Cherished (Wanted 4)

Lark showed me around his boss’s house, and I was dumbfounded. I’d never seen such a big house.

Do I want to know what this guy does for a living?

I was tired, cranky, and just pissed-off. We’d ended up having to land at the airport anyway to go through customs. As soon as the customs people had realized who I was a guest of, they had practically brought out the welcome committee. The tropical storm hadn’t been that bad, and most of the airport had opened back up. Once we had flown out to Mr. Martin’s house, I was just ready to get to the hotel where Jessie was staying.

“Lark, what in the hell does your boss do for a living?” I asked.

Shortly after one phone call to Lark with the number that had come across on Jessie’s first call, Lark had called me back with the name of the hotel where she was staying.

Lark let out a laugh. “He’s in communications and a few other things. He does a ton of work down here for one of his…jobs.”

I just looked at Lark. “Is it illegal?”

His smile dropped. “Hell no. You think I’d be involved with someone doing something illegal?”

“I don’t know, Lark. Would you?”

He sat down on the sofa and glared at me. “Fuck no, I wouldn’t, Scott. You just have to trust me. I can’t say what all Mr. Martin does, but I give you my word as one of your best friends, it’s all legal. He’s a shrewd businessman, and he makes good investments.”

I sat down in the chair opposite the sofa and took a good look at Lark. He was tall with light brown hair and green eyes. I wondered if the ladies still flocked all around him.

“Good enough for me. Do we have a car, so you can take me to the hotel?”

Lark smiled and nodded. He jumped up and called for someone.

A young kid who looked to only be about eighteen came walking into the room.

“Roads open and clear?” Lark asked.

“Yes, sir,” the young gentleman said.

Lark looked at me and raised his eyebrows. “Ready to go and get your girl?”

Lark and I got out of the Mercedes Roadster, and as I looked back at the convertible, I had a very strong suspicion that Mr. Martin didn’t make his money in communications only.

“Did you want to wait just in case, you know, I can’t find her or something?” I said as the sick feeling in my stomach came back full force.

Lark was looking all around the lobby. It was almost like he was staking the place out. “I actually had Carlos follow us over here,” he said as he handed me the keys to the Mercedes.

I just looked at him. He doesn’t think I’m going to drive an eighty-thousand-dollar car, does he? “Dude, does your boss know you’re offering up his Roadster?” I asked with a chuckle.

“Actually, that’s my car. I come to Belize a lot when I’m not working with Skip.”

“Skip?”

Lark smiled and then watched a girl walk by before he looked back at me. “Yeah, Mr. Martin. His nickname is Skip.”

I rolled my eyes. I didn’t want to know how or why Lark was the owner of such an expensive car. After college, Lark had spent a year in the Marines as an officer, but he had been medically discharged, and then he’d immediately begun working for Mr. Martin. He never did tell anyone what had gotten him discharged.

“Bring it back with a single scratch on it, and I’ll kill you,” he said with a wink.

I smiled. “Are you heading back to the house?” I asked.

Lark chortled. “Hell no. I’m going to say hi to that pretty little thing that just walked by.” He gave me a wink and turned to walk toward the bar.

I sucked in a deep breath and slowly let it out. I spun around and walked toward the front desk. The young girl behind the desk smiled as I approached. I glanced down to her name tag and felt my stomach drop.

Chelsea. Ugh.