Hard Fought (A Stepbrother Warriors Novel)(48)

"Come on, Alexa. Think of how strange that would have looked to the rest of the family, if they'd been provided security and you hadn't. But that's why I only gave you one guard, and a gimp with PTSD at that."

My anger flares for the first time at his derisive description of Carter. Frankly, I'd like to fling myself across the boat and strangle him, but I know I don't really have a chance.

"I think you may have underestimated him," is all I say, and then turn back to look at the waves. We pull up to a slip and one of the security men quickly tosses my duffels onto the planks and hands me my purse. I don't have to look inside to know my cell phone's not there.

I step out of the boat and turn back, considering my father. "You know, I've been wondering why you care so much about what Anne thinks of you. You never seemed to care about anyone else's opinion. And I decided that it's because you think having someone like her love you will redeem you somehow. But you can only hide your true self from her for so long."

He's silent for a moment. "Good luck, Alexa," he finally says. The boat begins to pull away. "You're going to need it!"





Chapter Thirty-One



I quickly take stock of the marina. It's mostly empty, but at least I don't see any boats coming from the same direction as the house. Maybe the cartel has no idea that I've been jettisoned.

I heave the two duffels over my shoulders and head up the ramp toward the main building. I try the door, but it's locked. And no payphones around, either. Not that I know anyone's number by heart anymore, thanks to cell phones. I could try to call the house, but if I know my father, there's no way I'll be able to get through to anyone.

There's a crashing noise behind me and I jump. I spin around, my heartbeat skyrocketing, and a possum runs out from a recycling bin. I take a deep breath. I might have felt confident on the boat, but now that I'm all alone, I'm feeling much more vulnerable.

Carter won't believe that I just left, right? He'll come after me...eventually. But until then, I need to depend on myself.

Come on Alexa. Use your head. I need to get out of the open and into someplace more secure. I turn around and begin to walk quickly toward the main road. I still have a credit card tied to my own account, though it's nearly maxed out from my tuition payments, and if I remember correctly, has about thirty-one dollars left in it. I know where Nikki lives, but she's partying somewhere in South America. There's Jack's penthouse, but he bought it while I was in Europe, so I'll be damned if I can remember the address.

I reach the road, and wave my arm at an open taxi. It slows and the driver hops out and puts my duffels in the trunk. I slide in the back seat, wondering where the hell I'm going.

"Which terminal are you going to?" the cabbie asks as he pulls out.

"Sorry?"

"The bags...I assume you're going to the airport?"

The airport...well lit, lots of security, open twenty-four hours a day...perfect! "Um, Air France," I lie.

"You got it," he says.

I relax slightly as I lean back against the torn leather backseat. The airport is just a temporary fix, but at least it will get me through the night. I can't help turning around and checking the cars behind us, though I can't manage to make out their license plates in the dark.

Assuming that Jack, Bree, and Carter don't believe my father when he tells them I just ran off, how will they try to track me? How would I try to track someone? Call them, think about the normal places they'd go...neither of which would be helpful right now. Maybe I'm not thinking like Carter enough. He'd do something more high tech...like track my credit card.

When we reach the terminal, I pay the cab driver, leaving him with a lousy one dollar tip, though it's all the cash I have. I take my bags and head straight for the nearest ATM. The least I can take out is twenty dollars, so that's what I do. I'm just trying to leave a bread crumb.

I tuck my wallet back into my purse and look around. The stores are closed, but the lights are still bright in here, and I can see two security guards walking around just from here. I wish there was something that I could say to them that wouldn't make me sound crazy. Hi, I need your help because I'm a fully grown woman whose father just kicked her out of his house...and I'm in danger of being killed by a deadly Mexican cartel! I walk over and dump my duffels on the ground, and then curl up in a chair. At least I don't think I'm in any danger here, so I might as well try to get a few hours of sleep.

I wake up to the sound of the metal security door of the coffee shop next to me being raised. I look out the large windows on the sides of the terminal, and see that pink light is just beginning to show above the horizon. I look around furtively, but everyone seems to be going about their normal business. I stretch out my stiff, cramped limbs, and then wearily stand. I take my purse and go over to the ATM and again withdraw another twenty dollars, another time-stamped bread crumb.