Niall (Vigilance 2)

“Damn right I am.”

“I knew the two of them would be gorgeous together,” Walsh said.

“It would’ve been better if we got to watch them finish each other off,” Arlington complained.

Compton glared at me, but I ignored him, pretending to only have eyes for Marco now.

Did Walsh know everything about me and Marco? He must since he’d suggested a way for Dalton to pass me the information.

I couldn’t risk pulling out the paper in front of everyone. Marco gave me a look, and I gave him a small nod to indicate I’d learned something. If we knew we’d make it back to the house, we could call the number together, but I wasn’t willing to chance it.”

I waited for a little while, then excused myself to the bathroom while everyone was watching Lavender and Tiberius again.

I checked for cameras and listening devices. Finding none, I pulled out the paper. The only thing on it was a phone number. I dialed it and a voice that sounded like Walsh’s answered.

“It’s Niall.”

“Walsh. I have information for you. I’ll give it to you as soon as we’re back. Meet me in your suite.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Probably for the same reason as you.”

“I doubt that.”

“After I made friends with Arlington, I realized what he was doing. I’ve been working to put a stop to it ever since.”

“What made you sure we’d work with you?”

“I’ll be right there.” I knew he was speaking to someone else.

“No time. Go straight to your suite when we return.” He ended the call.

Dammit! I needed to call X and get him to start looking deeper into Walsh and Dalton, but I’d already been gone too long. Marco and I were on our own with this.

It took all my effort to smile, flirt, and act as though I suspected nothing for the rest of the ride back to the island. Dinner had been incredible, but even before getting the news from Dalton, I’d been too stressed to eat. I’d had to pretend like the sun had gotten to me, and I’d lost my appetite. Marco didn’t seem to have that problem, but nothing seemed to affect the man’s appetite. At least one of us would be well fueled if we had to flee tonight.

19

Marco

When we disembarked, Niall complained of a headache, saying it must be from too much sun. He begged me to take him back to our room, and I was happy to comply since I wanted to know what the hell had been going on between him and Dalton. I knew something was up, and it was making me crazy that Niall and I hadn’t had any time alone. Walsh had disappeared when Niall had left to go to the bathroom after the lap dance, and I didn’t think that was a coincidence.

Walsh and Dalton had already headed toward the house. As soon as they were on the dock, Walsh had picked up the young man, and Dalton had wrapped his legs around Walsh’s waist as they stumbled toward the entrance.

“What’s going on?” I asked once we were away from the others.

“Dalton told me Compton knows about us. That’s why we needed to go along with things. He gave me a number.”

“Which you called when you went to the bathroom?”

“Yes, and it rang Walsh. He claims he’s working to stop the trafficking like we are.”

Could we trust the man? Did Niall know more about him than I did? “Who is he really?”

“I don’t know, and there was no way I could take the time to call X so he could start looking deeper. I’ll call him when we’re in our room. If Compton knows, then we need to get off the island tonight.”

“You trust Dalton and Walsh? You think they aren’t really allied with these other men?”

“My instincts say they’re not, but I’m not ready to believe anything yet.”

At least he wasn’t taking this at face value. “I never believe anything until I have concrete proof, but should we leave?”

“Let’s see what they have to say. Walsh said he’d meet us at our suite.”

When we reached our door, Dalton and Walsh weren’t in the hallway. We found them waiting inside for us.

“How the hell did you get in?” I growled.

Dalton held up a key. “I took it from you. I’m sorry, but it was necessary.” His tone was serious, not at all like the flirtatious voice he’d used the other times I’d spoken to him. He now seemed far older than I’d initially guessed.

“You took that from me?” I stuck my hands in my pockets feeling for the key I’d taken from Compton. It wasn’t there. “You fucking pickpocketed me?”

Dalton’s cheeks reddened. “I did.”

“Damn. No one can pull that on me. I know all the tricks.”

He grinned. “I’m pretty good. I basically learned in the cradle.”

As interesting as Dalton’s story is”—Walsh also sounded far more serious and together than he had previously—“we don’t have much time. Compton has told everyone, and they’ll come for you tonight. It’s to their benefit not to let either of you off the island alive.”