Page 28 of Wayward (Wrecked #4)

Slackwater

Dante

“ W here the hell are they?” I say to Calvin. We’ve been at the restaurant for twenty minutes. Enough time to give Anan the pictures. Even if they walked super slowly in the heat, they should have caught up with us by now. “We shouldn’t have split up.”

“No, we should have split up, but I should have stayed with Haley.” Calvin finishes the rest of his bottled water. His eyes rove constantly between the door and the small front window.

My stomach churns. “We should go look for them.”

“It’s a big city. We stay here until it’s time to switch to the next rendezvous point. We stick to the plan until we have to change. Fucking grow a pair.” He pushes the empty bottle to the side of the table.

The server comes over. “You sure you don’t want to order?”

“We’re waiting for some people,” I say in Thai.

Last night, I felt at home in this shithole.

Today? Today not so much. Bringing my family here?

Yeah, I see what a dump it is. It’s a dump with amazing food.

World class food. It’s on several lists of authentic places where you should eat before you die, if you follow the hyped-up bloggers.

Which I don’t. I shake it off. We’re so close to being out of this that I’m getting ahead of myself.

A limo pulls up out front. Thinking about bloggers just brings them out.

The driver opens the door, and Haley gets out. Followed by Sam, Zane, and Easton.

When she strolls in, it’s like the whole place spins for me.

“Dante, Calvin!” She zig-zags through the tables.

It’s not anywhere as busy as last night, but there’s still a good bit of locals who look up at her.

And look at her indeed. Because the horrible dress I bought for her last night has been replaced.

She’s dressed every bit the part to step out of a limo.

Haley slides into the booth next to me. “I’m sorry. I hope you weren’t too worried.”

“Me, no. Calvin, though, was jumping out of his skin, ready to burn down the city.”

Calvin cocks a smile at Haley that says you know I would burn down the world for you, but Dante’s the real basket case .

Haley reaches across the table and squeezes his hand without taking her eyes from mine.

“We found Stella, as in the Freemen wedding. Or rather, she found me. Your dress attracted her attention. She’s going to let us take her jet home.

Tomorrow. And we can stay in the villa. She’s going to arrange everything.

She doesn’t like it, but she’s not going to tell the police. ”

“That’s... that’s amazing.” I lift her chin and kiss her.

“I used the phone in Stella’s villa and chatted with the harbormaster,” Sam says. “ Green Summit and the speedboat are gone. Left this morning.”

“How did you get that information?” Calvin cocks his head. “Harbormasters don’t pass out that kind of information.”

“I said . . . ‘I have the Rosewood coming in. And vant to make sure the slips are clear,’” he says in a Scandinavian accent.

“ Hawk would turn the accent up and down if he thought it might get the crew better tips. Guess I learned a thing or two. They told me the slips had been clear since this morning.”

“That’s brilliant. Anan says he’ll have our passports ready by tomorrow. We’ll owe him. He’s made a big deal over letting me go on credit when I have none.”

“We’ll pay him. As long as he comes through,” Easton says.

Haley leans back against the booth. “I can’t believe it. We’re going home. We have, or rather, we’re going to have the paperwork. We have a way home and we also . . .” She turns to me. “I’m so excited we can stay in the villa, too.”

“Whoa. Nice.”

“Holloway’s gone. We have a place to stay. As far as we know, Ed’s men don’t know we’re here. We can relax. You could show us the city.” Haley lets go of Calvin’s hand and throws her arms around me.

The counter girl’s watching us, but why the fuck do I care? I give Haley a kiss.

“Haley, while it’s true the boats are gone, that doesn’t mean Holloway didn’t leave some men here to look for us.” Calvin waves off the server, who hasn’t been leaving us alone.

“You are Debbie Downer, Calvin. But you’re right.

” Dante raises his eyebrows. “We’ll have to be careful.

I’d love to show you what I know here. Granted, I spent most of my time behind that door over there, in the kitchen, soaking up everything the asshole Anan had to teach me.

Honestly, I could have stayed longer. The guy’s a genius, but his side hustles made me want to get out of here.

” I’m about to order a late lunch for us when I have a better idea.

“You’re right, Sassy. One of the best things to do here is eat.

And while you’ve already had some of the best food in the city, eating it on a stick in the market .

. . it makes it better.” I apologize to our server and pay her with some of the money Anan gave me last night. “Let’s go.”

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” I say in Thai and head out with Sassy’s hand in mine. “You look good.”

“She does,” Easton says, inching up behind her.

“Thanks, I thought Stella’s pants would be too tight for me, but they fit.”

“No, they fit you, not her.” Sam’s eyes flick down Haley’s body.

“Is it hot out here or what?” She fans her face with her hand.

“Nope, you’re the only hot thing out here.” Zane continues the compliments.

“I didn’t see Stella, but I already know you’re better looking in her clothes than she is,” I add.

Calvin gives a nod. “Which way do we go, Chef?”

“Down the hill. On the way, there’s a local Buddhist temple. It’s not as big as Wat Chalong, but it’s really beautiful.” By the time we reach the bottom of the hill, we’re all hot. We turn the corner and Haley gasps.

“It’s amazing,” she whispers.

This temple has two mythical creatures flanking the steps up to the temple.

Wreaths of flowers are looped around their necks.

There’s a large bodhi tree a monk is sitting underneath, reading.

We climb the stairs and take our shoes off, placing them in the line beside the door.

Inside it’s cooler, and the air is tinged with incense.

My breath slows. I might have been raised Catholic, but I’m not a spiritual man.

All the years in parochial school, I’ve never been moved.

But this place has done it to me more than once. And now is no different.

“What do we do?” Haley whispers to me.

I take her hand and lead her to one of the woven mats off to the right.

I sit down cross-legged, facing the large Buddha on the other side of the room, and place my hands on my knees.

The sweet air fills my lungs. I glance over at Haley.

The other guys have filed in beside her and behind us.

Her eyes are shut, and there’s a sweet close-lipped smile on her face.

I don’t know how long we sit, but it’s long enough that I hear a slight snore from Calvin behind me.

“Wake up, mate,” Zane says.

I cock my head to Haley. “You ready to go?” I whisper.

She nods.

Down the stairs, I turn back to her. There’s a tear dripping down her cheek. “Are you okay, Sassy? Does your ankle hurt?”

“No, not at all. It was so peaceful and beautiful. Like when we were back on the other side of the island.” She turns to Calvin and Easton.

“It made me feel connected to the world. To all of you, to my dad and my best friend back home. It was like my spirit soared and was everywhere all at once. That’s nuts. Forget I said it.”

I take her hand. “Not nuts. You’re connected to the world and our conduit. You’re special, Sassy. I’m not lying when I say I’ve never met anyone like you before. And I never will again.”

“You never know.” She smiles and rubs a tear from her cheek.

“I know. Because you’re it for me. I’m done looking. There can be only one Sassy.” We’re back on the main sidewalk now.

“Are you quoting Highlander?” Sam laughs.

“Maybe. But I’m not taking any of you out with my sword. It’s reserved for Sassy.”

Easton groans, and Zane laughs.

“Just so you know, you come anywhere near me with your alien dick and I’m going to cut it off,” Calvin says, but there’s a twinkle in his eye.

“Noted.”

“Where to next, Dante?” Haley takes my hand.

“Food. I couldn’t hear the wind chimes over the growl of Zane’s stomach,” I say.

“I think that was my stomach.” Haley bites her lip.

“No way, Little Bird, that was mine.” Zane throws his arm over her shoulder. “Are you getting tired? I could give you a piggyback ride, like back on the island?”

“Not yet, maybe later.” She places her hand in his and presses a kiss to his cheek.

The delicious aroma travels on the humid air a block away from the market.

“Are you thirsty, Sassy? They make the best fresh fruit shakes.” It’s closing in on six.

I didn’t realize how long we’d taken at the temple.

The colored, crisscrossing overhead lights are already on as daylight is on the way out.

Vendors are stirring and chopping. And a good crowd has formed, but it’s not enough to make even Calvin uncomfortable.

You can see who’s around us and who isn’t, which is Holloway and his thugs.

There’s plenty of alleyways where we could duck out of the way if he suddenly appears.

Damn, it’s been so long. My eyes flit around, and not searching for assailants but from stall to stall.

There are colorful displays of Thai desserts in exact rows.

Sticky rice with mango and layered jelly cakes, the colors of a bright sunset and dragon fruit flesh.

Across from that vendor there’s a woman making fresh spring rolls with nimble fingers before she places them in sizzling oil.

“I want everything,” Haley says.

“Me too, me too.” I’m like a grand director gathering everything—from steaming bowls of tom yum soup with bright red prawns bobbing in a broth, a dozen egg rolls, and a plate full of meat skewers.

Haley and Zane have found a picnic table and are chatting with a local boy when I drop off the first load.

“Whoa, this is bloody brilliant, Dante.” Zane’s inhaling a skewer while making up a plate of food.

“I love this place. The food is amazing, but it’s the people.” Haley waves goodbye to the young boy who’s been called back to his family stand. “Everyone is so lovely.”

When we’ve all eaten more than we thought possible, we start the walk back. It’s only a minute before I see the same guy who gave me a ride yesterday.

“There you are, friend.” He waves at me. “You need a ride?”

“There’s more of us. I’m not sure we’ll fit.”

“All but the big guy.” He points at Calvin.

I don’t know if it’s the one Thai beer I’ve had or if I just have a death wish. “We can fit, even the big guy. I’ll even pay you this time, and for the last time too.” I hand him money for last night’s trip. “Here’s for yesterday,” I say in Thai.

“Thank you.” He bows, and I return the bow. “Can we try?”

“Sure, big guy can push.”

Calvin gets in the front seat, and somehow, we all fit.