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Risen To The Top CHAPTER 17
He estimated that they’d traveled a few miles. He didn’t notice anyone following them, but that could change. They needed to get away from the water and quickly. He looked over at Joanne. She was resting the back of her head on the grassy shore. Mud was caked into her hair and her clothes were soaked and muddy. Her eyes were closed as she leveled her breathing.“We have to get moving, Princess. The men might be right behind us.”She nodded and started to rise, her bag still on her shoulders. He reached over and took it from her. “Since I lost mine, I’ll carry the extra weight.” She smiled and nodded again. He wondered why she wasn’t talking and asked, “Is your throat okay?”She coughed a few times, then whispered. “I think I drank too much water and dirt. It will be fine, after I get a drink.”He stopped and allowed her to pull out her canteen of water. As she took a drink, he realized most of the food had been in his
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 18
Alex woke to the sun in his eyes and was shocked. He’d never slept so deeply. Then he realized he was alone and panic overtook him. Sitting up quickly, he jolted when he heard Joanne say from behind him.“I’m over here. Don’t worry, I didn’t go far. Just had to clean up.” She dropped her bag next to him and smiled. “You look like you could use a couple more hours of sleep.”He’d actually been having a nightmare about an event in prison, it had happened a few years back. He’d woken still able to hear the men chasing him around the prison yard, and the client, an old friend, screaming his name as he slowly died. It had been almost two years ago, but it still felt like yesterday. His back ached where the long scar covered his spine; he’d barely made it out of the prison alive.Having another close friend literally stab you in the back made you reevaluate your friends.Marshall had been there for him. He’s the one that had nursed h
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 19
“Why Columbia?” She took a deep drink of her water and he noticed that they were low on fluids.“I’ve got connections in over there. We can book safe passage to the States without raising any flags.” He stood and dusted off his pants, then reached to help her up. Just for his pleasure, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her until he felt her body melting against his.They walked for a few hours, and he made sure they weren’t being followed, constantly looking over his shoulder and listening for anyone else around. So far all he could hear were the sounds of the jungle. They’d just walked into a small clearing when Joanne gasped and he went on guard. He was ready to grab her and run when she started laughing.“Oh, look at them, there are so many!” Her face was turned to the sky and when he looked up he saw hundreds of birds. The green, yellow, and blue colored parrots hopped from limb to limb. He could hear their calls as they flew around enjoying the nuts and be
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 20
Joanne sat uncomfortably in the large wooden crate. The open slats allowed for the cold air to flow through from the cargo hold of the airplane. Alex sat across from her like he was comfortable.“How long do we have to sit in this box?” she yelled over the loud noises of the engines.“The whole trip to Columbia. Come over here.” He motioned to the side he was sitting on and smiled.She couldn’t refuse him. That smile did something to her insides. He put his arm around her and she snuggled into his chest. He was so warm she immediately realized how cold she was and started shivering.“Aren’t we going to suffocate or something? I know in regular airplanes they have to keep pumping air into the cabins.”He chuckled at her.“That’s why we’re on this small cargo plane instead of a bigger one. It won’t reach that high of an altitude. The downside of it is it will take us twice as long to get where we are going.”He started rubbing his hand over her hair and she realized how wonderfully norm
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 21
Alex lay there feeling Joanne’s breath on his chest and knew she was fast asleep. He listened to the loud sounds of the cargo plane and wondered what the hell he was doing. The number one rule in this business was when he still worked as a computer nuke programmer, and it had always been, don’t get involved with a client.So far, he’d followed that rule diligently. especially with Sarah then.The name sent a twisted feeling straight into his empty stomach.There had been plenty of times he’d wanted to cross that line, but none like this. None like her. He’d felt the shock the first time he’d seen her. He’d known he should call the trip off but it was a promise he made in prison. before they’d left for Columbia. He’d even tried to keep her pissed at him by always flaunting a cocky attitude around. It had worked for a while. He could tell she was totally turned off by him, and at one point, he was pretty sure she had calmed her head to try and think before taking any unmarred decision.
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 22
She was shocked. She turned and looked at him. He owned this place? How did he have a house in Columbia? So many other questions ran through her head.“Shut it down for a while, Princess. Let’s go get some grub and clean up, then I’ll explain everything.”When she’d walked into the large bedroom, which was indeed behind the wall of frosted glass, she saw a small silver bikini. after hitting the shower quickly, she rushed out to the large stone tiled pool. There she floated in the cool, blue water until Alex came out in a pair of swim trunks and joined her. He was carrying an ice blue fruity drink and a beer. Her drink even had a slice of pineapple on the rim of the crystal glass and had a cherry floating in it.“I could get used to this,” she said as she floated on her back with her dark hair pooling around her face. She stopped to take a drink and moaned with delight when the sweet and tangy drink hit her mouth.“Where did you
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 23
She watched Alex lean back in his chair and realized she could imagine sitting here years from now, she wondered how things would be between them when they finally got to the States. she could imagine sitting with him listening to his stories. He took another sip of his beer and when he realized it was empty, leaned over and grabbed another from the small fridge under the outside bar.“What happened to the boy?” She leaned on the glass table; she couldn’t stand the suspense.“Oh, he’s fine. he’s safe somewhere in the States. It took some doing, and I don’t think I’d ever try to go into certain parts of the Middle East , but he’s healthy and happy. Or so his brother tells me. he and his girlfriend own the art galleries that sell his art. I can still remember the smile in hisbeyes when I showed up the night before his punishment was to take place. I was hanging from the banister outside his window, and when I showed up, he didn’t even scream.
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 24
Joanne woke later in a darkened room. Reaching around and feeling the sheets, she found that she was lying in a very large bed, alone. Sitting up, she realized she was still very naked and grabbed the sheet to cover herself as she looked around for something to wear.She noticed a large suitcase sitting on the dresser. Walking over, she realized it was full of woman’s clothing. Looking at the expensive items, she wondered how Raul had known her size, or for that matter, how he’d known that she’d be coming along.She pulled out a silk tank top and slipped it over her head, then put on a pair of black shorts and tiptoed into the next room. She could hear him talking on the phone out on the patio and when she walked out, he turned and smiled at her.“Yeah, okay. I’ll explain everything when I see you mom, I didn't ghost you for two guys for two years, I love you, too, Mom.” He flipped the cellphone closed.She thought it was the m