the men nudged her none to gently with his foot and she winced in pain from the blow to her kidneys. “Injured man. You fix,” Sing ordered.
“Go fuck yourself. I hope he dies.” She poured as much contempt as possible into her voice.
“You help or die.”
That got her up. Yet another threat. She stomped past the asshole who’d kicked her and over to him. “Go ahead. I’m so fucking sick of all of this. Get it over with. Kill me. I’ve lost my fiancé and my best friend. So please, kill me. Your man will still be dead which is just fine by me. I hope your entire little village here dies.” She spat in his face.
She never saw the fist that connected with her jaw. Only the stars and blackness that came after upon swift wings.
Finally, she thought, I’ll be free of this place.