He shot her a hard look. Its Robert Destin. Hes an illegal arms trader who found refuge here. He isnt interested in your NGO for a tax deduction.
Laceys heart dropped to her stomach. That was news. Jarrett might be overprotective, but he had excellent information. Hes known around the country as a philanthropist. He donates to several NGOs.
Jarrett eyed her. Hes rich because he sold weapons to terror groups, Lace. Intelligence chatter has it that hes looking to finance a new op out of this country.
His face tightened. Perfect place to plan an attack. St. Marc is a Third World country already balancing on chaos, where money can buy a lot of new friends in low places. His cover is doling out money to international charities with global operations.
It didnt make sense. Why would Augustin want to donate cash for my NGOs irrigation system? Im a small operation.
You have something he wants. I dont know what. But hes not interested because hes a nice guy.
Or he needs a tax deduction. She reached for her cell. I have to warn Paul.
Dont. Jarrett stayed her hand. Tell him not to meet with him, but dont share what I told you. Thats for your ears only.
The fact that Jarrett shared such information warned he was deadly serious. In their years of marriage, he never told her anything about his work, his missions or the scumbags he encountered.
Lacey called Paul, telling him shed handle Monsieur Augustin. As she hung up, wished she could light a fire beneath the bottoms of the State Department workers who were processing the paperwork. I need more time...
The car radio blasted out the news. In St. Marc, Lacey always listened to the radio to get reports of possible protests or roadblocks. But today seemed peaceful, and even more so as they drove farther south.
They entered a small town where a man led a donkey through traffic, ignoring the red light on the main road. A parade of motorcycles streamed past their vehicle like water. Bright red umbrellas with a local phone companys logo lined the sidewalks, shading the vendors who sold mangoes, breadfruit, candy, gum and other wares. The mountains rose to their left, dotted with trees.
They got stuck behind a tangerine-colored bus. A goat and a man perched on top of the bus, enjoying the view. Two men jumped onto the bus as it pulled into a small town. One held a clear plastic bag filled with bread. The other clutched plastic baggies of water.
Jarrett navigated through a local market, people milling in the street as they examined fruit for sale. Behind his shades, he seemed to study the mood of the street. Outside the city it was peaceful and normal. No torqued crowds. No danger.
Please let it stay that way. Last week someone had firebombed her best truck when shed parked outside the compound to check out property shed thought of purchasing. Lacey was doing all she could to expedite the paperwork, but it hadnt come through yet. Damn red tape...
See how peaceful it is here? She needed to assure him she was fine, and he could leave her once hed driven her home.
Its deceptive. The radio said there are strikes planned for Monday. The president is planning to raise fuel prices again and the people are going to march. Jarrett peered over the top of his shades. Marching people usually equates to violence, Lace.
In the city.
Theres been a few protests in the country, as well, along this road.
She knew it and had taken great care to monitor reports to avoid roadblocks. Not recently.
And that will change when the president raises fuel prices if hes reelected. The poor are desperate and things are getting worse. I dont like it. Everything in this country points to another coup and itll turn into a royal goat fluster. You really want to take a chance with your life?
Youre as bad as my father. He wants me to come home, as well.
But she couldnt leave, even if he paid her. Frustration bit her because she suspected Jarrett was right, but she was trapped here. Lacey fished her mobile out of her backpack and thumbed it on. You dont like it here? You need to book the next flight out for yourself? Use my credit card.
He ignored the jab. Tell me whats been going on with the locals where you live. Any hot spots? He lifted his right hand and pantomimed a gun and trigger. Bang bang much?
Theres been hot spots in Danton, the city closest to us, but theres always hot spots flaring up.
Mango and palm trees flanked the road as they drove south, past hand-painted signs advertising auto part repairs, billboards in French for local hotels, past the small concrete banks where lottery tickets were sold. They passed a herd of motorcycles, their riders waiting for passengers. He glanced to the right and noticed the gas station with its bright yellow-and-green sign remained open.
Calm. So calm. But she knew the peace could shatter as quickly as a fired shot.
Jarrett glanced at her. Why dont you get some shut-eye while I drive? Youre nodding off.
She didnt want to admit he was right, but he was. Lacey closed her eyes and dozed off.
When she opened her eyes, he was turning onto the unpaved road leading to her compound lined with dusty mango trees. A few dump trucks loaded with rocks rumbled past.
Sitting up straight, struggling to snap to attention, she pointed to a turnoff. Turn at the sign that says Mangoes For Sale. Theres a quarry not far from here. Reason why the road is so bad. But we got the land very cheap, and its right off the main highway to make it easier to find us.
The vehicle bounced up and down as he drove. Bounce factor, he mused. Makes you feel like a bobble-head doll.
You get used to it.
He gave her an amused grin, pushed down his sunglasses to peer at her. An impish look of mischief and sex gleamed in his green eyes. I give great massages to work out the kinks in your body.
A shiver raced down her spine. Jarrett did give great massages, and the smooth glide of his big hands over her naked skin had always been so arousing, leading to him getting naked, as well, and then...
I have a vibrator, she shot back and then flushed as his grin widened.
A BOB doesnt substitute for the real thing, Lace.
I didnt mean a battery-operated boyfriend kind of vibrator. I meant a massager. For my neck.
Still, he murmured.
He drove toward the handmade sign, passing several mango and palm trees. Small wood houses peeked through the trees, as goats grazed in the scrub. An abandoned building came into view. Painted on the building was a mural of rows of corn, with happy children peeking out among the stalks.
Originally that wall had a mural of a young woman being led on a chain before the devil. The man leading her clutched her beating heart. She sighed, remembering all her hard work to convince the locals she was committed to staying and helping them. I found the artist, paid him to paint the cornfield because the mural kept spooking people. This farm kept spooking people. They said hoodoo rituals were conducted here, ones where a man cut out a womans heart for good luck. Weve managed to overcome some of the tainted superstition, but its been a long process, with lots of patience and working with the locals.
You always did have a lot of patience. His hands tightened on the steering wheel. You did with me, especially when I was gone so much. Maybe if I hadnt been gone all those times, wed still be together.
You always did have a lot of patience. His hands tightened on the steering wheel. You did with me, especially when I was gone so much. Maybe if I hadnt been gone all those times, wed still be together.
Lacey had wondered the same at times, wondered if he had stayed that one time and given her the support she needed, would they have worked out their problems? But shed vowed to not regret the past.
Maybe. Or not. You cant go back, Jarrett. Weve both changed and moved on.
Jarrett drove until reaching a tall concrete wall with an imposing red gate. Laceys heart went still. Panic clogged her throat as she stared at the gate.
You were saying something about hoodoo? Jarrett turned to her, his expression grim. Shed been gone only a day, and this was bad news. Lacey had thought the other little things that had happened, like the graffiti warnings, were just some kids fooling around. Not this.
The white, hand-painted sign reading Marlees Mangoes had been obscured with a splatter of crimson paint. But it wasnt the vandalism that worried her.
It was the dead chicken impaled on the iron spikes of the gate. The bloody entrails were draped over another spike, along with a clear warning painted on the gate in French.
American, go home before you end up like this.
Lacey swallowed the bile rising in her throat. She beeped the horn and a man in gray trousers and a blue shirt came out, opened the gate. Pierre waved at her, twirling the shotgun in his hands as if it was a baton.
Thats your security?
She bit her lip. I told you, its peaceful out here.
And that dead chicken and the sign are a welcome home?
Ignoring him, she rolled down the window and spoke in rapid French to the guard, who stared at the dead chicken. Pierre, when did this happen? Did you see anything? Hear anything?
He shook his head, his eyes wide in his face. Nothing, miss. I was here all night.
She nodded. Get some help and clean this up right now. I want it all gone before the kids come home from school.
Jarrett drove through the opened gate, and looked into the rearview mirror as Pierre shut the gate behind them.
How long has he worked for you?
Hes the cousin of one of the women Im helping. Hes been here about two months. I dont pay him much.
Her budget had already been strained with fixing the outdated irrigation system and the other unexpected expenses.
It shows. Your security sucks, Lace. He doesnt even look old enough to shave, damn it.
The thinly disguised anger in his deep voice fueled her own anger. My compound is respected by locals. They know the farm provides jobs and teaches skills to women.
Jarrett snorted. You call a dead chicken respect?
It was probably a prank. Laceys stomach tightened. If he found out about the other incidents, shed never shake him loose. She couldnt be certain it was locals causing trouble, or worse.
Jarrett drove into the loose gravel drive, flanked by tall mango trees and colorful hibiscus bushes. He parked before a turquoise two-story house. The white, one-story guesthouse was a short walk away down a gravel pathway.
Lacey jumped out, relieved to see everything looked normal.
He nodded at the solid concrete building. At least your personal living space looks secure. From a distance, anyway.
Fumbling in her backpack for her key, she walked up the steps to the front door. Thanks to Paul. He helped me find the right construction team to expand the house and put in a water system. Hes well connected.
The compound held acres of corn and a clearing near the cornfield. Construction equipment and stacks of concrete blocks sat in the clearing. Jarrett adjusted his sunglasses and pointed to them. Whats going on there?
Houses. Im going to build them for twenty-five single moms helped by my charity. Im in the process of subdividing the land so each woman will have the land and the house in her name and never have to worry about hooking up with a man just to have a place to stay for her and her children. Paul thinks Im crazy for building homes, though he agreed to try to find funding.
Jarrett peered over the top of his shades. Pity the man. He doesnt know your stubborn streak.
She smiled and pushed back a stray lock of hair. I had a lot of opposition. Some of my friends said the women would bolt soon as they found a man. It was tough at first. I couldnt find funding, so I used alternative sources.
You used your trust fund.
Heat suffused her face. I needed start-up capital.
Jarrett reached out and stroked a knuckle down her cheek. The bare caress filled her with yearning. You have a real heart. Always knew youd use that fund for something other than designer bags and shoes.
Lacey turned away, her emotions churning. How could she even share with him that shed wanted to make some kind of contribution? Jarrett chose the Navy and dedicated his life to serving his country. Her father had entered the diplomatic corps and then became a US senator to serve, as well. And all shed done was contribute to the United States economy with her shopping sprees, which left her feeling cold and empty afterward.
If she hadnt lost the baby, maybe then her life would have taken a different turn. But no use agonizing over the past...
Come inside. Ill get us some cold water.
Jarrett followed her into the living room. She flicked the light switch, but nothing happened. Sighing, she dumped her backpack on the orange sofa.
The electrics out. One of the biggest drawbacks to living here outside the capital. Ill have to use the generator to power the water pump if you need to use the bathroom until the inverter kicks in tonight. I have solar-powered batteries as a backup power system.
Im fine. He removed his sunglasses and placed them on his shirt.
She grabbed two bottles of cold water from the fridge and gulped down half of one. Jarrett didnt touch his, but rubbed his bristled jaw. He looked so sexy with the dark beard shadowing his face, but the sexiness was tamped down by his grim expression.
Why are you so determined to remain here, Lace? Why not return to the States and work with wealthy donors to fund your project?
She gave him a calm, assessing look as she set down her bottle. Theres a certain satisfaction in personally cultivating hope among people who have little of it. I dont grow mangoes, Jarrett. I grow lives. I give a hand up to women who want a better life for their children, and all they need is a fresh start. They need someone to believe in them before they can begin to believe in themselves. But because some nasty ass of a man decided to kick them or beat them, they dont think theyre worth much. They have no real job skills and I give them the chance to learn self-worth.
Jarretts gaze softened. Youre something else, Lace.
She didnt know what to make of his comment, but knew it was important to show him she was safe and had no intentions of leaving.
Let me give you the ten-cent tour. This is where I live. The real action is in the outbuildings where the women work.
Tugging his hand, feeling his calloused fingers beneath hers, she felt a thrill of excitement. Jarrett was the first person from her past to see what shed done. As they walked down the dirt pathway to a large concrete building, she talked about the coffee company she half owned.