Page 148 of Rescuing You

The close buildings gave way to space and air. Between the scattered buildings on the far side of the street, the Mediterranean churned, meeting the dark, stormy sky. A flash of lightning on the horizon was followed by a low rumble of thunder.

They turned right, and she looked at the shops and little sidewalk cafés. The sidewalks were emptying.

But sitting at one café…

She gasped.

Michael?

No. Not Michael. And not Derrick.

But that had to be the other brother, Bryan, sipping coffee and reading his phone like a tourist—despite the coming storm.

It had to be him. It had to be.

She tried to scream, desperate to get his attention, but barely a sound rasped out.

Waleed gripped her arm. “What is wrong with you?”

She ignored him, reaching forward to pinch her sister’s hip.

Jasmine jumped.

“What are you doing?” Waleed said.

She didn’t care what he said or did to her now. Because Michael’s brother wasn’t there to enjoy the scenery. He was looking for them. He had to be.

She banged against the window.

Waleed yanked her away.

But Jasmine screamed, the sound high-pitched and deafening in the small car.

The man at the table looked up, saw the car. But he gave no indication that he recognized them. Just settled back in with his phone.

Waleed twisted to look out the rear window. “Who is that?”

She tried to speak, but words wouldn’t come out her swollen throat.

“Who!” he shouted.

“Leave her alone!” Jasmine snapped. “We thought it was Michael. The man you killed.”

But it wasn’t. And it wasn’t Michael’s brother. It was just a tourist who happened to be tall and dark-haired.

Tears filled Leila’s eyes, dripped down her cheeks.

Smiling, Waleed settled beside her again. “You thought that was your boyfriend? I deprived you of oxygen too long, eh?” He chuckled, utterly confident.

And why shouldn’t he be?

There was nobody looking for them.

The only one besides Jasmine who’d cared if she lived or died was Michael, and he was gone.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Michael had spent the first ten minutes after the failed raid trying to get information on what vehicles had left the hotel property and where they’d gone.