Lantana stood next to Sam on the beach. She knew this was the ultimate test of what her father had taught her all her life: you can always trust a Navy SEAL. Her heart was racing and her mouth was dry. She felt like she was in the middle of the Australian Outback. She glanced at Sam. He nodded at her reassuringly. Also with Lantana and Sam, John and Jesse were closeby.
Hannah, Travis, and Suzie walked towards the group with Michael. He was bruised with a black eye, but he didn't seem seriously injured. One wrong move, however, could change that.
"Where is my husband?," Hannah asked as she saw who was and was not present.
"He'll be waiting for you," John said. "Once we have Michael back safely, we'll tell you where to pick him and Ryan up."
Hannah hesitated. She was not sure at the moment. "All right," she said. She let go of Michael. He walked towards John as Lantana waited.
"Well, Lantana," Hannah said. "Keep your end and nobody will be hurt."
John, Jesse, and Sam pulled their guns.
"Lantana, get behind me," Sam said. He stepped to one side as Lantana obeyed him.
"Hands up," Jesse said.
Hannah, Travis, and Suzie realized that they were caught. They put their hands up as more officials converged and arrested them.
"Did you really think we would allow you to imprison Lantana once again?," Michael asked.
"And keep pimping her out?," Sam asked. "You're really not playing with a full deck."
Hannah glared at everyone. "Her father spoiled her," she lied. "She's always been a brat and she'll start that all over again. She'll take advantage of some rich guy just to get what she wants."
"No," Michael said. "She's not like that at all."
Once Hannah and the others were secure, Sam put away his gun and looked at Lantana. "Are you OK?," he asked her.
"I don't know," Lantana said. "Can we leave now, please?"
"Of course we can," Sam replied. He looked at John. "I'll take her back to the hotel and stay with her. Get Mikey to the hospital and get him checked out."
"Will do," John agreed. "Come on, Mike."
At the hotel, Lantana was relieved. She sat down and took a deep breath. Keith touched her shoulder.
"They said that you did great, Lantana," Keith said.
"I just did what Sam and Michael asked me to do," Lantana said.
"It's all over," Keith said. He looked at Sam. "Isn't it?"
"Looks like it," Sam replied.
Lantana smiled. "So, I can have a life now?," she asked. "I'm free?"
"That you are," Sam replied.
Lantana hugged Sam. "Thank you for everything, Sam," she said. She felt like she would never let him go. "You brought me back to life, almost literally."
Sam hugged Lantana back. "You go and be happy," he told her.
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