Chapter 14
Jasper
Nothing went as I planned today. Not with Ocalla, and certainly not with Reesa’s visit. She explained how easy she found it to talk to Alysa and before she knew it, she was sharing things she’d never dared before. I could relate. Something about Alysa drew you in. Of course, my attraction to her was completely different from what my sister was feeling.
Reesa kept saying it was like talking to the sister she’d never been able to have. But when I looked at Alysa, my feelings were more than brotherly. She twisted my insides in a knot, and I shared things I should have taken to my grave. We may have settled things from earlier, but I still needed to speak to Alysa alone. She didn’t understand Tabiq. How she spoke - what she said and to whom - could put her life in jeopardy. I didn’t want to admit it, but she might be safer at New Hope. It was time for her to leave.
Reesa said I was acting too quickly like normal. But doing nothing wouldn’t keep Alysa out of harm’s way. She was innocent in all of this. Like my promise to keep Reesa safe, I had vowed to do the same for Alysa. She just doesn’t know it.
Sitting at my desk, I contemplated if I should tell Alysa first and call James to pick her up, or just have James show up and then let her know.
Damn it. James would wonder why she was back after I’d been through to get her out of there. Alysa swore that she wouldn’t tell anyone about Reesa, but James had a way of putting on the pressure. She might spill the information without realizing, just like Reesa. Once James knew, it was as good as telling the Hendersons myself. I could be wrong, but I had a feeling James didn’t hold anything back from them.
I might want to move Alysa someplace safe, but doing so might put Reesa at risk. There was no winning here, and I wasn’t willing to lose either of them. That meant I had to come up with an entirely different strategy. Something good for them as well as Tabiq.
What would make it so Ocalla couldn’t touch Alysa?I could send her back to the United States. Ocalla travelled internationally, but not there. He wasn’t so foolish as to set foot in a country that outright disliked him.
That was my answer. The only one that would ensure her safety. And it was simple, too. All I needed was to let James know I feared for her safety and needed his assistance in getting her off the island. I was certain the Hendersons would have no issue flying her out immediately. Protect the Americans at any cost. And screw the people of Tabiq.
God, I hated having to ask them for help of any kind. If it was for me, with my life on the line, then fuck them. I’d rather die. But these two ladies needed my help.
I picked up the phone and dialed James. “Leaving your house so soon?” he asked.
“No. And cut the bullshit. I need a favor,” I said.
I could hear the surprise in James’s voice. “You’re serious?”
“Yes. Alysa LaHouse. She needs to get back to the United States ASAP.”
“Did she say why?” he asked.
“A personal family matter that she wishes not to discuss.” That was true. It just wasn’t her family, it was mine. And very private.
“I see. Why didn’t she call New Hope to make the arrangements herself?” he asked.
“Didn’t I say this was a private matter?”
“You did,” James replied.
“Then your answer is yes or no. Can you assist in getting her back the States for me?” I asked. There was the possibility of booking a commercial flight, but Ocalla would find a way to track that and could discover that she was leaving. Going through James, I had a chance to get Alysa off the island with Ocalla none the wiser.
“I can,” he said.
I didn’t say anything. I was sending the one woman I had any real connection with away. I knew I’d never see her again. It hurt, but not as much as it would if something happened to her. You’ve become special to me. I just wish we had time to explore why.
“Florraz, are you there?” he asked.
“Yes. I was just wondering if you could make arrangements for two?”
“You’re going with her?” James blurted, sounding stunned.
I wish I could.“No. I’m sending…a friend. She…” I hadn’t even thought of what to say about Reesa. Hell, she wasn’t even part of the plan. But if I was going to keep Alysa safe, why not my own sister, too?
“Let me guess. She had a private family emergency, too,” James said sarcastically.
“Exactly,” I replied.
“Florraz, what aren’t you telling me?”