Chapter 10

"You look great, again," Sam said to Yvette as they walked toward the chartered boat that awaited them in the marina. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her.

"Thank you, Charles." She grinned.

It was then that Sam knew they weren't alone. He dragged his attention away from Yvette and looked ahead. On the dock stood Vargas and Bella, both wearing shorts and casual clothing, smiling at them. Bella's eyes still looked sharply at her competition. Vargas's eyes still held a shade of suspicion.

"Well, this is a surprise. How'd you know where we would be," Sam asked.

"The concierge at your hotel was kind enough to tell me where you rented the boat." His smile turned cool. "Don't be so shocked, Mr. Finley. I do a lot of business with all the major hotels in this city. They in turn assist me when I need information."

"I see." A sudden chill ran down Sam's spine, despite the warm breeze. He put on a bright smile and said, "Well, you might as well join us. Maybe we can get some fishing in while we're out there."

"Oh dear, Charles. You do not expect me to handle one of those squirmy little worms, do you?"

His laugh was genuine, because he knew how Yvette felt about fishing. "Don't worry, my dear. No worms involved. We've got mackerel, and we're going for the big guys...marlins."

Yvette nodded, glad to be off the hook, so to speak. "Do you fish, um...Beulah, was it?"

"Bella," she replied with a stony gaze. "And no, I don't fish. I eat them, though."

"So sorry, Bella."

Bella nodded wordlessly.

"Have you ever caught a marlin, Ignatius?"

"No, I haven't, Charles. Have you?"

"Once." Sam smiled. "It was quite the fight. It sort of reminded me of my business, how sometimes I have to do a lot of negotiating with my clients before everyone is happy." They boarded the boat and he said, "Aren't you glad things went so smoothly with us?" Once everyone was settled, the boat pulled away from the dock and picked up speed as they headed out to the ocean.

Vargas hesitated. "Charles, I have something to ask you."

Sam sat on a bench seat with Yvette, his arm still around her, and said, "Go for it."

"Would it be an issue if I asked you to provide the women a little earlier than we agreed?"

Sam's eyebrow raised. "The visas are still in processing..."

"Charles, I don't normally worry about such things. There are ways of getting the women here in an expedient manner." He sighed. "I think it's sort of...quaint...how you want to deal with human flesh all in the confines of the law even as you break it." He stared at Sam. "I need those women before the weekend. Friday, to be exact."

"Really. Well, I'll have to contact my associate in Bangkok. He's been assisting me with all the overseas transactions." Sam stood and pulled out his phone. "I'll be right back." He pecked Yvette on the cheek and spoke with a silky tone as he stood. "Keep my seat warm, eh baby?"

Yvette laughed while she caressed his backside. "Certainly, Charles."

Sam went down into the cabin and quickly dialed using the secure phone. Pearce answered on the second ring. "Pearce."

"Pearce, it's...Chuck Finley." He was too close to Vargas to use his real name. "We've got a problem. Vargas wants his women by Friday."

"That only gives us a couple of days!"

"I know! Is everything in place?'

"Almost all of our agents are here, so you may be short a few."
"No, we've got to have them all!" He said it loud enough for Vargas to hear.

"Sam, we're trying. The logistics are a nightmare for some of these agents." She paused. "Is there any way to stall him?"

"Yeah," he answered softly, then turned up the volume of his voice. "What? Are you serious? Ten g's? No way, we are not paying that...oh yeah, yeah, well, we'll see about that."

"Sam, what are you doing?"
He moved deeper into the cabin and closed himself in a bedroom in the bow. "Sorry, I had to make it look good in front of Vargas."

"Does Michael know about this?"

"No. I just found out about it myself. We're on a chartered boat off the coast of Miami. Vargas was waiting for us at the dock. He found out we were going for a cruise, and where we chartered the boat." He shook his head. "I'm not feeling good about this. You better work on getting those agents fast, because I'm not sure he'll be willing to take the deal I'm about to offer him."

"Be careful, Sam."

"We will."

"If you need anything, just call. And let me know when and where he wants to finish the transaction."

"Will do. Thanks." He stuffed the phone back into his shorts and returned to the deck. A conversation had obviously been going on, but when he stepped on deck it stopped and all eyes were on him. "My associate has informed me that it can be arranged, but because I have to put a rush on everything, it's going to cost you more."

"I see." He paused. "How much more are we talking about?"

"Ten g's per woman." Sam was hoping to make him think twice with that figure.

"That is quite...steep."

"I have a lot of officials to take care of. Transportation costs. You know how it is."

Vargas looked deep in thought. "Perhaps five thousand per woman?"

"No, that won't work, my man in Bangkok knows it has to be at least eight." Sam held out his hands. "Come on Vargas, we had a deal here and now you expect me to just change up things? This cuts into my take. No, it's worse than that, if I have to eat these extra costs, I'm payin' out of my own pocket for this so-called deal." Sam shook his head. He was on a roll. He pointed at Vargas. "And it's a matter of trust. Suddenly you want to rush this job, and I have to start thinking, what's this guy up to? What's he trying to pull? We had an agreement!"

Vargas didn't like being called onto the carpet, especially in front of the women. Looking uncomfortable, he said, "I do understand. Perhaps we can talk this over while we fish?"

"Great idea." He turned to Yvette. "Kat?"

"No thank you, Charles. I think I will go to the bow and get some sun. Living in the City has turned me a terrible shade of white!"

"If you don't mind, I'll join you," Bella said reluctantly, but it was either that or listen to the men talk business and fling bait all over the deck.

While Yvette and Bella baked on the bow, Sam and Vargas fished off the stern. Yvette was more than a little surprised that Bella hadn't made a move to eliminate her. She had plenty of opportunity to make it look as if she'd accidentally slipped off the boat, hit her head, and drowned. Yvette rose up on her elbows and studied the woman. Bella must have felt her eyes on her, because she lifted her sunglasses and stared at Yvette.

"What."

Yvette smiled warmly. "I am sorry, Bella. I know you have become rather...smitten...with Charles, but I am afraid he only has eyes for me." She paused and glanced at the woman's body. "I can see why you think you can have any man you want. And I would wager that you usually get what you want, so it rankles you that you cannot have Charles."

"Whatever."

Yvette's smile wore off and she took on a sympathetic look as she rolled to her stomach. "I am sorry, Bella. It is not easy being a woman held captive, is it?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Ahhh, denial. I know, Bella. In my own way, I am also being held. I love a man who loves me, but...how does Mr. Vargas feel about you?"

A veil fell from Bella's eyes as she rolled onto her stomach, resting on her elbows, and answered, "I love that man, but to him, I'm just a...a business acquisition." She said the words so coldly, it pricked Yvette's soul.

"If you are unhappy with him, why not leave?"

"Where would I go? He owns everything, my clothes, my car, my apartment...and my life." She shook her head. "What little I get in return from him normally makes it worthwhile." She sighed and hung her head, then turned pain filled eyes toward Yvette. "When those women arrive, he'll probably choose one of them to be his latest flavor, and I'll become one of his working girls." She snorted. "Who am I kidding? I already dance for him at the club and take customers..."

Yvette placed a hand on her arm. "How terribly tragic! Bella, you have to decide before it is too late. If I were you, I would choose freedom at all costs."

Bella looked at her, amazement in her eyes. "Why should you care, Kathleen?"

"I suspect that you and I share a common history. We both got involved with men of wealth and power who looked at us as property, not women with hearts and emotions. We both fell in love..."

"But that's where things are different. Charles obviously loves you back. My god, the man was all over you last night! Ignatius used to be that way, but now I'm just a prop for him when he needs to impress a client, or...entertain them." Her bottom lip twitched. "Charles was...is, charming. No matter what he's doing, or who he's dealing, I can tell he's got a good heart underneath it." She glanced at Yvette. "But Kath, I wouldn't count on him ever giving up his wife and marrying you. They never do."

"I am not concerned about that, Bella." Yvette smiled, safe in the truth behind their charade. "What we have is good enough for now."

"You're one lucky woman, anyway."

"I know." Yvette grinned.

They heard a lot of shouting from the back of the boat. "What on earth..." Yvette stood and hung on to the railing.

"What are they doing?"

"I don't know." She carefully made her way to the back of the boat, her long-remembered sea legs helping her to maneuver. When she arrived, she found Sam and Vargas hanging onto one fishing pole that was bent almost to the breaking point. The line was taut and disappeared under the rolling sea.

"No, ease off a little, let him think he's winning, then pull him in a bit," Sam instructed Vargas, who controlled the reel. "Don't take your eye off him! You've got him! He's yours, man. You just have to let him get the fight out and hope the line doesn't break first."

"You know quite a bit about catching the big one."

"Yeah, well, our business is kind of like fishing. There's strategy involved, and you just have to know how to outsmart the other guy."

Vargas nodded. "Agreed!" He strained against the force of the big fish, and Sam took more of the pulling work himself. With the two of them, the fish suddenly found itself unevenly matched.

"Reel him in a little!"

Vargas pulled in some of the line. A dark blue head came out of the water, and the fish jumped in the air before diving again. "Wow, he's a big one! He's yours, just keep working him to exhaustion."

Vargas chuckled. "But the question is, can we do it before he exhausts us?"

"That, my friend, is the big question for a lot of things in life."

Yvette and Bella stood on the deck watching their men wrestle the marlin until it finally gave in and surrendered. The first mate helped them get it aboard, took some pictures, and packed the fish in ice to preserve it. Then the captain turned the boat around and headed back to the marina.

"So, what will you do with that monstrosity," Yvette asked them.

"Well, it's his fish!" Sam pointed to Vargas. "I just helped out a little bit." He gave her a cocked grin.

"Thank you, my friend." Vargas shook Sam's hand. "It was quite a fight. I intend to have it stuffed, put on my wall, and it will be a constant reminder of our business together." He was in a triumphant mood and slapped Sam good-naturedly on the back. "We should go out and celebrate tonight!"

"Sure, why not?" Sam gave Yvette a look. The last thing he wanted to do was spend another evening with the man, talking about inconsequential things, building a business relationship with him and hoping that he wouldn't try to take Yvette away for a little...socializing...and leave him alone with Bella.

"Maybe this time, we should go someplace more casual," Bella suggested. "There's this great little restaurant across from the Victor."

"Oh, we've been there." Sam smiled at Yvette and kissed her cheek, remembering the first time they had a night out after Samuel was born. The evening turned into an overnighter, thanks to Maddie and his dad. "Great ocean view." But he didn't look as if he was interested in the ocean at the moment.

"Sounds like a wonderful plan. We don't have to dress up so much." Vargas sighed and lay his head back against the seat. Bella placed her hand on his chest, and he grabbed it and held it there, caressing it as if he truly loved her.

Yvette saw it, and her heart went out to Bella, who leaned into him and took what she could get for the time being. All the while, her face wore a conflicted look. Obviously what Yvette said made an impact, causing her think about what was most important to her.

When they reached the marina, they made plans to meet at the restaurant at six thirty. Sam and Yvette walked away together, hand in hand, and he stole a glance at Vargas and Bella. The man stood near his catch, proud as could be of his accomplishment, while Bella watched them with a longing in her eyes.

"What did you say to her, Eve?"

"Nothing. Perhaps I just planted the idea that freedom was better than slavery, even at the expense of losing all the trappings." She glanced at Sam and saw the clueless expression on his face. "She's been denying to herself that she's unhappy in her present situation. She loves the stuff and the occasional attentions of her employer, but the fact remains that she is a prisoner. Now she has to decide if it's worth it, or if she should walk away."

"It might not be that simple, honey."

"How will she know if she doesn't try?"

"Just because you barely escaped with your life, doesn't mean the same will hold true for her."

"One thing I know for sure," Yvette said with a growing smile. "The likelihood of her having a dashing man rescue her is quite slim. After all, you're already taken."

Sam laughed and pulled her close to himself as they walked back to the limo.