Page 2 of Wild Temple (Tyson Wild Thriller #84)

"I'm aware," I replied.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound negative. I'm just worried.”

"Me too.”

She ended the call, and I dialed Jack. He was seven hours ahead of Coconut Key time. I knew he'd still be up at this hour, but his state of mind might be questionable .

He answered after a few rings. "What the hell are you doing? When are you coming back here?”

"I'm not. At least not right now.” I filled him in on the situation.

“Are you sure something’s wrong? ”

“I’m not sure of anything.”

“Isabella knows how to take care of herself. Maybe she’s just taking a little me time,” he said, trying to be optimistic.

“No. Something’s wrong.”

It was a frightening thought. If someone could get to Isabella, they could get to anyone.

"I'll be there as soon as I can," Jack replied.

There was no way JD would let me handle this alone. The guy was solid as a rock. Ride or die.

I told him I was catching a plane to Tanjung Sur in an hour.

“I'll meet you there,” he replied. “But I might be a little behind you.”

“No worries.”

I told him I’d be in touch, then ended the call and started packing.

We’d be flying solo on this mission. Talia would provide a little support, but she didn't have access to the resources that Isabella had. I didn't know if she could coordinate local assets, supply weapons, and provide fake IDs.

I had an old contact in Tanjung Sur. But I hadn’t talked to him in years.

We served together in the Navy and those ties ran deep.

Hell, I didn't know if he was still in the area—or if he was still even alive. Rex was an adrenaline junkie, just like the rest of us. That’s an addiction that can often lead to life-threatening situations.

I didn't have a current phone number for him. Last I heard, he was running a bar in Jatala. A quick online search and I found the place. There was even a phone number on the contact page.

I thought about calling but then thought better of it.

This might be a situation where showing up out of the blue was the best option. We hadn’t always seen eye to eye. But if there was anybody in Tanjung Sur who could get weapons and intel, it would be Rex.

My next call was to Teagan. I needed somebody to take care of Buddy and Fluffy while I was gone. She loved the animals, and I knew it wouldn't be an imposition.

I grabbed Buddy’s leash and Fluffy’s travel case and loaded the little furballs up. Teagan was working the bar at Diver Down. She was not displeased to see her new roommates when I brought them in.

“Where are you off to this time?” she asked, then sassed, “Or is that classified?”

I told her.

Her face wrinkled with empathy. Teagan‘s teal eyes filled with sadness. “I’m sorry. I hope your friend is okay.”

I nodded. “Me too!”

“When do you think you’re coming back?”

I shrugged. “Not until I find her.”

I said my goodbyes to Buddy and Fluffy, then hustled out to the parking lot when my rideshare arrived.

I hopped into the silver sedan and sped to the airport. My mind still raced, trying to put all the pieces together, hoping this was all some overreaction on our part .

Isabella was smart. Too smart to get into any trouble.

She knew how to cover her tracks and keep eyes on her six.

The girl wasn't born yesterday. But everybody has a bad day every now and then.

One slip-up. One boneheaded move. That's all it takes in a business like this.

Relax just once at the wrong time, and it could all be over.

This was the kind of business where you could never stop looking over your shoulder.

The driver took me to the FBO and dropped me off at the curb. I thanked him, gave him a five-star rating on the app, and hustled inside.

Travelers came and went.

The sleek Slipstream G-750 waited on the tarmac, gleaming in the afternoon sun. Polished to perfection with smooth, graceful lines, it was a marvel of modern commercial aviation. The pinnacle of luxury.

I lugged my bags across the tarmac and climbed the steps.

"Welcome aboard, Mr. Wild," a gorgeous blonde said with a smile just wide enough to appear sincere. She had elegant features and sharp blue eyes. The navy blue uniform was tailored to fit and hugged every perfect curve.

I smiled and greeted the captain and copilot.

"We'll be wheels up in about 25 minutes," the captain said. "Weather looks good. There might be a little turbulence here and there, but I’ll try to keep us out of it the best I can. Flight time is about 21 hours. We’ll need to refuel in Honolulu. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. If there is anything you need, Mika will be happy to help. ”

I thanked him for his hospitality, then stowed my bags, slipped into a comfy leather seat, and leaned back.

Mika closed the door and sealed us in. The smell of Italian leather mixed with the traces of Mika’s floral perfume and the remnants of exhaust from the tarmac.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" Mika asked with a sparkle in her eyes.

I smiled. “You read my mind. Whiskey. Rocks. The best you’ve got.”

“Coming right up.”

She sauntered to the galley, and I may have taken a second look.

Ice danced in the glass, then crackled and popped as she poured the good stuff over it. In a flash, she set the drink on my tray with a fine linen napkin. “You have two choices for dinner. A grilled plate of beef with truffle, mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables, and cheesecake for dessert.”

“Say no more. I’m sold.”

She smiled. “An easy customer. We like easy.”

“Don’t speak too soon,” I said. “I can be a handful.“

A flirty smile curled her plump lips. “I’m up for a challenge.”

We did have 21 hours to kill. I could think of a few ways to do it.