She rolled her head in my direction and pushed her sunglasses down to look over them. “Don’t say anything.”
“Oh. You’re American?” I looked at my screen again. I accidently flashed the sun into my eyes.
“When I want to be. Go somewhere else. I want to be left in peace.” She pushed her sunglasses up and turned her face forward.
“I have to wait here. They told me I have to. So, sorry, I won’t bother you.”
She huffed and settled back. “Your funeral.”
I didn’t have time for gorgeous, sizzling hot bitches with exquisite racks. I was an American (full-time) teacher here to deal with the big dogs to save my niece.
My phone rang. It was my brother. I had a moment of concern that it wouldn’t connect, because I was out of the country, but it did. I would worry about the extra costs later. What was a few extra bucks when I was about to bargain for 70K plus interest?
“How is she?”
Paul was sobbing. “The program is working. They think it shows a lot of promise.”
I exhaled from the bottom of my feet to my balls and then out of my mouth. Man, we needed good news.
“She wants to talk to you.” I heard the rustling as the phone was passed to her.
“Uncle Case! Did you hear? Daddy says that I’m doing great.” Her voice carried over my phone, but I didn’t care. Hearing joy from her was everything.
“Great job, Princess Puddles. I knew you could do it. You’re my fighter.” I rubbed under my eyes as tears started to form. A chance. That’s all she needed. Give her an inch and she’d take a mile, even if we were dealing in miracles.
“Cancer’s a jerk. But I can beat it. When are you coming back?”
“I’ve got to do some things for your dad, but I should be back soon. I love you and I’m so proud of you.” I waited until I heard the click of the phone. That was good. When my brother called back not even one minute later, I sent him to voicemail. I didn’t have any news for him and I also didn’t want to be sitting here yapping on the phone instead of waiting like I was supposed to be.
I looked around nervously. I began tapping my fingers on my phone. There was going to be a man soon. At least that’s what the last text said. Sit on the beach, wait. As Paul, of course.
Minutes felt like hours.
THREE
Her
I WAS TRYING to pretend I hadn't heard the young voice on the other end of the phone, but I had. Crystal clear. Proclaiming that she was going to beat cancer. I put it together quickly. Jumpy American tourist man was here because he must have borrowed money from the Syndicate. They would act like the amount was a big problem. That’s how they hooked people in for life. How I got involved so long ago, too.
But the Syndicate had money to burn. A million was nothing. Chump change. They would light a fire with it. They moved in billions of dollars. Sometimes trillions.
I’d made peace with my death, and now this ripped nerd was sucking me into his drama. Or maybe I was getting sucked into it willingly.
“Who are you supposed to meet?” I slid my sunglasses down my nose.
“Deal? I guess a guy named Deal? Or are we supposed to do a deal?” He swung his legs around and set them between our lounge chairs, flinging sand on my torso in the process.
He reached over and brushed it off quickly, his fingertips dancing on my skin. It was pointless because the sand stuck to the lotion.
“I’m sorry. I’m touching you. I should stop touching you.” He held up his hands like I had a gun on him.
“It’s okay.” I knew he wasn’t being a creeper. He was just frazzled as hell.
“Thanks.” His head was on a swivel.
“Sit back.” I leaned up and pushed on his chest with my hand.
“Is it you? Are you Deal?”
He had one of those sharp jaws and a dimple that got deeper when he talked. His deep brown eyes were fringed by thick black lashes. He had a scratchy looking five o'clock shadow.
I moved quickly because I needed to see behind us. “No. I’m not Deal, but I know who he is. Just go with me here.”
I straddled his lap and eased myself slowly onto him. I leaned close to his ear, and my breasts touched his satiny bike jersey.