Jennifer Morey - Front Page Affair

Seeing Braden’s fists clenched at his sides, Arizona decided it was time to go. She slid her arm on the inside of his.

“Let’s go.”

“The voice of reason,” Julian taunted.

“We’ll be back,” Braden said, unafraid. “If you have Tatum and Courtney, I’ll find out.”

“You won’t find her here. If you were smart, you’d look closer to home.”

What did he mean by that? The man in the white BMW flashed in Arizona’s mind. Did Julian know him? Was Tatum being held somewhere in the States? Were they wasting their time looking here? That couldn’t be. Why drag Tatum all the way back to the States?

Julian walked to the driver’s window of their taxi and leaned down. “Take them to the airport. If they don’t leave, let me know.”

“Yes, sir,” the driver answered as though he worked for the man.

“We’ll be sure and tell the police all about this,” Arizona said. Did he think he could get away with anything?

“Go right ahead,” he said with confidence. “I will simply tell them you were trespassing.” He spread his arms to indicate the people around him. “I have witnesses.”

This was ridiculous. The taxi driver would lie for him? Lie to police?

“If you value those close to you, you will not return.” To the taxi driver, he repeated, “Make sure they leave the island. If I don’t hear from you, I will send someone to your home.”

“I’ll take them to the airport. You have my word.”

“Very good.” Julian clapped his hands together, moving back to where he had stood in front of them. “Then we have no issue. We all can go on with our lives and you will leave me to my privacy.”

If it weren’t for Charlene and the taxi driver, Arizona would refuse to go. She and Braden could stay and continue their search, but innocent lives were at stake.

She looked beyond the gate, wishing they could get inside the villa. There had to be a way.

“Let’s go,” she said to Braden and Charlene.

She urged Braden back to the taxi. They had Charlene, which was enough for now.

“Have a safe trip home,” Julian called, accentuating the word safe.

If they stayed, they’d no longer be safe.

Inside the taxi, Charlene sat in the back with Braden, who stewed with anger. He’d kept quiet, but she could feel him brimming on the edge of control.

What Arizona didn’t understand about all of this was that if Julian wanted something from Braden, why hadn’t he asked for it when he’d had Charlene? Wouldn’t he have used Arizona for the same purpose? Unless Julian wasn’t linked to the arms deal.

Then why had Tatum gone to see him?

Braden’s cell phone rang and he answered, displeasure changing his frown.

“Serena.”

Who was Serena? His ex, judging from that look.

“I told you I was going to be out of town for a while.” He sighed after a few beats. Arizona could hear the elevated tone of a woman’s voice coming from his phone.

“Can’t your parents watch him?”

This was about his son. More high-pitched arguing resounded from the phone.

“All right. All right,” he cut the voice off. “We’ll be there tomorrow night.” And then he said as though in answer to her question, “Me and...a friend. But it can only be for one night, Serena. I can’t risk any more than that.”

Risk? He was afraid of exposing his son to this. Arizona couldn’t blame him. If whoever had followed him would try to take Arizona, they’d certainly try to do the same if they knew he had a son.

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