Damsels and Danger Read online

  Damsels and Danger

  Regan Harris Romantic Mystery Series, Volume 3.5

  Kelly Wood

  Published by Kelly Wood, 2019.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  DAMSELS AND DANGER

  First edition. May 14, 2019.

  Copyright © 2019 Kelly Wood.

  Written by Kelly Wood.

  Also by Kelly Wood

  Regan Harris Romantic Mystery Series

  Stay or Go

  Profit and Loss

  Here and Gone

  Lost and Found

  Damsels and Danger

  Regan Harris Romantic Mystery Series Books 1-3

  Watch for more at Kelly Wood’s site.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Also By Kelly Wood

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Further Reading: Stay or Go

  Also By Kelly Wood

  About the Author

  To Marie,

  Thank you for being my #1 fan! I love receiving your angry/sad/happy texts while you read each book.

  Chapter One

  My fingers flew over the keys as I finished writing my article. My eyes were glazed, not even seeing the words on the screen as they appeared. My heart beat faster as I neared the end. I could do this. I was almost there.

  “Regan,” Gray called my name.

  I shushed him and kept going. The sooner I turned in the article, the sooner I’d get paid, and my sad little bank account needed it. It was hungry for money, and I was hungry for food. I knew Gray would buy me anything I asked for, but I liked being able to contribute. I liked feeling like a member of the team and not some hanger on. Not that Gray would ever make me feel that way. It was a self-imposed doom.

  “Regan,” Gray called my name again, but in a firmer tone.

  I ignored him as I attached the document to an email and sent it off to the magazine editor. I wiped the sweat from my eyes as I awaited the sound of the emailing going through.

  “Regan Harris,” Gray called again.

  That’s me, Regan Harris, homeless world traveler living out of a backpack, groupie for my boyfriend Gray Thomas, and barely making ends meet. Sometimes, they overlapped, but not at this moment, which was why I needed this article out.

  “What?” I finally acknowledged him and looked up from my laptop. “I was just finishing an assignment.” I lifted my long hair off my neck, letting the soft breeze cool me off. I used a hair tie I kept on wrist to twist my hair into a messy bun and secured it into place. “Well?”

  “Something’s up,” Gray said. He used his chin to indicate I should look behind me. I twisted in my seat and looked for the disturbance.

  At first, I couldn’t pick it out. I was looking for something obvious, like two men rolling around on the ground fighting, but all seemed peaceful. We were seated in the restaurant area of the hostel where we were staying. Most of the tables were empty after the breakfast rush. People had moved on to hiking and other activities after filling up on eggs and bacon. Gray and I still lingered. Our days weren’t as relaxed as the other guests’ since we worked while traveling. I spent each morning writing while Gray edited any photos he’d taken the day before or worked on a freelance design project. Our afternoons were spent exploring the local area.

  A small group of people huddled near the fire pit on the edge of the jungle. Two men and two women, all employees of G & G Brewery and Hostel that I’d seen working around the compound. One woman was crying. If I remembered correctly, her name was Sarah. She was the same person who checked us into the hostel the night before along with a redhead whose name I couldn’t remember. I didn’t see her there among the group. I assumed this conversation was what sent Gray’s Spidey-sense tingling.

  I turned back to Gray. “What do you think it is?” I asked.

  “I don’t know, but they look stressed and upset.” Gray’s eyes watched the group while mine watched his.

  “Maybe this place is a cover for a drug running operation and they lost a giant shipment? Maybe it’s run by the mob?” Gray’s eyes flashed at my suggestion. “Maybe a guest fell off a cliff and is hanging on for dear life even as we speak? The possibilities are endless.”

  “I think your imagination is endless.” Gray chuckled. “I’m just finding it curious. Something is up.”

  I watched the group talk for a few more minutes. Without a further clue to their problem, I shrugged and went back to my work. I checked my emails, but the only important one was from my mother. I sent off a response telling her where we were, what we had planned for the day, and inquiring about my siblings. I signed it ‘Your favorite daughter who is still living in sin and enjoying every minute of it, Regan.’ I giggled thinking of my mother shaking her head at me while she read the email.

  My computer beeped with an incoming email from my mother. “God cries when you talk like that. Have a good day and stay safe.” She had one-upped me, and rather quickly, too.

  I turned at the sound of voices coming near. The group of employees was heading toward us, or more accurately, toward the restaurant and back to work. Gray caught Sarah’s wrist as she walked by our table, halting her progress.

  “Is everything okay, Sarah?” Gray asked.

  “Yes. We’ve got a missing employee. She went for a hike this morning and hasn’t been seen since.” Sarah squared her shoulders before continuing. “I’m sure she’s fine. She’ll turn up.”

  “Do you need help looking for her?” Gray asked. “Regan and I could help.”

  “Thanks, but no. A couple of the guides are out looking now. I’m sure they’ll all be back soon. I’m just worried. I’m a mother hen.” Sarah laughed at herself and waved off Gray’s concern. “Is there anything I can get for you?” Sarah turned on the charm and ended all talk of the missing employee. We both declined the offer.

  I filed the event as over in my mind and started packing up my computer and notepad. Gray sat, still mulling over the event.

  “Earth to Gray,” I said, waving my hand in front of his face. He jerked back to the present with a little shake of his head. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

  “Yes,” Gray said, but his heart wasn’t in it.

  I stood up, slinging my backpack over my shoulder in one smooth motion. I touched the side of Gray’s face and bent down to kiss him. “You want to help, don’t you? It’ll make you feel better.”

  Gray smiled up at me. “Yes. You know me.”

  “I do. Nothing’s better than a hot man with a hero complex.” I laughed. “Come on, stud, let’s rock and roll. We’ll go to town like we planned and keep an eye out for her.”

  “Alright, but lunch is on me,” Gray said.

  I inwardly cringed. The man was seriously challenging my independent streak. I was a woman, hear me roar. Blah, blah, blah.

  Chapter Two

  Garcia welcomed the new guests with a big smile. The two girls from Belgium openly flirted with him while he walked them to the co-ed bunk house. Garcia’s tanned skin, clean-shaven face and wavy hair made him look years younger than he was. Garcia carried their large traveling backpacks for them, one in each hand. He kept up the chatter, explaining the daily workings of the hostel.

  Outw
ardly, his demeanor was nice and charming, provoking more flirting. His good looks put people at ease quickly. Inwardly, he was planning his next trip to the States. He had a small drug shipment that would be ready in the next few days. The trips always took planning and created a bit of stress with each border crossing. Even greased palms slipped up once in a while, a worry that was never far from his mind. He didn’t dig himself out of the slum in Colombia where Garrett Costa had left him to get caught now.

  Garcia left the women to settle in and headed toward the restaurant. On top of the daily workings of the hostel and the upcoming shipment, one of his employees hadn’t returned yet from an early morning hike. He’d repeatedly warned everyone never to hike alone, but Katherine insisted it was the best way to start her day. She’d never missed her start time before today. Katherine wasn’t the type to get distracted and be late. All of Garcia’s workers were his family. His surrogate family. The only one he had left.

  Garcia’s first concern was for her safety, but it wasn’t the only one. Other factors needed to be considered. If she’d met with foul play, extra attention would be drawn to this small town in Honduras. Extra attention Garcia didn’t need or want for his side business. The main business, the hostel, would also suffer. The news of a missing hiker, who met with an untimely end, would race through the travel community. Reservations and walk-ins would slow down. A hostel without enough customers to justify staying open would raise suspicion, putting him in a tough position. Too many worries today.

  Garcia rounded the corner of the restaurant, and his heart stopped. He jumped back and pressed himself against the building. Air escaped him in ragged breaths, and his heart started pumping again with a big boom before racing out of control.

  He’d been found. After all these years, Costa had found him. Fear coursed through him at what Costa would do. The man was insane and loved to play with his victims before going in for the kill. Betraying Costa guaranteed pain. Excruciating pain before death.

  Garcia focused on his breathing, trying desperately to bring it back under control. His throat burned with the effort. One glance at Costa and Garcia was reduced to being a scared kid again. Garcia fingered the scar on his forehead. After all these years, it was barely noticeable with his hair covering it most of the time, but the memory burned bright and fresh. His best friend Franky had tried to murder him. Garrett Costa had stepped in and nursed Garcia back to health only to banish him from his family.

  Anger burned in him. Garcia reminded himself he wasn’t a kid any longer. He was a man. A man with his own resources and contacts. He knew just as many contract killers as Costa, maybe even more. Garcia could hold his own. Gone was the weak kid with no choice but to walk away from his family. Garcia had options now.

  Garcia straightened himself away from the wall. He needed to think. He needed a clear head. Garcia peeked around the corner, looking for Costa. Garcia watched him from his hiding place. Costa hadn’t aged a bit. He was the spitting image of the man who had banished him.

  Now that Garcia’s heart had slowed to a normal pace and logic had returned, he could see what was right in front of him. This man wasn’t Costa, one of the most ruthless mob bosses in Las Vegas. He just looked like him. A much younger version. Costa would be in his fifties now. This man looked to still be in his twenties.

  The woman bent down and kissed the lookalike. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear while smiling up at her. Another difference struck Garcia. Costa’s smiles were always measured. The lookalike’s smile was soft. Friendly. Loving. Costa could never act that kind.

  Garcia let himself relax. He hadn’t been found. He was still safe. Katherine’s whereabouts were pushed to the back of his mind, almost forgotten for now. Who was this man? What was he doing here?

  Garcia planned to get to the bottom of it, but a new thought controlled him now. All other thoughts faded away until only one thing dominated his mind.

  Revenge.

  Costa, I’m coming for you and Franky. Soon.

  Chapter Three

  I fingered the necklace on the display table. It was simply made and beaded. The purple beads were beautiful. I loved it but decided against it. Ounces added up to pounds when you carried your life on your back. Each purchase had to be carefully thought through.

  “Gracias,” I said to the mother and daughter jewelry makers before I walked away from the table. I’d exhausted my limited Spanish in the exchange.

  The small town bustled around us. Old school buses, converted to “chicken buses,” pulled into the town center to pick up passengers. Men stood in the open doorways yelling out their next destination. A passenger could ride for as little as five cents American. I loved the chaos of it. Gray and I had ridden into town on one. Music blared around us competing with conversations in Spanish. We’d wedged ourselves into the seats made for kids and enjoyed the atmosphere.

  Gray walked up eating some unknown meat on a stick. Travelers affectionately called it “street meat.” Gray had a stomach of steel and loved it. After my years of restaurant work, I ignored the lack of handwashing stations available on the side of the road and prayed not to get a parasite.

  “Bite?” Gray offered, holding out the stick to me.

  “Yes, please.” Parasites be damned. The meat was juicy and delicious. “Thanks. Is this our lunch?” I asked after swallowing.

  “Nope. Just a snack. Did you find anything?” Gray asked.

  “Just looking.” Gray pulled me aside so a scooter could pass us. It kicked up dirt as it went by. Thankfully, it missed the puddle and avoided splashing us with mud. I waved my hand in front of my face to clear dust away. Gray kept eating his snack, oblivious to the extra seasoning added. “What should we do today?” I asked.

  “Well, there’s lots to choose from. There’s a cave we could tour, Pulhapanzak Falls has hiking. There’s a coffee plantation hike to a hidden waterfall. That one’s four hours, so it’d be better to schedule it for another day. We could catch a bus from here to any one of them.”

  He’d answered my question but didn’t particularly sound happy about any of the options. “What do you want to do?” I asked. I had a fairly good idea. Gray couldn’t resist a damsel in distress.

  “You pick,” Gray said. “I’m open.” He finished his snack and tucked the empty skewer into his back pocket. Even though the local custom was to throw trash on the ground, Gray wouldn’t contribute to the litter.

  I wanted to be selfish. I wanted Gray all to myself while we enjoyed our trip. I could pick an activity and he would go with me, but his mind would be distracted. The day would lose its luster for both of us. I dug the toe of my tennis shoe into the dirt, rubbing it around. I contemplated forcing the issue, but decided to give him what he needed. I wanted to be altruistic about the decision, but the fact was I was irritated. I didn’t understand how we could actually help. We didn’t know the area, the people or the missing person.

  “Let’s go back to G and G and check on the missing girl.” I contained myself from rolling my eyes. I realized it wasn’t that I didn’t want to help. I was feeling jealous over someone I didn’t know because she was taking Gray’s attention away from me. I wanted to spend some uninterrupted time with him, and him only.

  Gray’s face split into a grin at my response, and his shoulders relaxed. His worry for others was endearing. Even I could admit that over my bad attitude.

  “You go figure out which bus to take back to the hostel. I’ll grab us a couple of bottles of water for the ride.” Gray adjusted his backpack and jogged off toward a vendor. I turned toward the buses.

  “Your Spanish is better than mine. You figure out which bus. I’ll grab dos botellas de agua.” I showed some of the few words I knew.

  Gray laughed. “Nope. You need to practice. As a matter of fact, I’m only going to speak English. All the navigation and conversations are on your shoulders.”

  “This is not a good idea. I may try asking for a bathroom and accidentally end up engaged t
o a local.”

  Gray threw him arm around my shoulders and squeezed. “You’ll be fine.” He kissed the top of my head before sending me on my way.

  I walked away, jumping over puddles from last night’s storm. I lost myself in the crowd, listening for our destination. Since midday was approaching, the buses were filling up quickly. With the heat and humidity, squeezing into one didn’t seem like the most appealing option, but another idea popped into my head. I’d be able to scratch something off my bucket list after all.

  I stood on the side of the road leading to the hostel. I held my arm out straight in front of me with my hand hanging down. I lifted my palm and dropped it down again. I repeated the motion to any vehicles going by. I may not know much Spanish but hand gestures came naturally.

  “What are you doing?” I jumped at the sound of Gray’s voice.

  “Hitchhiking!” I couldn’t keep the excitement out of mine.

  “You’re going to be the death of me.”

  Chapter Four

  The wind whipped pieces of my hair out of the bun as the truck lumbered down the road. Two men had stopped for us, and I’d jumped into the back of the truck before Gray could say another word. He just shook his head and followed me.

  The ride was short, but I managed to snap some selfies of us. We both smiled into the camera, messy hair and all. The truck stopped at the end of the dirt lane leading to G and G and dropped us off. We thanked them and waved as they pulled away.

  “That was great,” I said.

  “That was dangerous,” Gray replied.

  “No. I read in the guidebook that it’s actually quite safe and common to hitchhike in Honduras.”

  “Quite safe and totally safe are two different things, Regan.”

  “It’s fine. You’re a giant compared to the men here. Nobody’s going to bother us,” I said, referring to his towering height. I swung my arms and skipped a little as I walked. I loved new experiences. My bad mood had evaporated.