Damsels and Danger Read online

  We drew closer to the gates of the hostel. They stood open since it was the middle of the day. At night, they were closed and locked for the safety of the guests. Gray stopped walking before we could enter. I halted next to him.

  “What’s up?” I asked. “You’re not really mad at the hitchhiking, are you?”

  “Nah, it was fine. It wasn’t even my first time.” Gray looked down and winked at me. “I got you something.”

  Gray took off his backpack and squatted down to open it. I saw the flash of purple and knew. He’d bought the necklace I’d walked away from. My heart sank. I didn’t decide not to purchase the necklace because I couldn’t afford the few dollars; I’d come to the conclusion that I wanted it, but I didn’t really want it enough.

  I mentally slapped myself. Here he was, making a very kind and giving gesture, and I was acting like a brat. Again. I forced a smile on my face.

  “You saw me looking at it?” I asked.

  “I did. I know you watch your money closely so I wanted to surprise you.” Gray held out the necklace for me to take.

  “Thank you,” I said, but even I could tell it sounded disingenuous.

  “Is something wrong?” Gray asked.

  “No. I’m just surprised. I didn’t realize you’d noticed. This is sweet.” I smiled and gave him a quick kiss. I turned toward the gates and continued walking. An awkward silence settled between us. Gray was probably wondering what went wrong, while I was kicking myself. Why couldn’t I be a normal girl who went all gaga over gifts? Instead, I always got my back up. I wasn’t even sure why I did.

  Liar, a little voice in my head said.

  I knew exactly why I was this way. My ex-boyfriend Ben had left me with nothing. No home, no money, no job. Nothing. He’d spoiled me with gifts but had been lacking in honor and compassion. Receiving a gift from Gray evoked every bad feeling I’d ever had about Ben. I mentally pushed them back down and shut the trap door on them.

  We said hello to the guards when we entered. Gray asked about the missing hiker, but there was no news, yet. The silence between us stretched out. The weight bore down on my shoulders. I needed to fix it before it started choking me. I took a deep breath and prepared to take the plunge.

  “Welcome.”

  The voice was smooth with a hint of an accent. Both Gray and I stopped walking and turned toward the man. His hair was the standard dark brown of Hondurans but was shaggier than most kept it. He was also taller than most of the other men we’d met in Central America, topping just under six feet. When he smiled, his eyes lit up. I was instantly at ease.

  “Hello,” Gray said. I waved.

  “I’m Garcia. This is my place.” Garcia held his arms out to each side.

  “Regan Harris,” I said.

  “Gray Thomas,” Gray shook Garcia’s hand in greeting.

  “This place is great,” I said. Even though Gray had just asked the guards, I inquired again about the missing hiker.

  “Sadly, still missing. We are organizing some search parties now.”

  “We’d like to help,” Gray said.

  “I don’t know if that would be such a good thought. You are unfamiliar with the area, no?”

  “We’ll stay close and with a guide. We’d just like to help. The more people the better, right?” Gray persisted.

  Garcia eyed us up and down, taking in our physicality. He seemed particularly interested in Gray. It was me he should worry about. I could run three miles on flat ground, no problem. The hills and volcanos here, on the other hand, left me winded and cursing.

  “It’s going to rain. It won’t be a pleasant afternoon,” Garcia gave us an out with the weather announcement. I looked up at the sky. Cloudless and blue. Just an excuse, I thought.

  “We won’t melt,” Gray insisted. I hesitated. Garcia clearly didn’t want our help.

  Garcia nodded with his decision. “I have to decline your offer. I need guides familiar with the area. I couldn’t risk a guest getting injured.”

  “Yes, sir,” I said. Gray shook Garcia’s hand, and we were off. Our earlier tension forgotten until it started to mount again. Gray kept his head down, deep in thought. I lost my courage, the moment passed by. Maybe later I’d work myself up again to apologize.

  Chapter Five

  Liesbeth and Zoe prattled on as we waited for the hike to begin. I met Gray’s eyes and smiled. He returned it, but it didn’t reach his eyes. We met the two girls while having lunch at G and G. We’d already heard their life stories about growing up in Belgium and had only known them an hour or so. They invited us to join them for a hike behind Pulhapanzak Falls. I figured, why not? Gray said yes to try and salvage our day. I appreciated the effort, although his mind was elsewhere.

  Gray’s eyes scanned the surrounding area, taking it all in until a good-looking young man clapped his hands together to get our attention. Gray adjusted his backpack while the guide went over the rules of the hike.

  “We must hold hand. Always, si,” Alejandro, our guide, said. “Water fast. You fall, you float away. Hold hand the only way. For safety.”

  I didn’t know about the safety standards in Belgium the girls were used to, but I knew that wouldn’t fly in the US. I leaned to my left and whispered to Gray. “Back home, we’d be trussed up like Thanksgiving Day turkeys in safety harnesses.”

  “Listen, Regan,” Gray admonished me.

  Sheesh, tough crowd.

  “You drown going in. Is okay. You live,” Alejandro continued.

  “I don’t know about this,” Zoe protested. “I can’t swim.”

  “You can’t swim? This is a water activity. We’ll be walking through a waterfall to see the caves behind it,” I pointed out the obvious. I was nervous about being swept away and I could swim.

  “No good. You must swim,” Alejandro said. “Water only here,” he tapped his chest to indicate the depth, “but strong. Very strong.”

  “I’ll stay back. I can watch our bags,” Zoe said.

  “Good. Shoes off. We go,” Alejandro said, not caring that he’d lost a member of the hike. “Bad rain yesterday. Make things slip. Be careful.”

  Everyone kicked off their shoes except for Liesbeth, who was wearing water shoes. Zoe gathered them up into a pile. She sat down at a picnic table and pulled out a book. Gray piled our bags on the seat next to her. He pulled a waterproof camera out of his pack and stuck it into the pocket of his swim trunks before following Alejandro with the rest of us.

  The rocks cut into my bare feet, but I ignored it. I adjusted the shorts and tank top that covered my swimsuit. Alejandro led us to the edge of the cliff. A narrow path was visible angling down to the water, spots clearly muddy from the rain. I was going to need my full concentration not to slip. I chose my foot placement carefully, trying for any spot that looked clear of sharp rocks and debris. I gasped each time I chose poorly. I loved being barefoot in the grass. Rocks, not so much. I looked behind at Gray and Liesbeth. Gray seemed unfazed by the rocks while Liesbeth’s feet were protected by her rubber-soled shoes. I was a hair’s breadth away from pushing her down and stealing them. She wasn’t having any difficulty on the terrain.

  As we neared the river, water sprayed up at us, leaving spots on our clothes. My foot slipped out from under me on a muddy patch, but Gray caught me before I plunged over the side. Alejandro reached the river’s edge and jumped in ahead of me. He moved aside for me to enter the water. I took the plunge right after him, followed by Gray and Liesbeth.

  “Hold hand. Head down. Breathe through mouth.” I locked hands with Alejandro and Gray. Liesbeth brought up the rear holding onto Gray’s other hand.

  Alejandro led us in. The water hit us with hurricane force. It came from every direction. Water dripped from every inch of my face. It ran down my cheeks and into my mouth with every breath. I couldn’t see anything. My heart ratcheted up to panic mode. I tried to clear my mind and not give in to the panic. The panic was winning. I clutched onto Gray’s hand, fear keeping me clinging to him.<
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  My foot slipped out from under me. The rocks and river bed were covered in algae and slime, making each step treacherous. My head plunged under the water. The river water filled my mouth, and I inhaled it in my panic. The river swept my other foot out from under me, pulling me away.

  Gray and Alejandro tugged on my arms. My head popped up, but I didn’t feel any relief. The waterfall was still hitting me from everywhere. I gagged and coughed up the river water but still felt like I was drowning. Spray filled my mouth with every breath I tried to take. Water pounded on my head and shoulders. I squeezed my eyes shut. Panic bubbled in my stomach. I wanted out and I wanted out now.

  The idea of letting go and the water rushing me out of this hell was looking more appealing by the minute. Just when I thought I couldn’t take any more, the torment ended just as quickly as it had started. I peeked out, opening one eye first. The view was breathtaking. I opened the other eye and looked around me.

  Gray appeared out of the falls like an apparition. Liesbeth quickly followed. She wiped the water from her face. The waterfall created a curtain behind her. A few stray drops hit us but overall, the area was pretty dry, considering its location. The water level was up to my chest but it was easier to walk. The ground was soft and sandy under my feet. My bones felt soggy from the beating.

  “Wow,” Gray said.

  Light filtered through the waterfall, leaving the caves glowing with romantic light. With my back to the falls, I could see three openings. Alejandro led us into the first cave. It was larger than I had expected. Gray reached up, trying to touch the roof, but it was just out of his reach. Stalactites plunged from the ceiling, some kissing the stalagmites below them. It was a beautiful place, untouched. Serene. The rushing water blocked out all other sounds. I ran my fingers around the wall of the cave.

  Alejandro led us through the caves. Each one was smaller than the last. Gray used his waterproof camera to take pictures of us and the surroundings. His hair clung to his face and neck with water still running from it.

  Gray held the camera out at arm’s length, snapping a photo of the two of us together. Our faces were pressed together, smiling. He looked dashing while I probably resembled a drowned rat. Liesbeth and Alejandro squeezed in next to us for one final picture before Gray tucked the camera away again.

  “Go time,” Alejandro said. I shuddered at having to go through the waterfall again. “Easier now. Fall at our backs. Promise.”

  Yeah right, I thought.

  Chapter Six

  Garcia dug his fingers into the wooden railing as he stared at the couple playing in the water. Gray Thomas and Regan Harris. One quick internet search told him all he needed to know. Gray was the spitting image of Garrett Costa because Gray was his son. Costa now went by the name Michael Thomas, but he was the same man Garcia hated down to his core. The man who banished him away from Gracie, Garcia’s pregnant wife.

  The son of the man who had exiled him was staying under Garcia’s roof. He could barely contain himself from killing Gray right then and there. But it would be too easy. Too quick. Garcia wanted something more. A bigger revenge than just murder. Garcia wanted Costa and Franky to pay. To make them tremble and wonder what was happening around them. To terrorize them. Maybe a little game of cat and mouse first.

  Garcia clapped his hands together to get everyone’s attention. He handed out maps and instructions for each pair of hikers. They’d been able to narrow Katherine’s hiking destination to Pulhapanzak Falls. Unfortunately, the park spread out for miles in each direction.

  “Sarah, you’re with me. Every group have water and a walkie-talkie?” Garcia waited for each hiker to acknowledge him before continuing. “Good. We’ll only have a few more hours until the storm hits. Be careful. It’s muddy out there today from the rains last night. Check in every twenty minutes. Everyone. If you are not back by the time it starts raining, hustle back to this spot. We’ll resume after the storm passes. I don’t want anyone else getting lost, or worse, hurt.”

  The guides spread out with their groups and headed off in their assigned direction. Garcia and Sarah were partnered up to search the nearby surrounding area, keeping Garcia close to organize the search parties.

  Regan and Gray appeared over the cliff, water dripping off every part of them. Smiles graced their faces from their play time, but Gray grew serious when he spotted Garcia. Garcia nodded and waved to Gray to acknowledge him, hoping to prevent Gray from coming over. Gray beelined for Garcia anyway. Garcia gathered his pack and pretended to look busy. He was trying to limit his time with either Gray or Regan. Garcia’s gut told him to keep the couple at arm’s length.

  “Excuse me, sir?” Gray said.

  Another difference between Gray and his father, Garcia thought. Gray asked, Costa demanded. Garcia was finding it hard to figure out how Gray seemed like a nice man while coming from a brute like Costa.

  “Yes?” Garcia responded.

  “Any word on the hiker?” Gray asked.

  “Nothing, yet. We’ve sent out search parties. Hopefully, the weather will work in our favor and hold off.”

  “My girlfriend and I could help with the search. We’re both comfortable in the woods.”

  “I’m sorry, but no. I’ve got dozens of people out now who are familiar with the area. I appreciate the offer.” Gray nodded and turned to leave.

  “Where’re you from that you’re so comfortable outdoors?” Garcia asked Gray as an afterthought.

  “Chicago,” Gray answered.

  Garcia started at the answer. “Chicago? Not very outdoorsy. I expected someplace warmer. Someplace with more wildlife.”

  “I’m originally from Las Vegas,” Gray said.

  “Makes more sense. Your dad take you up in the mountains a lot for some camping and hiking?” Garcia asked. He couldn’t seem to help himself. He knew he shouldn’t probe, but he’d wanted to hear something, anything, about his past life. Even this one small connection with a man he didn’t know was a lifeline.

  Gray tensed at the mention of his father, instantly wary. He eyed Garcia, taking in his demeanor. Garcia realized his mistake instantly. From personal experience, he knew the danger and unease that cropped up when a stranger casually mentioned your mob boss father. Garcia and Gray faced off, each waiting for the other to make the next move.

  Chapter Seven

  I said goodbye to Liesbeth and Zoe after I put my shoes back on. I picked up Gray’s tennis shoes, his socks neatly folded inside each shoe, and his backpack. My feet instantly felt better with each step. I sighed in relief, walking over the rocks with shoes protecting my feet.

  Gray stood talking to Garcia. Probably annoying him to no end about the missing hiker. Even Gray looked irritated, I thought. The two men resembled boxers in their respective corners, moments before the bell is rung.

  Sheesh, men, I thought. It was anyone’s guess what got their hackles up.

  “Hey, babe, I got your stuff.” I held out Gray’s shoes to him. The movement snapped Gray out of his stupor. He smiled at me and relaxed his posture.

  “Thanks,” Gray said and reached for his items. “Good luck on the search,” he said to Garcia and walked away to the picnic tables.

  “No word yet, I take it?” I asked Garcia but didn’t wait for him to answer. “What were you two talking about?”

  “Nothing, really. Just hiking and camping. I thought maybe his dad took him out as a child.” Garcia waved away the comment as small talk.

  “Oh, that explains it. Yeah, he’s kind of weird about his dad. Just ignore it if he was rude. Sorry,” I said.

  “Nothing to apologize for. I understand,” Garcia said, sincerely.

  “It’s no biggie. Gray told me it was his Aunt Gracie who took him out hiking as a kid. She loved to be outdoors, especially among trees and grass.” I shrugged my shoulders. I’d heard about Gracie but hadn’t met her yet, so I didn’t really know a lot. True to form, I kept running my mouth, though, not recognizing Garcia’s strong reaction. All co
lor drained from his face. “I grew up in Indiana and spent my childhood outside. There’s nothing better than the fresh air and adven—”

  “Excuse me, miss. I must attend to the search.” Garcia quickly walked away from me. I rolled my eyes and headed back to Gray, pulling myself up onto the picnic table next to him.

  “Ready to go back to the hostel?” I asked Gray. “We could hitchhike again?”

  “You like flirting with danger,” Gray said.

  “I like you. Most of the time.” I winked at him to let know I was joking. “What do you want to do?”

  “Let’s walk around some of the trails here. Check them out.”

  “You don’t want to ‘check them out,’ you want to help search even though Garcia probably told you no helping. Now who’s flirting with danger?” I asked.

  “Not searching, just looking around.”

  “Fine.” I stood up and busied myself with wringing out the bottom of my shirt. I moved onto the legs of my shorts in my effort not to make eye contact with Gray. He turned toward the woods and I followed him.

  The ‘fine’ hung in the air between us. Gray clearly didn’t believe my ‘fine’ from the set of his shoulders. The tense silence began to smother me. I just wanted him to be honest. Call it like it was. He wanted to be the hero. Not for the glory, but only because he truly wanted to help someone in need. Ugh, do-gooders.

  I focused on the surroundings. Insects buzzed, birds chirped, and poisonous frogs croaked. I couldn’t actually see the frogs, but I figured it was safer to assume their poisonous status and steer clear of them all. The canopy of trees kept the sunlight dancing between the leaves. The surroundings were almost magical and dreamlike.

  A flash of the fire swamp in The Princess Bride movie ran through my head. Tingles raced up my spine at the thought of ROUSs. Rodents of Unusual Size. How big did jungle rodents get in Central America? I thought about asking Gray but nixed the idea. I wasn’t ready to let go of my pouting ways, yet.