Exit through Tortuga Bay, page 21
No. Jane was wrong. She had to be wrong. Noah was not using Grace for sex. He would have been fine watching movies last night. He had said so himself.
“Chin up,” Jane said, tilting her head. “A bit of advice though.” She brought her voice down to a low whisper. “Use them like they use us, and it becomes an equal playing field.” She slid her sunglasses up her forehead, and her hazel eyes twinkled with sin. She winked once, before sliding her shades back on.
Jane’s ex must have done a number on her if she was living by such warped rules. But Grace said nothing as she watched Jane sip her coffee.
Grace shook off the uneasy feeling in her stomach.
“Ahem.” Diego, the assistant manager, appeared. “Shall we begin?”
Jane plastered on her smile and nodded. “Yes. We’re ready.” She stood up and followed Diego down the hall, Grace falling into step behind them.
Grace touched Jane’s arm just before they entered the conference room. “Are you sure we’re okay?”
“Of course,” Jane said, “Now let’s grab this account by the balls.” A flash of excitement glimmered across her eyes before she slipped into the conference room.
Okay then. Grace breathed. Maybe everything would be fine after all.
Chapter Twenty
Dumbass.
How could he have been so careless?
Only Grace could make a shitty situation a life-altering change for the best. He was proud of her for deciding to pursue a teaching career. She was obviously good at her current job; Noah had gotten a front-row seat to her pitch. But she’d be even better with children because she’d be so much happier.
However, knowing all that didn’t stop Noah from beating himself up for being so irresponsible. For leaping out into the hallways without even looking. The cartel could have been lurking in the bushes, for all he knew. He needed to be more careful, or he would lose her forever.
Noah kicked the edge of the bedpost; the vibrations shot up his leg and continued to buzz in his ears.
Oh wait, the buzzing noise was his phone.
Kai’s name appeared on his screen, and Noah huffed a few breaths to calm down before he answered it.
“Hey, Noah,” Kai said. “I have news.”
“What’s up?” Noah tried to sound normal, but the words came out strained. Kai would see right through it.
“What’s wrong?”
Dammit.
Noah looked at himself in the mirror, staring into his own frantic eyes. The last thing Kai needed to know was that Noah didn’t have things under control. “Nothing. I’m just about to pick up the van from the shop.”
Kai waited a beat before he said, “Good. Save the receipt. We can expense it.”
“What’s the news?” He could use the distraction.
“We have a buyer for the business.”
“Really?” Noah said. “Can you do that without Raffi?”
“No, but I was able to see him in jail. He’s willing to sign the papers.”
“How is he?”
“Raffi’s fine. He thinks the judge might go easy on him since he’s working with the police.”
“Do you think he’s going to be in for a while?”
“It’s shaping up that way, yeah.”
Noah meandered to the patio door, looking out over the turtle pool at the young family playing in the shallow end. Raffi would never know what it would be like to have his own family like that. He deserved a long time in jail for what he had done, the burden he had put on Noah and Kai and Ma. But Noah couldn’t prevent feeling heartbroken. Twenty-two years of looking up to that shithead, and look what good that did. Noah had turned out just as careless and reckless as the king of dumbasses.
Noah shook off the ache in his chest. “So who’s the fool you suckered into buying the company? And do they know about the cartel on our ass?”
“This investor is aware. And they’re going to take good care of the employees while they break down the business into parts. Pretty soon it’ll just be a coffee roastery with a new name.”
Noah heaved a deep breath. His father would have been heartbroken to learn they had to sell the business. But just like everyone else, they had failed him too.
“Either way, I wanted to let you know so you could start finding something to do. You’ll officially be out of a job in December.”
“I’m already thinking about that.”
“Oh yeah? What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Noah said.
There was silence for a while before Kai said, “You could stay at my apartment in San José and go to school there.”
Noah ran his hand through his hair. “Thanks for the offer.” But he couldn’t think about school right now. A good education would only be a waste of time for him. “Can we talk about this later? I’ve got a lot on my mind right now.” Noah debated whether to tell Kai about the men he saw in Jaco but decided against it. It would only make him worry.
“Sounds good. And Noah?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you, man.”
Noah pursed his lips. His brother had turned into such a sap, although the sentiment still warmed his chest. At least one of his brothers wasn’t a complete disappointment.
Noah begrudgingly mumbled, “I love you too” and clicked off the phone.
Clouds hung heavy, threatening rain. The damp air whirled in through the cab window. Noah inhaled deeply, breathing in a mix of salty air and exhaust fumes. The cab driver took him to the auto shop where the OPEN sign was missing an E. He pulled the front door, and the bells attached to the handle rang in alarm.
American pop music played over the speakers, and two customers in cowboy hats were sitting in chairs, reading automotive magazines. They both looked up at Noah with deep frowns. They were either two very disgruntled mechanics on a break or out-of-towners. No Costa Rican was that grumpy.
He stood in front of the desk, waiting for Bruno, the mechanic he met earlier. Noah tapped his fingers against the desk and got a text message from an unknown number.
* * *
4155550809: Hey, it’s Kai. I’m texting from Jolie’s number. She’s trying to convince me to update my phone. Anyway, I’ve told my landlord to let you into the building in case you decide to stay there while you figure stuff out.
* * *
Noah stared at the text for a while. Sure, Kai was babying him like he always did, but what other choice did Noah have? He couldn’t go home because of the cartel, and sleeping in his apartment was better than the van. He could drive there tomorrow and wallow in self-pity after Grace had left the country.
* * *
Noah: Thanks. I might take you up on that.
* * *
After another minute of not being helped, Noah turned to the two men sitting in the lobby chairs. They were looking directly at him. The magazines tossed to the floor.
“Have you guys seen Bruno?” Noah asked in Spanish.
One of the men stood up. He wore black jeans and a white T-shirt stained at the armpits. He had a stubbly face, a cleft chin, and piercing black eyes. “Are you here for the van?” the man said.
Noah caught a whiff of his coffee breath all the way across the room.
“I was told—” Noah froze midsentence as he looked out the glass window and saw a blue Mercury Sable parked outside.
Fuck. “Um,” Noah stuttered, swallowing the pool of saliva in his mouth. “Do you work here?” he croaked.
The second man stood up, and Noah noticed the gold bracelets around his wrists and the snakeskin boots on his feet. Not the accessories Noah would expect a mechanic to wear.
“Do I look like I fucking work here?” Coffee Breath said. “I asked you a question. Are you here for the van?”
Noah gulped. “No.” Think, Noah. “I was here to apply for a job. Bruno told me to come in this morning for an application. But I can see that he’s not here, so I’ll just come back another time.”
Noah tried to pass the man, but Snake Boots blocked his path.
“Don’t fucking lie to me, Noah.”
“Noah? Who’s Noah?” Noah squeaked, his heart thumping wildly. He recalled the name of Grace’s crush. “My name’s Todd.” Screw you, Todd.
The man relented for a moment, just long enough for Noah to slip around him.
Relief. Exquisite, pure joy coursed through him as Noah realized these men hadn’t known what he actually looked like. They had his name and the location of the van, but they didn’t know who he was.
If he could just get the hell out of there and call the police, this whole nightmare would be over. Just as Noah placed his hands on the door to leave, Bruno finally appeared from behind the glass, wiping his greasy fingers on a rag. His face brightened as he walked in, sending Noah back in with the two very distraught, very angry drug dealers.
“Noah Greene,” Bruno said with a beaming smile. “Your van is ready to go.”
Noah felt his butthole pucker at the sound of his name. Adrenaline spiked. Should he run? He wanted to, but he was frozen in place.
The man in gold bracelets and snakeskin boots walked over to the door, blocking the exit. Even if Noah did want to run, he was trapped.
Bruno walked over to the other side of the desk and pulled up his computer, tilting the screen toward Noah, listing out the details of the repairs. “You’re lucky it was just a clogged fuel filter,” Bruno said, ringing him up on the cash register.
There was no way out. Noah could feel the heated glares from the men standing behind him. They did not look happy. They looked downright murderous.
Noah wasn’t sure how he’d talk his way out of this one. He was already caught in a lie. He pulled out his wallet and his phone and set them on the desk. If he could distract the men and text Clara, he might have a chance at coming out of this alive. But as soon as he pulled out the credit card from his wallet, his cell phone was swiped by the man in snakeskin boots.
“Can I help you?” Bruno said, looking at the men now breathing down Noah’s neck. Stale coffee and cigar residue wafted around them.
“We’re with him,” Snake Boots said, sliding Noah’s phone into the pocket of his tight black jeans.
Bruno gave Noah a look, but all Noah could do was stare.
“Tell him,” Snake Boots said, elbowing Noah in the ribs with a pointed elbow. Or was it a gun?
“Yep,” Noah said, a pitch too high. “They’re with me.” His hand shook as he signed the credit card slip. The moment he put his card back in his wallet, Snake Boots grabbed it out of his hands.
“Let me take you to the van,” Bruno said, maneuvering around the desk. “It could have been a lot worse. I’m glad we were able to get it fixed up for you. I did notice you’re low on oil, and you could use some new windshield wipers. Is that something you’re interested in?”
“No, that’s okay,” Noah said casually, following Bruno out the front door. The jingling bells grated his nerves. The two drug dealers kept close behind.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
What was he going to do now? Make a dead sprint? Noah’s palms started to sweat. If he ran, these guys would gun him down. And probably take Bruno down with him. There was no way out.
Bruno droned on about the van and all the things he should do to it before “things got really out of hand,” but Noah couldn’t hear another word.
Blood pumped violently through his veins, pounding in his ears. Then it dawned on Noah that these men probably thought he still had the cocaine. How was he going to explain that he didn’t have it anymore? That he gave it to the police?
They would kill him. On the spot.
Double fuck.
Bruno gave him the keys and shook his hand, thanking him for coming in. He eyed the other two men curiously before waddling back to the main office. As soon he was out of earshot, the men closed in.
“Where is it?” Coffee Breath said.
“Funny story,” Noah said, looking between the two men. “It’s in a safe place.”
He needed to call Clara. Clara would know what to do. She could at least summon the police to intercept them somehow.
“My friend is storing it for me. I just need to call her.”
“What friend?” Coffee Breath said.
“My girlfriend, Clara,” he stammered. “I can call her right now.”
“Get in the fucking van,” Coffee Breath said, pushing Noah forward. The keys to the van fell to the ground, and he had half a mind to consider kicking over Snake Boots as he lunged for the keys.
Opening the back, Coffee Breath pulled Noah behind one of the doors. In one swift movement, he punched Noah in the stomach, knocking the air from his lungs. His body hurled forward, and he was tossed inside like a sack of potatoes.
Through blurred vision, he could see Snake Boots going through his wallet. He pulled out a few receipts. The one from the zip line. The one from the dinner cruise. And then he pulled out the Tortuga Bay Resort room key.
“He’s staying at one of the resorts nearby,” Snake Boots mumbled to Coffee Breath. “It has to be stashed around there somewhere. Let’s go.”
“Wait,” Noah rasped. His chest burned, fighting for air.
“You’re going to show us where you are hiding the cocaine, or you’re dead.” The barrel of a gun was pointed directly at his head.
Noah froze in terror. He couldn’t think. Couldn’t speak. All he could do was picture his brain splattered across the van.
The van doors slammed before he could come up with a diversion, shutting out the sunlight that had just begun poking through the thick layer of clouds. The men stepped into the driver and passenger seats.
Snake Boots held the gun pointed at Noah’s head as Coffee Breath navigated his way out of the parking lot and onto the streets of Jaco.
Chapter Twenty-One
Grace had gone into autopilot mode. She answered questions about Maritime’s setup process and showed examples of websites she had worked on. When it came time for Jane to wrap up their presentation, Grace felt numb.
She didn’t hear a word of Jane’s closing statements. Didn’t get excited when Fernando said he was interested in working with Maritime. Didn’t feel an ounce of hope when she realized they were close to securing their first-ever international account. All she could think about was figuring out how she would see Noah again after she went back home to Michigan.
Since Jane seemed okay about catching Noah and Grace together, perhaps Grace still had a chance at the promotion. If she could collect a senior sales associate salary for a little while, then she could save enough money to fly back for a vacation with Noah before she began a new teaching career.
She pictured staying at a resort much like Tortuga Bay, only they wouldn’t have to duck and hide this time. They could take leisurely strolls on the beach, go swimming in the pool together, spend long mornings in bed. A delicious coil of warmth pooled in her belly at the thought.
Her new plan brought her back to life. Grace felt lighter on her feet, and a genuine smile reached her cheeks as she said her goodbyes to Fernando and Diego and the rest of the Tortuga Bay Resort team.
When the hotel staff left the room, it was just her and Jane. They slipped the boards in Jane’s portfolio bag, despite the watermarks from the sprinkler alarm. Grace laughed to herself, thinking if it weren’t for those boards, she would have never met Noah. Perhaps she could ask to keep them as a souvenir since she didn’t get her snow globe.
“I should be thanking you,” Jane said, stuffing the last poster in the case. “For helping me bag this account.”
“You’re welcome,” Grace said, unplugging her computer from the projector. A thank-you from Jane was a pleasant surprise and a good sign that everything was back to normal.
“You know how much I hate the technical stuff.”
“It’s no problem at all.”
Jane paused before walking out the conference room door, turning to look down at Grace. “For the record though, if you think I was going to put in a recommendation after the stunt you pulled behind my back, you have another think coming.”
Grace inhaled sharply, staring up into Jane’s eyes, expecting her pupils to have turned into slits.
“I didn’t want to get your hopes up or anything,” Jane said. “So I figured I’d tell you now.”
“That’s it? I don’t get a chance to be considered?”
“Oh, you had your chance, Gracie. And you blew it the moment you wrapped those pretty lips around Noah’s… you know.”
A strangled gargle escaped Grace’s throat.
“Don’t think for a second,” Jane continued, “that I don’t know what went down with you and him last night. All men are the same, eager to get their you-know-whats wet. And I have no doubt he fed you all the right lines to get you to think it was your idea.”
Grace gasped. She was utterly speechless.
Noah had fed her lines, sure, but he hadn’t been manipulating her. Noah hadn’t coerced her into anything. It really had been her idea… right? Last night was for her, he had said. And she believed him.
She attempted to shake off Jane’s words, but the poisonous doubt had been planted in her mind. Jane had experience with this type of thing. Unlike Grace, who didn’t have a clue what she was doing at all.
“You’ll get over it soon enough. I suggest finding another man to help you forget about him. That trick seems to work for me,” Jane said, looking down at her phone. “Oh, look at the time. Thanks again for all the technical help, Gracie. I couldn’t have done it without you.” She turned to leave, then stopped under the doorway. “And one more thing. I have big plans for this company. And honestly, I don’t see where you fit in.”
Grace’s jaw dropped.
“You can keep your job for now, but I’d start looking for other opportunities if I were you.”
With the flick of her blond bob, she was gone, leaving Grace alone.
